15 Travel Tips Every Introvert Needs To Know

If you're traveling with a group, you may want to opt out of some of the activities (ideally, the least important ones). Like, maybe you don't have to go to group dinner every night. Or if they are going to see something you have no interest in seeing, it's fine to stay back and recharge.

"You may get FOMO, but allow yourself to deal with it instead of giving into it. Spending time alone replenishes yourself, and that's really important," Helgoe explains.

Group tours are great, for people who like group tours. "But most introverts are actually passionate observers, which means that they are fine being in the midst of people — as long as they are not part of the crowd," explains Helgoe.

That means that you may actually prefer simply wandering around on your own and catching the overall vibe of your destination yourself, instead of having someone tell you all about it. Otherwise, if you're worried about missing out on crucial info, try tour apps instead, like Detour and Field Trip.

Hostels are a great way to meet people, but many introverts aren't super interested in all of that socialization — so staying in a private Airbnb is a great solution. "Plus, remember, introverts love to observe, so staying in someone else's home feeds the observer in us," Helgoe explains. "It really provides the authentic experience we crave."

Bed & breakfasts are a great way to get a dose of the local culture — except when the hosts insist on showing you around too much, or trying to make you "feel at home" by talking to you all. the. time. Helgoe's advice: Call ahead.

"I usually call in advance and explain that I'm looking for a place where I can be alone, and then ask them to explain how they work. Like, are there group breakfasts, or is it ok to eat solo?" says Helgoe. The hosts will usually be pretty honest with you, so it really is best to be direct about what you're looking for right from the beginning.

Coffee shops are very attractive to introverts, as they're the perfect spots for quiet observation. "I often base my travel plans on the presence of good coffee shops," Helgoe reveals. "I love places where I can sit and write and observe and draw; I will look for those kinds of places where you can have a hot drink by yourself, and sit comfortably and eat." And you should, too.

Also, pro tip: Coffee shops are usually filled with people who know about all the cool stuff happening around town. Ask your barista or even a patron about the best bookshops, or the quiet restaurant tourists don't know about, and they are likely to have an answer.

"Knowing that you have a familiar thing with you is generally comforting," explains Helgoe. And that comfort translates to an ease of travel throughout your whole trip. "It can be certain slippers, or a cozy robe, or a pillow — whatever," she says.

Aww.

For example, before you go to Paris, read Hemingway's A Moveable Feast. "Introverts are true idea lovers, so trying to find the places mentioned in the book and recognizing the cultural references truly enriches the whole travel experience," explains Helgoe.

And that learning process is really important to your overall wellbeing while you're away. "We think of vacations as somehow vacant," she continues, "like a time when we are not supposed to think. But the richest experiences are often the ones where we are learning about the new world we're immersing ourselves in," she continues.

Click here and here for more ideas about what to read before you go.

Getting behind a lens is an easy way to interact with people without having to focus on small talk — a big ugggh for introverts. "Documenting a moment behind the camera is a great way to experience it without having to be fully there in terms of the social element," says Helgoe.

Her advice: Choose an item you want to photograph, like cool doors or taxis, and take as many pictures of those things as you can on your trip. "Having something to keep an eye out for makes the whole trip more interesting," explains Helgoe. Plus, you can make a sweet photo album or wall display of your findings once you're home.

"They're a way to all be engaged in the same thing, but it diminishes the excessive small talk," says Helgoe.