Repost: Five Ways to Use Tinder While Traveling
Take a trip with me down memory lane...
I have been managing dating profiles full-time for one year! Cue the balloons. In thinking about this job and why I thought I was equipped to take on the position in the first place, I thought back to this cute post I wrote in 2017. (2018? What is time?)
For those who don’t know, I spent two years backpacking around the world. I used Tinder frequently. I actually used Tinder in Malaysia to meet a travel buddy, and we used Tinder in New Zealand as we lived out of a van for six weeks. Enjoy the shenanigans that followed!
Why Am I Reposting This in 2024?
I share this because when I think about Tinder, Bumble, or dating apps, I come with the knowledge that so much can come from making a connection with someone online. Yes, I met my partner on Bumble in 2019. But I’ve also made friends through dating apps. I met an employer through Bumble. If you see your matches as people - not just someone who you might have a romantic connection with - the pressure of feeling chemistry or having a great date lifts. Dating apps become more fun. There is something to be said about dating with intention, but there is also something to be said about enjoying the journey of life. And partially thanks to dating apps, my life has been one heck of a journey so far.
So, without further ado…
The Post!
God Bless Tinder, and keep your judgments to yourself.
I typically don’t use Tinder unless I’m traveling. Once you see too many people that you know from high school or around the neighborhood, it’s time to put it away. Tinder and travel isn’t just a match (PUN) because it’s a great way to find a date…there are a lot of ways you can use Tinder to meet locals and make your trip memorable.
I had a great time tindering with my favorite lady traveler Becky while we took a road trip through New Zealand. Use our tips, keep your wits about you, and enjoy a rather spicy way to get a local’s perspective while you’re traveling.
Okay, about safety real quick.
Because this is going to come up, yes, be safe while using Tinder. People can be manipulative, scary jerks and your parents are very worried about you. Whether you’re in your hometown or across the world, maintain boundaries and be smart while meeting up with strangers from Tinder, Couchsurfing, you name it. Add your matches on Facebook to make sure they’re legitimate people, and stick to public places for meetups. Suggest a double date with a buddy if you can. Have your escape route planned and buy your own drinks. And let at least one person know that you’re going on a date before you leave.
Tinder can be fun, harmless, and platonic, but approach every situation with caution.
Anyway!
Five Ways to Use Tinder While Traveling
1. Bar Recommendations
This is an old classic. When I arrived in Poznan a few years ago with two girl friends, we wanted to go out and had no clue where to start. So Tinder it was. We never met up with any of the guys we matched with…but we got some good recommendations and found out where to get delicious pierogi.
2. Jumpstarting Our Car, Ilana.
Our New Zealand Tinder adventure started before I even landed in the country. One morning, I woke up to frantic texts and calls from Becky because Ilana would not start. Unfortunately, I was in Australia and could not check to see if we had jumper cables, so she took to Tinder for a mechanic/handyman/cute guy who knows how to jump a car. And she was successful!
…and then we Tindered again when our car wouldn’t start in a motel parking lot. But now we definitely know how to jumpstart a car! (Ilana needed a third jump, poor girl, at a campsite in the South Island. Luckily, we were able to just ask around and get back on the road.)
3. Finding Emergency Shelters
When (Former) Cyclone Gita was hitting the South Island, I took advantage of my favorite phrase, “ask and you shall receive,” and changed my Tinder bio:
“Let’s stay at yours during the cyclone.”
We just needed a place to crash and ended up in someone’s shed and hanging out in the Tekapo hot tubs for free. Win!
4. Sourcing Dog Pats
We were bored in Christchurch one evening and Becky matched with a guy who had a cute dog. Dog snuggles are important for everyone’s mental health, so we went over to pat the dog. We ended up at a party with a bunch of Kiwis and ended the night with an episode of Queer Eye for the Straight Guy. Sure! Why not?
5. Meeting Travel Buddies
The route through New Zealand is pretty similar for a lot of travelers. In Taupo, we met a group of guys who were staying in Wellington for a few days. We ended up grabbing Indian food with them, hitting the bars, and taking the ferry down to the South Island. Hey y’all. Tinder is for friends, too.
Would I Use Tinder for Traveling In 2024?
If I were single, yes! Nowadays, my trips look different than they did back in 2017. I have no interest in sharing a bunk bed with my partner in a shared dorm room, and I have less interest in going out until 3 in the morning with strangers. Katelyn and I still find ways to meet new people while traveling, but tour groups and splitting a bottle of wine on a hostel rooftop (above our private dorm) is more our speed.
But oh, the memories. If you’re single, or not, and find yourself with the travel bug and the urge to meet new people abroad, download those apps!