These are fast and super-mobile times we’re living in. Chances are, a lot of you will find yourselves in a long-distance relationship or marriage at one point in your lives, looking for long distance date ideas at some point.
In fact, it’s estimated that about 14 million couples in the US are in some type of a long-distance relationship, and for US married couples, the numbers are about 3.75 million.
What’s more, the stats say that “75% of all engaged couples have been (at some point) in a long-distance relationship” and that “10% of all marriages in the states started out as a long-distance relationship.”
And that’s a lot of people in long-distant marriages and committed relationships, folks!
There has to be some way to keep the passion going, and the senses engaged, right?
That’s why it’s so important to get creative!
Each of you will have their own work/study daily routine, no doubt. Each of you has their separate lives as well.
And so people get creative. They start to come up with new long-distance date ideas when texting when long phone calls just won’t cut it anymore.
Sometimes it’s hard to feel like a “normal” couple when you’re doing an LDR (long-distance relationship), but then again, what’s a normal couple?
In the stats above, we saw that millions of people function in long-distance relationships – they get engaged, they get married…
Things work out, so there’s nothing to worry about as long as you put a constant, steady effort in your relationship.
10 Long Distance Date Ideas
The important thing is to be focused on one another, even if you’re thousands of miles away.
Whether it’s quarantine or time zones, there are ways you can do this. There are ways you can create romantic moments and have fun with your partner, even when you’re physically apart.
And that’s why I created this article! I want to show you some of the best long-distance date ideas you could think of!
1# Have an Online Date-Night
Ok, so the key thing here is to dress up. Put on something fancy, something that you’d wear in the best restaurants in town.
Iron your shirt, tuck it in, polish your shoes, put on a tie, put gel on your hair, shave or trim your beard… whatever your pampering routine is, do it for this virtual long-distance date-night! The same goes for your lady.
Not only will this make you feel super sexy, but it will also remind you of each other’s hotness!
Feel free to put on some nice lounge music, something like smooth jazz or maybe classical, if you’re more into that. Light candles, take out the lights, open some nice wine (or champagne!), make a cheese platter, and let the date begin!
By the way, while we’re at it, why not try and spice it up with a couple of great FaceTime sex positions for long-distance relationships!
2# Cook Dinner Together
Living separately from each other might make you lazy to have a proper dinner or lunch. Don’t let me count the times I’ve had takeout when my wife was on a prolonged business trip or visiting relatives for a few weeks.
That being said, organizing a mutual dinner cookout over FaceTime, Zoom, or Skype can be lots of fun.
First of all, you’ll get to have some more bonding time over food, and also turn it into the aforementioned dinner date.
And your bellies will be thankful for the much-welcomed change from the usual sweet & sour takeout chicken, right?
So, next time you set up a video call, agree on a recipe together beforehand. Get the right ingredients from the store, roll up your sleeves, and get to work!
If you want to make it even more fun, turn it into a competition and have a show off at the end of the cooking process! I bet whoever’s the competitive one in your relationship will be extra excited about this.
3# Watch a Film or TV Show Together
This is, of course, a classic and beloved activity of couples worldwide.
Here, your best friend is Netflix, or something similar, but Netflix is a good idea because it has the option for Netflix Party. This is a Chrome extension that makes it possible for two people to watch content on Netflix simultaneously by synchronizing their Netflix accounts.
I would suggest picking something that you’ve always wanted to see – some long-postponed film, or a TV show you’ve both been dying to binge. Make sure to watch it together every time (if it’s a show) and chat about the episodes afterward, or in real-time.
4# Look for a Home Together
If you’re planning to live together sometime soon in the near future, then virtual house hunting can be a really good way to start.
Nowadays, with the coronavirus crisis, it’s much easier to find virtual tours of homes on sale, so both of you will be able to do it from your own places, wherever you’re currently settled.
This can be another great way to ensure more bonding time because you’ll be able to imagine yourselves in all kinds of dreamy scenarios of your perfect home. While you’re at it, why not take a look at some of the more expensive options, just for fun, huh?
5# Commit to Learning Something New
A long-distance relationship can give you an excuse to commit to learning a new skill or starting a new hobby.
And since a lot of classes are online nowadays, the choice is basically without end.
Did you always want to master a sexy language like French or Italian? Or learn something more difficult and remote like Japanese or Russian? Maybe you want to take an online cooking class, or a drawing/illustration class together?
Talk about what you always wanted to do together and don’t think twice, just do it!
6# Start a Book Club
Books can be a wonderful way to relax after you’ve had a long day; they can also be a welcome change from watching too many films or TV shows.
If you feel you’re missing more and more books in your life, well then. why not start a book club together?
Take turns in choosing the desired book, give yourselves a reasonable amount of time to read it (considering work and other obligations), and then set up a date when you’ll get to discuss it.
Heck, you can even use these book club dates as actual dates with wine, cheese platter, and all!
7# Set Up a Double Date
Besides missing your significant other, chances are you’re missing the friends you’ve left behind as well. So why not organize a video call double date?
It’ll give you a chance to cook a nice meal for yourself, to get some nice wine or the like, to feel like you’re with your favorite people at your favorite place, together enjoying themselves.
Catch up on old and new gossip, ask each other how you’re all doing, how’s everyone coping by being separated, etc.
Who says bonding has to be strictly physical?
8# Send a Customized “Love Package”
What better way to show your significant other at the other end of the world affection than creating a customized gift basket (or what I aptly call the “love package”).
Here also the options are endless. You can combine loads of different stuff. Tug in their favorite bottle of wine paired with your shirt, some photographs…
Maybe also add something they can’t find in the local stores where they live, like their favorite chocolate or cookie, and add a personal note as well.
And never forget to throw your own personal perfume in there. I guarantee you, it’ll drive them crazy!
#9 Make Cocktails Together or Have a Wine/Beer Tasting Night
Ok, so this depends on what kind of alcohol drinkers you are (or if you are at all).
But if you’re enjoying tasting the wonderful array of cocktail options out there, why not try to make some as well? Find an interesting cocktail recipe online and start making em.
If you don’t drink, find cocktail recipes that don’t involve alcohol.
And if you’re more of a wine or beer person, you can do a wine/beer tasting night. Another excuse to bring out that cheese platter on the table!
#10 Plan for the Future Together
There’s nothing better to break the occasional melancholy of being in a long-distance relationship than planning your future together.
Whether it’s talk about an upcoming trip, about your next meeting, about moving in together (finally!), talking about your joint future can really help you get things back in perspective when they seem a bit gloomy and distant.
Final Thoughts on Long Distance Date Ideas
One of the best things about living in these hyperconnected times is that there are lots of things you can do online together to make your long-distance relationship feel much less lonely.
If you feel you’re missing your partner terribly and don’t know what to do anymore, I suggest you give these long-distance date ideas a shot.
These long-distance date ideas will not only make you feel closer to your partner that’s far away, but they’ll also make you appreciate your next reunion even more!
