Dating women overseas has been one of my life’s most incredibly rewarding experiences. Exploring new cultures and making meaningful connections in various parts of the world has been a dream come true. In this comprehensive guide, I will provide an in-depth look at how you can achieve your dreams, too—the opportunities and considerations, based on my experiences, that come with seeking relationships internationally.
After dating several drop-dead gorgeous women in Colombia, Thailand, and the Philippines, I can attest that the grass can be greener on the other side if done correctly. Traveling abroad for Western men like myself can allow us to date high-quality women who are kind, caring, and beautiful. However, please keep in mind that there are drawbacks and careful considerations to be made.
In this guide, we’ll explore the best strategies I use to meet and date women internationally, the benefits of dating abroad, how to prepare for your journey, discover the best countries to visit and learn how to navigate cultural differences. You’ll learn tips for communicating across language barriers, understanding dating etiquette, and building strong relationships founded on mutual respect. My goal is to equip you with the knowledge to approach international dating in an open-minded, compassionate, and responsible manner.
Also see: The 5 Best Countries For Looking For a Wife Overseas
The Benefits of Dating Women Overseas
Dating internationally can be an exciting and rewarding experience. Thanks to global connectivity through technology and travel, more people are exploring relationships with those from different countries and cultures. Through my travels, I have met many other expats like myself who have found enriching relationships overseas.
- Age-gap relationships – Dating younger women more beautiful than you could in Western countries.
- Feminine roles – Many women in foreign countries embrace traditional gender roles of masculine and feminine, encouraging you to “be the man.”
- Kind and caring – I’ve found women in other countries to have warm and caring personalities. They like to take care of their men and boost their confidence.
- Foreign women are appreciative – Although subjective, my experience has been mostly positive. The women I’ve dated have been extremely grateful for the opportunities we have shared together, such as travel and trying new restaurants.
- Exploring new cultures – Women overseas love it when you show interest in their culture. They can even be your tour guide by showing you around their beautiful cities and countries.
- Learning a new language – Foreign women are often multilingual, and you will have the opportunity to learn another language.
- Lower cost of living – If you decide to live overseas, you will enjoy lower costs of food, rent, and transportation compared to the United States, for example.
Dating internationally expands your worldview as you’re exposed to different ways of life. It allows you to understand and appreciate diversity. You may pick up new hobbies and interests or even learn a new language, often for much cheaper than you can in your home country. For example, I learned scuba diving in the Philippines for a fraction of the cost it would have been in the United States. Guitar and tennis lessons are also quite commonly available.
While exciting, international relationships are not without difficulties. Some of the biggest challenges are long-distance relationships (LDRs), language barriers, and cultural gaps.
Why Are Foreign Men A Catch Overseas?
You may be wondering why attracting a younger, beautiful woman in a foreign country is more accessible than dating in your home country. A big reason, whether right or wrong, is the perceived financial status of Western men. Remember that most dating hotspots like Colombia, the Dominican Republic, the Philippines, and Thailand are considered third-world countries.
It’s not simply just about the money. However, in my experience, women tend to be attracted to the possibility of a much-improved lifestyle when they date a foreigner like yourself. Understand that with great power comes great responsibility.
One example is when I dated a beautiful woman in Cebu City, Philippines. At the time, I was 30 years old, and she was 21 years old. She showed me pictures of her home, and they were mind-blowing. Her “home” consisted of a tin roof, a dirt floor, and a barrel with a bucket for bathing. A cloth sheet separated the bedroom walls, and her whole family of parents and siblings (8 people) lived in the home.
Keep this situation in mind and realize that labeling foreign women as gold-diggers is quite overblown, but it is something to be cautious about. Many women just adore the idea of dating a foreign man because of the unique opportunity to improve their lifestyle and possibly that of their families.
Looking for a foreign wife? Check out my article: How To Find A Wife Overseas (For Western Men & Expats)
The Top 3 Countries For Dating Overseas
So far, I have traveled to many countries, including Colombia, Panama, Costa Rica, the Dominican Republic, Argentina, Uruguay, Mexico, Poland, Hungary, Spain, Greece, Turkey, the Philippines, Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia, and Japan. Trust me – there is a reason why Colombia, Thailand, and the Philippines get so much attention as being hotspots for dating. The reasons have substantial validity because of three factors: 1) Their interest in dating foreign men, 2) Physical beauty and inside kindness, and 3) Cost of living.
Colombia – Across the board, Colombia has the most beautiful women of any country I have visited. And for the most part, they are very interested in dating foreigners. Be careful not to get entangled with Colombian women seeking short-term financial arrangements. Not only is it dangerous, but Colombia is taking strong measures to discourage this kind of tourism.
Also see: The Complete Guide To Dating In Colombia As A Foreigner
Thailand – In terms of beauty, Thai women come close to Colombia in second place, in my opinion. Thanks to a fresh, healthy diet, Thai women typically have very petite, slim figures. What sets Thai women apart is how kind, respectful, and sweet they can be. Also, realize I am not talking about Thai bar girls; that is a completely different game.
For an in-depth guide on dating in Thailand, also see: The Ultimate Guide To Dating In Thailand For Foreigners
The Philippines – The significant advantage of Filipino women is that they can usually speak English fluently. That is one of the big reasons many companies have outsourced their call centers to the Philippines. As far as looks are concerned, there are many gorgeous Filipino women, but as a whole, I would consider them slightly behind Colombia and Thailand.
Another advantage of the Philippines is that, for some countries, visitors can stay long-term on a tourist visa or visa-on-arrival. All you need to do is keep visiting immigration offices to extend. After your first couple of extensions, you can get hassle-free six-month extensions (always check specific requirements for your nationality).
See my in-depth guide: The Ultimate Guide to Dating Women in the Philippines
International Dating – Is It Better To Date Online or In-Person?
I suggest combining both online dating and approaching women in public for international dating. These strategies allow you to cast a wide net and hone in on the particular type of woman that you want to date.
Strategies For Online Dating Overseas
About a month in advance, consider subscribing to an online dating website or app. This timing is perfect because it allows you enough time to build some connections without the length of time being so long that the connection fizzles before you arrive.
Also see: 5 Steps To Create A Great International Dating Profile
My favorite website/app for international dating is internationalcupid.com because it has a large worldwide user base, has robust filtering features, and the website is geared for women who are specifically looking for foreign boyfriends. And I LOVE the filtering features because it helps me narrow down exactly to the type of woman I seek. For example, I filter by age, no kids, body type (slim or petite), lack of drinking, and English ability. Also, the women tend to seek more long-term relationships than those on apps compared to Tinder.
Although InternationalCupid is a paid platform, remember that you get what you pay for. By the way, it is free to signup and browse profiles. Other free options that I’ve had success with are Badoo and Zoosk, but they will strongly encourage you to pay by limiting key features from you.
Seeing the countless beautiful women available overseas on an online dating platform will help inspire you to plan your trip and may even help you narrow down exactly where you want to travel.
The key to online dating internationally is to cast a wide net. Think of it as “building prospects.” You never know what will happen with flaking or what she will be like until you set foot on the ground in her country. I like to reach the point where I have five or more quality prospects and then seek to maintain those until I arrive.
For an in-depth review of international dating platforms, also see: 10 Best International Dating Apps Based Off My Testing
Best International Dating Apps & Websites For Meeting Women
- InternationalCupid – My favorite international platform for online dating. I’ve been using this website for over five years and had a lot of success. It seems like wherever I am in the world; there is a large user base of beautiful women on this website. As said previously, I love the filtering and search features because they allow me to narrow down exactly to the type of woman I am seeking. Many of the women are open to both casual or long-term relationships.
- Badoo has grown a lot in the past few years and has increasingly become one of the top international dating websites. The platform is free to use, but know that you will be motivated to unlock key features.
- Seeking – If you have abundant money, Seeking.com has become a major platform in international dating. It’s transparently designed to be a sugar daddy/sugar baby website. Although long-term relationships can develop on this website, be aware that many women appear to be professional models. I used the website for two months and found that some women wanted significant amounts of money just to go on dates. One particular woman even asked me for 1500 Euros for a single date, which I kindly declined. Wow. On the flip side, you will find some of the most beautiful women in the world on the website. Also see: Where To Find & Meet Hot Sugar Babies Online (Top Apps)
- Bumble is free to use, but the Bumble Premium version allows you to set your location to anywhere in the world. Bumble is awesome because it requires women to make the first move after you have matched. This reduces flaking, and the women tend to be looking for more long-term relationships compared to Tinder.
- Tinder – Using Tinder’s paid feature called “Passport,” you can change your location to anywhere in the world. If you’re a Western man, you will get many more matches on Tinder while overseas than in your home country. However, you might wonder why Tinder is not ranked higher here. In my experience, there are a lot of transgenders on the platform, especially in Southeast Asia. Also, in Colombia, using Tinder can be pretty dangerous, and you will be competing with many native men from each country, so it’s possible you can get lost in the shuffle.
Also see: How To Be An International Sugar Daddy: A Helpful Guide
Approaching Foreign Women In Public Overseas
Dating women overseas has restored my self-confidence in ways you cannot imagine. Coming from the United States, I struggled, hesitated, and was indecisive when trying to meet women in the modern dating culture. With my newfound confidence, approaching women in public overseas has become the most fun and rewarding experience. Let’s talk about some critical strategies for approaching women:
First, always try to get a hotel, condo, or Airbnb within walking distance of a large shopping center. For example, in Cebu City, Philippines, I would like to book a hotel next to Ayala Center Cebu, the premier shopping mall in the city. Countless beautiful women are walking around, making it convenient for you to approach them outside your accommodation.
Second, ensure your residence is “guest friendly,” so you won’t have problems bringing a girlfriend over. Also, book your hotel/Airbnb with two guests, not one, so your hotel doesn’t give you any issues getting a guest over. Not only is it generally safer in these areas near the mall, thanks to a security/police presence, but there are many women walking around who work nearby and also go to the mall to hang out and shop.
Check out my strategy for approaching women in public, using the “Indicators of Interest” method in this inforgraphic:
As I have gained experience meeting women in public overseas, my favorite strategy is to employ the “indicators-of-interest” (IOI) method. Essentially, this means you don’t just approach every beautiful woman, which is called a “cold approach.” Instead, you get into a friendly mood by smiling and greeting people as you walk by. A simple smile, head nod, and “hello” are all you need.
Women who are interested will likely reciprocate with a signal of interest. This can be a smile, eye contact, or multiple glances in your direction. I favor this strategy as it reduces rejections and keeps you from being a public nuisance.
Safety Tips For Dating Internationally
- Always meet a woman in public for the first date before bringing her to your hotel, apartment, or Airbnb. I prefer to meet for coffee or lunch and get a feel for their personality and intentions with me. I received a very bad vibe from some women, and I was so glad that our first meeting was in public and not at my residence.
- Never send money to someone you haven’t met in person first. It’s a bad idea to send money to someone you aren’t in a relationship with anyway.
- Never leave your drinks unattended. Unfortunately, dating overseas for Western men does have an increased risk of drink spiking, drugging, and robbing.
- With online dating, always seek to video call a woman before meeting. This will eliminate catfishing and women with bad vibes. There were instances when I was so glad that I did this. One woman in the Philippines had three children and gained 50 pounds since her photos were last taken. Women may have old pictures and look nothing like their online profile.
- When online dating, seek to obtain their social media accounts. This can provide a view into their lifestyle and personality. For example, I prefer women who have a long history of social media usage, smiling pictures, and pictures with their family. Women who have bad intentions with you usually do not have these things present on their social media accounts.
- Always hide your valuables before bringing a woman to your residence. When you continue to build mutual trust, you can gradually start letting your guard down.
- I run a test for new women that I am dating. I will purposefully leave some money unattended in my residence while I am using the bathroom, for example—something small like $5 or $10. If the money is gone, I realize that she is not someone that can be trusted.
For more tips about dating safely internationally, also see: How To Stay Safe While Dating Women Internationally (8 Tips)
Preparing for Your Journey
Properly preparing to date women overseas requires a lot of research and planning if you want to optimize your success. Every country, culture, and city has its own nuances. Learning about your destination and its dating customs shows respect and will lead to more positive experiences.
Learning a few essential greetings and phrases in the local language will separate you from the pack of other tourists and visitors in each country. I’ve found that striving to learn about 25 words/phrases before you arrive is the sweet spot. This usually only takes about two or three hours of study for me. The bonus is that communicating in their language will make flirting fun and easy. The women love it. Nearly 100% of the time, the women giggle as I struggle to communicate in their language, but it always seems appreciated. My language learning app is DuoLingo, which has a free version.
Monetary considerations are another big draw of traveling and living overseas. Don’t underestimate the value of earning in US dollars and living on pesos, a concept I first read about in Tim Ferriss’s The 4-Hour Work Week. Although improved dating opportunities may be the #1 factor for many ex-pats that have relocated overseas, the cost of living is often substantially lower in Southeast Asia and Latin America.
Don’t sweat it if you aren’t financially prepared to live overseas full-time. Everyone has their own starting point. In the beginning, I was not very optimistic, either. Preparation begins with reducing expenses, eliminating debt, and saving every penny. Then, take some vacations overseas, which will broaden your cultural awareness and inspire you to travel more. My first few long-term trips were sabbaticals, where I had enough money to survive for one to three months. The limit of opportunities available to you is only defined by your creativity.
Start immersing yourself in the culture before you arrive. There are a few fun ways to do this, but my favorite is by watching documentaries and movies and reading books about the country you are going to visit. Here are a few examples of documentaries and films that I watched:
- Philippines – Defense of the Philippines, YouTube documentary about US, Philippines, Japan, General MacArthur in WW2
- Cambodia – First They Killed My Father, a movie produced by Angelina Jolie about the Khmer Rouge
- Colombia – Narcos show on Netflix about Pablo Escobar’s rise and fall as a drug kingpin in Colombia
- Vietnam – We Were Soldiers, a movie starring Mel Gibson about the Vietnam-American war
Courting rituals, gender roles, and family dynamics differ in each country. Study up on public displays of affection (PDAs), gift-giving etiquette, etiquette around paying for dates, acceptable topics of conversation, and other social norms. For example, kissing in public is widely frowned upon in Southeast Asia but commonly accepted in Latin America.
It’s also crucial to learn about any legal considerations. Be aware of laws around dating foreigners, marriage, age of consent, and other relevant regulations. The last thing you want is to get into trouble while dating overseas. Avoid breaking local laws at all costs, as legal issues abroad can quickly spiral. Research visa requirements in depth as well.
Set Realistic Expectations of Dating Women Overseas
Dating someone from another country can seem exciting and romantic at first. However, it won’t be without significant challenges and critical lessons that you will learn the hard way. Still, the pros heavily outweigh the cons in my experience. It’s still important to set realistic expectations before embarking on international dating.
Myths vs. Realities of Dating Abroad
A common myth is that relationships with foreign partners are easy and effortless. As a Western man visiting a foreign country, your value in the dating marketplace is usually relatively higher than in your home country.
Also see: 7 Huge Mistakes Men Make Dating Foreign Women Overseas
I’ve dated gorgeous women in various countries that I could not have fathomed in my home country. However, the relationship can often fall apart after a while due to a large language barrier or cultural differences. Pure beauty can be intoxicating at the beginning, but after a few weeks, it can get stale if you haven’t made an effort to seek a genuine connection, which is usually only obtained through conversations and quality time.
Another myth is that exotic foreign women make perfect subservient wives. This outdated stereotype is far from the truth and varies on a woman-to-woman basis. Many foreign women indeed respect the traditional gender roles. For example, some women I’ve dated can be very attentive and are eager to wash my clothes and cook delicious meals for me. In reality, this isn’t always the case. Women from other cultures have diverse perspectives and values. View your partner as an equal individual, not an exotic accessory.
Don’t assume that relocating abroad for love will be easy, either. Adapting to a new culture brings practical challenges. Be prepared for boatloads of paperwork, homesickness, language barriers, and starting from scratch in a new community. It’s essential to make friends with local expats from your home country who can “show you the ropes” of how to integrate into the country.
Adjusting to Cultural Differences
No matter how compatible you may seem at first, cultural differences will eventually arise. Your partner may have different expectations around gender roles, family values, etiquette, communication norms, and more.
Unfortunately, I had a bad experience with a woman in Medellin, Colombia. There was a cultural difference between us regarding “honesty” and monogamy. I thought that we were in a monogamous, committed relationship, but it turned out that she was still going on dates with other men. When I confronted her about it, she said she assumed I was still seeing other women and acted as if it was no big deal. The lesson learned is that it is best to be upfront about your expectations and boundaries.
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Thanks so much for reading!