Highly Sensitive Person Travel Tips

People who know me well are sometimes surprised that I travel as much as I do. My husband and I traveled/lived around the world for all of 2013, going to places like Mexico, Cuba, France, Hungary, Poland, Bosnia, Bali, Australia, Thailand, Cambodia, Hong Kong, and Japan on a budget. Prior to this trip, we’ve spent time in the Middle East and South America.

Since little things tend to bother me more than the average person, you’d think independent travel would be more difficult than it is for non-sensitives….and it probably is.

Here are some of my “highly sensitive person travel tips” for budget travelers:

• Make sure you have the HSP Travel Survival Kit: eyeshades, earplugs (try the Mack’s brand), and sunglasses, and if you are hardcore, maybe a neck cooler or personal fan.
• In hot climates, splurge for a room with air conditioning.
• Avoid hostels or shared rooms. Get your own room. AirBnb is great for renting full apartments which help you feel more at home.
• Give yourself downtime to relax, read a book, or just wander. Take a nap in the middle of the day to recharge from sightseeing.
• Research things ahead of time. The more you know, the less anxiety you’ll have about something unexpected taking place.
• Don’t feel like you have to see every tourist site. The best parts of most vacations aren’t the sites you see, but the interesting stories. (When I went to Peru, the most memorable thing wasn’t Machu Picchu, but rather getting robbed in Cusco. Hah.)

  putting on a wet wetsuit in cold weather is pretty much the worst feeling ever

• What about tours? I avoid organized tours because I like to explore on my own be in control of how I spend my day. Others may like tours because it removes the anxiety of having to plan things on your own.
• When you are going out exploring for the day, plan ahead and carry anything with you that you might possibly need: a sweater/jacket, umbrella, hat, sunscreen, insect spray, water, band-aids, a snack, water, or anything else that might make you more comfortable during the course of the day.
• Buy health/travel insurance if it will help you avoid extra anxiety.
• Take a taxi from the airport to your hotel instead of trying to navigate local transportation in a new country. A taxi might cost more, but after a long flight, you just want to get to your hotel.
• Make sure the person/people you are traveling with understand your feelings and needs. If you say “no” to clubbing and drinking all night, they’ll understand it’s not because you are boring, it’s because it’s overwhelming to you. (Well, maybe you are boring, but that’s another story.)

• Try to stay in one city/town longer rather than moving quickly from place to place.

  uh-oh, looks like someone is all templed out.

• Give in to the fact that there will be times when you will be uncomfortable and there’s nothing you can do about it, no matter how well you prepare or plan ahead. When I know I’m going to be uncomfortable, I handle it much better than when I’m unprepared. For example, I knew I’d be covered in insect spray, sunscreen, and dripping sweat at Angkor Wat, and I was fine with that. But when I got caught in a sudden rain downpour in Budapest wearing inappropriate footwear, I did not deal with it well.
• Use the $10 rule. When spending an extra few bucks can make your life much more comfortable, stop worrying about the money and do it. Decision time: take a taxi, or walk to your hotel in the searing heat wearing a heavy backpack? Get a taxi! If it’s only a little more dough for a lot more comfort, DO IT! (The awesome $10 rule is from Chris Guillebeau, who has visited every country in the world.)
• Collect airline miles so you can redeem points to fly business/first class on long flights. When you upgrade, air travel changes from an awful cattle-car slog to luxury. You also get access to airport lounges when you fly business/first. Trust me, it’s a total. game. changer.
• Don’t feel like you need to “keep up” with what other people do. There are no rules to traveling. Go at your own pace and do what you want to do.