Many jump to the conclusion that people with more introverted personalities are shy and that they shun crowds and unfamiliar situations. Travelling introverts are advised to choose quiet, contemplative destinations, and to avoid group activities. Well, I’m an introvert and that kind of advice just doesn’t fit for me.
I think part of the issue is that the vast majority of people are not on either extreme of the introvert – extrovert continuum. Most of us fall into the large middle area with either more introverted or extroverted tendencies. Some people are ambiverts, having an equal number of introvert and extrovert traits.
If you’re unfamiliar with the whole introvert vs. extrovert thing, this quick explanation and checklist from the Myers & Briggs Foundation will give you some idea of how your personality leans.
In terms of the travel advice for introverts out there, some of it generally makes sense, but a lot of it doesn’t go beyond the surface stereotypes. Some examples:
Avoid Crowds
I understand where this advice is coming from. It assumes you’re an extreme introvert who gets overwhelmed by noisy crowds. Admittedly, I’ve had to get out of some densely populated situations on a couple of occasions when travelling.
One time we accidently stumbled upon the Christopher Street Day Parade (aka Gay Pride) in Berlin. The streets were wall-to-wall with people, it was noisy, there was jostling. I needed to duck into a nearby department store for a bit because I wanted to slug someone (note: I have violent feelings when I feel too hemmed in, but have NEVER actually slugged someone).
On the other hand, we attended London Pride this past spring and I thoroughly enjoyed it. There were likely around the same number of people in attendance as in Berlin. What was the difference? I wasn’t mentally prepared for the parade in Berlin—I was thrown into it. I had already been walking around in the bustling city streets all morning and was already in need of some down time.
Introvert tip: Know what you’re getting into ahead of time. If you’re headed to a big event, do some research to see where you can stake out a bit of space for yourself. Plan some alone down time following the crowded event so that you can recharge.
Attending Pride London was great. We found a not-too-crowded spot to watch near the end of the parade and had a great time.
Tours aren’t for you
I used to believe this one. As an introvert, I used to think any kind of group tour would be torture. Turns out, some tours work really well for an introvert. If you’re on the introverted side, you are likely more comfortable with predictable routines. Lord knows I score high on this introvert characteristic (I go grocery shopping every Thursday and clean house on Tuesdays, for example – yup, really). Tours are great for routine lovers because you know what your itinerary is going to be.
But, what about being with other people all the time? This is where the introverted traveller needs to be careful. For me, the active/adventure tour is perfect because when you’re on a bike or in a kayak, you’re not interacting with others too intensely. On the other hand, you’re meeting others with a similar interest/background and so it’s easier to interact with strangers. As an introvert I will never strike up a conversation with someone sitting at the next table in a café. Being part of a tour provides me with structure and support to engage with other travellers. I’ve met some great people this way.
Introvert tip: If you’re going to try a tour, look for one that allows for a significant period of optional/alone time each day. Being able to recharge by the pool/ocean or to retreat to your room with a book will keep you feeling balanced.
We took a kayak adventure tour in Costa Rica, which struck the right balance between together and apart time from the group. We met interesting, lovely people on this tour.
Quiet, low-key destinations
I can do a quiet, low-key destination for a short period of time, but my favourite destinations are big, urban centres. I actually love busy streets and dense development. In big cities you can be anonymous and no one pays attention to you—an introvert’s dream.
I used to live in a very community-minded neighbourhood in Winnipeg, where neighbours stopped and talked to each other, organized block parties, and strolled the streets regularly. When Steve and I were ready to buy a house I wanted to stay in the area because of this vibe. Steve questioned me on this due to the fact that I never interacted with anyone on the streets and knew none of my neighbours. I agreed, but said that I liked the idea of that going on around me. I was only half joking.
Anyway, as long as I don’t have to interact that much, I prefer a happy, vibrant location to a quiet, low-key one.
Introvert Tip: Locations offering the best of both worlds are ideal. We often choose an Airbnb rental in a quiet neighbourhood of a large city—that way we have somewhere to retreat when the bustle gets to be too much.
On a recent trip to London, we stayed at an Airbnb apartment that was just far enough away from the hustle and bustle to give us some breathing room.
Are you an introvert? What kind of travel style works for you?
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Fabulous, I love this post.
I’m an introvert myself, much to the surprise of all my friends, doubly so given I travel solo (but in fact that’s why I travel solo, so I can be on my own, ‘lost’ in my environment without having to worry about what my travel companions are doing. In fact, you say this: “In big cities you can be anonymous and no one pays attention to you—an introvert’s dream.” and I love that wording! 🙂
“I wasn’t mentally prepared for the parade in Berlin—I was thrown into it.” -> yes, this. If I know what I’m getting myself into, I can prepare for it – travel has taught me that I’m quite a control-freak. But even so, things like party backpacker hostels irk me regardless of my expecting it. On a side note re accommodation, I’ll always tend to book places online rather than walking in en spec. That said, I’d far rather do a walk-in than phone. I hate the phone. I hate making phone calls. I find it so intrusive.
“If you’re going to try a tour, look for one that allows for a significant period of optional/alone time each day.” -> I went around China on a tour – some places are too ‘intense’ for me to travel solo, too ‘in your face’. I suspect India would be like this too. But this tour was very loose – we could pretty much be as active or not in the group as we wanted; all we had to do was be on the coach at the requisite time when we moved on to the next city. We didn’t even have to eat together in the evenings, tho most of us did.
The only thing I’ll say is as an INTP rather than (I assume) an INTJ -> “If you’re on the introverted side, you are likely more comfortable with predictable routines.” I am, and as I said earlier I’m a control freak, but my P-ness is very strong. I like to keep my options open, to the extent I’ve had situations where I’ve woken up not knowing what country I’m going to be sleeping in that evening (it could have been any of three!). What I always have however is a ‘sketched plan’ – it doesn’t matter what I do, only that I know in advance how to do it. This also ensures I have as little interaction with people as possible to ask where I went wrong … 🙂
Thanks so much for your thoughts! It sounds like we have similar travel styles. You summed up my feelings about the phone perfectly — so intrusive. I always think that people should have an option whether to talk to someone else at the moment or not. Yes, I am all about routine. My husband laughs at me because I have a weekday coffee mug (for when I’m at work — but I work from home) and a weekend mug when I’m relaxing and not at work (but still, at home). That sums it up, eh?
I am more of an introvert than an extrovert. I like all kinds of travel and enjoy urban experiences. I am not particularly comfortable in large crowds but I’ve enjoyed myself at many crowded and noisy festivals. The key for me is to have periods of quiet time alone to recharge and reflect and rest.
The crowded and noisy festivals/locations is hit and miss for me. If I know what I’m getting into and can prepare myself for it, it’s much better.