UPDATED FEB 2020. Fun fact, I’m super shy, very much introverted, and always a bit awkward. Sometimes people are surprised that I love to travel alone so much, but I think it’s perfect for introverts. Think about it, you get lots of quiet time for yourself. It can be challenging though to balance the love of alone time with wanting to meet people while you’re traveling. Today’s post is full of tips on solo travel for introverts to achieve that balance.
Solo Travel For Introverts – How To Chit Chat If You’re Shy And Awkward
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Is solo travel good for introverts?
When you think about it, solo travel is tailor-made for introverts, right?
We tend to be comfortable with our own company and content with a quiet dinner and a good book, or a slow travel day out and about.
Introverts can oftentimes avoid many of the challenges that can come with solo travel, like loneliness for example, but that’s not to say there are no challenges.
Though you’re more comfortable alone, it can be tricky to get out and talk to people. That’s one of the best parts of traveling in my opinion, so here are some tips to help you in that area.
1. Ask for advice
When I am traveling I always ask people for advice.
Maybe it’s how to pronounce a word (usually ‘thank you’ because that’s the first word I want to know when I travel), or perhaps it’s a recommendation for good things to see, do or eat in the area.
Whatever it is, I always like to ask advice from either hotel staff, waiters or waitresses or people I meet when I’m out and about, provided they’re not super busy of course.
It’s a good, safe-bet option for getting a little conversation into your solo travel day because you can ask people in service roles who you are already interacting with, as opposed to just talking to a stranger on the street type of thing.
Sometimes asking for advice has ended at asking the question. Other times it’s turned into a good conversation. There have even been times where it’s turned into an invite for coffee and even surf session.
I find it easy to ask because I’m always genuinely interested in whatever I’m asking and there’s less pressure because the person can just answer the question and move on if they don’t want to talk.
2. Have a few icebreakers up your sleeve
For other times where you are able to strike up a conversation with someone who isn’t busy at work, it’s good to have a few icebreakers up your sleeve.
This will help you from being struck by a case of the awkwards.
My personal favorite is ‘what’s it like to live/grow up in [place]’ and then I just listen.
I’ve always done this when I’ve traveled, whether it’s asking someone at a local at a bar, asking my tour guides when on private tours, chatting with other tourists on tour buses or owners of smaller businesses I’ve stayed at or visited.
Inviting people you meet for a coffee is another good option.
I love to hear people’s stories and I love going deep. Small talk isn’t my thing, so I enjoy these conversations the most.
That’s the thing with this, it’s important to have icebreakers that you’re genuinely interested in otherwise it will just seem fake.
3. Take a day trip
Just about every time I travel solo I take at least one day tour, whether it’s something like a walking food tour in Lisbon, sightseeing tours in Cappadocia or a VIP tour of the Colosseum in Rome.
For me, it’s a great way to support a local tourism company, see sights and learn about them from a guide. It also forces me to get out and chat with people.
Sometimes as introverts, we can be so comfortable with our own company that we can go all day walking around without chatting to people. I like adding these types of experiences into my travels to remind me to strike up a conversation.
I’ve had so many good memories on day tours around the world and met so many wonderful people on these types of tours so I highly recommend adding one to your solo travel schedule in each place you visit.
4. Consider a group holiday
Another option for putting yourself out there while solo traveling is to book a group tour holiday.
I took one in my early travel days which was a 2-week tour in America and it was a really fun experience.
I ended up hanging out with a group of awesome women that I’m still friends with and we made a lot of great travel memories together.
A group tour can be a great option for the introverted solo traveler, especially if you are just beginning your solo travel adventures. They allow you to meet people but also hide in the background while the extroverts take the spotlight so it’s kind of a win-win.
Go for 2 weeks maximum to make sure it’s not too overwhelming and aim to make good connections with fewer people on the bus – quality over quantity.
For tour options, some of the most popular are Contiki, G Adventures, and Intrepid.
5. Choose the best accommodation for you
Personally, I like a private space to wind down at night. I usually opt for my own hotel room and I usually stay in mid-range rooms that allow a nice, private space.
When I am choosing accommodation, I usually use Booking.Com to find deals so I can save a little money in that area of my travel budget.
This way I am out and about talking to people during the day and I can have some quiet time at night by myself. It strikes a really good balance for me.
The thing is though, that you need to find what suits you best.
If you want to give hostels or backpacker style accommodation a try, it can be a good way to meet people. Just check the room size and go for a smaller amount of beds per room so it will be less overwhelming for your introverted self. For example, 4 bunks per room option would most likely be less intimidating than 10 bunks per room.
6. Find your balance
I think the most important thing to remember when traveling alone as an introvert is to find balance – whatever that means for you.
You need to balance your comfortable alone time with putting yourself out there.
It’s good to add some things that make you feel a little scared, like talking to people, just as much as extroverts need to add uncomfortable things, like being alone.
This is where personal growth happens – outside of the comfort zone.
I think it’s really important for that reason, but also because it opens you up to being able to have some extraordinary travel experiences.
At the same time, you need to practice self-care and allow yourself a balance between scary and comfortable.
I like to always have my alone time to wind down at night which helps me balance the outgoing stuff during the day and balance day tours with solo travel exploring days.
The important thing is to find whatever works for you.
When it comes to solo travel for introverts, my biggest tip is to find what works for you
Other solo travel guides you might enjoy
How To Get The Courage To Travel Alone When Everyone Says You’ll Die
The Solo Travel Mindset – 5 Things To Get Over Before You Travel Solo
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Thanks for the tips. I don’t do much solo traveling but they’re useful for even being a little more outgoing in everyday interactions.
Thank you so much for checking it out Nicole! I’m glad they’re useful!