'Is disliking travel a deal-breaker for dating?' Man asks after string of rejections

Independent Singapore

19-05-2025

SINGAPORE: A man took to the NUSWhispers Facebook page on Sunday (May 18) to ask local women whether a lack of interest in travel could be a deal-breaker when it comes to dating.
In his post, he shared that he had recently graduated and had been actively searching for a partner. However, his experience with dating so far has been disappointing. He said he felt discouraged not just by the number of rejections he faced, but also by how quickly they seemed to happen.
He spoke to some friends about his situation, and during their conversation, one detail he mentioned stood out. He had told the women he met that he did not enjoy travelling and 'preferred staying in Singapore' to relax. His friends suggested that this might have put potential partners off.
'I told all the girls I met that I don't like to travel,' he wrote. 'My friends told me that might have been a problem.'
Wanting to get a broader perspective, he posed a question to the women reading his post: 'Is this a deal breaker to y'all? Do y'all think travelling is an important part of a relationship? And if yes, is it mainly to spend time with your partner or more to experience the world?' 'In this age, who doesn't like to travel?'
His post drew mixed reactions in the comments section. Some netizens pointed out that for many women, having no interest in travelling can be a major deal-breaker.
They explained that going on trips with a partner is not just about visiting new places. It's also about experiencing new things together, having adventures, and making memories as a couple. So when someone says they're not interested in travelling at all, it might feel like they're not open to sharing those kinds of meaningful experiences in the relationship.
One netizen bluntly told him, 'I will tell you. Your life is sooo booooring sia. SG is so small, not much to do unless you want to do a staring contest with your girl.
'A normal person would like to have adventures. Add geographical knowledge and experiences outside SG, learn life skills, experience other cultures, etc. You want to live in your room also ok, but you should not complain, leh.'
Another added, 'It's not just a deal breaker for women; it's a deal breaker for future employers or anything pertaining to your future. In this age, who doesn't like to travel? If you prefer to hole up on an island measuring 40km from west to east and 25 km from north to south, it tells a lot about what kind of person you really are. Unmotivated, uninspiring, lack of courage, lack of imagination, have no guts and adventurous spirit. Are you serious? You wanna live a boring life?'
However, not everyone saw things the same way. A few netizens chimed in to say that while travelling can be nice, it's not necessarily a must-have in a relationship. They pointed out that different people have different priorities and comfort zones, and not everyone finds joy in packing a suitcase or planning overseas itineraries.
One said, 'There are likely also women who don't like to travel, so if you are willing to work with a smaller pool, that's fine also.' See also Woman says she'll only go out with men earning $5K/month
Another commented, 'No, not wanting to travel is not a deal-breaker for me. Can save 50% if my partner doesn't wanna travel but if he doesn't want me to travel or doesnt allow me to travel with friends just because he doesn't want to travel, then no go.'
In other news, a Singaporean woman took to Reddit to share that she's close to giving up on her marriage because her husband hasn't been pulling his weight in their relationship for a while.
Posting in the r/askSingapore subreddit, the 31-year-old woman explained that she lives with her husband, their two young kids, and her in-laws in their home. While she's thankful that her in-laws help out with the children, she said it still feels like she's doing everything on her own, especially when it comes to emotional and financial responsibilities.
Read more: 'He secretly borrows from moneylenders to continue trading' — Wife feels 'trapped — emotionally, financially, and mentally' from husband's risky behaviour
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