While nothing beats a romantic meet-cute while traveling solo, these days, such serendipitous encounters—sans the apps—tend to be rare. There are many reasons for this, from having our faces buried in our phones on nearly every occasion, to the way we actually travel. Maybe you work remotely and are busy on your laptop for most of your trip, or perhaps you’re more introverted and avoid tourist hotspots altogether, preferring to get off the beaten path. Either way, dating in the wild has its limitations—especially when we’re on the road.
But thanks to dating apps such as Hinge and Bumble—and their clever, travel-friendly filters—that’s no longer the case. Users are now able to change their location and get swiping before they’ve even reached their destination.
These features are becoming increasingly popular among solo female travelers who want to line up dates in advance based on compatibility rather than hoping to meet someone while dining alone or boarding a flight. Plus, it also means they don’t waste precious holiday time swiping, and they can build a connection with the best matches so they feel more comfortable when they finally do meet up. But of course, it’s not just love or lust that has women destination swiping. Some are using it as a way to experience a new city through the eyes of an attractive local or two, with the potential of a holiday fling being an added bonus.
And given that a recent trend report by Virtuoso—a leading luxury travel network—revealed that 71% of solo travelers are now women, dating apps are playing an important role in this female-dominant shift, helping them rewrite the rules of both travel and romance—one swipe at a time.
For Marissa Liesenfelt, an American entrepreneur living in Lisbon, Bumble’s paid premium feature, Travel Mode, allows her to combine dating with remote working. “I have an online business and often work from a new city every few weeks, so Bumble is a great way to arrange dates in advance and meet interesting men while working remotely,” she says. “Whether a date leads to a great conversation in a tucked away bar off the tourist trail, or a kiss in front of an iconic landmark, it’s so much more fun than lining up for a museum on my own.”
For location-independent entrepreneur Sarah Jenkins, on the other hand, Hinge’s free location feature allows her to match with men in different countries who are ready for a life partner and share the same values: a growth mindset, freedom, and deep connection. “I’m looking for someone very specific,” she explains. “As location isn’t an issue for me, I often change my location to cities where there are more men with similar values.”
Erika Ettin, dating coach and founder of online dating service, A Little Nudge, has also been helping clients broaden their search for love in cities they find more desirable. “I recently worked with a woman in Florida who was thinking about moving to New York City. I suggested she change her dating profile to travel mode so she could line up a bunch of dates and make a week-long trip. She was so enamored with the city that she not only decided to move but she s since been on five dates with one of the men she met!”
And in terms of etiquette when you’re casting your net further afield, Hinge’s director of relationship science, Logan Ury, offers this advice. “Changing your location on Hinge to explore romantic opportunities in new cities can be a game-changer, especially for people in small towns or rural areas who feel like they’ve exhausted the local dating pool,” she says. “That said, honesty is non-negotiable. Misleading someone about where you’re based—or waiting until the last minute to admit you don’t live locally—can lead to serious frustration, especially for those looking for something long-term.”
Tash Doherty, a 30-year-old writer living in Mexico City, echoes this. “Many tourists match with me before they’re even in town, hoping for an eventual one-night quickie,” she adds. “So most of my conversations now start with, ‘Do you live in Mexico City?’ Regrettably, only about a third of them do. It’s a turn-off if they don’t, as I’m looking for a serious relationship.”
So, as always, honesty is the best policy. And of course, you should also factor in personal safety, as 38-year-old wellness entrepreneur Kat Achtelik advises: “Always meet in a public place somewhere you feel comfortable, send a screenshot of your date’s profile to a close friend, and then check in with that friend afterward to let them know you’re okay… juicy details included!”
While there’s no doubt that the apps come with their own set of challenges—too much choice, burnout, scammers, or just generally terrible behavior—they’re empowering women to date and travel in ways they never have before. Whether that be to find a life partner 3,000 miles away or share a kiss with a date-cum-tour-guide under the glittering Eiffel Tower, they’re allowing women to not only customize and broaden their dating preferences but their travel itineraries too. There really is plenty of fish in the sea—provided you’ve set your filters to fish out the right one.