Look, all of us at one point or another, takes a look at the dating scene in our city and thinks to ourselves, is this all that there really is? I felt the same about Los Angeles, so back in 2019 I hopped onto a plane and never looked back. I have since traveled all over the world and to over 20 different countries, and let me tell you, dating abroad is how you’ll meet the best kinds of people. And look, before you say “shit, I have no one to go with,” sit with me for a second and let’s talk about solo vacations. Because I’ve been solo traveling since 2019 and let me tell you, once you get used to it, solo traveling is the best way to travel.
Now, meeting people while abroad is definitely a skill that can be learned while on the go. But you can accelerate this by going to the right places and placing yourself in situations where other hot singles go. Let’s go over some of these so that you have a clearer idea while you’re planning for your next solo trip.
First the destination
There are definitely places that are more solo single traveler friendly like Tulum, Bali, Hvar, Koh Samui, and
Punta Cana. For travelers with a heavier wallet and are more inclined for luxurious stays, I’d recommend Tulum and Punta Cana. Whereas Bali and Koh Samui are more budget-friendly. All these places are great escapes, with beachfront guesthouses that run daily group outings, bars are within stumbling distance of each other, and organized day trips that are perfect for meeting other people while traveling.
Next, the hotel selection is important. Booking 40 minutes outside the city will attract a different crowd then a place in the city. The only people you meet are the ones assigned to your dining time, and the majority of them arrived in pairs. If meeting people is a real objective for the trip, the choice of town matters more than the quality of the room, and a mediocre room in a busy beach town beats an excellent room in a compound.
Surf Schools, Scuba Courses, and Group Lessons
Group lessons and courses are another great way to meet new people while traveling and I’d be lying if I said I’ve never fallen in love with a scuba instructor. The diving community is full of hot single people and prone to be major flirts. I’ve also taken italian lessons in Milan, sardana dance classes in Barcelona, and freediving classes in Amed, Indonesia, and in each one I’ve met a hot guy – or two, while also learning more about the local culture. New exciting encounters can happen anywhere and often in the most unexpected places.
I once met a cute french guy on a paranormal group tour in Barcelona while learning about ghosts, murders, curses, hauntings and paranormal events during the 12th–15th centuries.
Other great options would be to take beginner surf lessons in Portugal, Costa Rica, and Sri Lanka. Cooking classes and day boats also work, especially if you have no interest in getting knocked over by waves.
The First Two Seconds
For most encounters, the first two seconds generally have the most impact on any relationship which makes being charismatic a skill that will take you far.
Work by John Antonakis at the University of Lausanne found that teaching people specific communication tactics raised their charisma ratings by as much as 60%. Sit at the bar instead of a table, leave your phone in your pocket and look at people. Then smile. It’s really that simple. Actually trying to engage with people will lead you to interesting situations, if not even lifetime friendships.
Hotel stays
Look let me preface this by saying that I can afford to book a fairly decent hotel room for myself while traveling, but more often then not, I prefer to stay at hostels simply so I can meet people. In Hostelworld’s 2025 research, only 3.7% of solo travelers who were actively looking to meet people finished their trip having met nobody. So if meeting people is an objective, look for hostels that have single bedrooms. Hostels also organize group trips which is great because not only does visiting touristic destinations become cheaper – it’s also a great opportunity to meet singles.
Timing Within the Trip
Arrive in the middle of the week rather than the start or half way through the weekend. During the weekend, people have already spent a few days together, and can be clicky. Entering the group midway through the week is great so you can filter through the crowd and pick the people whos vibes match your own.
Also, beach towns work on turnover, and the people you meet on a Monday have six or seven days left, while the people you meet on a Monday are packing after a wild weekend out. The same logic applies to shoulder season, when a smaller crowd talks to each other far more than a peak-season crowd does.
But this also depends on the place as well. A beach town in Sri Lanka like Weligama has beginner surf breaks and a young, mobile crowd without the volume of a Thai island in February. Places at that stage tend to have a single main strip, which concentrates everyone into the same four or five places every night.
Handling the Solo Dinner
Ok, so perhaps I have super powers or something, because I’ve never been intimidated by a solo dinner. But it seems to be a point of area of concern for many is eating alone. Perhaps it’s due to insecurity or a fear of being judged, but many people are intimidated by eating alone. Some tips to overcoming this (which you will in due time,) is to book the table at the bar, talk to staff, or even go ahead and send drinks over to people who have caught your eye. I maybe a flirt for this, but this has worked in my favor more times then not. Go early too. A restaurant at 7pm has staff with time to talk and other early eaters who are mostly traveling alone.
Beware of the Beach Romance
I get it, you meet the cute stranger at a tiki bar, things pick up fast, and all of a sudden you’re saying goodbye to each other at the airport lounge. This is a cliche meet cute experience that all of us experience at least once in our lives. And the conversation always end the same and one of you is making plans to visit the other in their city or to another holiday destination sometime in the future.
But be careful too of who you meet while on vacation – often we’re meeting versions of people that don’t exist in real life but rather a person’s most carefree and adventurous version. Then later on you go and meet this person in their hometown while they’re dealing with all of the everyday stresses like work and routines, and wonder where this amazing person you met on vacation went.
Just reminding you to be careful about your expectations. Sure you’re going to be exchanging numbers, socials, and perhaps an intimate moment or two.. but ultimately this moment you shared together might not translate to anything meaningful at the end of the day.
Get out there
You get what you plan for, and being social definitely has some planning involved. Take a look at classes, hostels (or social hotels that have bars/clubs), and group excursions. Put yourself out there. Even if none of this leads to anything meaningful, at least you’ll come away from it with some lifelong friends.
