I recently spent some time visiting Alaska with family. It was incredible! So beautiful. In fact, the photos on this post and the follow-up post about introvert travel are all mine! I hope you enjoy them. As lovely as the trip was, it was still crucial for me to consider comfort and accommodations for my sensitive, introverted nature. That’s what we’re going to spend some time on today! Get clear about what you need and want in order to fully enjoy traveling as an introvert. What other tips do you have? I’d love to hear them. Leave a comment, or connect with me in a coaching call!
My Most Important Introvert Travel Tip: Prepare!
As a highly sensitive, introverted woman, I want to make sure that I know what to expect at almost every turn. As much as I can, at least! So, something that helped was planning *mostly* everything ahead and doing a lot of research. Honestly, I love to read blog posts from Pinterest on the places I am going to and buy Fodor’s travel guides. Have you ever used those? They’re great!
Of course, a lot of information like this is available on the web, but having a book in hand to make notes in and bookmark is lovely. You can use this preparation to make agendas, schedules, menus, plans…whatever! This post, and the next one, will focus on introvert travel tips around food and accommodations, and then activities. These sorts of vacation ideas for introverts have been helpful for me in the past. So, I hope you find them helpful as well.
Introvert Travel Tips, Part 1: Food and Accommodations
Accommodations and Considerations:
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Sea otters in a boat ride through the Kenai Fjords in Alaska I have to travel with people I feel very comfortable with and know when I need time to rest/recover and won’t have a problem with it. This is key to being able to actually unwind and feel like the trip is worth it.
- I need privacy. Ideally, I need to have my own room and own bathroom. The exemption to this might be when sharing with my niece if there are 2 beds and the space is comfortable enough.
- Make sure you have looked over the place you are booking with the people you are traveling with beforehand so that you can all talk over what spaces you each are taking so that will not be a source of conflict when you get there.
- Book an interesting Airbnb with amenities that you prefer, even if it’s going to cost a little more or be in a location you weren’t planning on considering.
- For example: a fully stocked kitchen with pots and pans, board games, and kids’ stuff if needed. Or, look for a space with amenities that can be used for entertainment, such as a porch for reading or a pool.
- Bring sanitizing wipes or buy some when there to make sure your space is clean but also so that you know you have proper cleaning supplies before you have to depart.
- I like places with a washer and dryer so I can “try” to pack less and feel confident I can always have clean clothes
- Plan on keeping your other usual routines such as skin care at night, doing guided meditation, and/or reading a book. This will help you feel more grounded and “at home”.
Food for Introvert Travel:
- I pack snacks/food and a cooler bag to carry cold drinks and snacks. Or, if flying to your destination, bring open snack containers so that I have food I prefer and more than the average pack of airplane peanuts.
- I realized that something that helps me feel more like myself is to choose some days to make my own food at home (Airbnb) while also trying local places. This is especially helpful because I am picky about what I eat and have food sensitivities. Even if you don’t, it’s still nice to have those comforts of home and routine that can be so helpful.
- I love looking for local coffee shops that are cute and interesting. Also, try the local ice cream! Yum.
- Fun Food Activity: Imitating local delicacies in your kitchen at the Airbnb so that you can try local food but without going out and being able to switch out ingredients and flavors if needed.
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Next week, we’ll dig into how to plan the activities and other aspects of your travels, plus the things you should probably consider when you return home. I really hope these vacation ideas have been helpful for you so far, my introverted friend! As an HSP coach, I would love to help you figure out more tips and tricks to live your best possible life as an introvert. Let’s connect about what you might find helpful! You can learn more about my radical introvert coaching program with this free, Radical Introvert Audio Training “How to Find Peace in This Fast-Paced World”. When you’re ready to take action, I make it simple to book a free, 30-minute consultation call with me. I can’t wait to hear from you!
