Dating Online Long Distance
Long-distance dating sites have leveraged technology to change the dating landscape drastically. You no longer need to pursue your crush at bars, clubs, shopping complexes, university campuses or in their neighborhoods!
If you are looking for a long-distance relationship, all you need to do is to find a genuine website, fill in your details, list your partner preferences and hit the search button. In a matter of seconds, you will see hundreds (or even thousands) of matching profiles.
We take you a step closer to your relationship by presenting a review of six long-distance relationship sites, like AmoLatina.
6 Long-Distance Dating Websites for International Romance
The goal of many long distance relationships is ultimately being together permanently. While many couples in long distance relationships have indeed met before and are maybe even lucky enough to meet up on a regular basis, a large number of long distance relationships that start online involve two people that have never yet met in person.
AfricanDate.com
- Long distance relationships that work are usually the ones that someone meets a romantic partner on a trip, or they grew up together and they were separated for a reason or those that you meet in person FIRST and then need to use online tools to keep in contact. Either way there has to be a consistent schedule of seeing each other in person.
- When it comes to long-distance relationships, separation anxiety can be felt every time you go back to your homes after visiting each other. It can be hard to say goodbye yet another time while feeling helpless to do anything about it. At least this is the belief that most long-distance couples have. Couples believe that long-distance.
- But, does long distance dating even work? When I first launched Spiritual Singles back in the year 2000, I was convinced that long distance dating was a horrible idea. Everyone that I met that had tried it ended up with some kind of “unhappy ending” story. However, almost 2 decades later, my attitude has shifted a complete 180 degrees!
- Pre-Internet, long-distance couples depended on books of stamps, payphones, eye-catching stationery, and Polaroids or 35-millimeter film to share their favorite moments and create a “date night idea.”. Nowadays, you can log online and create an entire date from your smartphone. Deliver the flowers, the balloons, the food, the wine, and even.
If you are looking to date people of African origin, this is the website to go to. Known the world over for its authenticity, it has more than 130,000 monthly visitors from around the world.
The signup form is really short and you can skip that by opting to sign in with Google. There is a manual verification process to check profile details that makes sure the profiles are genuine.
AfricanDate has a cool communication feature, where your messages will be translated to the recipient’s native language and vice versa. What’s more, there’s a translator option available for telephone conversations as well, although it comes at a price.
Signing up is free but you need to become a paid member and get a subscription to do anything meaningful, including communication.
Each activity (sending a message, sending physical gifts, etc.) has a different cost and you use credits to pay for them. A 20-credit pack is the smallest ($15.99) and the largest is 1000 credits ($399).
AsianDate.com
This is another regional offering from Anastasia International and it is easy to notice from the layout.
The member statistics are not public but a majority of them belong to popular Asian countries such as:
- Thailand
- Vietnam
- India
- China
- The Philippines
Besides registration, the search function, and downloading the mobile app, the following functions are free as well:
- Sending or receiving one photo through Email Correspondence
- Sending a Love Note
- Ice-breaker chats to members you haven’t communicated with yet
Premium features such as communicating via Live Chat or Video Chat require purchasing credits.
Online Dating Long Distance Reddit
The moment you register, you will get lots of notifications, tempting you to initiate a conversation, send gifts, make a telephone call, etc. to gorgeous looking ladies.
Like with AfricanDate.com, each activity has a different cost. For example:
- Live Chat costs 1 credit per minute
- Video Chat costs up to 6 credits per minute
- Sending/Viewing photos or vidoes of other members costs 15 credits
You can also check sites like DatingInspector.com for more international dating site reviews.
EuroDate.com
The site is in its third decade of operation and boasts of a member base spanning 23 countries, though it is primarily for people looking to date Europeans.
You’ll notice the signature design of an Anastasia International website. There is a very short registration form, which can be skipped if you want to sign in with your Google account.
The best part is that there are no ads to keep bothering you, but some users may find the repeated email notifications irritating.
The site has a profile verification process in place but given that members need to do it themselves, it may be easy for fakes to find their way through.
Though the paid membership promises a better experience, many users have doubts about the legitimacy of the site. Some of them are even going to the extent of calling it a fake website.
This is mainly because:
- Users are dissatisfied with the cost of the services .
- They don’t like the fact that there’s no guarantee they’ll get a date.
AnastasiaDate.com
AnastasiaDate describes itself as “the leading international dating service that connects you with people from around Europe.”
Operational since March 1993, the site has over 20 million users. An interesting aspect of the member profile is that most of the male members are from North America and females are from Eastern European countries such as Russia, Ukraine, etc.
Many singles recommend it as a genuine long-distance relationship website for those who believe love cannot be restricted by boundaries. There is a rare female majority, accounting for 61% of total members.
Three-way telephone calls (with translator services) and a provision to send actual gifts to your partner make it truly stand out among other international dating sites.
The mobile app (for Android devices only) is a definite plus, as it makes dating for busy professionals even easier.
Member profiles are detailed and you can communicate in many ways:
- Live Chat
- Video Calls (CamShare)
- direct calls (Call Me)
You can also exchange photographs and videos.
Free membership is restricted to registration and browsing member profiles.
Given the detailed member profiles, safety badges, 360-degree videos, and many such features, it is worthwhile to consider paying $9.99 a month for unlocking additional features.
However, do keep in mind that it does not cover all the features, for which you’ll need to buy additional credits.
ChinaLove.com
If you are looking for long-distance relationship dating sites that accepts diversity, ChinaLove is worth giving a try.
Even though there is an obvious focus on people with Chinese origin, it has members from all across the world looking for a partner with a Chinese connection.
The short registration form follows the template of the sister sites of Anastasia International and there are no personal or obligatory questions.
We strongly recommend having a few video sessions with your partner before meeting in person, as there have been quite a few complaints accusing the site of deploying fake people to chat posing as ladies in the profile pics.
Membership follows a credit-based structure. You need 10 credits to send a mail, 15 for sending/receiving photographs, and a video session will cost up to 6 credits per minute.
ArabianDate.com
Following the trend of other long-distance dating sites from Anastasia International, ArabianDate.com’s layout has a predictable design and registration template. It is focused on people seeking Arabian partners and is open to same-gender relationships.
There is no dearth of nice-looking girls, though many members have cast aspersions on their genuineness. The site has done its best to lay these concerns to rest by including a “Dating Securely” tab right on the home page. It has some useful tips on protecting your identity and financials.
Online Dating Long Distance
The standard membership lets you sign up, browse profiles and express interest in people for free. However, any form of direct communication requires paid membership which comes in the following options:
- Gold: $29.98/month; $60 for 3 months
- Platinum: $34.99/month; $69.99 for 3 months
If you do not need a translation feature, the Gold subscription offers great value for money.
Tips for Long-Distance Dating
The Internet has bridged the geographical boundaries between people but communication via the virtual mediums has its challenges. As you are miles away from your partner, it is important to pay attention to little things to ensure your relationship stays healthy and continues to grow.
Communicate
This goes without saying but people often take it casually. You might be texting all day but it is important to communicate one-on-one every day as well.
If you can do it over the video, thee’s nothing like it! This goes a long way in making up for lack of physical intimacy and bridging those emotional divides that keep creeping in.
Date Virtually
Watch your favorite movie online over a video and screen sharing session or set up a candle-lit dinner at your respective places. Let your creativity take over and show your partner how important that time is for you by coming up with thoughtful concepts/games/conversations for your virtual dates.
Send Cards, Letters and Surprise Gifts
Handwritten letters have their charm – something an email or IM will never have. Surprising your partner with cute little gifts periodically (on birthdays, anniversaries, or otherwise) will also keep your relationship healthy.
It does not have to be expensive. It just shows how much time you spent thinking about him/her. Your partner feels the excitement of opening a letter or a present, which is a feeling nothing can match!
Look Forward to Reuniting
Most partners enter into a long-distance relationship being fully aware of how long it will last. Even if those plans change, keep talking about the time when the period of separation will be over and you can be back together again. If the separation is too long, plan to meet in between.
Be Safe
Given that emotions can often get the better of one’s ability to think straight when matters of the heart are involved, you should be careful in interacting with people online. If the relationship is new and you have never met your online chat partner, make sure you have done enough video calls to establish trust before you start sending expensive LDR birthday gifts. Take it slow and make sure the love is mutual.
Two years ago, I was drinking a margarita on a rooftop bar in Manhattan when I met a man from London. He was there with his fiancée, a native of New York. When I asked how they met, they taught me something important: starting a relationship long-distance is possible.
Here's their story: He searched for his highest match on OkCupid, and she happened to be on the other side of the world. But her profile made her sound so awesome, he couldn't resist messaging her. Once they hit it off online and other the phone, they started visiting each other. A year later, he'd moved to New York and proposed.
Soon after meeting them, I changed my OkCupid location settings from 'within 25 miles of me' to 'anywhere.' According to online dating expert Julie Spira, this was the right move. 'I think that singles have to cast a wide net and when it comes to love,' she tells Bustle. 'There shouldn't be any barriers. If you're only hoping to meet somebody who lives in your neighborhood, you're really leaving the opportunity for deep love on the table.'
I'm so glad I got that margarita when I did, because nine months later, I once again found myself wondering whether a relationship could start off long-distance — for my own sake. While living in New York, I met someone from Germany on vacation. When we said goodbye in tears, he told me, 'it's OK, we'll see each other again' — and I replied, 'no, we won't.' But then, I remembered that couple from the rooftop bar and figured maybe it really could work. Nearly a year later, it has.
Here's how I've managed to start off my relationship long-distance — and why you should go for it, too, if you meet someone you really click with in another part of the world.
You Have To Be Vulnerable
Aside from the money and time that traveling for your first, second, or third date requires, there's also an emotional obstacle: You have to admit that you really, really like someone very early on. When I started my relationship, I had a lot of ideas about what it means to get so invested in a relationship so quickly: that you're desperate, that you're not desirable enough to find someone in your own country, that you're really just in love with the idea of the person, etc. I had to turn off all these thoughts and remind myself that really, I was just exploring a strong connection, and the travel was adding to my life, not taking away from it.
Technology Is Your Friend
Of all the limitations there are on long-distance relationships, the amount of time you can spend talking shouldn't be one of them. There are a ton of free, equally effective alternatives to texts and phone calls, like WhatsApp, FaceTime, Google Hangouts, and Skype.
Buy Your Tickets ASAP
When you're in a new relationship and it's unclear when you're going to see each other next, the whole future of the relationship can look bleak. Just getting plane tickets, even if they're for months into the future, reassures you both that you're still dating, even if you haven't been on a date in weeks.
Learn The Art Of The Love Note
People like to talk about how some conversations are better in person, but some are actually better over text or email. My partner and I have an easier time opening up over writing, and some of our most heartfelt messages — including the initial one that convinced him to travel for our first date — have taken place over email.
But Make Sure To Check In Through Voice, Though
The same openness that's allowed us to declare our love for each other over email has also led to some of our most vicious fights. After one day of exchanging angry emails, I called my partner, and we immediately apologized and laughed about how we wished we were in his apartment fighting together. Sometimes, all it takes to diffuse tension is to hear each other's voices.
You May Have To Meet Each Other's Family & Friends Virtually
If you put off the 'meet the parents' or 'meet the friends' date for a point when you can meet up in person, you're missing out on a valuable way of getting to know your partner. Instead, arrange a video chat for when one of you is with family or friends.
Be Patient & Trust That You'll Figure Something Out
Finding a way to be with my partner wasn't too hard because I work remotely, but I also know people in less flexible situations who made it work. A friend of mine was long-distance with her boyfriend for three years because she didn't want to sacrifice her job. By the time she had three years of experience under her belt, her company let her work remotely because they didn't want to let her go, and she could've found another job if they didn't. Not everyone's life can be uprooted right away, but people move for love all the time and make it work.
“I think, in any relationship, if I don’t feel honored and made important or prioritized by my partner, that’s not going to be a long-lasting relationship where I get my needs met,” Jeffrey Sumber, MA, MTS, LCPC tells Bustle. “Whether it’s a relationship with your partner living under the same roof or a long-distance one, we all need basic needs met and need to feel special and valued.”
People can be very down on long-distance relationships, but I wouldn't trade mine for the world. It's allowed me to both grow on my own and spend time with someone I love. And the fact that it started out long-distance just means it gave me motivation to see the world.