Love On The Go: The Perks & Perils Of Online Dating As You Travel

Wandering solo sounds exciting, and in the minds of first-timers especially, it's a portal into the world of unknown adventures. Many solo travellers have embraced the freedom that comes with exploring a new place on their own. It is fun to stand in front of the Eiffel Tower and take a selfie, clapping back at the most romantic monument in the world. It's empowering. But when you are sitting in front of the Louvre, having someone to debate over the glass pyramid could be an experience worth adding to your travel checklist. For all its perks, solo travelling can get lonely sometimes. Of course, you meet new people on your travels depending on your intrinsic social skills, but ever since technology has partnered with us in the world, it has also armoured us with various tools to make our lives much easier. Dating apps are one of them.The Perils and PerksWhile the fors and againsts of speed dating are many, with each outplaying the other, travelling solo often makes us turn to these apps. "This generation is truly changing the way we connect with others," said Aahana Dhar, Director of Communications at Tinder India. "Users have always had the freedom to personalise their experience and make the platform what they need it to be—whether it's discovering a hidden gem with a local or sharing travel stories with a fellow adventurer. Gen Z is also challenging long-standing views of ethnicity, culture, and geographical restriction." She also added that nearly 40 per cent of young singles in India are open to finding love in another city or country and dating people from different cultures and races.Trying to find love or something like that on the go might seem like an exciting prospect, but not without a caveat. The stranger danger. It is indeed rousing to go on a whirlwind adventure on foreign turf, but it could also be fraught with peril. The uncertainty of meeting new people in foreign lands can keep you from having a fun time, especially if you are a woman. "When I'm travelling, if my gut tells me to get out of a situation, you better believe I'm getting out of there," said Pankti from Mumbai, a Tinder user. "And since I'm in an unknown place alone, I send my location over to at least one of my friends and set up a meeting in a crowded place."There's Nothing Like a Local GuideIt might be a stretch to bank heavily on finding love in a new place through these apps, but rest assured, you will find some great guides to show you around. Imagine you are travelling in the south of France, and your local date slash tour guide brings you to a quiet little roadside bar with the most amazing view, which you wouldn't have been able to find on your own. In fact, a lot of people who use the apps are often not looking to date but actually to find companions on their trips who can show them around. "I went to see a concert in London last year, and I was using Bumble BFFs because I only wanted to meet with some like-minded people and enjoy the gig, maybe see the city through a local's eyes. And I did, and it was amazing," said Sonali Ganguly, a student from Lucknow. And then again, as rare as it sounds, there are those who do end up finding their significant others through these apps. "I met my husband on Aisle when I moved to Delhi for the first time," said Shriya Roy, a business professional now married and settled in the UK. "I used the apps while travelling when I was single, and I made many friends through them. When you travel alone, the whole dating experience becomes momentary, and more often than not, it doesn't really translate to anything more as your paths separate. But I got lucky with my husband," she added.According to Dhar, 58 per cent of young singles in India believe that dating apps allow them to meet people they would otherwise never have met— even those outside their social circle, opening them up to a world of endless possibilities. At the same time, the perks and perils of using these apps will keep on weighing on our minds. Speed dating could be as exhausting as it is exhilarating. But, if you are lucky and willing to take risks, you might just find that perfect stranger who makes you feel at home.Safety TipsAlways have more than one person know about your date plans and locationMake sure to do a test run and meet your date first before agreeing to go along on an adventure with themUse the video call feature that most dating apps have to know your date before meeting themHave the first date at a proper public place where there are a significant number of peopleTrust your instincts. If you feel something is off, it probably is.