Different Types of Romance you’ll Experience While Traveling

We all know one of the best aspects of travel is the romance. In fact, the truthful traveler will put it on par with gaining perspective, engaging in different cultural practices, and overall learning. The truth is that a little romance makes all these things sweeter. While in our home and native lands it is great as well, there is an intangible additive that travel creates. The saying goes “to each their own,” and with travel romances, this couldn’t be more true. Here are a few of the many types of travel romances one will encounter when hitting the road, as well as how the stack up in the fields of passion and longevity. 

the One Night Stand romance - OK, OK, OK. I know you can experience one of these anywhere you go, but they happen while traveling, too. You can normally find this type of “romance,” in all the same places you would back home (bars, night clubs, etc) but also on booze cruises, overnight transportation, airport layovers, or trying to clandestinely hit it in dorm rooms to the peril of all the other horrified people with whom you share the room (dick!). The one kicker with a travel one night stand is the majority of the time it happens with someone from a different culture (awesome!). The One Night Stand romance loosely fits in this article, only because it happens while on the road.

Passion level: 2…which your shit-faced brain mistakes for a 9

Longevity: -2

the One Tour Stand romance - This is the classy, older sibling of the One Night Stand. The One Tour Stand romance occurs between a person on a tour and either another tourist or their faithful tour guide. Tour groups bring together a whole bunch of random individuals, normally from differing destinations, who all fit generally under the same umbrella due to what they are able to pay for said tour. Whilst experiencing new and exciting things, two (or more!) individuals will find connection blossoming like the exotic flora and fauna they came to see. Maybe it is the change in climate or just how magical even the simplest of things feel when you are in a new destination. One thing’s for sure though, the fire building within you can’t be contained, but it will probably fizzle out. Just like the tour will inevitably end, so will this romantic unison.

Passion Level: 8

Longevity: 2

the Island Fever romance: So you are stuck on an island with nothing to do but enjoy the sand, sun, and surf. Oh wait, there is also all the other swimsuit-clad tourists whom you can enjoy as well! This type of romance, of course, doesn’t always happen on an island. It can happen at any isolated destination where there is nothing more to do than profit from the beautiful nature, enjoy an adult beverage or herbal remedy, and mingle with the other lucky souls who realized that a place like this exists. While most of the time, much like cabin fever, this type of romance fades as quickly as your sun tan, it does have potential to blossom into the Tourist Trail Love Tale (see below), the Peripatetic Lovers, or even the big L-word!

     Passion: 6, because those mid-morning beers really take it out of you, making it exceedingly difficult to unleash the burning passion at night.

     Longevity: 4

the Expat Shuffle romance: It is called the “shuffle,” because those within specific expat communities will eventually shuffle between each other as partners. It is kind of like being in high school again, except the stakes are a lot higher. The amount of teachers, business people, and guides I’ve met who have had to relocate, or even find a new niche, due to a little too much double dipping is unreal. Why these people don’t try the Taste of Local Cuisine romance is beyond me. Either way, expats love to stir up the drama within their own community.

Passion Level: 7

Longevity: As long as the contract with the signed dotted line.

the We Can Finally Articulate Ourselves Fully romance: While the whole point of travel is to experience something new, at some point you are going to want to speak in your native tongue, using the fullest extent of your vocabulary. Often times, when you find that person whom shares the same native tongue, and the same desire to fully articulate themselves, you realize that the most conducive atmosphere to elaborate is horizontally between guest house sheets. Don’t beat yourself up, we all do it. In fact, lots of times it ends up being awesome. Shedding your travel skin for just a moment and indulging in pure national pride is A-OK. While there is the possibility of realizing that the luscious lover lying next to you looks more like a last resort after the passion dies, at least the only thing you will leave in the room as you sneak out is your homesick yearnings. 

Passion level: 2-8 Depending on the outcome 

Longevity: 2 (except for those folks who realize that they were just running from

their problems back home while enjoying the embrace of a fellow countryman/woman)

the Taste of Local Cuisine romance: There are many ways to get a taste of local cuisine on this list, but because it is regular facet of travel, it does deserve its own category. Maybe you are taking a course in a foreign destination and find someone who enjoys your butchered attempt at their language? Perhaps you are in a tourist hot spot and engage with a person who is just as intrigued with your culture as you are with theirs? Maybe your tour guide, guest house employee, transportation driver, or interpreter is just too damn sexy not to make a pass at? All the above and more can lead to an unforgettable culture experience. Just remember, post-game activities may differ from one culture to the next, so be prepared for an interesting morning after, trying to decipher exactly what is a culturally appropriate exit plan.

Passion Level: 10

Longevity: 0-10

the Tourist Trail Love Tale romance: While this romance can occur for short-term travelers, it is mostly reserved for those who have taken the vow to travel for more than a two week vacation. Travelers like this will often choose a region, as opposed to a single destination, and find themselves on a trail that is laden with other travelers hoping to also imbibe in all the splendor of the region. This beautiful romance is fluid. You meet, you love, you depart, you reconnect, you enjoy. This is the essence of travel and love intertwined. While there is no specific commitment to one another, there is an underlying devotion, and a secret desire that paths will cross once again. Though this can wind up a bit messy due to emotions, the possibility of other travel romances invading this beautiful unison, or a person departing in hopes of not meeting up again, the Tourist Trail Love Tale is one romance all travelers will hopefully be blessed to experience.

Passion Level: 9

Longevity: 8-10 (Until the money or travel bug runs out!)

the Peripatetic Pounding Pals romance: While this article is written for a target audience of travelers, there are those people whose lives consist of moving. Some people like to stay in one place for months, years, or a lifetime, while others may find themselves moving every other week. Believe it or not, there are people for folks like this. Often times, a roaming individual’s moves can even be based on the partnerships they’ve made, and the romances they have in differing destinations. Most of these people have steady jobs or paychecks, yet their work location is undefined. While the “pals,” they choose to pound with may be stationary, this romance often occurs between career vagabonds who put all their faith in where the wind will blow them next. 

Passion Level: 9

Longevity: 7 (Surprisingly, these guys tend to find people who only commit to work and location, so a vagabond pounding pal is perfect!

the Love romance: You know what they say, it is best to meet your future or current spouse doing something you love, rather than drinking at a bar or sad, late-night Tinder sessions. Travel romances are fun by definition, but sometimes they can turn serious. The luckiest of travelers will find their counterpart in the midsts of backpacks, turning wheels, and tumbleweed dreams. When they do, only time will tell if their sails will still be raised, or if their wandering ways were secretly motivated by finding the one.

Passion Level: 10

Longevity: 10 (Or at least long than an average celebrity marriage)

Photos courtesy of Author

Falling was the easiest thing to do

In a time now past, the scenario would have been a dream. To the left, the waves crashed gracefully on sand lit by a clear night sky. The moon had reached a turgid state, as if its illumination would burst from the circular entrapment, spilling out over the torrid horizon. The beach was desolate for miles, leaving only our tent to occupy the fine, white sand. Yet, the occupants of our previous encounter no longer existed, and the schism between our bodies seemed to grow larger than the area of our transient shelter. The magic we once shared had faded, and no amount of force could bring it back.

Whether you aspire to find it, or it forcefully inserts itself into your world, travel romances are an essential piece to the traveling puzzle. The beauty being that they always seems to land in the place their jagged edges and obscure shape are supposed to fit. Travel romances are fast, fun, and emotionally charged, with anyone who has experienced the phenomena unable to forget it. The inexplicable link between two wandering souls is a bond chosen recipients wouldn’t trade for the world.



So how does one end up in a travel romance? To start, one has to be on the road. While this can occur anywhere outside of the confines of your own home, it typically becomes the result of passion-fueled conversations between two total strangers in a far off, distant land. Often times the parties are from different places, but find an unexpected amount of common bonds. With both being in a place foreign to themselves, the idea of finding someone so similar is striking. Before either party has time to actualize what's happening, the two are immersed in an incredibly strong connection, feeling twists and turns in their stomachs akin to dropping from great heights.

Travel romances are like travel experiences; they come in all shapes and sizes. Sometimes you meet someone whom you feel as if you’ve been looking for all of eternity, and yet, after a few days, your paths may begin to stray in opposing directions. Other times, your new formed duo may explore the vast world for weeks or months in joyful unison. Maybe you are one of the lucky ones whom find your paths are irreversibly intwined. The fact is, all of these are beautiful, meaningful, and not something to scoff at. Linear time does not exist while traveling, with measurement only based on what you’ve felt and lived while in commune with one another. Duration has no say in the matter.

One unavoidable caveat of transient relationships is what to do when your paths first become seperated. In the age of the internet, even if our bodies are miles apart, social media can keep us connected. Bangkok is only a few clicks and flights away from Paris, so lovers can be reunited at the drop of a hat. But does this actually present a good option? Wasn’t part of the initial magic of the experience having a serendipitous meeting in a foreign land, with only fate as your guide? Can that same magic work its way through wires and wifi, or will you find yourself on the shores of the pacific ocean, wondering where the past love got lost on the way? That question, of course, can only be answered by those on either end of the glowing, touch screen.


For those in the midst of travel, or on the verge of taking the leap, the only advice one can tender is make yourself open to the opportunity at hand. Fall in love with new places and people. Speak your mind and feed your soul. Let the journey you’ve embarked upon fully run its course, and everything else will fall into place. Who knows, maybe once you find your true path, you’ll realize that you are sharing the space with someone you never knew existed, and will never again live without. 



Photos courtesy of Them Resort, Travelettes, and We Heart It

Do date a man who travels

It’s easy to tell him apart. While his long hair and feral appearance stand out in a crowd, that isn’t why the man who travels is illuminated. No, it’s the brazen look in his eyes. Behind the adorning wrinkles bestowed by stories of smiles and joy is man who has tasted the fruits of foreign lands. Behind that gaze lies a man of conviction, a man who has experienced, and a man who knows a thing or two about life.

Though our female counterparts beg to differ, do date a man who travels. Through experiences ranging from lavish to lackluster, he has learned to thrive in all environments. He can woo a crowd while dining at the swanky night spot, but will always prefer the company of a single companion under a moonlit sky. He appreciates moments of western indulgence watching a movie in bed, but has never understood the idea of a rut. Life is always fresh, and with him, there is never a dull moment.

Do date a man who travels. While he may only have enough material possessions to fill 60-70 liters of rucksack, he’s not afraid of the material world. He may not have room for the newest trend, but he can admire those who OWN their possessions, instead of that of the opposite. His end goal may not be money, but he has learned the value of a dollar. He enjoys the good life, and knows how to fashion it in any atmosphere in which he’s found.

Don’t expect to see him working in a typical job. While he doesn’t mind occasionally adorning the suit and tie, a man who has seen this much can’t be restrained. He is creative, but even that is in the atypical sense. He’s a hustler, a go-getter, an alchemist forging a lucrative amalgam out of his passions, yet still does not lose himself to the daily grind. While others may not understand what he does and why he does it, they do respect it. He explored the world to uncover the lifestyle he loves, and now refers to it as reality.

The unknown can be scary, but the man who travels has learned to befriend his fear. He may be unpredictable in nature, but for the trained eye, this chaos is a far cry from an uncontrolled variable. He knows the only constant in life is change and navigates the unchartered territory as if calm waters in a familiar bay. He approaches question marks with a sense of ease, placating all those who find themselves in his presence. 

Some lessons can only be learned through experience, and the man who travels has been down that path. He has been to places where rights are not in abundance. His demographic may not be oppressed, but through the eyes of his companions, he has learned what it feels like to be restrained. He realizes that the hands of a true ally are dirty, bloody, and calloused, because this is what he posses. He may never fully understand these injustices, but has realized this understanding is half the battle.

His life is unplanned. He loves the feel of wind in his hair, and the image of clear landscape in his rearview mirror. Exploring new environments with an open-mind and open-heart is a perfunctory act because adventure and understanding are etched in his DNA. His compass is tuned to the seasons, with falling leaves acting as mile markers, and rolling scenery as roadsigns. He is transient. He finds comfort in motion. He loves all things that revolve, but still finds a yearning for a home. For him, this is not a physical location, but a loyalty felt towards others who have fallen for the same pulls, the same passions.

Do date a man who travels. Though he does have his faults - wanderlust, selfishness, a skewed sense of reality - above all else, he knows what compliments his being. He will adore the independence and confidence you posses, and awe at your lively soul. He may not acquiesce without a fight, but will be eternally grateful for your ability to twist his less than desirable traits into functioning aspects of something lasting and beautiful. He will not forsake the goddess or god in you, showing prostrations through reciprocation of work that comes with falling in love. A man who travels may not have everything figured out, but he understands confusion isn’t a bad place to reside, especially if you’ve a counterpart to occupy it with.