Holiday flings: meet someone while you are away
By Lottie Williams, Head of Content
Updated
A holiday fling has everything going for it: time, sunshine and an end date nobody has to negotiate. All you need is someone who wants the same thing, in the same place, at the same time.
What makes a good holiday fling
A holiday fling is a short, happy thing with someone you meet while you are away. It might be one evening or the whole week. The best ones are honest from the start: you are both there for a good time, and you both know when it ends.
That might be another traveller, or someone local who enjoys meeting visitors. Either way, say on your profile that you are here for fun, so nobody is hoping for a long-distance romance you never offered.
Plan ahead
The week before you go is the best time to get started. Add a line such as "In Lisbon 3 to 10 June, up for a drink and see where it goes" and pick what you are up for, whether that is "Casual dating" or a "One-off hook-up". When you land, change "Your town" so you show up nearby.
Chat a little before you meet, so you are not spending day one of your holiday on small talk. If your meeting style is "Video call first", a quick call before you travel saves time when you arrive.
Ending it well
The last night needs no big speech. A warm "this was brilliant, thank you" is plenty, and swapping numbers is optional. If you do want to keep in touch, say so; if you do not, a kind goodbye beats a vanishing act. Our guide to one night stands covers the etiquette.
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 holiday?
Put your destination and dates in your profile line before you go, then change "Your town" when you arrive and switch on Free tonight when you are out.
Should I meet a local or another traveller?
Either. Locals know the best bars; travellers share your timetable. What matters is that you both want the same thing.
Do holiday flings ever last?
Sometimes, but go in expecting a happy ending at the airport, not a relationship. Anything more is a bonus.
What about protection abroad?
Pack your own condoms, as brands and availability vary. Our sexual health guide covers testing when you get home.
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