Navigating Group Travel as an Introvert: Our Top Tips
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 feel immersed in the Road Scholar experience, here are our top tips for introverts!
Select the right program for you
The most important thing is to feel confident about the experience you choose. 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. Take a look at the itinerary — are there pockets of downtime where you might recharge your social battery?
An especially great collection of programs to take a look at 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 rest 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 is often more cost-efficient, and you have a built-in friend for your adventure. However, if you’re an introvert, you might feel overwhelmed coming back to your room after a busy day and sharing your down time with another person. Several Road Scholar women in our Facebook group agreed — if it would make 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.
See our collection of learning adventures just for solo travelers.
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, so 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 meal times and in independent explorations. Take that time to connect with other Road Scholars one-on-one or in groups of three or four, which can feel more manageable but still create valuable bonds.
Know you’re not alone
As a post in the Women of Road Scholar Facebook group with over 130 comments 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 making sure you have moments to yourself throughout your adventure, there’s no reason a Road Scholar learning adventure can’t be the experience of a lifetime for introverts.