Navigating Group Travel as an Introvert: Our Top Tips
- There are several ways to make group travel as an introvert a smoother and easier process. The Women of Road Scholar Facebook group had a few suggestions to offer.
- Our top tips include selecting programs with enough downtime (like Independent City adventures), selecting a single room and breaking into smaller groups during meals.
- By planning ahead and incorporating time alone into the schedule, introverts and extroverts alike can thrive on Road Scholar adventures!
A common topic of discussion on the Women of Road Scholar Facebook group is traveling as an introvert. Even if you enjoy making new friends and being a part of a group, almost everyone can find themselves needing some quiet time alone.
If you’re feeling a little nervous about traveling as part of a group but still want to be immersed in the Road Scholar experience, here are our top travel tips for introverts!
Select the right program for you
Our programs range in activity level, duration, location and academic focus, so there’s an adventure for everyone. One thing to consider when selecting your program is the itinerary — day-by-day information is available on the Road Scholar website for each adventure, which can make it easier to judge if a program will be suitable for you. For example, are there pockets of downtime where you might recharge your social battery?
An especially great collection of programs to consider is our Independent Cities adventures. These explorations offer lectures and expert-led discoveries while also incorporating plenty of free time, which you can use to experience these cities on your own or take time to relax without missing out on any academic opportunities.
Choose Your Own Room When Enrolling
Rooming with a friend or an assigned roommate has a lot of benefits — it’s often more cost-efficient (and you have a built-in friend for your adventure). However, if you’re an introvert, it might feel overwhelming to come back to your room after a busy day and share your downtime with another person. Several Road Scholar women in our Facebook group agreed — if it makes you more comfortable to have your own space, selecting a single room upon enrollment can go a long way towards making your experience all the more enjoyable.
Pro Tip: See our collection of learning adventures where there's no extra charge for single rooms.
Take advantage of travel time
If you’re on the road on a learning adventure, chances are there will be downtime as you travel from place to place. Maybe you’ll be riding a bus across a city or spending time at sea between ports in different countries. Often, these moments will be filled with learning opportunities provided by your expert leader, who may offer lectures or additional information en route. These are excellent times to sit back, relax and listen, instead of feeling pressure to actively engage with others. There will be plenty of time for discussion over dinner!
Break Into Smaller Groups During Meals and Independent Time
Sometimes, you don’t need to be completely by yourself to feel recharged as an introvert, you just need to be in a smaller group. There are often opportunities to bond with your fellow Road Scholars throughout your adventure, including during mealtimes and in independent explorations. Take that time to connect one-on-one or in groups of three or four, which can feel more manageable and create valuable bonds
Know you’re not alone
As the Women of Road Scholar Facebook group can attest to, there are many introverts who enjoy exploring the world with Road Scholar! It’s not uncommon to have hectic moments on any travel experience, but with a little preparation and ensuring you have moments to yourself throughout your adventure, there’s no reason a Road Scholar program can’t be the experience of a lifetime for introverts.
