10 Ways For INFJs To Travel Happier

 

Last year in 2019, I rediscovered my INFJ personality type and it’s helped me understand and accept myself in such a productive way. As the rarest type, I always felt like a misfit in a world that didn’t understand me. Having my thoughts and feelings validated in a way I could never articulate was empowering and helped me to finally feel less alone.

INFJ is one of 16 personality types identified by the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) personality assessment. Each letter represents a preference for how you interact with the world with INFJ representing Introverted, iNtuition, Feeling, and Judging. Alternative combinations include Extroversion, Sensing, Thinking, and Perceiving. 

INFJs account for only 1-2% of the population, and as a result, we often feel alone, weird, and like we don’t fit in. As introverts who rarely interact with strangers anyway, we become even more isolated and alone because of those limited opportunities to meet people who really understand us. But the truth is, INFJs have a wild, adventurous, (and even twisted) side that most people rarely get to see. That often includes a love of travel.

We are seekers who want to understand the world, the people around us, and even ourselves on a deeper level. Travel forces us to be vulnerable and present in the moment in a way that delivers those connections we’re always craving. It’s almost like our lives are stories, and exploring outside our comfort zones sparks adventures and character developments we couldn’t have written sitting at home.

Travel is a powerful teacher. It helps us face our fears and overcome our anxiety by reminding us that most people are good, the world isn’t that scary, and when we do finally leave our cozy nooks for the wild unknown, magical things can happen.
Click to tweet

As an INFJ with a love of exploration, I wanted to share my favorite introvert-friendly travel hacks so you can feel less overwhelmed and ever ready to write your next adventure.

..The vagrant owns the whole vast earth that ends only at the nonexistent horizon, and his empire is an intangible one, for his domination and enjoyment of it are things of the spirit.

― Isabelle Eberhardt, The Oblivion Seekers

...

  Stay Somewhere Cozy

INFJs want to feel at home, even when we’re away from home. I love Airbnbs because they have a cozier feel than a hotel, and it supports the local economy instead of a big hotel chain. You can use the filters on the Airbnb website to find lodging with a full kitchen, washer, and dryer so you have every comfort you would have at home.

As introverts with an extroverted side, we still like to have some human interaction when we feel up for it. By booking a private room in a shared Airbnb or even a hostel, you can have the best of both worlds and choose when to interact with people. Just look for places with good reviews. Airbnb also has a “Superhost” search filter that will connect you with hosts who go the extra mile for their guests and are usually great resources for local travel tips.

I’m a big fan of Airbnb because it’s allowed me to travel full-time for almost a year now.

If you’re not on Airbnb already, you can use my affiliate link for up to $65 off your booking.

You don’t have to use Airbnb, though. There are lots of creative ways to find lodging including bed and breakfasts, pet sitting jobs, home exchanges, furnished sublets, and coliving spaces.

Travel Slow

INFJs like to make deep connections with places and people. We don’t want to do the generic, touristy stuff. By staying longer in one place, we can create a routine that makes us feel comfortable and at home while experiencing the area like a local.

My advice for traveling slowly is to book an Airbnb for a month or more. Some Airbnbs give monthly discounts so a 1 month rental can actually end up being cheaper than 2 or 3 weeks. 

If Airbnbs in your destination are overpriced, check their competitor VRBO (Vacation rentals by owner). Another great option is Landing apartments. This company supplies a network of fully furnished apartments without long-term leases in popular cities around the US.

You can also offset the cost of monthly rentals by splitting the rent with friends.

One challenge with long-term travel is that many people (especially Americans) only get 1-2 weeks of vacation per year. If you’re not allowed to work remotely and you’re interested in working for yourself and having more control over your time, I have a book and a course that teaches creatives how to start freelancing like me.

No matter how long you’re traveling, try to include “buffer days” before or after your trip if you can. One or two days off at home can be really helpful in preparing yourself for your trip or adjusting to your return. 

Live Like A Local

When you first arrive at your destination, exploring the neighborhood around your home base is a good way to get oriented and comfortable in your surroundings. A simple walk or a drive can be great for this, or you can look for nearby bus, bike, and walking tours.  If I’m near the water, I love riding the ferry or water taxi around just to get a feel for the area.

Avoid touristy, over-priced experiences by seeking out more intimate options. Airbnb Experiences offers activities hosted by local experts in small group settings.

There’s another service called couch-surfers where travelers can look for free, rudimentary lodging. While I don’t recommend couch crashing for INFJs who need more comfort and space, they also have an events section. If you’re in the mood to socialize, this is a great way to meet other travelers and like-minded friends.

Meetup.com is a good option for meeting locals with similar interests. It lets you search for nearby events and groups based on your favorite hobbies.

Hostels can be a great resource for local events, or even just a nice place to sit and read a book or drink coffee. I used to attend a silent writing group at my local hostel and I loved the opportunity to do something solitary while still being around interesting people.

Try Glamping

Glamping is the art of upscale camping (glamorous camping) that includes extra amenities and services beyond just a tent space and a bathhouse. INFJs love spending time in nature and it’s one of our favorite ways to recharge, so glamping is a great way to spend time outdoors but still feel like you’re on vacation. Through sites like Glamping Hub, HipCamp, Under Canvas or Airbnb’s “unique stays” filter, you can find all kinds of awesome options like yurts, tipis, canvas tents, and treehouses.

Go On A Road Trip

Road Trips can be a great way to wander across your own country or somewhere new. I love road trips because it gives me the chance I need to stop overthinking, turn on some music, roll down the windows, and just enjoy the view.  Some of my best, most creative ideas come to me when I’m driving and letting my mind wander.

Outdoorsy is one great way to rent an RV, trailer, or campervan from local owners, but if you’re really committed to traveling on a budget, you can always rent an SUV or a van. Just throw in an air mattress, an electric cooler, and a portable cooktop and let the journey begin. 

If you’re taking your own vehicle, many companies also sell pop-up tents you can install on your roof.

Avoid Crowds

INFJs are very empathic and it’s easy for us to absorb other people’s emotions and get overwhelmed. Something as simple as a stranger walking past us can swarm us with confusing thoughts and feelings, and sometimes it’s hard for us to tell where a certain emotion is coming from. For this reason, crowds can really drain our energy and increase our anxiety so it’s helpful to take them in small doses.

Google maps has a “Popular Times” feature for many tourist locations and restaurants that shows you the busy days and hours in real-time. You can use this feature to visit your bucket list destinations when they’re the least crowded.

Public transportation like airplanes can be really uncomfortable for me when I’m sitting next to a talkative stranger with no escape. Big, obvious, noise-canceling headphones can be a great tool for blocking out distracting noise and sending the message that you’re not open to chatting.  In my experience, small ear-buds just don’t have the same effect.

Plan Alone Time

Even though we secretly love people, INFJs need a lot of alone time to recharge. Make sure there’s room in your schedule to just relax alone and do something soothing. If you don’t have a private rental or room where you can decompress, try to build in opportunities to spend time alone. This could mean sitting under a tree at a park, going for a walk or a drive, anything where you’re alone in your own space without any noise or distractions.

My favorite way to spend time alone is setting up my hammock at a local park and listening to music or reading a book.

As the social chameleons that we are, constantly adapting to social situations can be draining. INFJs often struggle to ask for what we need, but if you’re traveling with companions it can help to let them know that even though you enjoy spending time with them you need breaks to recharge. You’re not being cold or aloof, you’re just restoring your energy.

Work On A Project

INFJs love to learn and we can be very task-oriented. Planning your trip around a purpose will help you overcome anxiety and focus on completing a task, like following in the footsteps of your favorite author, digging through ancestral baptism records at a local church, or visiting the set of your favorite movie. Too many tasks can be overwhelming so I don’t recommend planning your whole trip this way, but just one goal can give you something to focus on and look forward to.

We are creative personalities so if you need ideas, consider drawing a sketch of the local buildings, taking photos of the sunset, or collecting postcards to bind into a travel journal. We have a habit of over-complicating things so keep it fun, simple, and easy. 

You can go even simpler and just set an intention for your trip without knowing the steps to get there. For example, maybe your intention could be asking one stranger about themselves, buying a token souvenir from a local market, or trying a food you’ve never had before.

Conferences and retreats are also great for INFJs because they include a balance of group activities focused on growth and learning with the flexibility to spend time alone. The lodging and meals are often included which can give our busy minds the space we need to just relax and enjoy the trip without the guilt of feeling lazy.

Explore Introvert-Friendly Destinations

Introverts are the minority across the globe, but I’m confident that every destination has introvert-friendly experiences to offer and each one is worth exploring. As long as we’re in a safe environment with pockets of solitude, friendly locals, and natural beauty we’re usually pretty happy.

I was curious, though, which countries have the highest population of INFJs. It turns out that the 16 personalities website has a world map of personality types that lets you search based on personality types and other traits.

According to them, INFJs are the most common in Portugal, Italy, Brazil, Chile, and the Caribbean. My favorite person (my boyfriend) is an INFP so also it’s fun to look at what countries have our most compatible types too. 

I do think it’s important to understand and connect with people and cultures who are vastly different from us, but this map might be a good tool when you’re ready to feel more at home.

Balance Structure And Flexibility

INFJs are walking contradictions who need structure to feel comfortable and grounded, but flexibility to feel free and excited. We are feelers who get stuck overthinking, and that can lead to overplanning so many details that it kills the fun.

You can find balance by booking your lodging and having some go-to transportation options but keeping the rest open to spontaneity and what you feel like doing in the moment.

As a photographer, I still like to research points of interest by reading travel guides, checking “Things to Do” on Tripadvisor, and scanning the tourism board’s Instagram account. Instead of adding my favorite spots to a structured itinerary, I save the locations into a custom Google map (called My Maps) that I can check whenever I’m ready to go exploring.

  

INFJs are naturally intuitive, but we’re prone to anxiety which interferes with our intuition and causes us to overthink.  Even though we excel at thinking, our real power lies in our ability to make decisions through feeling.  We need enough comfort and structure to tame our anxiety while leaving enough room and freedom to follow our instincts down paths less traveled.

If you found these tips helpful or if you have some of your own, please let me know in the comments or send me an email! I would love to hear from you.

  Actionable Steps

Stay somewhere cozy

Book an Airbnb (Look for homey amenities and Superhosts)

Get a private room or an entire place to yourself

Travel slow

Stay for a month or more

Add buffer days to the beginning or end of your trip

Live like a local

Explore your neighborhood

Try Airbnb experiences, Couch Surfing events or Meetups

Try glamping

Check Glamping Hub, Hipcamp, Under Canvas or Airbnb “unique stays”

Go on a road trip

Check Outdoorsy or Google maps for camper rentals

Avoid crowds

Use Google Maps “Popular Times” feature to explore during slow times

Use noise-canceling headphones to avoid unwanted conversations

Plan alone time

Find solitude

Ask for what you need

Work on a project

Set a goal

Do something creative

Set an intention

Try a conference or retreat

Explore introvert-friendly destinations

Look for safety, friendly locals, and natural beauty

Look for compatible personality types

Balance structure and flexibility

Book your lodging but keep activities flexible

Save points of interest to a map instead of an itinerary

  Book Recommendations

The following links are affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I will get a small affiliate commission at no extra cost to you.

Vagabonding by Rolf Potts

The INFJ Revolution by Lauren Sapala

How to Travel the World on $50 a Day by Matt Kepnes

  Resources Mentioned

MBTI Personality types: 16 Personalities

Lodging: Airbnb, VRBO, Landing, Glamping Hub, HipCamp, Under Canvas

Freelancing Advice: Renegade Freelance

Things To Do: Airbnb Experiences, Couch Surfing, Meetup

Camper Rental: Outdoorsy

Planning: Google Maps, 16 Personalities World Map, Tripadvisor, Google My Maps

 About Jenny

I’m an INFJ, writer, photographer, coach, and author of The Freelancer’s Guide To Upwork. I created this blog to inspire and motivate creative introverts to trust their intuition, follow their passion, and live a life worth writing about.  If you’re interested in working together I’d love to help. Email me and let’s talk about your goals.