Solo travel is better for people who are comfortable with being by themselves, whether they're introverts or extroverts. Also you need to have genuine interest for the places you're visiting, travelling just for the sake of it, to "discover yourself" or to appear cool in social media will not be satisfying.

Also travelling for a few months will definitely make you tired because of all the moving around, planning, figuring out places, etc. The most I've done was 4 weeks and I was tired after like 10 days, had to take a vacation from my vacation so to speak.

Maybe your trips are too long? Solo traveling is great. For people who get lonely, perhaps it's better to have shorter but maybe more frequent trips so that they get some time back home to recharge. A couple of weeks at a time per trip.

No? I'm introvert, and i love that people aren't expecting me to socialize while I'm traveling solo. My trips are around 2 weeks though so maybe your trip is indeed too long? I don't have any issues talking to people if i want to, i just usual don't need to.

This isn't counterintuitive at all. Solo travel can be a very lonely experience if you don't have the energy or social skills to meet people

Hmm maybe. I’m an introvert and I love solo travel.

I can do what I want, when I want, and I don’t need to coordinate and wait on anyone else. It’s beautiful.

The only time I get lonely is during dinner, but thankfully takeaway food solves for that.

I’ve never really understood the desire to “make connections” while traveling. While I like the idea of making friends, the reality is that the vast majority of connections are pretty short-lived. I’m a lot happier not even bothering to try…I just do my own thing.

I’ve had the opposite experience, when I’m solo travelling I can choose when I feel like having conversations and socializing and seek those things out when I want. In contrast, when I’m with friends I constantly have to engage with someone even when I’m feeling exhausted. I’ve had so many incredible, deep, hours-long conversations with people I grabbed dinner with from a hostel without ever knowing their name or seeing them again - and I’ve made many long term friends this way too that I’ve since visited in their home countries.

To start, introvert ≠ shy & extrovert ≠ outgoing.

I'm very comfortable talking to others & can generally easily meet new people. I solo travel to be alone, away from others, so I don't have to make small talk & socialize. I go at my own pace, do what I want when I want, and don't have to worry about making any impression on anyone for longer than a moment.

It's what I love about solo travel, not having to deal with other people.

Edit to add that sometimes this sub has a raging hard-on for what hostel should I go to & what do I say to meet people when that's the exact opposite of what I want from my solo travel.

It's fine to enjoy meeting other people in your travels, but if you can't be alone with yourself for a week or two, you have a problem.

You should stop forcing your experiences into the narrow scheme of either introvert or extrovert. In clinical psychology, this dimension is used as a scale. And few people are either one thing or the other. It's also one of the few dimensions that can change throughout your life. All tests classify me as an introvert but because I've had to talk to so many people while travelling, striking up conversations with people is pretty easy now.

Introvert here, I find talking to strangers / locals when traveling, natural and easy.

I think, just have a little break from traveling, try not to overthink it.

If you travel with someone or in a group, you will wish you were on your own 😄

Eh idk I don't solo travel to meet people.

Both extroverts and introverts can enjoy solo travel. They should be aware of how their personality type might affect their travels tho.

Depends on your purpose. Some people go with intention make friends and then some hire people to socialize with them because they struggle socially or cultural, like Japan.

With I travel, my intent is to explore and experience my travels. If I socialize and meet people, good, if not, still good.

Point is, set expectations low and don't set up your trip for failure and disappointment, especially if you're introverted.

I’m an introvert but I become an extrovert when I’m solo travelling.

I’m probably never gonna see these people again so lesssgoooooo.

I am extremely introverted. Even being around my favourite people, I need weeks of being alone to recover. Being around people drains my energy like crazy.

I am super comfortable being alone. 

And when I travel, I don't make make friends or make conversation with strangers. Always live in hotels as I like privacy and silence and my own company. 

So I would say solo travelling is perfect for introverts.

I am someone who find having friendships and dealing with people a huge hassle so I keep as little people in my life as possible.

Less human interaction = Less headache = More peaceful life

I basically treasure peace over complications. And when you deal with people, it always add drama and complications into your life.

I am like that person you will meet in solo travel who will make polite conversation if you spoke to me and even if exchange numbers, I wouldn't respond when you contact me.

My mom has called me anti social since a child. 

I am the kid in the canteen when your school friends ask you to sit with them, I turn them down to sit alone happily.

But the reason I do this is extreme introversion. I am not even exaggerating how drain I feel around people. They are all like energy vampires and it exhausts me. I am just self preserving my energy to function. 

tbh as an introvert i found that solo travelling made me become more extroverted because i had to deliberately seek out and make connections when i wanted to socialize, rather than relying on old friends. i used solo travel as an opportunity for social skill building. and having come back from my trip i now find that introducing myself and striking up convo with strangers to be SO much easier now. it's such an important and amazing skill and this is literally the best time to practice it, because if you do defy a social more or the conversation turns sour, you're never going to see these people ever again and you can move on and try again the next evening.

The issue is not that solo travel is better for extroverts, the issue is that you want connection and people to share experiences with. There are people who solo travel to birdwatch, who cares. Not everyone needs to experience the TikTok wanderlust script when traveling.

You're an introvert, possibly all your life, so you might know at this point that for you connecting with new people, regardless if traveling or in "real life", is harder, because you have a lesser bandwidth to spend time with new acquaintances. I dunno, this whole post made me go a big "no shit, Sherlock" mentally.

Also, I am annoyed because I am an extrovert, and the post assumes that extroverted people don't crave real human contact lol as if we are shallow.

Judging from the volume of similar posts on this sub, 

If you're the type of introvert who paradoxically wants to travel because they want to make new friends, then yes, might not be a good idea. But that's probably because introverts suck at making friends quickly, no matter where you are.

If you're the type of introvert who just wants to travel alone, by god it's bliss.

I think you are mixing different things together. Take my perspective: I travel solo because it helps me connect to myself. I don’t seek connection with others during my trips. In fact, I avoid it.

Perhaps you are seeking connection on the wrong place for you.

I am an introvert and I love solo travel and I don't find it stressful. I actually don't seek connection with other people at all, I don't put any effort into it so I am not getting drained. What I have learned, it will still happen! And then it is just a nice surprise. At least I just sometimes meet people that I like to spend some time with. Sometimes they are the owners of my BB or cottage I am staying at, sometimes other people staying in same hotel, sometimes just a stranger on a street inviting for a dinner. It is rare. When I was travelling alone for months in east asia, I was basically bonding with any woman my age travelling alone because we are such a rare cohort so we have immediately something in common (only met like 3 of us in 3 months).

I feel it happens more in a place where the pace of life is slower, like country side. Or in a country where Western tourists are generally rare so for some of locals, I am a curiosity and in an otherhand it feels a treat to meet another Westerner as you might not see them for weeks.

Disagree completely. I love solo travelling but I think it’s because I just don’t get lonely or need that connection. That’s the whole thing I’m happy to buy food or go places but I don’t socialise with others deliberately 

I disagree with your mother

Not everyone who’s traveling solo is looking to meet people! I’m an introvert who loves to travel solo and I get so tired of this nonsense. Being shy or socially awkward is not the same thing as being an introvert, though there can obviously be some overlap.

Likewise being an extrovert doesn’t necessarily mean you’re great at making connections. It just means you have higher social needs, which can actually be bad for solo travel if you’re the type of person who despite being outgoing strikes out a lot at making real friends or if you get stuck in the wrong hostel.

Nobody has it “better” here, but everyone’s travel style needs to be tailored to their own needs. Your blend of social needs and discomfort talking to strangers may just mean that shorter trips will work best for you. I don’t travel to make connections with people. It’s not unusual for me to go an entire trip without having a conversation with new person and I’m perfectly content with that. Honestly, it’s pretty restorative. If I wanted to have a social trip, I’d join a group tour (which I’ve done and enjoyed), but it’s not what I want most of the time.

I disagree. I am an introvert and have had fun on solo trips.

It challenges me to try new things, step out of my comfort zone, and meet new people, whereas normally I would not do that in my day-to-day. I have had some of the most memorable experiences of my life on my travels! No regrets :)

Im a regular non-extreme introvert, and I think solo travel is perfect. I love meeting people and if i meet other solo travellers, i get to hang out with them completely on my own terms without worrying about abandoning my friend or family member in a foreign country when my social battery is dry. no one is ever offended or worried about me, or worried about entertaining themselves when i say "i've hit a wall, i need to recharge in a quiet place. do you wanna meet for drinks later?"

that said, a month is about my limit for a trip if i don't have any consistency (either staying in the same place, or travelling with the same people, then i can go longer). 3ish weeks seems to be the sweet spot before i start to just want my bed and my cat lol.

Solo traveling is for everyone whether you’re introvert or extrovert. You just need to be able to keep balance and have your goals for the travel clear. If you’re under constant pressure to meet and talk to people - you aren’t going to enjoy. However, if you allow things to unfold on their own - you will be perfectly fine. If you take tours while traveling- the chances are high to meet new people and start conversation with someone.

There is no “right personality” for solo travel, there are pros and cons to it all. There is more to just being introvert/extrovert and you aren’t factoring in the individual goals that are different for every person.

I’m a fairly extroverted person, but I don’t go out and seek solo travel companionship all the time. I’ve gone weeks not hanging out with other travelers. I still have enjoyed my trips all the same. You’re just lumping people into 2 polar opposite baskets and assuming they all think the same way.

Obviously, extroverts make contact more easily. Nothing controversial about that. That said, depending on where I go and the type of trip, I get plenty of interaction. Regularly to the point where I prefer a bit more alone time. If you're looking for meaningful connection, even extroverts struggle with that, shallow fleeting contacts are the rule when traveling.

The big advantage of solo travel is independence and flexibility, being able to make ones own decisions, pursue ones own interests etc. No debates and negotiations about what to do, no peer pressure to do or forego things etc. No obligations and no expectations.

Also, solo I'm far less harassed by touts and sales people. If things feel dicey I don't have to consider somebody else and can just bail instead of first talking about it and possibly negotiating and/or ignoring it because not wanting to overreact or because the other disagrees.

For me. i am totally comfortable on my own, as seems a lot of people that do it are also

I’m definitely an extrovert though, but i pick and choose when i want to be extroverted, which is the beauty in solo travel. Like for example, i love having my own time in day, going on day trips, exploring a city, whatever it may be, give me time to recharge the social battery’s.

Then by the time night comes round, im wanting to be social, and seek it more so just by seeing what’s going on in my hostel or booking something like a pub crawl.

But the way i do it doesn’t mean it’s ‘right’ at all. The best thing about solo travel for me is the freedom you get. I think it can work for introverts definitely, but if you don’t meet anyone on the trips, you gotta be confident you’re still gonna enjoy them. As someone else in this thread said, go to places you genuinely think you’ll enjoy and not just to find yourself or look cool on socials.

It depends on what you're using travel for. I don't use it to meet people. Sometimes I do happen to chat with people and we might hang out and trade numbers but that's not my goal. So I love solo traveling bc I get to see and stay wherever I want on my own timeline and I genuinely have a good time with myself. I leave my social interaction for when I'm home.

I plan trips for 1.5 to 2 months. I feel like this length gives me time to enjoy my trip at a relaxing pace. I’m mostly introverted, but enjoy meeting people without expecting to. I don’t have to be in a hurry to get anywhere and usually use the cheapest/slowest transportation as time isn’t an issue.

I’m an introvert and I love solo travel. :) And while I agree that some parts of solo travel can feel lonely, it doesn’t make it any less fun. Usually I feel this when I see a great view and wish I had a friend to show it to and even then I just snap a pic and send it to them then the feeling is over 😂

But then again, you didn’t expound on what type of connection you’re craving. Is this a romantic connection? Are you expecting to create a new lifelong friendship with someone whilst on these trips? If yes, it’s quite a challenge to expect any of these to form during a vacation and if it does happen I think it’s very rare.

Also, just to add - I actually have some very very extroverted friends who love to solo travel too and they see these trips as a “retreat”. Lol! They don’t socialize (“make connections”) whilst on the trip and they find that’s it’s actually their time to be quiet and reflect. So yeah, every solo trip is different and personal. I don’t think it’s between boxes of being an introvert vs. extrovert.

I think the region also plays a big role. I've solo traveled through Europe a few times and pretty much never made a connection that felt really meaningful. Meanwhile every time I've gone to South America, I've made some lifelong friends (as an introvert). On one of my trips to Brasil, I was tearing up at the end because I met so many people that I almost instantly connected with and had such a wide range of new experiences. There were def some dickheads in the mix and I thought I was gonna drown on the beach because I was too stupid and panicked to know how to get out of a rip current, but the positive far outweighed the negative. Choosing the right hostel can also make it easier to meet the right kind of people.

I was just thinking along the same lines. It doesn’t mean introverts can’t or don’t enjoy solo travel as much .. it just means extroverts have an easier time.

How long were you solo traveling and at what point did it feel isolating?

Do you have a difficult time approaching people and sparking up a conversation? This is a behavior that can be improved upon with practice. I cold approach people all the time and find that some people I click with and it’s easy to form a bond (even if temporary) and others I don’t and I keep it pushing. I’ve never traveled with someone (I’ve only ever done it solo) but I can’t recall a time I ever felt so lonely that it was unenjoyable. It may be because I spend just as much time alone when I’m home than when I’m solo traveling.

I think it’s fine for either type as long as your expectations are realistic.

Sitting and reading alone in a cafe is cute for a few times but at some point unless you already enjoy reading and going to galleries alone in your home city, it’s not going to be magically better overseas.

And if you have trouble warming up to people (either because you’re shy or don’t enjoy them) then hostels and group trips can be 50/50 depending on what you want from them.

OTOH if you just want complete freedom and don’t need much human interaction, then you’ll be fine (unless you learn that you do, in fact, miss human interaction…)

Yes! I actually avoid traveling with others besides an SO.

It’s the same in everyday life: valuable connections take time and usually grow naturally. So if finding those kinds of connections becomes a requirement for traveling, there’s a big chance you’ll end up disappointed, because meeting the right people is often simply a matter of luck. But if you can accept that traveling doesn’t always offer that, and that it doesn’t have to, it can become a much more relaxed experience.

I am a solo traveler, but I’m definitely feeling burnt out. Although I am a bit introverted, I do need some connection. I just hope there’s an extrovert out there that will find me😂

I think it works for both extremes

Meh. I’m pretty introverted unless I’m around people I’m comfortable with. I’m comfortable with my own company and am happy to solo travel. I’ll still have a connection with family while I’m away, so I’m not too bothered

As an introvert I love solo because it's easy to meet new people along the way when I want to. It's travel on my terms. I forced myself to talk to strangers and have met many interesting people and had several hour conversations with complete strangers and enjoyed it alot. 

I solo travelled in my early 20s totalling about 2 years. Easy and fun if you’re naturally chatty and I found I was rarely alone. Annoying as it is for my family, I really like chatting with strangers. People are so interesting.

Solo travel rewards people who treat connection like a funnel, initiate, filter fast, rest after.

So true

Solo traveling is definitely better if you to to Asia. People are more open, relaxed etc. In Europe that's not the case. I recommend you Thailand, Vietnam, etc.

I’m not trying to meet or talk to anyone when I travel. I’m on like day 10 of a 3 week trip now and have only interacted with hotel and restaurant staff.

What do you mean by connection anyway? Chitchatting with the strangers at the bar next to you? I don’t consider these temporary interactions to be “connecting”. I’m never going to have a “connection” with people in my every day life, much less people I briefly meet half way around the world.

I don't think either take is wrong - but you're both assuming that people travel to make connection and that's not the case for every solo traveller.

I am an introvert and when I solo travel, I am seeking even more solitude than I can find at home. I like to jokingly say, I desire to be violently alone. Solo travel allows me to even be alone from my "self" - aka the version of my self that I present to my friends, family, colleagues, the guy at the pharmacy who hands me my prescriptions, the clerk at my local grocery store, etc. You may be wondering if I need therapy for this - probably, and I am in therapy and take mental health seriously 😅

If I meet people while traveling who want company, I've always been happy to provide that because while I don't need company, I have compassion and empathy for people and I like learning about others. but if I don't connect with anyone, I am also 1000% okay with that.

If you’re dying to meet people and initiate conversations while solo traveling, I think you need to reexamine whether you’re truly an introvert.

Being an introvert doesn’t mean you’re bad at socializing… it means you recharge by being alone. It sounds like you are someone who needs to charge a little bit by socializing. So perhaps you’re an ambivert. Or an extrovert with social anxiety or social difficulties?

I don’t really ever look for social activity on trips and I never think about it. If a convo happens organically, cool, but I am 100% not bothered by spending the entire trip in my own company. Alone time is restorative for me, and I rarely experience the feeling that most people would call “loneliness.” The small interactions of ordering coffees or smiling at people in public is kinda all I need not to feel alone.

I would say solo travel is as perfect as it gets for true introverts. It’s like time off from the social demands of “real” life, where society makes it extremely challenging to carve out extended periods of alone time. I get more than enough peopling at home, whether I want to or not lol

Sometimes I will admit I wish I had that “perfect” travel friend to go with, where we could go off on our own when we wanted, and stay in different rooms, and who wants to go to all the same places as me… but I don’t think that person exists lol. That person is me.

Being an introvert and being shy/socially anxious are different things. I had no problem meeting new friends on my last trip, but being solo gave me option to be alone and recharge whenever I wanted. I think solo travel is great for introverts as well

My thought is that introversion and extroversion is not real. And if it is it’s a pendulum that’s always swinging

I’ve done two solos to Australia and Antartica. I only feel comfortable doing solo on ships. As a vaper I find that pax in smoking section are friendly and usually make friends there. Other than that I’m not outgoing and enjoy having my own schedule and personal space.

I am 94% extraverted apparently on the Personality testing websites and I absolutely agree with this yes!

I'm introverted but surprisingly I find it very easy to strike up conversations with locals. 

Strangely enough tho I found it difficult to meet people my own age. 

I think my experience travelling would be much more rich if I had a partner not necessarily if I meet people my own age. On top of that, a language barrier on a few occasions was the single thing preventing getting to know one another. 

You didn't ask for advice but I'd advise, if you are single, to get a partner.

I should note that it would also depend on how long or short you are staying in a particular location. The longer you stay in one spot I find it easy to bond with other men talking about and playing sports, I.e attending a social football meet up for example 

I hate the idea that for extroverts they "naturally strike up conversations and socialize" as if it doesn't require the same amount of effort. Perhaps the extroverts you imagine in your head aren't as attached to the outcome of chatting with someone new. Whereas you're coming in to every conversation and every social interaction with this preconceived hope that this new person will offer you something you want (this nebulous 'connection') When you're so attached to the outcome you lose sight of what you actually have in front of you.

Can you friends or family meet you and vacation where you are?

Also chatting with friends occasionally while you travel or the group chats if you have group chats with friends can help you feel connected

As an introvert, it’s honestly perfect for me. My trips usually last around 2 weeks, and I don’t travel with the intention of making friends… if it happens, cool, if not, that’s fine too. Nothing is forced.

100% get this coz I felt the same till I did this yacht trip in Greece. technically I went solo (after a breakup lol), but you end up living, sailing, and partying with a full crew for a week. it’s like instant community and you’re surrounded by people but still have your own space when you need it. kinda the perfect middle ground between solo travel and being with friends.

Never really thought about it. I identify as an extrovert and travel solo all the time. If I don’t feel social, I bring something back to wherever I’m staying to eat. I meet people all the time, and very comfortable alone.

Have you heard of Couchsurfing? I assume it’s still around. It might be a good idea for you. You’re guaranteed to meet the host, AND you can just hang out in the town or your host home if you want.

You’re also more likely to meet new people if you put yourself in a position to do so. I did a solo travel trip to Paris and stayed at hostels/couchsurfed, and met tons of people. I’m now in Vienna and stayed at an AirBnB and met no one. Context is important!

oh I'm introverted and love my own company. I love that I get to control when I interact with people and when I don't want to. My social battery exposure is exactly what I want it to be.

EDIT to elaborate: like other commenters, I work in a very extroverted-presenting job. If I do feel lonely and want to strike up a conversation while solo traveling to connect with someone, I can do so with minimal self consciousness and energy consumption.

I think it depends. Introverted or not, you have to be comfortable being solo for extended periods, and that's not for everyone. I'm not an extreme introvert but I'm definitely an average introvert. And I get all the connection and interaction I need at home, from close friends and family, pretty regularly. I travel solo to NOT have any connection. And I don't usually do more than 10 days because that's the point at which I start craving some real interaction = with my own friends, at home.

When I take a solo trip, it's specifically to detach and enjoy myself on my own terms, I'm not looking to make connections with strangers, I'm not looking for small talk, I'm not looking for anything. I eat alone. I read my book, I go to whatever sights or activities or museaums I want to, when I want to, if I feel like it, and then I go home at the end of the trip feeling recharged and not exhausted. It's lovely.

My bestie is an extrovert and hates solo travel because although she finds it easy to make conversation with strangers, that doesn't mean they're going to spend time hanging out with her and she doesn't enjoy doing activites or pretty much anything alone. She gets bored, which is fair.

My advice is to go with a friend if your goal is to meet other people as an introvert, and go solo if your goal is to spend time by yourself.

I’m an introvert who loves to travel solo. But I don’t have any need to connect to other people. I love exploring nature and walk around and I do have to talk to ppl to get food and stuff. But that’s all I need, go back and relax with a book.

I see where you’re coming from! Though how much of that is from your introversion vs your social anxiety? I lean heavily introverted but also have no issues in social situations. My social battery gets depleted quick, I take multiple days sometimes weeks to recover from a good social event, but when I do have social events I enjoy them and if I feel like meeting people, I can easily do that.

I think a lot of the lethargy I used to feel as well when I was younger and trying to fit into whatever transient hostel crowds I was around was thinking way too much about hypotheticals, like ‘what does this person think of me’ or ‘what do I think of this person’ or just sort of trying to rationalise or even justify spending energy meeting that person because I was hoping for some kind of result. Obviously if I decide to talk to someone it means I want to be their friend, so every move of mine is kind of dictated by that desire. Not sure if that made much sense.

Conversely, now, I find myself finding it difficult to give less of a fuck about how social interactions might end nowadays, especially transient travel interactions where I have absolutely nothing to lose. I feel like it makes talking to people feel so much easier when I don’t place any expectations on them or myself.

Ironically this attitude apparently made me more approachable because I seem ‘non-judgmental’ or ‘open’, according to some people I’ve randomly met who struck up conversations with me. But nowadays I’m finding that I also have to do my ‘RBF’ because I’m pretty much a hermit and don’t really want to be chatting with random people that often. A sentence or two is okay but man some yappers exist out there so careful what you wish for haha.

Introvert af chiming in - I love solo travel and feel it really forces me to push my boundaries and be more extroverted when I travel just to meet my (very small) social interaction requirement :) But then I can slink back into my ‘seclusion’ of doing things alone, I feel as though I have way more control of this balance when traveling actually. I’d give it another try / more time honestly, maybe it won’t work out, which is fine, just do shorter trips in that case?

Maybe, but most extroverts I’ve known don’t even entertain the idea of traveling alone.

lol as a fellow introvert I agree with you. If I can’t bring my husband along on a trip I really don’t want to go. There is something magical about sharing new experiences with someone you love. On the other hand it’s also great to sit in my house on a Friday night and just chill. I hate having to go out and interact with people it drains my energy so fast and is not fun or enjoyable. Not every person is ment to solo travel and I can completely understand why extroverts would thrive in that type of environment.

I think you are thinking about this wrong. Solo travel is many things for different kinds of people. If you have great social network at home and don't want to be on your own, it might be easier for you to stay with them. But if are an introvert living in some sleepy village, it's way better to travel. You forget that people will also talk with you on their own, so some might find friends even without trying too hard. Personally I travel solo all the time, but a big part of the trip is meeting people. I wouldn't want the whole trip to be alone.

Don't think all introverts are like you. We don't all want connection. Some of us are perfectly happy meeting no one. 

It depends. What if you don’t care about connections or it’s not even something you seek? Some people are fine traveling “solo”.

Following

This is a you thing.

Introvert here and I enjoy my own company. It’s why I travel solo, it’s why I live solo. And I am not lonely.

Why are so many solo travel posts about not being able to find friends while traveling?

Do you speak the local language? If not, it's harder to connect with locals.

Are you staying longer than 1 week in any location? Most people won't be able to connect with you.

Solo travel is about doing your own thing.

Solo travel is for the self-sufficient, whether introvert or extrovert.

I think you create the situation you want by actively choosing it. I’m quite introverted and I’ve traveled solo extensively for decades. There were periods in my life, mostly when I was much younger, when I wanted to make friends, sometimes travel with them for days or even weeks. So I sought out hostels and gathering places and made it happen. Now I pretty much prefer to be completely solo, so although I’ll engage in a friendly way with those I encounter along my way, I am generally reserved in a way that discourages further contact.

I've been solo travelling for a year and a half, backpacking around Europe and as weird as it may sound, I started as an extrovert and finished as an introvert. Solo travelling as an introvert is 10 times more exhausting and adding to the equation the lack of a routine and the lack of a place where to be low key "vulnerable" makes it even worse. Even if solo travelling is a great adventure, both extroverts and introverts struggle, but in very different ways. Solo travelling is great for those people who are a little bit of both or anyway for extroverts who can control their fomos.

Solo travel is perfect for introverts. It’s not about instantly bonding with strangers or partying like a raccoon on Red Bull. It’s about wandering, history, art, food, and actually experiencing the culture!

I’m half half, I’m definitely an introvert in new places when I’m alone. I spent a good 80% of my trip not talking with anyone and doing everything alone and I still loved it! While meeting people was great, it definitely wasn’t the highlight of the trip. My highlight was that I realised I could do things on my own and was capable of figuring things out. It depends on what you actually want on a trip. Partying, drinking and making friends? Or relaxing, exploring at your own pace, learning new things about yourself? There is definitely no two distinct categories

lol bro what you wrote doesn't make sense at all.

Your mother did only tell you something to make you feel better.

If you feel lonely, then even regular socialising in your city will not help you.
When you go socialising, it is quite common to start on the surface level first. This surface level is a level in which nobody gives a fuck about the other person. It's quite normal, as most people don't want to invest emotions into a person they maybe will not see again.

Solotravelling is basically connecting with other people on the surface level all the time.

i guess you should look into a mirror and ask yourself why you feel this way. Why is socialising on the surface exhausting for you?

I more or less agree.

I'm introverted but introverts get lonely too. Travel gives me an opportunity to show my more extroverted side with guardrails. I get to spend time with others, get to know their stories, share positive moods (we're all on holiday) and then after a few days it's over. Most of the usual exhausting stuff with introversion isn't a factor. I love it. I talked more during my trip last week than I usually do in 2 months, I bet.

One of my favorite vacations was to meet a group of travelers at a destination (England) with a shared interest in books about the Regency era. Discussions didn't invade my introverted privacy as the focus was on our shared subject matter.

Everything is better for extroverts lol.. the entire society is built for them

As an introvert who has solo traveled quite a bit, you are doing it wrong. People focus on solo traveling and connecting with other travelers in hostels or any other way. Those connections will most likely fade then you have to start over again and again and again. That is exhausting and most of us know this feeling. Solo travel is great for everyone, but the key to traveling solo and making friends for life is..... locals. Honestly when I travel I only focus on the locals as if foreigners don't even exist, and I don't mean that in a bad way. My first travels to Asia were phenomenal and I still keep in touch with most people. I got to not only make great friends but also learn about their culture and local way of life. I plan on moving to Asia soon and will continue to connect with locals even more.

Introverts just need solid travel strategies. They could include: 1. Travel slower so that you can become a temporary regular at establishments (cafes/restaurants), giving you a sense of belonging and connection with the staff. 2. Journal daily 3. Read paper books, not digital interaction (sets a different relationship to time, as you feel that nothing is happening in the moment needing your attention) 4. Get massages regularly 5. go to bathhouses/saunas/spas 6. Select the right destinations (countries with warm people or individualistic places, not extroverted places) 7. Follow your interests (gardens, gyms, cooking, bookstores) not tourist attractions 8. Stay away from the party crowd, families and tourist groups. Business hotels normalize being alone. 9. Get off the beaten path 10. Choose places that relax your nervous system or that intrigue you, not (necessarily) places with lots of sites and attractions.

Can't really agree. Although I also don't take months-long trips.

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I do have a firm rule of no hostels, and I generally pick places to stay in calm/quiet areas that are still accessible. I want excitement and socialization sometimes, but I want it on my terms, and my hotel is a place to recharge, not be surrounded by it.

I don't tend to do organized tours (beyond the very short for something you need a tour to see) or meetups either.

I don't tend to find it that difficult to meet people when I actually want to meet people. My happy place for that is a mellower bar or seeing some live music from the scenes I'm into, but it's not the only place I've made connections either.

Mother knows best.