Traveling is an exciting experience alone. The idea of seeking adventure and experience in a different country is indeed something to look forward to. But consider another possibility: what if you add romance into your travels?
For constant travelers, finding love while traveling seems like an impossible task. With all the moving and changing time zones, coming across a potential partner can be tricky, let alone maintaining a long-term relationship. But, as the old saying goes, all is fair in love. Whether you meet someone through a matchmaking service in New York or score a date at a local bar in Singapore, dating while traveling has many benefits and ways to clinch dates.
The Benefits of Travel Dating
If you’ve decided you want to try your hand at travel dating, you’re in luck since you live in an era of the Internet. Almost all dates and information about potential dates are available on social media and dating websites. But apart from the Internet advantages, there are also personal benefits that come with dating outside of your hometown. Consider the following:
- Gain a definite feel of the local culture
- See everything and learn about the city for free
- Make a good friend
- Find out the best restaurants and pubs in the city
- Have someone to spend most of your days with
With dating while traveling, you hit two goals with one stone. You’ll enjoy your stay in a new city in good company and learn something about the place from a local. Simply put, you’ll enjoy a mini-tour and potentially meet the love of your life.
How to Start Dating While Traveling
Start your search for a potential date by joining local activities or hobbies. For instance, if you are visiting Paris and enjoy cooking and eating, enroll in a culinary master class, meet people with the same love for food and get to know a potential date. If you don’t cook well, the class can connect you to a person who does.
If you’re abroad, you can encounter the “expats,” aka the people who have moved from your country to another permanently. Expats often meet in certain restaurants or bars, once or several times a month. By joining these groups, you can also find a potential date. Also, there will most likely be a huge group of singles in these places, especially if expats are struggling with the language barrier of their new home. The conversations can also range from living life in the new city or something as simple as naming your favorite Disney Christmas movies.
If you’re an introvert who is uncomfortable at such events or are not used to meeting strangers randomly, use dating apps. One of the biggest perks of online dating is that many people use their dating apps for the same reasons – to find a date. No matter where you end up in the world, you’ll find more people using dating apps.
How to Stay Safe When You Date While Traveling
Naturally, you will have hesitations about going out on dates while you’re in a new city or country. So, instead of worrying about your safety and never going out on a date, here are some important travel dating tips to keep in mind:
- Before your date, ask for a photo of the person and their real name. It doesn’t hurt to ask them what they do for a living, too. Never meet up with anonymous people.
- You can learn much about a person when you ask them about their views on sexual and domestic abuse. It also helps to ask about their attitude towards the LGBTQ+ community. If someone says the woman is to blame for being hurt or sexual abuse can be provoked, drop them for your list of potential dates.
- Research the safest places for a date. Choose a crowded place for your first date. It could be a restaurant, a coffee shop or a walk in the city. If you’re visiting a city during the autumn season, outdoor dates are off your list, especially when there’s rain. Stay safe and romantic by visiting a cozy terrace or a local pub.
- Avoid drinking too much on your first date. Even if you drink a little, it can affect how you make decisions. So, instead of regretting your choice, stay safe by staying away from alcohol. It’s better to postpone the drinks until you’ve fully trusted your date.
- Check your phone’s battery charge before you go out. Always keep a power bank with you. Don’t forget to take enough cash to cover your transportation fees, too.
- Protect yourself with a self-defense device. It can be a tactical flashlight or a pepper spray (but its use requires training), which is easy to use in case of emergencies.
No matter where you travel, you can still find romance wherever you go. During travel dating, your primary goal is to find love, enjoy the scenery and stay safe while you’re at it.