But the key to finding romance on the road is to manage your expectations as well as those of the other person. Travel flings are usually short-lived and hyper-intense that’s what makes them so exciting. Be upfront with your dates about how long you’re staying and that you’re only looking for something casual.
When you’re a dating traveller, respect comes before anything polish hearts dating site else. Travelling as a couple is a whole other thing. Don’t break a suitor’s heart if you’re only looking for your Mamma Mia moment.
Especially if you’re going out with locals, you might encounter significant cultural differences with expectations like who’s paying for the date, how soon should you sleep together, etc. Go into these dates with an open mind, and if your personalities don’t mesh, then great you never have to see them again.
There’s a really ugly culture of guys travelling to Asian countries just to hook up with local women, and the way they speak of these experiences would make you think these girls are not people at all. Similarly, backpacker girls can often be borderline preyed on by local guys since travelling girls are often thought to be easier to sleep with. Cue a line of creeps hitting on you in the worst possible ways.
Elina (That’s Me!) The Resident Hopeless Romantic Says: Sometimes Ya Feelings Get Hurt
T he intensity of travel flings also means that when you fall for someone, you fall HARD. I’m talking no seat belt, headfirst through the windshield car crash hard. And while it is incredible to be able to feel that much for someone you’ve only just met… Be prepared that your heart might break just a little.
Some travel flings turn into beautiful long-term travel relationships others crash and burn with a force that can scar you for a long time. Putting yourself at risk for so much hurt is scary but if you don’t keep yourself open to the possibility that at any moment, something amazing might happen to you is that even living fully? No pain, no gain, right?
Enjoy the excitement while it lasts, learn to take rejection with grace, and accept heartbreak as a part of the process.
These are packing cubes for the globetrotters and compression sacks for the real adventurers these babies are a traveller’s best kept secret. They organise yo’ packing and minimise volume too so you can pack MORE.
Meeting people in real life is always the bee’s tits. (Getting stuck on your phone is one of the worst mistakes travellers make!)
And when the guy who dumped you because you’re leaving anyway to get back together with his ex drunkenly texts you three months later to tell you that he loves you
Sometimes though, you find yourself isolated somewhere without much opportunity for social interaction. If you don’t want to try your luck with dating apps, here are a few more options to find friends and travel buddies online.
- Couchsurfing Hangouts. Couchsurfing is an excellent platform to find free accommodation on your travels. But more than that, it’s an easy way to get connected. Hangouts lets you post your own adventure for example, looking for people to go check out the Penis Museum if you’re in Reykjavik or join other people’s hangouts. Check out local events or see if there is a weekly Couchsurfing meet-up in the city.
- Meetup. Meetup is one of the best travel apps to have on your phone while backpacking. You can find different events related to your interests art, parties, writers’ groups, business workshops… You can filter events by event type or time and join public happenings or private groups.