"Dating has evolved, but so many bios clearly haven’t.”
When it comes to dating apps, the phrase “I love to travel” may actually be stopping singletons from finding love.
Analysis by polyamorous dating platform Sister Wives shows that one in six dating profiles relies on travel or adventure cliches, which experts say can now actively harm your chances of making a connection.
Sister Wives analysed nearly 20,000 profiles and found that 17% mention ‘travel’ or ‘adventure’.
Christopher Alesich, relationship expert and CEO of Sister Wives, said it is an instant flag for copy-paste profiles.
He explained: “When I see ‘I love to travel’ in a bio, I see it as a beige flag and a form of template dating.
“It’s not quite a red flag, but a glaring signal that someone’s playing it safe with copy-paste advice from 2015.
“Show people why you’re interesting, don’t just state the obvious.”
Noting that these phrases used to stand out, he continued:
“A decade ago, this made you sound interesting.
“But now? You’re one of six people in a row saying the exact same thing. You’re competing with thousands of profiles in your area, and most of them sound the same.
“People need to give more of themselves to gain matches. Dating has evolved, but so many bios clearly haven’t.”
The issue isn’t enjoying travel itself.
“Loving travel isn’t the problem. It’s that declaring it doesn’t make you stand out.
“Almost everyone you meet could tell you they enjoy holidays, weekends away or the idea of an adventure.
“Writing this in your bio is the equivalent of saying ‘I like to have fun’ – it’s true, but tells potential matches almost nothing about you. Don’t get caught in the trap.”
Alesich warns that trying to sound cultured or adventurous backfires when everyone else is doing the same:
“People think it makes them sound cultured and adventurous, but when everyone sounds the same, it stops being interesting and lumps you in a category.
“And once you’re placed there, you become easy to scroll past.”
Travel now appears more often than other popular topics such as astrology, pets or ‘controversial opinions’.
To avoid the travel trap on dating apps, Sister Wives suggests replacing general statements with specific stories.
For example, instead of saying “I love to travel”, share an anecdote like: “Still dreaming about the street tacos I had in Oaxaca.”
This creates an easy conversation starter and shows personality without repeating a cliché.
Profiles should also ‘show, don’t tell’.
Pictures can communicate travel style more effectively than words.
Alesich said: “It’s much more interesting for matches to see you canoeing in Lake Louise than simply telling people you enjoy the outdoors.”
Experts suggest highlighting unique traits and habits, such as collecting souvenirs, that set someone apart.
Alesich also recommends the ‘could this apply to anyone else?’ test.
If a bio could fit multiple people, it needs rewriting. The goal is to craft a profile that is unmistakably you, avoiding generic statements that blend in with the crowd.
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