8 Tips For Taking Your Tinder Game To The Next Level While You're Traveling

If what they say about the early bird getting the worm is true, you might want to get a head start on your vacation swiping. In 2020, over 1.4 billion matches were made worldwide through Tinder Passport, a feature of Tinder Plus that lets you to change your geographical location. So, even if you’re stuck in your area for now, trying to find a match in the area you’re traveling to later isn’t a bad idea. That way, you’ll know a familiar face or two once you get there.

"Use the Passport feature to change your location and swipe through singles in your destination city before you’ve left home," Scott Valdez, matchmaker and founder of ViDA, a service that helps clients meet their ideal match online, tells Bustle. "For many people, building up enough attraction to get someone to say 'yes' to a date can take awhile. Why not get the ball rolling ahead of time?"

Vacations are a time to let loose and have fun, sure, but that doesn't mean you shouldn't still be cautious and put your own safety first at all times.

"Don’t chuck common sense out the window just because you’re on vacay," Valdez says. "When you’re meeting someone new, stick to public places where there are plenty of other people around, and limit how much alcohol you consume. It’s best to get your own drinks, and treat your cocktail like baggage at the airport — don’t leave it unattended."

In a similar vein, if you're using dating apps to meet people while traveling, it's always a good idea to keep someone in the loop about your date plans — before, after, and even during the date.

"Do let someone know your plans, even if it’s just leaving a quick note [in] your hotel room like 'meeting John from Tinder, 7:15 p.m., Monkey Bar,'" Valdez says. "In fact, when you’re traveling alone it’s a smart idea to leave your itinerary where someone else is guaranteed to find it, even if you’re not meeting a date. That way, if something unexpected happens and someone needs to recreate your movements, they have a solid place to start."

Packing a suitcase and planning an itinerary aren't the only forms of pre-traveling prep work: if you're planning to swipe while abroad, you'll also need to update your dating app bio before your trip.

"Update your bio, let people know you’re traveling and what you’re looking for," David Yarus, relationship expert and founder of JSwipe, tells Bustle. "Great restaurant tips, hidden gems, a fun day-trip, or a night out dancing. Setting people's expectation in advance will help ensure you’re both on the same page and gives them some inspo for an opening message."

Whether you're going somewhere for three weeks or three days, be honest about how long you're visiting with your matches. According to Carbino, sharing this information early on in the conversation or in your profile is important for setting expectations. If you’re just looking for someone to show you around, be upfront. Same goes if you’re looking for a casual fling or something deeper. “This is critical for attracting individuals who are interested in the same type of relationship,” she says. Once you and your match are on the same page, you can decide how to make the most of your time.

Maybe you're only looking for a steamy vacation hookup, or maybe you're hoping to meet someone worth staying in touch with — either way, it’s best to keep an open mind when swiping on vacation. “As much as we love the idea of meeting our prince or princess under the Tuscan sun, most flings fizzle,” Rori Sassoon, matchmaker and dating expert for UnFiltered, tells Bustle. “No matter what, don’t go in with crazy expectations — be realistic.” Take it day by day, and allow yourself to have fun. Don’t ruin your vacation sulking because the hot stranger you matched with ghosted after one night.

Even if romance isn't on your mind while you travel, you might want to fire up your dating apps anyway: they're a great tool for tapping into the local culture, not just the people.

"Dating apps are about so much more than just dating," Yarus says. "You can use them when you travel to get the inside-info on that city, local hot spots, and other tips to help you get that 'local experience.' Find a travel buddy, a tour-guide for the day, an exhibit that just opened, or a party only locals would know about. Even if you don’t plan to meet up, people will be happy to tell you their favorite things to do in the city."

Although Tinder is used for finding all kinds of relationships, some people may have the idea that you’re just looking for a hookup. This is especially true if you are traveling and you’re only in town for a short time. Because of this, it’s important to be clear about what your right swipe means. “When it comes to finding potential friendship while traveling, feel free to use the apps — though be very clear that you are not looking for more,” Sassoon says. “Regardless of whether you find love, lust, or friendship, be both transparent and open. Set boundaries where necessary and live in the moment of your getaway within your level of comfortability.”