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If you are anything like me, you probably live for the quiet moments in life. The moments when your mind is clear and you can really experience what is happening around you. Travel can bring us to these moments of peace and clarity. However, if you are traveling with another person or multiple people, those moments can be interrupted.
Those of us who enjoy traveling with a buddy or multiple buddies are putting ourselves in close proximity with another person (or people) with little escape. I travel with at least one other person about 80% of the time.
While I do solo travel occasionally, I find that being with another person often helps me to be more confident and try things that I may not have if I was alone. My friends and family bring help to bring out my personality whether they know it or not. I am often asked if I prefer solo travel as an introvert, and the answer to that is, it just depends on the place.
Traveling with other people as an introvert can be exhausting if you don’t make the time to recharge. There are ways to get that alone or quiet time in without missing out on anything on your trip.
I should note, that these are tips that I have come up with after figuring things out for myself. You may have had a very different experience from myself. Feel free to share your introverted experiences with me either by commenting or emailing me.
Be Up Front with your Travel Buddy
Chances are if you are traveling with someone, you know them pretty well. So it seems like it would be obvious to tell them that you may need some alone time every once in a while. However, as an introvert, you may worry about this leading to a confrontation. So you may decide to just stick it out and be social for an entire trip.
Don’t do that. I should say here that I either travel with my family or with friends. My family is pretty introverted as well (genetics…) so it is easy to get that alone time because we all need it.
It is more challenging with friends because I love to travel with my extroverted friends. Luckily they know me well and I can say that I want to go back to our room, hostel, whatever and they will be cool. If I want to go somewhere quiet like a café or bookstore they are down for that as well. I, in turn, go to loud places with them. It’s a pretty sweet deal because experiencing the quiet with the loud is a magical part of travel.
The takeaway here is that your main travel buddies should be people who get your personality and understand your needs and vice versa. You both want to be energized each day to have the best experience.
I don’t travel with a spouse or partner, but I am curious about how you travel together if one or both of you are introverted. Let me know in the comments!
Traveling in a Group
I have never gone on a group tour, but I did travel abroad twice in college and I imagine this is something similar. You are meeting new people and traveling together. This is different from what I wrote about before in that you don’t know these people previously. The horror.
When I studied abroad, I did know one other person in each instance, but it was still a challenge to learn how to navigate travel with complete strangers. I also felt a bit detached because I am the type to go to bed early (yes, I have always been this way).
Do you ever worry that people you just met will think poorly of you if you don’t participate in everything? Because, same. You have to choose what experiences you want to have and which you are okay with missing. If you need time to yourself, don’t be afraid to be open about it. Chances are, there are other introverts in the group who want to do the same thing.
My advice for group travel is to participate as much as you can, but don’t be afraid to dip out if you need a break. People will understand. They seem to become more understanding the older I get. Is that just me?
Recharging Your Introvert Battery
Introverts and extroverts recharge differently. Introverts recharge alone, while extroverts recharge by being social. Some people lie far on either end of the spectrum, while others are more towards the middle. It is important to know how you recharge and feel like your best self.
For me, I can recharge around other people by tuning out and reading a book. Hiking can provide quiet companionship and allow you some time with your own mind. Visiting cafés and bookstores can be a nice quiet escape. Whatever floats your boat.
It seems ironic to say, but don’t be shy about what you love. Travel is about seeing what you want to see, so try to make time for what both you and your travel buddy(ies) want to see. Anyone would agree. Introverts just tend to not speak up. The struggle is real.
Introvert Recharge Starter Pack
There are some must-have items for the introverted traveler. Number one on my list is a book. I travel with my Kindle (even though real books are superior). Then you will need some headphones. People might still talk to you with a book, but headphones really solidify your don’t-talk-to-me demeanor. Although, if you want someone to talk to you, maybe skip the headphones, a good book can be a conversation starter.
An eye mask is really great for making sure that no one bothers you (especially on an airplane). Also, earplugs are great for when you just want to sleep. Both of these just happen to be must-haves for a hostel as well. Traveling with other people as an introvert may require you to shut yourself off for a bit or it may not. It is best to be prepared.
A good plan can go a long way for an introvert. It gives peace of mind and structure. I am actually pretty go-with-the-flow when I travel, but I know about a million different options for what to do on a given day. A plan can bring comfort and stability to the person who is always in their head thinking about what will happen next.
Never Feel Guilty
Does everyone else want to do something that is outside your comfort zone? If you do not want to do something, don’t feel bad about saying no. If you want to push your limits, that is great, but never feel like you have to.
There is a bit of a negative connotation surrounding introverts. Never feel like you need to be more extroverted. Introverts can excel at being social without becoming extroverts. Similarly, extroverts are allowed to seek alone time if they feel like they need it.
Personalities are so complex. When I talk about introverts, that is such a small part of who we are that it would be silly to assume that it is the end all be all to who we are as people. Remember the other qualities you have that are strong and give you authority. Once you embrace all of this, traveling with other people will be a breeze.
Do You Feel Confident?
I always feel excited before I travel. When I think about being around someone else for days on end, I start to get nervous. The more I travel, the more confident I get in my ability to stay energized and excited for my trip. I guess practice really does make perfect (or close enough).
There are always up and downs when you travel. Perfect vacations are a rare thing indeed. Don’t expect to always find that downtime every day, but make sure that you fit it in as much as you can. Traveling with other people as an introvert can be challenging at times, but it is rewarding in the end.
How do you recharge your introvert battery when you travel? If you are an extrovert, how often do you like to have alone time? I am curious.
Like this post? Check out some of my other quiet content:
Traveling Quietly: How to be Quiet in a World that is Loud
A Quiet Girl’s Guide to Your First Travel Conference
Beautiful post. I’m also sort of an introvert. I like traveling alone. I agree with you when you say that you can actually clear your mind and connect with the moment better when you are alone. I often experience that when I’m alone and in the midst of nature. It’s so nourishing! I think we all should try to experience that as often as possible.
I definitely love that moment in nature when your mind is clear and you start to hear everything around you. You are right. Everyone should try to experience those moments alone! Even the extroverts.
Thank you so much for reading. I am glad that you enjoyed it!
Introverts do love bookstores! I mostly travel with my husband these days, and we travel well together. He is semi-introverted (or maybe also just a tad not very social in general). Because I have UC and need downtime and he likes to relax, traveling works well for us. He loves hotel chill time, and my body just straight out requires it. Tom usually heads to bed sooner (and I just don’t sleep as well) so I’ll read a book or catch up on social media for the blog; it’s actually perfect because as a travel blogger, you don’t want to be on SM for all of the trip, but chill evenings are perfect to check in with everything. The downtime keeps us healthy and sane too.
It sounds like you guys have a great system for traveling together! It’s great that you understand each other so well! You’re just the cutest couple!
Of course, bookstores are the best! I think that everyone should love them!
That first rule is so important, not just for introverts, but for anyone traveling with other people (particularly in a relationship)!
It’s much better to plan & expect some time apart before the trip starts, or at least at the beginning of a day, whether it’s a matter of needing space to recharge, or having different interests. Not everyone will want to be dragged along for every activity, so giving that space allows one person to go to museums while others go bungee jumping. If it’s expected ahead of time, then nobody feels bad on either side.
That is a great point! Planning ahead for things like that are important. You don’t want to get somewhere and then argue about what you are going to do. Making some things clear ahead of time is the way to go for sure.
I definitely want these tips to apply for anyone if they need them!
A post that resonated with us. Or, at least one of us! I’m an introvert while my husband is an extrovert. Traveling together over the years has helped us find the balance between our likes & dislikes. So, he’ll trudge along to a museum with me, while I’ll humor him with a trip to the local, noisy bar.
Your points are absolutely wonderful. With family, it’s easy to travel because we just kind of ‘get’ each other. With friends, I’ve luckily found a set of people who are okay with my introversion.
The part of recharging batteries is soo true! I need my me-time after a round of socializing or being in the middle of people, while my husband is like an energizer bunny!
For a long time, I worried about coming across as ‘unfriendly’ to people. Not any more. If people have to misread me, be my guest!
I don’t leave home without a book. Ever! 😀
I totally relate to people misreading me. It happens all the time. I just have to not let it get to me. I do try, but if I’m socially exhausted I have a really hard time hiding it.
I hope that I can find a partner who I can travel with! I love hearing about couples that travel together. It just sounds lovely.