“Slow down.” This is the simple message of the Slow Movement. In today’s high-speed world of fast food, jet planes and instant communication, we are losing touch with ourselves, with each other, and with the earth, says the Slow Movement. Like ‘slow food’ and ‘slow media,’ ‘slow travel’ is a part of the movement. And here’s what the WHL Group staff thinks about it.

Every month, we delve into the travel experiences of people in the extended WHL Group network. Today we talked to Fabiola Duerig of Las Pleyades Travel, the whl.travel local partner for travel in Santa Marta and Cartagena, Colombia, and the Green Path Transfers connection for private, responsible ground transportation on the Colombian coast.

Every month, we delve into the travel experiences of people in the extended WHL Group network. Today we talked to Melissa V. Gonzalez Llovera of Viajes Valencia Los Roques, the whl.travel local connection in Venezuela. Originally from Valencia, Melissa is now a travel agent and specialist for a number of destinations in Venezuela.

Every month, we delve into the travel experiences of people in the extended WHL Group network. This month we talk to Kestas Lukoskinas, co-founder of The Beautiful Land of Nevermind, the whl.travel local connection in Vilnius and Klaipeda, Lithuania.

Every month, we delve into the travel experiences of people in the extended WHL Group network. This month we talk to Mark Gatt, Managing Director of EC Meetings Malta, the whl.travel local connection in Malta, a native of the island and a local travel expert since the age of 14, when he started working in hotels and restaurants.

For five weeks, Triptrotting has searched for the ‘Ultimate Triptrotter’ to have the ‘Ultimate Triptrotting Summer Experience.’ With over 300 entries and dozens of videos, they had their hands full. On June 9, 2011, a decision was finally made and Yolanda Clatworthy, an International Relations student at McGill University in Montreal, Canada, was picked as the winner. Now you get to meet her!

Jessica Saltos is a native of the Galapagos Islands. For the past two decades she has specialised in organising tours to the archipelago and is currently responsible for operating the Insider’s Galapagos tour. She also works with her team to implement sustainable tourism practices across their entire operation. Steve Nomchong is the Australian-born founder of Yacu Amu Experiences.

Every month, we delve into the travel experiences of people in the extended WHL Group network. This month we talk to Lee Sheridan of Teamworkz, the whl.travel local connection for 15 destinations in Laos, Thailand and Cambodia, where he is also the Green Path Transfers local partner.

Silvana Nicholls and her husband, John Nicholls, were some of the earliest local partners to join the whl.travel family. They launched their Vanuatu destination portal in November of 2005 and have been strong collaborators ever since. She arrived on the island of Vanuatu in the South Pacific in 2001 and spent the first three years on the volcanic island of Tanna before moving to the capital city of Port Vila on Efate Island, where she and John still live.

Every month, we delve into the travel experiences of people in the extended WHL Group network. This month we talk to Laura Payne of Outdoor Albania, the whl.travel local connection based in Tirana, Albania.