JOMO: The Joy of Missing out
- By Simpson Travel
- 19 May 2025
- Where to go
Move over FOMO, 2025 is the year of JOMO. Time to embrace the sweet art of doing nothing...
Being constantly connected helps us manage busy lives, but the never-ending stream of information and exhortation also creates anxiety, a.k.a. Fear Of Missing Out. From hacks to hot tickets, the pressure to keep up feels real, even if we’re not always sure what we’re trying to keep up with. FOMO is exhausting and worse still, it’s self-inflicted. If you’re teetering under the weight of too little time and too much choice, we have good news: 2025 looks like being the year we’re calling out a collective ‘no’ to FOMO and embracing its grown-up sister JOMO instead.
JOMO - the Joy of Missing Out - puts you back in control, where you can flip the narrative from ‘should’ to ‘could’ and focus on the here and now instead of the next big thing. It’s got nothing whatsoever to do with laziness and everything to do with saying no to the things that don’t matter, creating more time for the things that do. No tick lists. No must-sees. No top tips, and in reality, no missing out. Dolce far niente, as the Italians say: the sweetness of doing nothing.
JOMO resonates with us at Simpson Travel because exploring ‘the road less travelled’ has always been a cherished part of our portfolio, embodied by our Simpson Secrets collection. You might not want to go full cold turkey and say bye bye to wifi for a whole week, but we know some very lovely places where life is still lived very much in the moment rather than online, releasing you from the constant need to check in. So if you’d rather have Joy than Fear on your agenda this summer, here are our top suggestions:
Broadly speaking:
Cats outnumber the permanent population of people on this petit paradise, and Paxos is all about being rather than doing. Yes, there are some lovely walks but the concept of an itinerary is sublimely redundant. From late breakfasts to early nightcaps, there’s nowhere in particular you need to be. The only timetable is the local bus and the ferry to the next island, both of which are more of a guideline than a promise, so just find a table at your favourite waterfront taverna, relax and enjoy island life as it was meant to be lived.
Best for:
Couples, retreats, romance
Bonus: Hire a boat and potter round the coast: low effort, huge reward
"How does Paxos make 2 weeks seem like two months, I don't know but it does. From the moment you step onto the island you are immediately taken to a world of peace and tranquility, the hustle and bustle of home left behind. We just couldn't have asked for more, thank you." Mrs Sandra Bickmore, Villa Asteri
Broadly speaking:
Mochlos lies tucked away at the most easterly edge of the Mirabello Gulf, a blissfully undeveloped part of Crete where time moves slower and life feels richer. True, it takes a little longer to get here, but the journey rewards you with a unique blend of hospitality, authenticity and natural beauty. Wild, dramatic and romantic, this is Greece as it used to be: tranquil, traditional and timeless.
Best for:
Couples, nature lovers, spirit of adventure
Bonus: Mochlos has a fine selection of tavernas for such a small place, with a warm welcome at every one.
“What a wonderful place to escape to. The villa is perfect. All the tavernas we ate at in Mochlos were excellent... apart from a few visits to Ierapetra for supermarket shopping, cafes and shops, we really didn’t do anything much. Relaxing by the pool, reading books and playing cards. Just what the doctor ordered! The only noises we heard were the birds and the sea – bliss! A very special place.” John & Kate, Villa Ilios, Mochlos
Broadly speaking:
France is the most visited country in the world, yet there are countless sleeping beauties if you know where to look. With landscapes reminiscent of Tuscany and a reverence for ‘proper’ French cuisine, you might expect more of a crowd in glorious Gascony, but this peaceful region seems virtually impervious to the passage of time. Sunflower fields surround medieval bastides and there are few towns to speak of, but you’ll quickly fall under Gascony’s spell, even without a glass or two of its world-famous Armagnac brandy.
Best for:
Families, foodies and true Francophiles
Bonus: Despite all that amazing food and wine, so relaxed is the pace here that the people of Gascony have the highest life expectancy of any region in France!
Broadly speaking:
Just half an hour from the tourist town of Marmaris, Akyaka is everything that over-developed resort is not, set in a beautifully unspoilt landscape bounded by protected forest and a wetlands conservation area. In 2011, Akyaka became part of the international Cittaslow movement, which commits to improving the quality of life for residents and visitors simply by slowing everything down to a more human pace that works alongside nature rather than trying to tame it. The result is irresistibly relaxing.
Best for:
Couples, explorers, nature lovers
Bonus: For a very Turkish evening meal, ask your concierge to book you into one of Akyaka’s atmospheric riverside restaurants and enjoy the freshest of fish in a superb location.
Broadly speaking:
We have to be honest here and say that the villas and views on Meganissi are so jaw-droppingly gorgeous for the most part that you might be tempted to break any digital detox resolutions and post a few shots. But for those in search of a laid-back pace as the backdrop to their luxury accommodation, diminutive Meganissi is deeply seductive – all you have to do is surrender to its sleepy charm.
Best for:
Villas for couples, families, multi-generation parties; understated luxury, natural beauty.
Bonus: Spartochori port in the pink and gold spectacle of sunset is a sight not to be missed, with fantastic views of over Spilia Bay, Lefkada, Skorpios and mainland Greece.
"The island is small but that makes it so much more of a personal visit as you arrive on the sea taxi shuttle; you don't feel you have to rush around; the group of restaurants in Vathy suits every choice. There is no real sense of a touristic destination - you are visiting a place real, with local shops and supermarkets." Mr David Cropp, Villa Genesis, Meganissi
Broadly speaking:
The people of the Mani claim to be the direct descendants of the warriors of Sparta, and there’s an undeniable fierceness to the wild landscapes of the Deep Mani. The coast is craggily spectacular, dotted with the distinctive Maniot tower houses that recall a time when strangers were altogether less welcome. A few of these houses have been resurrected as discreet holiday homes, but many are hauntingly abandoned. It’s a truly peaceful and other-worldly place: the embodiment of JOMO.
Best for:
Explorers, romance, couples
Bonus: The peninsula is dotted with with a few bijoux little ports where you can stop for a meal, a swim and a fair chance of spotting a turtle or two just off shore.
“The Deep Mani & Kyrimai take off the beaten track to another level. Living in the very slow lane with magnificent scenery & a supremely comfortable base was just heavenly. The hotel staff could not have been more indulgent, the building as charming as anticipated. Our concierge Arvin was so helpful with suggestions where to eat & routes to investigate. A most relaxing experience from start to finish.” Mrs Sarah Lees, Kyrimai, The Peloponnese, Greece
Broadly speaking:
Off-the-radar Ithaca has no airport, and the short ferry ride from Kefalonia is the perfect way to wind down into JOMO mode. Life here is slow and simple, spiced up by excellent local tavernas and even some Ithacan wine. It's wonderful for walking and watersports, with a couple of local providers offering guides, equipment and instruction if needed.
Best for:
Family time, couples, active holidays, nature lovers, history fans.
Bonus: From ancient myths to local folklore museums, Ithaca is steeped in history, the perfect place to slip off grid for a week or however long you need.
