Working remotely is so awesome, and everyone raves about it, and your friends are jealous that you can work from anywhere and therefore travel more than the average “adult”. But what a lot of remote workers don’t rave about is the dating pool (or lack thereof) while traveling to new places and spaces. That’s why we’ve compiled a member-informed list of 5 digital nomad dating tips that will help you up your game!
It’s rough out here for single people (in general). When you add in constant travel, not being stagnant in one place for too long and ever-changing time zones, things can get really complicated, and your love life can become as dry as the Sahara Desert before you know it.
What is interesting, though, is that when it comes to finding a soulmate, we tend to leave that almost entirely to chance. Perhaps we hope that during a nomad meet-up, we’ll meet someone who makes our heart skip a beat. Maybe if we go on an experience, we’ll meet “The One.”
While traveling and working is legit a dream come true for so many individuals, at some point you get tired of being by yourself (and having to take your pix), or meeting all the #relationshipgoals couples (who ask you to take photos of them), or being in strictly platonic new friend groups as you all try to navigate in a new city just for a beer and good music to dance to.
Sometimes you just want to meet someone cute and funny, and who likes the same things as you.
Is that too much to ask?
Of course not! You’re human, and as much as those butterflies in our tummy scare us, they also bring excitement to the situation and yearning for the escalation of said butterflies (where that leads, only you know).
We design the way we work, where we work, and who we work with (to a degree). We pick the experiences we want to have and where we want to have them. And we decide what is important to us. Why can’t we do the same with finding love?
The answer is you can, and I’m here to help you figure it out with these 5 digital nomad dating tips
1. Digital nomad dating apps exist!
Digital nomad dating apps are a great way to meet new people with who you can chat. They do have a reputation for facilitating just casual hook-ups. But I’m sure we all know people who have found their long term partners online, too. The beauty of dating apps is that you can get specific about the kind of interactions you are looking for.
Tinder + Bumble
These two apps are by far the most well-known of dating apps, which weren’t created specifically for the traveler, but work all around the globe, so we had to mention them. They take your geographic location and find others that are in the vicinity and of your demographic liking. When you match, a chat opens so you can get to know each other before meeting. Alternatively, you can simply ignore if you accidentally swiped right (or the uber embarrassing & accidental super like).
While both of these apps are super popular (and Bumble is more geared towards women, making it impossible for a guy to message you first), the pool of talent can sometimes be hit or miss, people flake on set dates, or come to the table with inaccurate expectations that were or weren’t discussed beforehand. That being said, if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it. You get what you put out, and it’s usually best to think of Tinder and Bumble as your old faithful to go back to every once in and while to see what you might be missing (or dodging).
Meet Me Outside
This app is perfect for the active traveler. It matches you with people who have similar interests in health and wellness. It will send you a handful of matches per day, with activity suggestions for your first date. It’s pretty ideal for someone tired of dates flaking last minute, since it’s such a pinpointed date that is planned out and catered to what you both love doing.
This app sets you up on your date, and they simply meet you outside of the confirmed location. Their algorithm shows you local activities that you both might be interested in, as well as exciting “once in a lifetime” and super unique options that can boost the mood of the awkward first date and go straight to, “this is going to be awesome regardless.”
Nomad Soulmates
Nomad Soulmates’ name suggests just that, soulmates that are nomads! This app is specific to those who frequently travel but are looking for love. They have a cool map feature that you can check out to see who is available now or in two weeks when you plan to travel to that country/city (it makes planning beforehand with like-minded nomads easy!)
With millions of location-independent workers around the world, it’s time to really see who’s out there for you. Even better, Nomad Soulmates curates singles retreats & events perfect for when your long-overdue “full-time vacay” comes up. It also offers an active Facebook group where more updates are listed to keep you informed at all times.
Miss Travel
This might be the most unique dating app I’ve come across so far. Miss Travel is free for females to create a profile and interact, but there is a fee for males to do the same. It is geared towards the female traveler, and offers different ways to create the ideal trip for you and a potential suitor. You propose a travel type (Travel with me, come to me or show me your town), as well as your ideal type of payment (I’ll pay for you, you pay for me, or a 50/50 split).
You can add additional information to narrow down your search, but after you finalize the type of trip you’re looking for, the app will match you with people who agree to your terms. It’s pretty sick. You outline exactly what you’re looking for, so there is no miscommunication on what’s going to go down on said trip, and even offer travel tips to keep things clear and safe before meeting someone online. This opens up another avenue of choosing a mate to travel with, where you can see beforehand if there is any potential in this continuing past one trip, but it always ends when you say it does.
PartyWith
Ideal for the traveler who’s “not looking for anything serious.” PartyWith connects you not only to locals in your area, but other expats and travelers who just wanna go out for a night of dancing or a more serious rager, open to whatever may come of the evening.
It’s not geared toward the romantic who wants a candlelit dinner and a walk on the beach. It’s for the energy-building traveler who wants good music, a local experience and potentially some eye candy to link with. Their network is in over 150+ countries, so there’s a good chance something is happening tonight, in whatever city you’re in; it’s ready when you are!
Tourbar
Tourbar has several features that are super intriguing. It’s like they took a few of the above apps and added them all together into their in-depth dating application. You can search separately to only meet locals wherever you’re going to show you around their city. Or you can search for a travel buddy that wants to be best friends and take #bestiegoals photos in the trenches of the jungle, or find that special someone that you can take cute photos with at the Eiffel Tower and eat croissants to fulfill all your heart’s desires.
Making your intentions known up front is always the way to go. However, it seems this is a great app to find whoever you’re looking for at the moment. Their website offers a pretty comprehensive FAQ section for all your inquiries. It also has an updated blog that shares their most visited destinations and even the specific way to start an international dating situation.
2. Love yourself first!
I cannot tell you how many times I have heard people say this or write it in articles. The other added one is “You’ll find love when you least expect it.” Yeah, thanks for the heads up. Unfortunately, these crazy people aren’t wrong. Well, at the very least, they aren’t wrong about the importance of loving yourself anyway. I’m gonna be vulnerable here. So, as someone who has dealt with anxiety and low self-esteem throughout my life, I can honestly say that looking back, I’m pleased that I didn’t get into a relationship with somebody else.
Why? I didn’t believe that I was enough. I didn’t believe that I was already complete as a person, and I was looking to fill that void by having a significant other. Nobody can be made responsible for making us feel whole. That’s something that needs to come from inside of us. I don’t want to drag you down with philosophy, but often our travels can become a distraction from being honest with ourselves and how our experiences with love have shaped us up to this point. Ignoring this doesn’t stop these experiences from affecting you and your future relationships.
We all have insecurities
We are human beings, and it goes with the territory. BUT left unchecked, insecurities destroy what could be an awesome connection with someone else. It can also attract to us, the people who will inflict further damage. If you are settled and happy with yourself, not just on the outside, but truly on the inside, you’re unlikely to want to be in a serious relationship with someone who isn’t the same.
There’s less of a gap for someone to come into your life and exploit your insecurities to feed their egos. So we all have to get to a point where we love who we are right now. Let it be a deep truth to you that you have something beautiful to offer to this world. Know that you’re valuable. Out of that deep, genuine love for yourself, you’ll be able to give that love to another person. Don’t move forward until you are well on your way to a healthy self-acceptance.
3. Attend digital nomad events
For those of us who intend to live this lifestyle for the foreseeable future, we’ll likely want a partner who is also committed to this way of living. I know that there are members of the digital nomad community who have static partners. However, it’s very hard to maintain that relationship. It’s different if you started travelling and you were already in a relationship when you left home. But if you’re already on the road, it doesn’t make a lot of sense to fall in love with someone who isn’t.
But then again…love doesn’t always make sense, does it?
Either way, if we want to save ourselves from romantic martyrdom, it’s wise to get involved in events where only remote workers are going to be. Why not become a regular at some of the events that happen annually? Likewise, you could attend a regular meetup that happens where you are right now? If you’re not ready to take the plunge and fully commit to a travelling tribe, this is a great way to start. Why not start by checking out some great events coming up this year for digital nomads here?
4. Stay a little longer in one place
If dating is on your radar as a digital nomad, one of the best things you can do is stay put for a bit. That doesn’t mean giving up the lifestyle or locking yourself into anything permanent. But it’s tough to build any real connection when you’re packing your bags every two weeks. Spending two months in one city, ideally in your own Airbnb or rental, gives you enough time to meet people, get a sense of the local rhythm, and maybe even find someone who wants to travel with you.
The more time you give yourself, the more familiar you become with the culture, the routines, and the kinds of people who live in that place. That opens the door for more than just fleeting connections. If you’re making the effort to stay longer, try getting off the tourist track. Explore a new part of the city. Grab lunch somewhere local instead of falling into the same expat cafes. Practice speaking the language, even badly. Start a conversation even if it’s awkward.
There’s no secret formula, but energy matters. If you’re out in the world, open, present, and curious, people will notice. Staying in your room all week might be productive, but it’s not where connection happens. If you do meet someone, be upfront about your lifestyle early. There’s no need to oversell it. Just be clear about how you live and what’s true for you. If that resonates with someone, they’ll want to know more.
5. Join a remote work travel community
Living with people and making memories with people daily increases the level of depth your relationships have. You get to see people at their best. You get to see people at their worst. And you get to see and experience what motivates the folks you’re spending a lot of time with. As you build these relationships with others, either at conferences or by travelling with remote working communities, there will be some relationships that stand out and inspire you.
A lot of those will be amazing friendships that you’ll carry with you for years to come. But there could also be a beautiful friendship with the capacity to grow into something more…romantic. You can see that it becomes almost like a funnel! Get to know as many people as you can, and enjoy many different types of personalities. You’ll find out pretty soon which personalities bring out the best in you, and then continue from there. Before you know it, you’ll build great friendships and maybe meet your soulmate, which would be the icing on the cake.
WiFi Tribe has had a few beautiful love stories! You can read about Wilhelm and Lindsay here. Although finding love is not the only reason to join a remote working community, most of us aren’t specifically acting as a dating agency. Seriously consider travelling in some kind of group or booking yourself onto an experience where you are near others. You never know what might happen!
Digital nomad dating with WiFi Tribe
Is finding love a game of chance, or do we fashion our destinies? The truth is that it’s a combination of both. Intentionally work on loving who you are and being the best possible version of yourself. Physically position yourself to interact with great people. Then what happens? You should (in theory) increase the probability of meeting that special person you want to be with.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the best digital nomad dating apps?
Some popular dating apps for digital nomads include Nomad Soulmates, Tourbar, Meet Me Outside, and Miss Travel. They are designed with travelers and remote workers in mind.
Can you find love as a digital nomad?
Yes, many digital nomads find meaningful relationships through communities, events, and apps. It requires intentionality and often staying longer in one place.
How do digital nomads maintain relationships?
Maintaining relationships as a nomad requires strong communication, shared values around mobility, and ideally being in similar locations or travel rhythms.
Where can digital nomads meet people to date?
You can meet potential partners at digital nomad events, through travel communities like WiFi Tribe, or by using location-aware dating apps.
Is it better to stay longer in one place for dating as a nomad?
Yes. Staying in one place for at least a couple of months helps you build stronger connections and increases your chances of dating success.
