why more people go on dates while traveling

This essentially means going beyond the ‘dinner and drinks’ date. For example, Jane says she was taken on a beach date by a man she met at her hostel in Barcelona.

It can also be a great way to immerse yourself in a new culture and see hidden gems and restaurants. Jacob, a 24-year-old Sydneysider who dated in the Greek islands this year, says this is especially true for solo travellers who may not feel confident venturing beyond the tourist hotspots.

“It gives you insight into what the locals are like,” says Jacob, who also uses a pseudonym. “And in the worst case, if there’s no romantic connection, you’ve enjoyed a conversation with someone you wouldn’t have had otherwise.”

According to relationship therapist Mim Kempson, we now live in a much more global world, with social media removing most people’s sense of separation. Combined with the aftermath of COVID-19 lockdowns, this means people are more open to expanding their dating pool.

For some, dating abroad is also a way to broaden their personal horizons and develop a sense of confidence that might not be possible at home, says Sera Bozza, Tinder’s local dating expert and founder of Sideswiped. While on vacation in northern Italy, Bozza started talking to someone on an app and decided to extend her trip to meet him in London.

“My friends would wake up in the morning to the funniest barrage of disjointed updates because of the time difference – ‘I’ve booked!’, ‘Landed in London!’, ‘He’s gorgeous!’. It was hilarious and spontaneous. It was more about how adventurous and bold I was willing to be than it was about him.”

How does it work?

Jane says she met most of her dates overseas by chance, as opposed to when she’s in Sydney.

“I was looking at someone in a Parisian supermarket and when I left, he ran after me and asked me if I wanted to go on a date. I was stunned, something like this had never happened to me before. It was like something out of a movie,” she says.

However, most people use dating apps, mainly because they’re easier to use, tend to have a higher success rate, and are generally safer. Both Tinder and Bumble have even launched travel features that allow users to connect with people wherever they’re going. Chantelle Otten, a sexologist at Bumble, says that many users often connect with people before they go on vacation so that they’re already in touch when they arrive.

Things to Consider

Romance abroad is exciting, but Otten says that unfamiliar territory also requires extra caution.

“Plan to meet your date in public, don’t give out your accommodation address, and let a friend, family member, or hotel concierge know where you’re going. Also, make sure it’s someone who’s in your local time zone,” she says. “Be on the lookout for red-flag behavior. This could be people who are interested in your financial situation or your solo travel status.”

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Bozza also advises managing expectations and being honest about what you want.

“You’re both coming from different worlds, literally,” she says. “Don’t be surprised if things fade away when the trip ends. It’s not always meant to last, and that’s okay. Sometimes a short-term connection is exactly what you need, and it can even reinvigorate your enthusiasm for dating back home.”

Kempson says it’s important to look at yourself first before dating abroad.

“We have to have some level of clarity about what we’re doing it for. Why are we dating? Are we okay with a deadline for what it could be with someone? We have to know ourselves really well. It has to start with boundaries within ourselves.”

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