Countries
How to find a hookup, country by country
Where people look, how to pick a site that works, and Joydate's guides to seven countries and twelve cities.
How do you find a hookup?
The simplest way to find a hookup is online, on a casual dating site where everyone has already said they want something casual. You make a profile, say what you're open to, see who's nearby and only meet when you've both agreed. Bars and clubs still work, but there you have to guess what someone wants, in front of everyone you came with.
Where people look for a hookup
People look for a hookup in four places, and each one tells you something different before you make a move.
| Where | What you know about their intentions | Can you check they're real? | Who can see you |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bars and clubs | Nothing until you ask, so you read the signals and hope | You see them face to face, but that is all you know | Everyone in the room |
| Swipe apps | Mixed: people use them for anything from friendship to marriage | Depends on the app | Depends on the app |
| Personals boards | Whatever the ad says, from someone you know nothing else about | Not before you reply | Ads are public, and anyone can post one |
| Casual dating sites such as Joydate | What each member is open to, written on their profile | A free ID check puts a Verified badge on genuine profiles | Other members, who see a username and your nearest town |
What to check before you sign up anywhere
Before you join any site to find a hookup, check five things; here is how Joydate answers each.
- Can you tell who is real? Joydate's ID check costs nothing and puts a Verified badge on the profiles that pass.
- What do other people see? Only a username and the nearest town; your real name, email and home address stay hidden.
- Can you shut someone out? Blocking takes one tap, and you can report a member straight from their profile or a chat.
- Does it warn you about scams? Joydate warns you when someone tries to move the conversation to WhatsApp or another app, a classic scam tactic.
- Is the cost clear? Profiles cost nothing and include a few messages a day; VIP prices for unlimited messaging are listed in six currencies on the prices page.
Joydate in your country
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9 city guides
Canada
Nine city guides from Vancouver to Montreal, and VIP priced in Canadian dollars.
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Auckland guide
New Zealand
Auckland from K' Road to Wynyard Quarter, and VIP in New Zealand dollars.
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Melbourne guide
Australia
Melbourne's laneway bars, rooftops and late gigs, and VIP in Australian dollars.
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Country guide
United States
Casual encounters from New York to Las Vegas, with prices in US dollars.
Does Joydate work the same in every country?
Yes. Wherever you sign up, you get the same free profile, the same daily suggestions based on age and distance, the same free ID check and a few free messages each day; VIP removes the message limit. Three things differ: the currency VIP is charged in, the local numbers worth saving, and whether a Joydate guide covers your city yet.
If your city has no guide, the members near you still show up in your suggestions, and the first-meet checklist applies wherever you are.
Who to call, country by country
Save these before a first meet. Each country name opens the full guide for that country.
| Country | Emergency | Romance scams | Sexual health testing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Australia | 000 | Report it to Scamwatch online, or call IDCARE on 1800 595 160 | healthdirect says tests are often free with a Medicare card |
| Canada | 911 | Call the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre on 1-888-495-8501 | Sexual health clinics, public health units and walk-in clinics, all confidential |
| Ireland | 112 or 999 | Go to any Garda station | HSE clinics and HSE home test kits, both free |
| New Zealand | 111 | Netsafe on 0508 638 723, or 105 for NZ Police | Confidential sexual health clinics, mostly free |
| Singapore | 999 for police, 995 for an ambulance | The ScamShield Helpline on 1799, or a police report online | The DSC Clinic, GP clinics, polyclinics and hospitals |
| United Kingdom | 999 | Report Fraud on 0300 123 2040; in Scotland, Police Scotland on 101 | NHS sexual health clinics, free of charge |
| United States | 911 | ReportFraud.ftc.gov, plus ic3.gov for online fraud | The CDC's GetTested finder lists free and low-cost tests |
Finding a hookup: common questions
Where is the best place to find a hookup?
The best place to find a hookup is wherever people say up front that they want something casual, which usually means a casual dating site rather than a bar or a swipe app. Make a free profile, say what you're open to, browse who's nearby and only meet once you've both agreed, somewhere public the first time.
Is it safe to find a hookup online?
Finding a hookup online can be safe if you stick to a few habits: look for a Verified badge, keep the chat on the site until you meet, never send money, meet somewhere busy and let a friend know where you are. Each country page lists the official numbers to call.
Where can you use Joydate?
You can use Joydate in any country, as long as you are 18 or over. Most members live in Canada, New Zealand, Singapore and Ireland, with the UK, Australia and the US next.
What does it cost to find a hookup on Joydate?
Finding a hookup on Joydate costs nothing to start: your profile, your daily suggestions and a few messages each day are free. VIP, which makes messaging unlimited, is charged in your own currency, from Canadian, Australian, New Zealand and US dollars to euros and pounds. Compare every plan.
Is there a Joydate guide for my city?
There is a Joydate guide for twelve cities. Outside Canada they are Auckland, Melbourne and Dublin; in Canada, Vancouver, Calgary, Edmonton, Winnipeg, Toronto, Brampton, Hamilton, Ottawa and Montreal. Each guide says where to meet for a first drink, how to get home late and where to get tested.
Find a hookup near you, in any country
Make a free profile and see who nearby wants the same. The ID check is free, and your real name stays hidden.
Join free