Traveling on your own can be a unique experience, offering opportunities to meet people you might never encounter otherwise. Dating apps like Tinder, Happn, and Badoo can be a great way to connect with interesting individuals while traveling. However, using these applications in a foreign environment, such as Uganda, requires extra caution due to language barriers, cultural differences, and potential criminal activities.
1. Define Your Intentions
Before downloading a dating app, ask yourself what you are precisely looking for. Are you interested in a no-strings-attached flirt? Or are you into serious business only? Perhaps, being new to the city, you’re not interested in sexual relations but looking for friends and friend groups? Consider your intentions and take into account where you are. In some countries, applications like Happn, Couchsurfing, or Bumble are actually more popular than Tinder. Asking other travelers which apps they are using and what experiences they had using them can be helpful.
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2. Be Clear in Your Bio
While you may not want to dead-end a relationship before it has even begun, be sure to include your intentions in your bio. Are you exclusively looking for friends? Be direct and do not fear being rejected as a potential friend. Are you looking for a sexual experience only? Find a way to describe your honest intentions without revealing your entire self or being too frank. Remember that you can always take back what you have said or listed online.
3. Set Boundaries
Being in an environment that might be foreign to you, please do not forget to hold up boundaries. If you are meeting a stranger, it is better to not reveal your exact address or location, or any other personal information. The best tip is to exclusively meet in a public space first, whether in the park, a cafe, or a busy bar. If the person you are about to meet suggests their home without hesitation, do not fall for it.
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4. Be Creative with Dates
It does not always have to be a date in a bar where sipping a cocktail can calm down the nerves. Be creative when meeting someone, even if your intentions are clear. Why not grab a coffee to go and then walk around some new place in the city you are in? What about engaging with the local community?
Let me tell you about the minimax principle, an analogy from game theory in which you decrease your risks and maximize your gains. First of all, you can find out whether your own interests match your date’s interest. Second, you can make sure the person you are meeting thinks you are worth it to actually spend time with you.
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5. Protect Yourself from Scams
Unfortunately, dating is always connected to some risk. I wish it was different, and I am truly advocating for change. Until then, there are still some things to consider when dating, particularly when meeting someone new. I met too many girls and boys going on dates and waking up roofied with their valuables missing, or worse. So, my best tip to protect yourself from losing control over yourself, your decisions, your body, or your valuables, is to never accept someone else’s consumption gifts. It basically means paying for your own drink, not sharing anything else, and also taking care of how much alcohol you are consuming. My best advice is to not drink any alcohol at all. Most of the time those dates are the most memorable ones anyway. In case this is not an option for you, make sure you control how many drinks you want to have and don’t let yourself agree to anything you have either never tried, or you don’t feel comfortable with. Seriously, that is the most important advice.
6. Trust Your Gut Feelings
You can take as many precautions as you wish, but honestly, the best advice is to always listen to your gut feelings. Most of the time, we ourselves know best whether we can trust someone or a situation. From my experience, if I felt uncomfortable with someone, it never turned out to be a good date. On the other hand, sometimes you meet a person randomly and you immediately feel a deeper connection.
7. Know When to Leave
Let’s say you are meeting someone, and they are not who they pretend to be. It might be an age difference, a catfish experience, or a more fine-grained difference. There are many reasons, such as your date’s interests or character, that can make you change your mind about meeting a second time. If someone lies about their identity or tries to pretend they are something they’re not, do not waste your time - just leave the situation. You do not owe anything to anyone, you only owe yourself to be treated with honesty and respect. If you are not able to tell the other person the truth, you can find an excuse: Make up an appointment or say your housemate lost their key. There is no discussion or debate on the way you feel. Do not feel sorry for the other person, and make sure you cut the contact entirely.
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8. Dating During a Pandemic
Meeting people has become increasingly more difficult in a world where bars and clubs are closed and universities, schools, and our work has been moved to at home. However, being single during a pandemic lowers the stakes for us to start the online dating process. To make sure that you do not get yourself in any trouble with health risks, there are some easy-to-follow tips. First of all, you can have your first date (just like anything else during this era, online. Ask your date about their usual habits, hobbies of the last few days, and do some follow-up for a couple of days. This way, you can slowly get a feeling for the other person’s behavior during the pandemic and their perception of health safety. If you feel comfortable, you can meet within social distancing rules. If it is meant to be, then this will not keep you from getting to know each other.
Additional Tips for Safe Online Dating
Reading these tips, you might get worried about online dating while traveling. Being in a foreign environment can mean dealing with a different dating culture or the difficulty of communicating across language barriers. Natural awareness is important and will keep you from dicey situations. However, don’t forget to also enjoy your date. After all, you are traveling by yourself because you want to meet someone special that you might never normally cross paths with.
- Ask the Right Questions: Strike a balance between flirting and building trust. Ask about communication preferences and passions to gauge compatibility.
- Take Breaks: Prevent dating app burnout by logging off if things feel overwhelming.
- Keep Conversations on the Apps: Avoid moving to other platforms too quickly to maintain security.
- Weed Out AI Images: Be wary of profiles with no online presence or overly sophisticated AI images.
- Enlist the Help of Family and Friends: Talk to someone close to you about the person before meeting.
This list of tips is a truly living list. I have been dating and online dating in foreign countries, met amazing people, and had some of the best dates of my life. If you have experienced dating while traveling, share your story with us. Do you have other tips on how to create a safe environment while blind dating on travels?
| Tip | Description |
|---|---|
| Meet in Public | Always meet for the first time in a public place with plenty of people around. |
| Tell a Friend | Inform a friend or family member about your date, including location and expected return time. |
| Trust Your Instincts | If something feels off, it probably is. Don't hesitate to end the date. |
| Protect Personal Information | Avoid sharing your address, workplace, or other sensitive details early on. |
| Verify Identity | Use reverse image searches and check social media to ensure the person is genuine. |
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