Travel Tips for Introverts (From a Traveling Introvert)

I’m an introvert and I cannot lie.

That may surprise some based on my social media presence or even the limited interactions people have had with me in person.

I can really turn it on if I need to, even when I’m on the road.

If you can relate, you know how exhausting it can be to balance it all, especially while traveling. Sometimes it feels good not to be alone, even when you’re introverted.

I have some travel tips for introverts on what I’ve learned along the way to keep your sanity, your cool, and maybe even your positive attitude intact.

Set boundaries.

I’ve had some magical fun times with people I’ve met while on vacation.

These were usually unexpected encounters, often over a round of beer or whatever the cocktail situation was that day, making things a lot more comfortable for everyone.

Being an introvert, though, sometimes you just want to be left alone, even if “alone” means spending time with your partner or travel buddies.

Sometimes at the end of a long day of travel, you just want to eat a delicious meal or catch up on your stories.

You feel perfectly fine conversing with the folks you’re traveling with, as there’s a level of comfort there. You don’t necessarily want to engage with strangers, though.

That’s OK, right?

It may not seem OK, as there are so many travel bloggers out there who will tell you that you’re not truly experiencing a place until you’ve spent time with the locals.

Well, many of the same bloggers will also tell you that you can’t really experience a place unless you’re able to stay in that destination for months at a time.

It’s noise. Tune it out.

Choose your travel pals wisely.

A man goofs around with his close friend.

Being an introvert doesn’t mean you hate people or that you always prefer solitude over spending time with others.

I’m not a solo traveler, despite all of that expected turbulence one may encounter when traveling with me, apparently. I like being alone when I’m at home, reading the latest page-turner, or catching up on my Netflix stories.

When I’m traveling, I’m usually doing so with my husband or friends we’ve vetted as good travel buddies. While I’m not the best resource for solo travel, I know how to travel with friends.

Those travel buddies have to be cool with space as needed. They have to understand my travel quirks and be flexible enough both in the travel planning and in the moment so that the trip doesn’t end in disaster.

I’m lucky enough to have found my allies.

Choose the destination wisely.

There is no such thing as a single best travel destination for introverts. That said, some places are just going to be slammed with tourists all the time. Others are better left for off-season travel.

If you hate crowds, you probably don’t need to visit Rome in the summertime or a popular ski town in the winter. Those aren’t going to be the best places for introverts.

Note: That doesn’t mean these places are always off the table. We went to Rome in November. While it was still quite busy, it was nowhere near as slammed as it could have been over a school spring break or during the dead of summer.

You can still see all of the things as an introvert if you plan wisely.

Commune with nature.

Hiking trips are a great way to see some of the best destinations around the world and leave the crowds behind.

Even if you head to a popular national park like Yellowstone in the summer, you can find those special moments of solitude if you get off the boardwalks and hit the trails.

Then once you’re ready for humans, just find the nearest cafe at lunch. They’ll all be there.

Prep for interactions with others.

Travel by its very nature requires some necessary interactions with other people.

Unless you come from old (or new) money, you’ll need to share public spaces with people from the start to the end of your big trip.

You’re going to have to interact with strangers. I promise it’ll be OK.

It may even be enjoyable to a degree.

If you’re hanging out at a bar, having some bar snacks at a communal table next to a chatty group of individuals, it may be fun to engage with them.

If you need to share a ski lift or a gondola or a tram of some sort to get to that scenic vista, a little small talk likely won’t ruin your day.

If it feels right, get on with it already. If it feels weird, don’t force conversation because you feel like it’s what you should be doing. There are some men out there still trying to get me to smile for no reason.

Are you paying for my wrinkles later, sir?

What you should all be doing is enjoying your vacation. You’ve earned it.

Be flexible.

A woman poses on the top bunk with her dog looking at her from below.

I’m not only introverted. I’m also very Type A.

The thing is, travel brings along with it some level of risk and expectation that sometimes, you’ll need to roll with the punches no matter what happens.

Travel long enough and often enough and something will go wrong. You’ll probably be OK.

Note: I say “probably” here to account for the really awful, very bad things that can happen when you’re out exploring the world. More often than not, though, you’ll be fine.

Luggage delays happen. Illness happens. Flight issues, pickpockets, and a garbage time all happen.

They’ve all happened to me.

While it stinks at the moment, it does get better. It may color your feelings on that destination, and that’s OK, too. You don’t need to feel pressure to be all, “Everything is awesome!” all the time. That’s toxic positivity.

Be who you are, unapologetically.

I’m a big fan of doing things outside of your comfort zone when you think the end result will feel good and be worthwhile to your personal development.

I’m not a big fan of peer pressure and doing things just because you think you should which instead leaves you feeling exhausted by what you were pressured to do.

If you don’t feel like signing up for that big ol’ bus tour because your cup is empty, don’t do it. We’re all adults here. If you’re traveling with real friends, they can handle it.

In fact, they should know that’s not something you’re into before asking.

Find ways to recharge.

Whether that’s a round of goat yoga or a coffee break to kick off a busy morning, find activities throughout your travel day that don’t drain that social battery.

If I’m tired, I’m cranky. I’m nobody’s friend at that moment. Giving me that time and space to do my thing or prepare for YOUR thing will make for a better time for everyone.

For my solo travelers out there, you may still need to recharge after a day of travel on your own. Solo vacations for introverts don’t always mean lonely travel. You’re likely still interacting with people throughout your day.

That means some necessary mental rest even when planning solo travel for introverts.

Give obvious signals.

A woman walks away from the scene on a hike.

Some people lack self-awareness in an aggressive way, but that’s not your problem. That’s their problem.

If you’d like to help them solve that problem at the moment, you can pull moves like putting your headphones in if someone is being too chatty on the airplane. Heck, put on that face mask and feign a nap if the situation gets dire.

If you’re traveling solo and dining alone, bring a book along for an obvious cue that you’re not here to make small talk. If it happens anyway, stand your ground.

I’ve been working on owning my “no” lately, and this is definitely easier said than done. You’ll thank yourself for your bravery later, though.

Do your own thing.

A woman finds time to recharge on a beach in Alaska.

If you’re traveling in a group, it’s perfectly fine to break away from that group and do something you prefer.

I have friends who love to lounge when they’re traveling and others who suffer from FOMO if they’re not on the go 24/7.

I’ve had successful trips with both.

It’s about making any preferences known before a trip so that everyone involved knows what they’re getting themselves into. You can do your own thing for a bit then regroup for a meal or round of cocktails after.

If you don’t have another early morning in you, plan an easier start. Your friends won’t hold it against you if they’re able to go do the thing they wanted to do anyway. They just don’t want to be kept from doing what makes them happy.

Don’t buy into introvert myths.

When you tell people you’re an introvert, they tend to become very knowledgeable about the topic. They think they know you because of some preconceived notion they have about introverts.

I’ve already told you that there are different kinds of introverted personality styles.

Fun fact: Advice that works with one person may not work with another.

You may even display extroverted tendencies in spurts. For me, that sort of thing happens at wine tastings.

Don’t let anyone talk you into what you should be feeling or thinking or doing under the guise of being helpful. That’s super annoying, by the way. Why are you hanging out with this person?

Exit the comfort zone…if you want to.

A sign that reads, "What are you willing to risk?"

You’ll know when you’re willing and able to push some boundaries and do something you wouldn’t normally do.

You might feel nervous, but generally, that nervous energy is coming from a positive place that fuels you to try new experiences and meet new people.

That said, see the world however you’re able and don’t feel pressure to meet certain expectations about your travel.

In this world we’re living in, this crazy world, embrace the moment as it’s right for you.

Embrace your weird.

A woman poses with a gator at an art museum in New Orleans.

A woman laughs with a lobster in New Orleans.

I recognize that I can be pretty awkward upon first meeting. I’ve even told people that it may take a second or even a third hang-out session to truly understand what it is that I’m about and to embrace my quirks.

It’s fine. That kind of commentary doesn’t offend me anymore. I’m like a fine wine.

That doesn’t mean I can’t turn it on.

I can be downright charming when I need to be, schmoozing with the best of ‘em. I was a full-time journalist at one point, and then a full-time special education teacher for several years after that.

It’s exhausting to be “on” all the time, though.

I want you to see the real, unfiltered me, who can be witty and sarcastic, but also pretty awkward. It’s less work that way for everyone.

My real friends are also fine with a comfortable silence or allowing me to listen vs. entertain or tell stories.

They know I’m genuinely interested in what’s going on in their lives, and that I don’t need to share every bit of mine to feel a level of intimacy with that person.

Fun fact: When you’re meeting people during your travels, it’s OK not to feel that instant connection.

Unless you feel like you’re making some kind of long-lasting friendship, it’s fine to be yourself, even when your true self is a real weirdo. In that case, you might be able to get back to that necessary solitude sooner rather than later.

Not everyone can handle all of you, and that’s OK. The right time will come for people to truly get you.

Don’t believe the naysayers. Many introverts love to travel.

I know I do.

Introverts can travel just like anybody else. Depending on their individual preferences, they may plan a trip that involves more solo or group travel, or destinations that aren’t as overwhelming.

That said, travel can be stressful no matter your personality type. When things go wrong, the stress can feel amplified. You may find yourself with a shorter fuse if you’re “on” for too long.

It’s all manageable, though.

There is no right or wrong way to travel as an introvert or as an extrovert if you’re not harming anyone or being disrespectful in a destination.

I’ll leave you with a little something from First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt:

“Do what you feel in your heart to be right — for you’ll be criticized anyway.”

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