St. Augustine once said, “The world is a book, and those who do not travel read only a page.” Odd as it is to take travel tips from a 4th-century saint, Augustine’s thoughts about expanding our horizons is timeless. Highly Sensitive People (HSPs) have an almost extra-dimensional ability to travel in their minds, thanks to their rich imaginations and deep mental processing. But traveling by planes, trains, and automobiles can be challenging for HSPs, who often do not miss a detail. So we’re going to explore some travel tips for HSPs who are eager to travel outside their minds.
Why Travel Can Be Difficult for HSPs
High sensitivity, also called sensory processing sensitivity, is a temperament found in about a quarter of the population. Although not a “condition” or flaw, it comes with challenges in addition to its many gifts.
If there were an umbrella challenge for HSPs, it would be the propensity for overstimulation and overwhelm. And why should we be surprised? HSPs are usually ten layers deep before the rest of the world jumps in.
They (we) can’t help it. Attention to detail isn’t voluntary. On the contrary, it is their (our) brains’ default mode.
And by detail I mean inside, outside, visible, and invisible. Yes, the HSP sees the person walking behind her. And yes, she has already picked up on the stranger’s emotional vibe.
Oh, and that fresh-linen dryer sheet wafting through the vent didn’t escape her, either.
Now fast forward to a typical travel day – Ubers, airports, crowds, constant noise – and the sensory details are now a tsunami.
Add in a new environment, travel companions’ expectations, and worries about the homefront, and the HSP may quickly hit overload.
If the HSP isn’t prepared, then overwhelm and stress can ruin a long-awaited trip – before it even begins.
Therefore, travel tips for HSPs have a dual purpose: to indulge the gifts of high sensitivity while preventing overwhelm.
Solo Travel: The HSP in Her Element
High sensitivity isn’t a sentence to isolation; and yet, if anyone is going to savor solo travel, it’s probably an HSP.
Some people wouldn’t think of traveling alone outside of a business trip. But HSPs, if they’re prepared, can have the time of their lives traveling solo.
Here are 3 HSP travel tips for a solo getaway or a trip with a like-minded companion:
I have a favorite place that calls to me on a regular basis. If I can escape to Chatham, Cape Cod for even a few days, my soul thinks it has gone to Heaven.
Sure, I’ve gone with my husband; but even he knows that Chatham is “my” place. It’s where I go for restoration, peace and quiet, and creative indulgence. It’s my “happy place,” my timeless interlude with nature and its reminders of what is essential.
No matter how many times I go, it’s as if the experience is brand new to me. Because it is. As part of this mindful travel sojourn, my intention is to slow down and immerse my spirit in nature’s rhythm. Everything is about “right here, right now.”
As much as possible, I avoid technology. My cell phone, however, gets to prove its camera power. I love photography, and escaping to Chatham is my cherished opportunity to capture the way I see the world.
While some people set up easels and paint the beachscape, I paint through my camera lens. Photography is my storytelling, my journaling, my way of saying “thank you for this new memory.”
Perhaps what I love most about photography is the way it reveals different interpretations of the same subject.
While one person may step back and snap a photo of an entire building, I love moving in for the detail. I’m intrigued by the chipping layered paint on the century-old door. And the variations in lavender and blue when the sun angles onto the hydrangea bush hiding around the corner….I also meditate and practice yoga in spaces that inspire and calm me – which could be almost anywhere in Chatham.
When I treat myself to these Chatham getaways, I am in my element as an HSP. Travel is simply the means of getting me to my favorite place to just “be.”
There is another form of travel that is similar to mindful travel. Slow travel embraces the concepts and techniques of mindfulness while intentionally not using “fast” means of travel.
It’s about getting off the beaten path and immersing yourself in nature and local culture. Instead of taking planes, trains, and other speedy forms of travel, you walk, ride a bike, go horseback riding.\
And you linger where you are, allowing yourself to build familiarity while leaving the memory of your presence.
Mackinac Island in Michigan is an ideal slow-travel destination with its car-free streets and horse-drawn carriages. By leaving behind many of the conveniences of your daily reliance, you, too, can become lost Somewhere in Time.
And that’s the whole idea.
Retreats for HSPs and introverts
Wouldn’t it be fantastic to enjoy traveling without having to explain to your travel companions why you need time alone? Or why the idea of a jam-packed itinerary would be the bane to your entire trip?
Well, you’re not alone. There are actually retreats created specifically for the needs and yearnings of HSPs and introverts.
Yes, you can go to amazing places like Sedona, AZ and have an experience that caters to your high sensitivity. And being with other HSPs means you won’t have to do all that dreaded explaining.
Of all the travel tips for HSPs, especially those who want to travel solo, HSP retreats have your sensitive needs pre-accommodated.
HSP Travel Tips To Make Any Trip Easier and More Enjoyable
Remember what I said about the biggest challenge HSPs face?
Well, if you weren’t “stressed about the stress,” where would you go? What dream destinations would you check off your bucket list?
Below is a list of travel tips for HSPs who don’t want the threat of overstimulation and overwhelm to ruin their trips:
- Do your research.
If you’re going to a place where you’ve never been before, get as much information as you can ahead of time.
Download maps of the areas you’ll be visiting. Research any special laws or customs such as attire, tipping, bargaining. And make sure your technology and electronics (cords, chargers, etc.) can be accommodated.
Will you be staying in a hotel, Airbnb, hostel? What transportation will you be relying on? If you plan to rent a car, for example, you’ll want to know what side of the street you’ll be driving on!
Collect information on activities, destinations, admission fees, and hours of operation.
Basically, familiarize yourself with as much as you can ahead of time. And consider downloading and printing out essentials like maps, important phone numbers, major sites of interest, and itineraries.
- Have your travel day well-planned and leave plenty of time.
The worst part of travel is, of course, dealing with all the logistics of getting from point A to point B. And, if you haven’t traveled in a while, airports and stations can seem daunting.
Familiarize yourself ahead of time with the check-in process, connections, gate locations, expected crowds, etc.
Download any relevant apps (airline, Uber, Airbnb) and familiarize yourself with them before the big day.
Finally, research what payment methods are accepted in the airport. Many no longer accept cash for food and gifts.
- Have your homefront organized and clean before leaving.
Nothing is more stressful than leaving children and/or animals behind when traveling. Planning for their care well in advance will help tremendously to mitigate any natural worry on your trip.
It’s always better to be over-prepared than under-prepared, especially when it comes to those you love.
So have all necessary emergency information prepared and accessible at home, and enter all important numbers into your phone. Meet with sitters well in advance to go over your kids’/pets’ routines and ensure all parties are comfortable.
Finally, cleaning your home a couple days before you leave will make your return so much easier and more welcoming.
- Make your itinerary sensitive to sensitivity.
If you are traveling solo, this will just require some forethought to your personal interests and needs.
But, if you’re traveling with others, interdependence and communication will be your guiding light. Everyone deserves to have a wonderful time, and that starts with being clear about any special considerations.
If you are traveling to a major city like Paris or Rome, you may need to pre-plan alone-time to recharge. Making your high-sensitivity needs clear ahead of time will prevent unnecessary assumptions and/or hurt feelings at your destination.
- Create balance.
Likewise, what, how, and how much you schedule will be critical to your enjoyment. Rome wasn’t built in a day; not all of it has to be seen in a day, either.
There are people who love to hit the street running when they arrive somewhere. But that’s not likely for an HSP.
Depending on what your travel day has involved, you may do best to go straight to your accommodations. Give yourself the grace of settling in, taking a nap, having a light meal, maybe going for a short walk.
Not every day needs to be a gusto day. Major sightseeing and activity days will be more enjoyable and memorable if balanced with slower, easier days.
Some of your best memories will undoubtedly be made in the slower moments of taking in your destination’s sensory delights. Sitting at an outdoor cafe, for example, is an ideal opportunity to people-watch and write in a travel journal.
- Pack “sensitivity essentials.”
If you can’t physically be alone, you can at least do the next-best thing.
Create your own private Idaho with sunglasses, noise-canceling earplugs, Airpods and a playlist, and/or a good book.
If traveling by car, take your favorite pillow and a blanket so you can cocoon when not behind the wheel.
Also, drink a lot of water. Be sure to keep water and snacks with you at all times.
- Wear comfortable clothes.
One of the 4 pillar features of high sensitivity is sensory specific sensitivity. HSPs notice everything, and that goes for tactile as well as visual and auditory stimuli.
Itchy, binding, uncomfortable clothing, no matter how fashionable, will drive an HSP nuts, especially when traveling.
Carie Bradshaw may have been able to run around NYC in Manolo Blahnik stilettos, but that’s a high price for fashion.
Think comfort, ease, versatility, non-wrinkling, layering, and repeat wears. Don’t we all overpack, only to wear the same few items and nix the shoe collection and jewelry?
Keep it simple, but do pack some of your favorites to give you a sense of comfort.
- Build in naps.
Yep. Right in the middle of your expensive excursion. An hour (or whatever you need) every day will make all the difference in keeping overwhelm and exhaustion at bay.
- Explore on your own.
Just because you’re on a trip with a spouse or friends doesn’t mean you can’t schedule time for solo jaunts. Taking a couple hours on your own in the middle of a bustling day is a fabulous way to personalize your vacation.
Shop, visit a museum, have coffee with a local, sit under a tree and journal. Do whatever you want to do that is just more enjoyable with no one else tagging along.
That’s the sensitive way. And you’ll be the quiet envy of your friends.
- Give yourself buffer days before and after travel.
These are your “preparing to launch” and “coming back into the atmosphere” days. Save yourself the anxiety of working until the last minute and then returning to work as soon as you get back.
A little breathing room can do wonders.
Prepare for Landing: End-of-Travel Tips (until next time) for HSPs
With all the world’s wonders beckoning our attention, it would be a shame for high sensitivity to stand in the way.
Whether you’re planning a getaway for yourself or an excursion with others, your sensitivity should enhance your trip, not hinder it.
With this in mind, you will open your life to the thrill of travel.
It really is a beautiful world. And it can’t wait to share itself with a sensitive soul that will appreciate it.
