New study explores how Grindr impacts travel for gay couples

A new study explores the impact of Grindr on gay men when they go on vacation. Specifically, it wanted to look at whether dating apps such as Grindr have changed the way gay guys and male couples enjoy their leisure time when on a holiday.

Researchers at the University of Surrey in England carried out the study, recently published in the Annals of Tourism Research.

The study was small, with just 26 men of various nationalities interviewed. However, it still highlights that geolocation apps have helped men to explore intimacy whilst abroad.

Grindr use not just for sex

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Before Grindr, if you wanted to hook up with someone whilst on holiday, you usually had to go to a gay bar or gathering (Pride festival, gay beach, cruising spot, etc). With apps, you can often explore who’s in an area in advance, and sometimes state that you’ll be visiting soon.

However, the study looked beyond this obvious benefit.

Its main takeaways were as follows.

• Gay couples are more likely to seek a threesome whilst on holiday because there’s less risk of emotional entanglement or ties, compared to the risk of a threesome with someone back home.
• Some ‘monogamish’ couples (monogamous in their day-to-day lives at home but more open to experimenting when abroad) treat extra-curricular sex with a third as a holiday ‘treat’. Having threesomes privately on vacation also spares them the risk of others judging them at home.
• Sex on vacation is often far more instantaneous than at home. There’s no time for protracted chit-chat on an app.
• Grindr use is not just for sex but for “authentic intimacies” and connections, which can lead to lasting friendships or friends-with-benefits.

Couples more likely to play around whilst on vacation

GayCities reached out to lead author Dr. Oliver Qiu. He’s gay and has experience of using Grindr himself.

“For monogamish couples especially, travel often feels like a safer space to experiment,” he said. “Being away from home reduces the risk of emotional entanglement, awkward run-ins, or social judgment. Geography becomes a boundary. A holiday can function as a contained space where certain rules are temporarily relaxed.

“For some couples, a threesome on vacation isn’t framed as a threat to the relationship, but as a managed and infrequent enhancement to it.”

As for more spontaneous hookups, Qiu said, “Travel compresses time — you’re only somewhere for a short period, so there’s less prolonged messaging and more spontaneity. That said, it’s not always purely transactional.

“One of the more interesting findings was that Grindr isn’t just about sex, even on holiday. For some participants — particularly those in open relationships — it was also about connection, validation, and sometimes even friendship. A few holiday encounters developed into longer-term friendships or friends-with-benefits arrangements.”

“Emotional ‘rules’ can shift”

He believes his study demonstrated another important point.

“Travel doesn’t just change where sex happens — it changes how intimacy is negotiated.

“When you combine mobility, anonymity, and a location-based app, the emotional ‘rules’ can shift. Some couples become intentionally emotionally unavailable in order to protect their primary relationship. Others are more open to building ongoing connections. It really depends on the relational structure and the boundaries that have been negotiated.”

So, does he think Grindr has been a overall benefit when it comes to gay men enjoying their vacations?

“I would say yes — but in a nuanced way,” Qiu replies. “For many solo travellers, it reduces isolation and makes unfamiliar destinations feel more accessible. It can boost confidence, provide validation, and create a sense of belonging. For couples, it can open up conversations about desire rather than forcing those conversations underground.

“At the same time, it can create mismatched expectations — particularly between singles looking for emotional connection and couples seeking something purely situational. There are also clear sexual health considerations. So it’s not simply positive or negative — it’s a powerful tool, and its impact depends very much on communication, consent, and clarity.”

Indeed, when heading away on vacation, you might want to make extra sure you get STI tested before and after. And don’t forget your PrEP and DoxyPEP, if you use them.

Exploring ‘freedom’ while traveling

Although of interest to gay men, does Qiu think his study has wider takeaways for the tourism industry?

“I think the key point is that digital intimacy is now part of the travel experience,” he says.

“LGBTQ+ tourism marketing often focuses on nightlife or ‘freedom,’ but apps like Grindr function almost like informal social infrastructure. They help travelers connect, navigate local queer spaces, and shape how destinations are experienced. Ignoring that dimension means missing a significant part of contemporary queer mobility.”

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