Dating and Relationship

Archive for the ‘Dating’ Category

Planning a romantic holiday can be almost as fun as the holiday itself. Whether one enjoys the mountains, the beach, or a diversified landscape, the ideal holiday location can be found to please just about anyone. Those whose hearts are set on a romantic getaway, but are unsure of where to go, should consider the following locations:

Aspen, Colorado

A favourite escape for honeymooners, skiers and even the rich and famous, Aspen, Colorado has much more to offer than just beautiful scenery. A great romantic destination for outdoor lovers, Aspen is always beautiful regardless of the season. The city boasts a terrific nightlife, fantastic accommodations, and state-of-the-art restaurants. Couples who enjoy communing with nature in a romantic setting will not want to miss a walk on one of Aspen’s many sightseeing trails. Whether one enjoys skiing, picnicking, or simply a night out on the town, it can be found in the city of Aspen.

Venice, Italy

Venice is one of the most intriguing and romantic cities in the world. A jewel of the Adriatic Sea, Venice is a labyrinth of canals, bridges, and waterways where a romantic gondola is one’s primary method of transportation. The city has a reputation for capturing the hearts of first-time visitors in a way that no other European city can, making a holiday in the city of Venice something no traveller will ever forget.

Tahiti

Tahiti is a large island in the Pacific Ocean. Its diversified scenery and intimate resorts make it one of the most travelled to destinations in the world. Impressive waterfalls, lush green valleys, and crystal clear streams create a picture-perfect backdrop against which a romantic sojourn can be enjoyed. Deserted beaches and quaint villages make it one of the best islands on Earth for those who wish to enjoy quality time alone. From thatched-roof hideaways to state-of-the-art hotel rooms or luxury resorts, there is something in Tahiti to please every holiday maker.

Airfare Tips

When travelling to one of the aforementioned locations for a romantic getaway, one should consider the following tips for acquiring affordable airfare:

It is never wise to settle for the first fare one finds, as 50 percent of the time this rate can be beat by another special, or by an alternate airline. In addition, if a couple can settle for a less than ideal seating arrangement, a substantial amount of money can be saved on airfare. Galley seats and seats that are located close to the rest rooms are usually cheaper than most other seats on the plane.

Making the Most of Super Saver Fares

Sometimes super saver fares are so inexpensive that they are worth the price, even if one is not going to be staying as long as is required by the company offering the discount. He or she may be able to save a considerable amount of money by purchasing two round-trip tickets, one from home to the holiday destination, and one for the return date. Often times, the total for the two tickets is less than the total of one standard round-trip fare.

If you’re planning a romantic getaway to one of these locations, it may be worth acquiring an American Express Qantas Frequent Flyer credit card. These cards offer travellers a range of benefits and privileges and are the perfect companion to the perfect getaway.

Ah, the dreaded dating scene. Who doesn’t know the horrors of awkward silences, strange looks and weird body collisions? But not to worry-like anything else in life, dating gets better with practice. All you need is some improvement of dating skills to alleviate some of the terrors of dating, so the experience can be what it should be: a time to kick back and relax with a new person.

1. Know thyself. Start off by thinking about your strengths and weaknesses on dates. Only once you understand what you can improve (and what you should just leave alone) can you begin to make advances in your dating skills.

2. Date as often as you feel comfortable. Like anything else, people improve their dating skills with practice. This doesn’t mean you should schedule 8 dates a week but, if you want to improve dating skills, take up opportunities to go on dates as they arise.

3. Watch an expert at work. If you know someone who is renowned for their dating skills, try to set up a double date to watch someone apply a personal style to dating. Don’t try to emulate the person. Just observe to gain some tips and pointers to improve your own dating skills.

4. Be honest with your date. While asking directly about your dating skills is not the best way to get a fruitful answer, raising a conversation about the date itself is. Try to talk with your date about how things went and what he or she liked and disliked in order to get an idea of your success. Remember, though, this is a conversation packed with potential awkwardness, so keep it light and casual.

You’re probably anxious about meeting your girlfriend’s parents, but if things go well, this can be a great step for your relationship. If you impress her parents, you’ll gain their trust and earn points with your girlfriend.

1. Learn about her parents. Find out if they are conservative, sticklers regarding etiquette and politeness, old-fashioned, laid back, easily offended or boring.

Ask your girlfriend if they might be particularly annoyed by any of your habits or if you should modify your behavior in any way.

For example, if you’re a smoker but know that her parents hate smoking, you’ll want to avoid lighting up in front of them.

2. Pick a neutral meeting place. If it’s your decision, choose to meet them on neutral territory. Unless your home is immaculately clean and impressive, avoid meeting there.

Going to their place can be intimidating as well, so plan to meet at a comfortable restaurant or other public place.

3. Dress appropriately. There’s no need to rent a tux, but don’t show up wearing a shirt with dirty college humor or ratty weekend clothes. Try to dress maturely and look neat and groomed, but not self-absorbed and prissy.

4. Be assertive and act interested. Shake their hands, make eye contact, smile and talk often. Ask them questions about their hobbies, their jobs or other things they might mention.

5. Refer to them as Mr. or Mrs. unless they tell you otherwise, always address them as you would a superior at the office or at school.

6. Avoid touchy subjects. Sex, politics, religion and drugs are all bad topics to discuss. If they bring it up, be vague and subtly change the subject.

7. Act natural and be yourself. Chances are, you are an okay guy; otherwise their daughter wouldn’t be so into you.

When it comes to dating, everyone can use a tip or two. Dating is tricky business, especially with all the mixed signals, frustrations, and surprises along the way. Luckily, there are several nice tips that can help smooth out the bumpy road ahead.

Keep Your Eyes Open

For some reason, many people will cast a light of immediate trust upon any mutual acquaintance, but refuse to date someone that hasn’t been “vouched for” by a friend. This option can severely limit the dating prospects available.

One tip to keep in mind is that a quality partner can be anywhere. So it’s important to not discount anyone, whether they’re at a local grocery store, library, or restaurant. Always be on the lookout.

Socializing

Socializing is a key to successful dating. The more people you meet, the more options you have in the dating game. Although you might get lucky without socializing, you want to tilt the odds in your favor by socializing as much as possible during this time period.

This can be as simple as meeting friends up when invited, or attending parties, get-togethers, and local community functions.

Go Online

Online dating has risen in popularity over the past 20 years. Although it might seem like a non-serious type of dating, it can be one of the most efficient and effective methods–especially for people with very little time on their hands.

Online dating allows people to date in their spare time, weeding through pictures and information that they know will not interest them. It also opens up your social circle to far more people than what would be possible without the use of the Internet. Read the rest of this entry »

Once you’ve found someone you’re eager to date, the next challenge is planning out the date itself.

During the early stages of a relationship, the last thing you want is a boring or overly serious situation. Keep the backdrop simple, fun and casual, so that you and your date can focus on each other.

Lunch Dates

Dinner dates tend to be formal and romantic, and create a lot of pressure during early dating stages. For a nontraditional twist, invite your date out for lunch.

Restaurants feature more casual menus, dress codes and price ranges for the lunch hour, and it’s easy to fit a casual lunch into the middle of your day.

Plus you get all the traditional benefits of conversation over your meals. Choose a location that appeals to both of you, whether an exotic new bistro or a neighborhood diner.

Sports Dates

Athletic events aren’t typically considered romantic, which helps you and your date feel more at ease. Baseball games, football games and other sports venues offer the chance to be as loud and energetic as you like.

Similar to watching a movie together, you have the chance to focus on something besides each other, taking the pressure off during potential awkward silences: but unlike a movie, it’s also perfectly fine to chat during a sports game.

Group Dates

Group settings aren’t suitable for everybody — you might want to avoid groups during very early dates while you’re just getting to know each other.

But having other people around not only gives your date a chance to casually meet your friends (and vice versa), it also lets you both interact with other people, placing less stress on you. Picnics are casual and fun settings, and the relaxed setting makes it easy for you two to bow out early. Read the rest of this entry »

When you first begin dating someone new, establishing a connection quickly is critical. Your chances of making it past the dating stage into a relationship are slim if your date does not form a good early impression of you.

Don’t let the pressure get to you, however; following a few simple rules may make all the difference in your level of dating success.

Avoid Costly Dates

On early dates, stay away from outings that result in hefty bills, even if you have deep enough pockets for it. You do not want your date getting the sense that you are trying to win her over with your money.

Additionally, she may insist on paying half of the costs herself, so even if you can afford it easily, she may not have that same luxury. Stick to modest environments and give yourself a chance to connect without interference from your wallet.

Set Early Evening Dates

Patti Novak, dating expert and hostess of the show “Confessions of a Matchmaker,” recommends picking early evening starting times for your dates with someone new. This gives you ample opportunity to stretch the date out late into the night if you enjoy each other’s company.

An early evening date is better than the informal setting of lunch. A breakfast date is typically not a good time, as people are often rushed in the morning or have their mind already set on the day of work ahead.

Choose Safe Settings

Until you and your new date become more comfortable with each other, stick to public environments in which both of you feel secure. Avoid having dinner dates alone at the other’s house; not only does this create a very formal atmosphere that adds pressure to the event, it also poses a safety risk for the guest who does not know his date well yet.

Similarly, a loud and active setting like a rock concert may prove unnerving for some and is not an ideal environment to get to know each other. Read the rest of this entry »

Many people want to fall in love and experience a fairytale romance, but before any of that happens, you must first succeed at the dating game. Dating allows couples to determine their compatibility by getting to know each other and spending intimate time together.

Whether you’re a teen getting ready for your first date or a relationship veteran, embarking on a potential romance can be a stressful and nerve-wracking experience.

1. Show up on time. First impressions are crucial when you’re trying to woo someone. Being late or worse, not showing up at all, is incredibly rude and makes you look flaky and inconsiderate.

If you’re going to be late, call (no text messages), apologize and explain the situation. Taking someone out on a date is a privilege and should be treated as such.

2. Enjoy yourself. The first date jitters are a common occurrence, but it doesn’t mean you can’t have fun. Your date is most likely feeling the same anxiety.

If you feel like you’re not going to survive the evening, mention how nervous you’re feeling and laugh it off. It might relax the atmosphere and make you and your date feel more comfortable.

3. Choose to date someone to whom you are attracted. Attraction is a key part of dating and finding a relationship. Because some men are more visual, they may seek out physical attraction first, whereas women put more emphasis on emotional availability.

Ultimately, you must ask yourself if you feel attracted to this person. To be successful in dating, the answer should be a resounding, “Yes.”

4. Date casually at first. It might be tempting to jump the gun and profess your undying love on a first date, but squash the desire to do so. Dating is a process with no time limit. Some people can move onto a relationship quickly while others date for years with no commitment in sight.

When you begin dating someone, the first thing you should be looking for is compatibility and attraction. Relationships take time to nurture and rushing it could damage your chances of finding romance.

You and your partner should have the relationship talk when there is an established level of trust and it seems you feel the same way about each other.

5. Resist the urge to sleepover on a first date. This is a controversial step, as some people who have sex on the first date end up in successful, happy relationships. Still, the benefits of waiting are numerous

First, you can avoid early emotional attachment and talk of “the one.” Waiting also preserves the “chase” mentality. Dating should be mysterious and exciting, and having sex early on can get rid of that fun. Whatever you do decide, remember ask yourself what you want from this person and follow your gut instinct.

6. Drink in moderation. When you first begin dating, you want to get to know your partner, and excessive drinking can make that difficult. Your goal is to impress your date and make her want to see you again, so be courteous and considerate. It’s fine to have a couple of drinks, but your focus should be connecting with your date, not the bottle.

No matter how old you are, you may be new to dating. Maybe you spent time on your studies and career, or maybe you’ve had a string of long-term relationships without much dating in between. Either way, there are a few key beginner dating tips you should follow to make yourself more attractive and generally enjoy the experience more.

Hygiene

Take care of yourself. In a perfect world, you would be judged solely by the content of your character. Unfortunately, the world is not perfect, and the best personality can be eclipsed by bad breath, bad body odor, or unkempt clothing. So, take your time while you’re in the shower, brush your teeth for three minutes twice a day, floss, and use mouthwash.

Appearance

You should also wear clothes that flatter your body shape and make you look good. This is key for two reasons. The first is the obvious — looking good makes people respond to you better. However, it will also make you feel more confident than you would if you were wearing a ratty sweater and your high school sweatpants. This confidence will show, and make your dates more successful.

Exercise is key for the same reason. If you look more fit, you will look better. The fact that you’re meeting your fitness goals and releasing endorphins will also make you feel good about yourself, which will translate into confidence that makes you look more attractive.

Conversation

Listen more than you speak. This is key for two reasons. For one, it’s easier to ask a leading question and listen than it is to come up with things to say. By thinking of your dates in terms of listening rather than speaking, you will feel more confident as you won’t fear the dreaded “awkward silence” as much.

People also enjoy talking about themselves. If you let people talk about their lives, they will relate to you and feel more connected to you, even though all you did was listen to them.

Manners

Be nice. This doesn’t just mean be nice to the people you’re dating. Be nice to the waiter, the bartender, and essentially anyone you see. This is a good tip for your entire life, so it applies to dating as well.

If you’re a generally nice person (rather than someone who fakes it for dates), the people you meet and date will sense this, and you will seem more attractive. This doesn’t mean you should be a pushover.

It just means you should thank people when they do things for you, take an interest in other people, and generally recognize that you’re not the only person in the universe. That’s really all there is to it.

From picking up your prospective date to going out on that crucial first date, the social scene can be stressful and nerve-racking. You have to consider a lot of things, such as conversation topics to avoid those awkward and uncomfortable moments, as well as making a good first impression. Dating can only be successful if you handle the situation with confidence and set realistic goals.

Avoid Bars

One of the most challenging and difficult parts of dating is looking for a place where you can meet other people. Most people go to the bar or pub, trying to look for the woman or man of their dreams.

However, a bar isn’t the best place to meet potential dates as liquor tends to erase a person’s inhibitions and provides a false sense of confidence. More often than not, this pickup venue will lead to nothing or giving out numbers to someone who is not your type or won’t call.

Join Clubs and Organizations

Try participating in social clubs or organizations. Choose a club that you are interested in. For instance, you can join a hiking club if you are the adventurous and outdoorsy type, or you can join a book or yoga club if you prefer less physical activities.

You can ask friends in your local community for organizations or clubs that they would recommend. Such clubs can be an ideal place to meet like-minded people who could become potential date material.

Make a Good First Impression

First dates are crucial because this is the time when you have to make a good first impression. If your first date turns out to be awkward, chances are you will not see that person again. However, it can be challenging to create a good first impression given the stress and anxiety that you feel because of your expectations on the date itself. If you want to create a good first impression, go on a date with an open mind.

Do not set high expectations for yourself or from your date. Setting a high expectation, or any expectation for that matter, will only lead to disappointment and frustration.

There is the possibility that this date may not lead to romance, but it could turn into a budding friendship. Be confident and be yourself. You are there to get to know the person and vice versa. When an awkward situation arises, just laugh it off. Chances are, your date is also as nervous as you. Read the rest of this entry »

People falter from time to time while navigating the difficult world of relationships. When moving through your next romantic relationship, increase your chances of success by considering — and avoiding — some of the more serious relationship killers. By taking care to sidestep these relationship enders, you can likely increase the length and happiness of your next romance.

Oversharing

Opening up to your partner is important, but telling him everything about yourself right from the start isn’t a wise choice. If you over-share, telling your new relationship partner about every embarrassing event that has ever occurred or ways that a guy has done you wrong, you will likely overwhelm him and scare him off.

Putting up a Front

While you do want to put your best foot forward when entering a new relationship, you shouldn’t adopt a persona entirely unlike your true self. If you try to pretend that you are a musical theater-loving, artistic guy when your idea of a good time is drinking a beer and watching football, the relationship you do form will be built upon false pretenses and long-term survival will be unlikely.

Living in the Past

Remembering the mistakes of the past is important, but allowing the things that have happened in the past to interfere with your future is not. Don’t continually mention your old relationships or keep thinking that the things that went wrong before will go wrong again. If you do, you may create a self-fulfilling prophecy.

Moving Too Fast

Even if the strong emotions that you feel at the start of the relationship incline you to push your relationship forward quickly, doing so is likely a bad idea. If you press down on the accelerator too hard, you may cause damage to your relationship and decrease the sustainability of the romantic union.

Moving Too Slowly

Selecting the proper speed for moving your relationship along is challenging. While pushing your relationship forward at lightning-fast speed isn’t good, neither is allowing it to stay the same or stagnate.

Sweating the Small Stuff

There will likely be things about your romantic partner that could offend you, be it his tendency to leave his dirty socks on the bathroom floor or his inability to put the toilet seat down. If you allow these small things to bother you, however, you may just ruin what could be a beautiful relationship.

Pushing Issues Aside

When you encounter relationship issues, you may be eager to push them aside and pretend that they don’t exist. While doing so can seem the best option, it can actually set you up for relationship trouble later as these issues will almost undoubtedly resurface.

Dishonesty

What start out as little white lies can rapidly escalate. Be honest at all costs to allow the development of a real and meaningful relationship.

Not Being Responsive

Your partner will likely show you what she needs in the relationship, be it more attention from you or more physical contact. If she gives off signs that she wants you around more and you ignore them, you may ultimately fail to give her what she requires and ruin your relationship.

Staying in a Failed Relationship

While putting some effort into your relationship is often a wise choice, putting all of your effort into a relationship that is doomed is a poor choice. If you know that the flaws in your relationship are too big to overcome, don’t stick with it out of a fear of being alone.