When you holiday with a singles travel group, you have the unique opportunity to learn about others.  You will see sides of a personality that may not come out in a typical dating situation.  You are thrust into unusual situations when you travel.   You can see how a person interacts with others- good or bad!  You can find out how they deal with time- are they on time or always late?   Is the whole bus waiting for this person?

You can see how flexible or accommodating someone is when you travel.  Do they help others with their luggage when someone is struggling?  When plans shift, do they go with the flow or are they put off?  Does the person you are traveling with keep his or her cool under fire or do they fly off the handle? 

Another side you can see is if someone is a people person or a loner.  Does the person you’re interested in like to go off by herself or do they want to be with the crowd?  Does this person make friends easily or turn people off?  Is a person you are attracted to have a pleasant demeanor?  Or is he always complaining and never happy with the situation? 

You can see how adventurous someone is.  Does she stick with the safe and known tour or does she want to explore on her own?  When I was in Israel we went tubing down the Jordon River, went on a Jeep ride at the Golan Heights, and went swimming in the Dead Sea.  Some people covered themselves with the mud there which was supposed to have health benefits.   I consider myself quasi-adventurous.  I didn’t go caving since I have issues with small, confined spaces.  

You can also see if someone is creative.  Some people like to draw or take pictures in an artistic way.  Another benefit of traveling with the group is that you gain the perspective of another person and may add to your learning.   You get the chance to see how they see the world.   Last, you can learn people’s values when you are traveling.  What is really important to them?  You spend a lot of time on the bus and can have deep conversations!

Of course, there are a couple of negative aspects of traveling with a singles group.  Some trips may not have more than a dozen of people and you can get stuck with someone you do not like.  The trip may be 75% women and if you are a woman, you may not like these odds if you are hoping to meet men for dating!  

Another con is that cliques can develop and that people do not wander past their chosen group so it becomes hard to get to know the other people.  Sometimes people pair up fairly early so you don’t get a chance to connect with someone of interest.  (in the next post we will discuss some strategies trip to take on a singles trip).  Also, if you do meet someone you are interested in, they may live across the country from you.  On one trip I was on there was a Seattle- New York connection!  So you are dealing with a long-distance relationship.  

Also, when you are traveling, you are not in a setting that represents normal life.  You are having fun and don’t have to deal with everyday mundane things.  Another situation I have found is that people can lie.  They may neglect to tell you that they have a serious relationship at home.   You may find someone who “loves the one they are with”, shows you a lot of attention on the trip and then never follows up afterward. 

So you need to weigh the pros and the cons of traveling with a singles group.  I do believe it is a way to meet people who share your interests and values.