My name is Sharon and I am an introvert. I enjoy being alone when Joe is at work. I prefer to write than talk. Being in a large group of people, or talking to people I don’t know, is not fun for me. Neither is small talk. You name the rest of the criteria for being an introvert, and I am it.
Before Joe and I became “us,” I had no qualms about traveling solo. I still don’t mind it at all; I just prefer to travel with him, as I’d hope would be the case for most couples.
When I travel solo, I’d still just as soon not talk to a whole lot of people. Nothing against them…it’s just that, as an introvert, small talk with strangers isn’t my idea of a good time. I’d rather look at my phone, read a book, or whatever.
We’ve gone over some travel-related topics that introverts might find interesting:
- Why I don’t want to stay at the St. Regis
- Pros & cons of guided tours
- You can now fly and never even see another human being
That last one was particularly interesting to me and followed the trend I discovered years ago: during solo travels, there are some places are easier to be alone, and not have to talk to people, than others. Walt Disney World is not a good place to try to avoid “peopling;” strangers will start up conversations in line, while waiting for a parade, etc. (what is wrong with these people? LOLOL! Kidding!) New York City, despite its crowds, actually is good for introverts, because native New Yorkers generally mind their own business and rarely talk to strangers, unless approached.
These are some other good places for introverts and others who would rather be left alone while on vacation:
Virgin Voyages, Florida, Barcelona, Athens
Joe and I have been on a Virgin Voyages cruise together, and I went one more time with a friend (1:1 conversation is easy peasy lemon squeezy for most introverts). Here are some of the things we’ve written about the award-winning cruise line:
- We wanted to like Virgin Voyages, we really did!
- 36 things Virgin Voyages doesn’t tell you about their cruises
Virgin’s an excellent cruise for introverts. Instead of being assigned to a table, you eat as you would at a regular restaurant; at a singular table (heads up: exceptions are the Korean place, which seats people at 8-top tables, regardless of how many are in their original party, and Test Kitchen, which seats parties at long, multi-group tables). They also don’t have a solo surcharge. Finally, there are so many places to hang out by yourself…on the hammock on your balcony, quiet areas where you can curl up with a good book, places to sit and peoplewatch, etc.
Alcatraz Federal Penitentiary, San Francisco
If you’re a fan of jail/prison movies, Alcatraz is the place to go. You have to make a reservation for your preferred date/time, which is when they ferry you to the island known for housing the likes of Al Capone, Machine Gun Kelly, Mickey Cohen and others. Once you arrive, you can do a walking tour, complete with headphones and an audio track…the perfect way to not have to talk to anyone! 😉
Everglades National Park, Florida
Some of the more popular national parks, such as Yosemite, Yellowstone, the Grand Canyon, etc., are teeming with people. Don’t worry though – there are plenty of other national parks that have significantly fewer people or are just so large that even with lots of people in them, they’re spread out.
Case in point, Everglades National Park is one of the largest parks in the United States, so there’s plenty of space per visitor. You can drive through portions of the park, but others are only accessible via boats or walking. You can even go kayaking to remote locations that most tourists never see.
Assateague Island National Seashore, Maryland
This 37-mile-long barrier island is officially a national park. It’s known for its beautiful beaches, birdwatching, and places to go camping. You’d think that a beach would be overrun with people, especially in the summer. But Ocean City, MD is nearby and that’s where the crowds tend to go, leaving this beach open for those who’d rather enjoy being alone. Well, except for about 300 wild horses that roam the national park. 😉
Pico Island, Portugal
Pico Island is part of the Azores, an archipelago in the mid-Atlantic. There are no direct flights there from Portugal; visitors instead have to fly to Faial and take a connecting flight to the nearby island. Since getting there is a little more involved, the island doesn’t see nearly as many tourists are other parts of Europe.
Pico Island is well known for its wineries, and since Portugal’s highest mountain is on the island, you can get some amazing views, as well. Other highlights are the Gruta das Torres Lava Tunnel, Pico Lakes and the Ponta da Ilha Lighthouse.
Finland
A little off the beaten path, Finland is, much like Pico Island, much less touristy than other parts of Europe. The Finnish culture is perfect for introverts, with locals who appreciate peace, quiet and nature. Finland is also very safe for solo travelers.
London, England
Like New York City, London is another city that’s perfect for introverts who are OK with being in crowds but don’t want to talk to people. The city has coffee shops galore, and lots of places with bar seating, where you can eat alone, be left alone, and people-watch while enjoying your Pret sandwich or Costa coffee.
London is chock full of museums, which are naturally places for people to not converse. And if you want to catch a West End show, it’s much easier to find a single ticket for a popular show than it is to find 2 or more seats together.
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