Business trip hook-ups: a free evening, well spent
By Lottie Williams, Head of Content
Updated
The meetings are done, the hotel bar is quiet and you have a whole evening to yourself. Plenty of people travel for work and would rather spend that evening with someone than with room service.
Away for work, free in the evening
A work trip is made for no strings: you are in town for a night or two, your evenings are your own, and your diary ends the story for you. The challenge is time. You do not have a week to chat, so be clear and be quick.
Pick "At short notice" and "Away a lot" under "When are you free?" if they fit, and switch on Free tonight once you are checked in. People nearby who are free too can see it straight away.
Hotels and visitors
Set "Can you host?" to "Hotel / neutral place" and people will know what to expect. Before you invite anyone back, check your hotel's rules: some ask visitors to sign in at reception, and some do not allow them in rooms at all. Breaking them can be awkward, especially if work booked the room.
Meet in the bar or somewhere nearby first. If it goes well, you are only a lift ride away; if it does not, you are already home.
Keeping it separate from work
Discretion works best when it is built in. Keep your work email and company name off your profile, leave your lanyard in your bag, and choose photos that are not from the office party. Set "Discretion" to "Discretion appreciated" or "Discretion essential" if it matters. Our guide to discreet dating has more.
How it works when you travel
Before you go, put your destination and dates in your profile line, so people there know when you will be around. When you arrive, open your profile and change "Your town": it picks up where you are, or your exact location if you allow it, and you will see people near you there. Others only ever see how far away you are, never where.
Switch on Free tonight when you are out and about. It follows the time zone your phone is set to, so "tonight" means tonight where you are, and it switches itself off in the early hours. "Away a lot" under "When are you free?" and "Hotel / neutral place" under "Can you host?" tell people how you work before they ask.
Staying safe away from home
Somewhere new is exciting, and you know less about it than you think. Laws differ from country to country, and some still criminalise same-sex relationships. The UK government says around 70 countries criminalise consensual same-sex activity, so check the "local laws and customs" section of the UK FCDO travel advice, or your own government's, before you go.
- Meet somewhere public first, and use Safety check-in so a friend at home knows where you are.
- Keep your passport, cards and valuables locked away, not in your pocket on a first date.
- Know your way back to where you are staying, and keep your own money for a taxi.
- Check your hotel's rules on visitors before you invite anyone back.
Nobody pays anybody
No Strings Dating is for adults meeting because they both want to. Nobody here pays for company, and nobody asks to be paid. Anyone asking for money, travel costs or a "deposit", wherever they say they are, is a scammer: do not send it, and report them.
Quick answers
How do I meet someone on a business trip?
Change "Your town" when you arrive, switch on Free tonight and browse people nearby. Be clear about your timings, as you will not have long.
Can I bring someone back to my hotel room?
Check your hotel's visitor rules first. Some ask guests to sign in at reception, and some do not allow visitors in rooms.
How do I keep it discreet?
Leave your work details off your profile, set your discretion preference, and keep chat on the site until you trust someone.
Is it safe to meet someone in a city I do not know?
Meet somewhere public first, keep your valuables locked away, know your way back, and use Safety check-in so a friend knows where you are.
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