Does thinking about what to do on a first date give you the absolute jitters? You’re probably not alone!

No matter how much you’ve texted or chatted on the phone with this person, or how many first dates you’ve gone on, it’s always a bit nerve-wracking… but exciting!

Well, the GOOD NEWS is that there are tons of ideas on what to do on a first date AND you can decide what suits you!

If we drill it down, the purpose of a first date is to help you get to know each other and see how compatible you are. Your first date activity should help set the stage for that.

Having gone on first dates from 20+ cities; using online dating apps while traveling has definitely brought about some fun and memorable first dates.

If you’re looking for inspiration on what to do on a first date, here are some of my most memorable first date experiences (with tips, faux pas and all):

Beach Vibes and Sunsets

While on a weeklong yoga retreat in Bali, I matched with Mr. London. We agreed to meet somewhere in the middle since we weren’t staying in the same area (Tip #1 – be considerate of each other’s location.) I suggested a beach bar where we can sit on beanbags and sip cocktails while watching the amazing Bali sunset (Tip #2 – don’t wait around for the other person to suggest something. If you’ve got a great idea, suggest it.) After agreeing on the place and the time, I made my way down to the beach bar and found some beanbags for us.

Fifteen minutes passed and Mr. London said he was running late. I told him “No worries, I’m on the yellow beanbag, third from the right.” Another fifteen minutes passed and Mr. London messaged saying that he had arrived but couldn’t find me. I did a full scan and didn’t see him either… so strange, the place wasn’t THAT full. We agreed to meet at the bar, since beanbags might be too confusing. I walked to the bar and Mr. London wasn’t there either, even though I received a message saying he was at the bar too. At this point, my patience was running low and I was starting to think this guy MUST be pranking me. I decided to call it a night and while walking back, I noticed another beach bar with the SAME BEAN BAGS! FML!

It turns out I was the idiot who went to the wrong beach bar! I quickly messaged Mr. London and darted over to find him… at the bar (Tip #3 – make sure you are at the RIGHT location.) We ended up missing the sunset but grabbed the right beanbags for a fun night of drinks and banter.

Bali

The Non-Party Side of Ibiza

My Spanish holiday this summer kicked off in Ibiza. True to its party town reputation, there were parties EVERY single night. I matched with Mr. Granada who had moved to Ibiza 4 years ago for work and had grown immune to the parties.

After being there for even just a couple of days, it was definitely a nice change of pace for me when Mr. Granada suggested an Old Town personal walking tour (Tip #4 – a first date doesn’t always have to involve drinking a beverage.) This was the first time anyone had suggested a walking tour as a date idea and being an avid traveller, this was right up my alley (Tip #5 – find something you are both interested in.)

We explored the narrow, winding, steep cobbled streets and I took every opportunity to take pics of the beautiful place. This quiet walk allowed us the time to chat and get to know each other (Tip #6 – pick an environment that’s not too loud and where you guys can actually talk.) It was the perfect summer date night.

Ibiza Old Tow

Dancing Under the Stars

Awww, Florence, Italy. Birthplace to Renaissance art and a close proximity to the world famous Tuscan wine region. I was back in Florence this year and decided to message Mr. Tuscany who worked at one of the vineyards in Tuscany. We had matched almost a year before but due to time constraints, we weren’t able to meet up for a first date.

Fast forward to now, Mr. Tuscany suggested grabbing drinks at a local bar. I’m always up for anything local (Tip #7 – meeting at local spots is good because they’re popular for a reason.) After sampling some Tuscan wine, we both wanted to keep the date going. Mr. Tuscany suggested we check out Piazalle Michelangelo for the most spectacular lookout over Florence. After we arrived and took some Instagram-worthy-pics, we found ourselves again trying to keep the date going.

Since Mr. Tuscany was taking Salsa lessons, he asked if I’d like to have a dance with him… right there at the Piazalle Michelangelo! I’ve never tried Salsa before and yes, as cheesy as that sounded, I put my shyness aside and said why not? (Tip #8 – don’t be afraid to try something new.) Mr. Tuscany put on some Salsa music from his playlist and we ended our first date dancing under the stars.

Piazalle Michelangelo in Florence

Safety First

While going on first dates can be fun, you should always take precautions! Luckily for me, nothing scary has happened as I follow these Key Safety Tips:

Be smart and air on the side of caution.

If something doesn’t feel right, don’t do it!

It’s generally a good idea to meet in a public place first.

It’s also a good idea to let your friends know whom you’re meeting (I do screenshot my dates, just in case) and also, the location of where you guys are going.

In summary, deciding on what to do on a first date can feel overwhelming, but the key is to be comfortable (and safe) so that you can have fun whilst getting to know each other. With this mind-set, have fun on that first date!

Ms. Mel