Dating apps have changed the game for finding romance. Whether you believe in "the one" or just anyone with whom you would share a glass of mulled wine on a great date, it's a breeze to take away. When it comes to romance, there's nothing more exciting than sparking up with someone on vacation. So, as you can imagine, I was delighted to be invited by Tinder to visit Berlin and try out their Tinder Passport feature, which taught me a whole new way to meet people and explore the city.
Before I packed my bags and pursued international love, I had to master Tinder Passport, and honestly, it couldn't be easier to use. Passport is part of Tinder's paid gold subscription, which allows you to change the destination on your account to match with people in the same area. You can also switch back to your current location without losing any previous matches. A few weeks before my trip, I changed locations from Manchester to Berlin.
As a self-confessed dating app enthusiast, I couldn’t wait to see if Berlin’s dating scene was any different to the UK. As I started browsing users, I noticed a clear difference in many of the profiles. I'm very picky about BIOS. If it doesn't, is super limited, or doesn't really show a person's sense of humor, I probably won't watch it (unless it's Tom Hardy). Once I moved to Berlin I came across a lot of profiles who either had "NSA" aka "no strings attached" or "no hooks" in their resume. While it may seem a bit ahead of its time at first, this clarification of what people are looking for has made my search for dates a lot easier. This no-nonsense approach to dating also carries over to the conversations I have with people when setting up appointments. Because of the simplicity of Tinder's Passport feature, it's easy to explain to people why they're matching with someone 900 miles away.
After removing the romantic wheat from the chaff (one match invited me to his sister's engagement party, another invited me to one of Berlin's famous sex clubs), I decided to hook up with Berlin natives Felix and South African International Student Chris Dating. Now all that's left to do is pack up my best tops and jeans and a really warm jacket and fly out.
I've been on more dates than I should, and for better or worse, there's a lot to be excited about when you have a new city to explore. However, as Thursday night rolled around and the time to meet Felix grew closer, I couldn't shake the nerves in my stomach that I hadn't felt in a long time. People are often worried about whether the chat will go well and whether we will like each other, but the unfamiliarity with the surroundings made me feel a bit like a newbie in dating. To combat these nerves I made sure to message Felix on and off throughout the day, I figured out a way to get there (praise God for CityMapper), I arrived about 20 minutes early and we met at a super touristy spot and busy Alexanderplatz.
I sat on a bench waiting, watching tourists taking selfies with Berlin's TV Tower looming in the background, feeling jittery and wondering how awkward it would be if I stood up, when I felt someone tap me on the shoulder hour. Felix looks just like he does in the photos, smiling broadly and effortlessly cool. I was so nervous that I barely noticed the Christmas atmosphere in Alexanderplatz. We wandered around the Christmas market for a few hours, eating sausages and drinking beers. This is the perfect Christmas market date. My nerves calmed down quickly because we had been talking for a week and he already knew I was interested in tacky Christmas tree ornaments that he allowed me to look at for way too long.
Since the first date went well, I wasn't as nervous about meeting Chris the next day. As an MFA student, he had already sold me a day of brunch, art galleries, and drinks. We met at Factory Girl, a very trendy breakfast shop in Mitte. Normally I wouldn't agree to go to dinner with someone on a first date. Sitting across from them trying to talk and eat at the same time was my worst situation. However, I already knew that Chris loved photography, had just attended his first exhibition, and had a miniature dachshund named Otto, so to say there was no shortage of conversation would be an understatement. We visited the KW Institute of Contemporary Art and visited a very beautiful bookstore nearby. Doing an activity we both enjoyed definitely made the date less stressful. I saw a gallery I didn't know existed and chatting became much easier as we were engrossed in the installation. I think by the end of the day we both knew there were no romantic sparks there, but he did invite me out for drinks that night with a group of his friends.
One of the best things I've discovered about Tinder Passport is that I didn't just go on two dates. After meeting Chris and really connecting with him on a personal but not romantic level, I met with a group of his friends. I usually find it unbelievable to have dinner with a stranger, but since we had already had a great day and we had been talking for about a week and a half before the trip, I already felt like I knew him. It was a way to see a city I thought I knew in a completely different light.
Gotta say this is rubbish, but when you're using something like Tinder Passport, especially if you're traveling alone, it's important to take the usual safety precautions. When I go on any date, I tell my friends where I'm going and usually message them when I get back (or throughout the process depending on how bad it is). While there wasn't much my friend could have done, I still let her know where I was in Berlin, as well as scoping out each date destination and figuring out how to get home if I wanted to.
Tinder Passport is a great way to connect with people before you visit. It made a solo trip so much fun and I still talk to some of the people I met. It's very easy to use, and while you shouldn't treat your date like a tour guide, it's definitely more fun than a walking tour. While I didn't pack my bags and move in with my new German boyfriend, I got to see some parts of the city I'd never seen before, which completely circumvents that feeling you get when you first meet someone in a bar Awkward conversations that can happen.
