Airports have always been strange places for human behavior. Strangers sit inches apart, share armrests, and occasionally strike up conversations that go nowhere. But somewhere between the departure lounge and the hotel lobby, a different kind of interaction takes hold. People traveling alone or in groups continue to seek romantic and sexual connections while away from home, and the methods for doing so have shifted toward mobile applications.
The short answer to the question is yes. Travelers date and hook up regularly. The longer answer involves how they do it, why they do it, and what kinds of connections they pursue.
Swiping Before Boarding
Dating apps now allow users to connect with people in cities they have not yet visited. Tinder’s Passport feature lets users set their location to a different city or country before arriving. According to Tinder’s Year in Swipe report, this feature activates approximately 145,000 times per day. Users connect across distances totaling more than 62 billion miles globally.
Paris remains the most popular destination for virtual romance seekers, with passporting to France increasing by 103% in 2024. Travel is listed as the top interest among Tinder users worldwide. In the Asia-Pacific region, 78% of young singles express interest in making connections before their trips begin.
Bumble offers a similar function called Travel Mode. Users can switch their location and start conversations with people at their destination days or weeks in advance. This creates a situation where travelers arrive with matches already lined up.
Relationship Preferences Away From Home
Travelers bring their dating habits with them, and those habits vary widely. Some look for casual encounters that last a single night. Others want connections that might continue after the trip ends. A smaller group seeks specific arrangements, including sugar daddy dating or other unconventional pairings that fit their preferences better than standard apps allow.
The data supports this range of behavior. Tinder reports its Passport feature activates roughly 145,000 times each day, with users matching across 62 billion miles of distance. Bumble offers Travel Mode for similar purposes. A 2025 Priceline report found Gen Z travelers are 75% more likely than average to choose destinations based on meeting new people.
Solo Travel and Its Role
Solo travel has grown consistently over the past decade. A 2025 survey found that 76% of Gen Z and Millennial travelers plan to take solo trips this year. Traveling alone changes the conditions under which people pursue connections. Without friends or partners present, solo travelers often feel more open to meeting new people. They have fewer social obligations and more time to spend with strangers.
Hostels have long served as informal meeting grounds. Common rooms, shared kitchens, and organized outings create natural opportunities for conversation. Many solo travelers report that these settings feel less pressured than bars or clubs. The communal nature of hostel life lowers barriers.
Hotels serve a different purpose. Privacy matters for those seeking short-term encounters. Dating apps allow users to coordinate meetings without the need for public spaces at all. A match, a conversation, and a room number can be all that separates two people from an encounter.
Choosing Destinations for Dating
Some travelers select locations based on their potential for meeting people. The 2025 Priceline trend report found that Gen Zers are 75% more likely than average travelers to research destinations specifically for social opportunities. This represents a departure from older patterns of travel, where sightseeing and cultural activities drove destination choices.
Cities with active nightlife attract this demographic. So do beach towns, festival locations, and places known for tourism itself. The logic is circular but functional. Places with many travelers tend to have many other travelers looking to meet people.
What Happens After
Most travel connections end when the trip does. This is by design for many participants. The temporary nature of travel allows for encounters that carry fewer expectations. Both parties know the timeline from the start.
Some connections continue. Long-distance relationships sometimes form between people who met while traveling. Social media and messaging apps make it possible to stay in contact across countries and time zones. Whether these relationships last depends on the same factors that affect any relationship.
A smaller number of travelers form connections that lead to significant life changes. People relocate, alter travel plans, or extend trips based on someone they met. These outcomes remain uncommon but receive attention precisely because they are unusual.
The Role of Alcohol
Bars and clubs remain central to travel hookups despite the growth of dating apps. Alcohol lowers inhibitions and creates social settings where approaching strangers feels normal. Resort towns, cruise ships, and all-inclusive hotels build their appeal partly on this dynamic.
Travelers often drink more than they do at home. Vacation mentality allows for behaviors that would feel out of place in daily life. This includes both increased drinking and increased willingness to pursue casual encounters.
Practical Considerations
Safety matters. Meeting strangers in unfamiliar places carries risks that travelers should take seriously. Sharing location information with friends, meeting in public spaces first, and trusting instincts all apply.
Cultural differences also matter. Norms around dating and casual sex vary between countries. Behavior acceptable in one place may be offensive or illegal in another. Researching local customs before arriving reduces the chance of misunderstandings.
The question of whether people still date and hook up while traveling has a straightforward answer. They do, in large numbers, using both traditional methods and newer technology. The specifics depend on the traveler, the destination, and what kind of connection they seek.
