Honest info for guys who are seriously considering international dating is hard to come by. There's a lot of info in the PA world, and an occasional article on an expat blog, but for the most part if you're interested in traveling to find a serious cross-cultural relationship you're left to fend for yourself (this is one of the main reasons I started this site).
If you're not a digital nomad, millionaire, or globetrotting travel blogger the notion of going overseas to meet foreign women can seem overwhelming. The problem of how and where to meet ladies, is in itself a hard one to tackle. Thrown in the logistics and travel itinerary on top of that, and you can see why 95% of guys thinking about dating abroad don't ever leave their native country.
International Cupid won't help you get to your destination, nor will it help you decide what you should do once you're there. What it wil do is provide you with the opportunity to connect with women from around the world, thus solving at least one of the challenges in international dating.
In this review we'll look at the site, it's features, and give you some general guidelines to follow so that you can take your communication offline and into the real world.
Price
Monthly Subscriptions starting at $10.00 per month
Profiles
1000's of profiles, many of which are active. Some spammy profiles.
Security
Part of Cupid Media's circle of dating sites which have a good reputation, but there are fake profiles and scammers so be careful.
Allows Direct Contact?
Yes
Summary
International Cupid is an international dating site with users from around the world. Most profiles are from South East Asia, Eastern Europe, or Latin America; but there are also a significant number of profiles from less popular regions as well.
The site is run by Cupid Media, a company that uses a monthly subscription price and not a PPL system. Though the site itself is honest, you will run into fake profiles and potential romance scammers. Exercise caution to use the site safely.
Overall the site is useful if you're browsing for a potential country to visit or if you already know where you will travel and you want to more women to contact before or during your trip.
Features
As far as basic features go, if you've ever used an online dating site then International Cupid's interface will look very familiar. Like other sites you can sign up for free and post your own profile while looking through the profiles of other members.
With a paid subscription you can received and send messages as well as have live chats.
A walk through of the search engine used on all Cupid Media sites
App
You can take your search to your mobile device with International Cupid's app. It works just like the site, the only difference being that the layout is changed to accommodate a smaller phone screen versus a full desktop view.
Subscription levels
There are 3 levels of monthly subscriptions you can choose from when using the site: standard, gold, and platinum.
Standard subscription (free)
The standard subscription is free. All that's required is your name and email address. At the standard level you can browse and search profiles, express interest, and communicate with women who have a paid subscription (most will not).
Platinum subscription
A platinum subscription gives you all the perks from the gold level in addition to providing you with some advantages over other members.
This includes things like ranking your profile over other profiles, highlighting your profile, providing more space for you to write in your profile, and (most notably) translation of messages into your native language.
Which level is the best value?
I personally don't think it's all that necessary to pay to have your profile to stick out from the rest. Yes there's a lot of competition on the site ( a lot of men messaging the same women), but having a hi-lighted profile in the site search isn't that valuable. If you could get your personal messages highlighted in the inbox that'd be a different story.
The translation feature is somewhat useful, but as you may already know we typically recommend that men don't date women they can't easily communicate with in person (this is to cut down on the potential for scams). Still even if you don't follow our advice is there is a free handy tool out there called Google Translate.
All in all I'd lean more towards the gold level. The dollar difference is low between gold and platinum, so if you think you'd get your money's worth from the platinum features then go for it.
Honesty
While you may run into fake profiles, and you will probably run into spam messages, as a whole International Cupid is an honest dating site (most dating sites have the aforementioned problems). The site is owned by Cupid Media a company that has been providing international dating sites since 2000.
All Cupid sites have built in systems to report and flag suspicious profiles. Furthermore Cupid Media does their own tracking to weed out fakes and scammers.
Equally important is the site's pricing system. Outside the flat monthly fee there are no additional costs. This means no PPL fees, translation fees, or gift giving scams.
"Negotiating through the website I see that Cupid passes my first and most important test: they allow direct contact with the women on the website. The worst type of dating agency is one that requires communication between you and the women you contact to be funneled through the agency. Most websites that limit your contact with the women that you are talking to do so because their ladies profiles are fake or they want to “lead you on” in order to get more sales from you"
Profiles
Using IC safely
Though a small portion of spam profiles may slip through the net, by and large the site's profiles are real. That being said remember that Cupid Media can't evaluate the intentions of its users, so don't assume that every member is sincerely looking for the same thing you are.
As always think with your bigger head and be mindful of red flags.
"I found answers from guys who shared their love stories and guys who shared how they got “scammed”. Yes, I put the word in quotes and I did it on purpose.
Filipino Cupid is a legit site. It’s operated by the reputable Cupid Media Network that exists for over 15 years and the site features way more than 1000 testimonials from Western men and Filipinas who found a partner on this site.
And then I read that the international dating company that allowed me to meet my wonderful girlfriend apparently is a scam.
Listen very carefully:
Just because you believe a woman who says "I love you" without even knowing you doesn't mean that the site is a scam.
Just because not every girl answers to your messages doesn't mean that the profiles are fake.
Just because you were naive enough to send money to a girl who you have never met in your life doesn't mean that all girls on Filipino Cupid are scammers."
Useful advice from a review of IC's sister site Filipino Cupid
After signing up for a free profile and adding no picture or personal information I began receiving messages of interest almost immediately.
These profiles are obvious fakes
There are genuine profiles on the site, but you have to be careful. Follow the 4 Commandments of international dating and you should be fine.
Where are IC's profiles from?
International Cupid's users are from all over the world. Large portions are from Latin America, Europe, and South East Asia, but there are also a significant amount of users from other subcontinents and countries.
It's important to point out here that Cupid Media runs over 30 international dating sites, most of which are aimed at specific countries. If you already have a good idea of where you want to travel to then you're better off using the Cupid site for that specific country.
If you're not sure where you want to go, or the country you plan on visiting doesn't have a dedicated site, then IC is a great place to start looking.
Best way to use International Cupid
Here's an easy to follow process you can use to date on the site.
Note: this example runs on a 12 week timeline. Feel free to modify it according to you needs. Just remember that the point is to contact women for the purpose of arranging dates face to face in the real world. Don't get stuck chatting to ladies for months only to never visit them!
Phase 1: 12-6 Weeks before your trip
If you plan on using IC then odds are pretty high that you're interested in meeting women from the Philippines.
Create a basic list of requirements
The first thing you want to do is to create a general list of criteria for the type of woman you want to meet. emphasis on the word general here. We don't mean pick out things like eye color, height, and occupation.
You should make a list of the basic requirements you'll use to sift through the 1,000s of profiles on IC. Things like age range, whether she has kids or not, relationship status (divorced, widowed, etc), religion, and English level should make up your list.
A Friendly Reminder: Only date women you can communicate with
We always advise men to only date women they can easily communicate with in person. Unless you know a foreign language this means dating women with a good level of English.
We advise this because it eliminates the need for hiring a translator; which not only saves you money, but makes you much less vulnerable to the "professional dater" type scams.
Now that you have your list, create a free basic profile on International Cupid. Use your requirements to search for women on the site. Make sure that their is a good number of active women on the site who live in or near the city you plan on traveling to.
Verify your city and dating site
If there are enough women who meet your criteria go ahead and green light your trip and purchase your travel arrangements.
If there aren't enough women in the city you chose, try searching near a different city. With other sites I normally recommend that if you can't find enough women in the area you want to travel to, you should try a different site altogether. But in this case you shouldn't have a problem finding a decent number of members on IC. The site has so many active profiles.
Phase 2: 6-4 weeks before your trip
For the next two weeks you want to start putting together the pieces of your personal profile, which you will post to IC once you purchase a premium membership.
This part is a bit more important than most guys think. You site profile is the virtual equivalent of a first impression. Just as there are 1,000's of women on IC, you can bet there are a lot of men using the site too.
How to make a good (virtual) impression
You want to use your profile pics, description, and introductory letter to help you stand out from the pack.
Photos
Typically most guys on IC take a series of selfies on their cell phone, post them on the site, and call it a day. There's nothing wrong with having 1 or 2 natural type photos that aren't all that glamorous, but all your photos shouldn't look like that.
You can do better
To be honest you should probably avoid the whole selfie idea all together. Odds are that you know someone with a half way decent digital camera. Put on a nice shirt and have them take some shots of you.
You don't have to get too fancy with things, just get two portraits, a full body pic, and maybe a candid action shot showing you playing a sport or dressed up for a party (pick something you normally do). Putting in this little bit of extra effort will go a long way toward helping you stand out from the other guys on the site.
Profile description tips
Most profiles list desires, hobbies, interests, and something about life style. There's nothing wrong with any of that. One tip here though is to try to get specific when talking about these things.
Many guys will put that they like movies (who doesn't?), you should list some of your favorite movies or genres of film. A lot of guys might say they want a woman with family values. What if you said you value a woman who brings warmth and love to the home? Do you see the pattern here? Be honest, but also be specific.
The introductory letter
Honestly we could write an entire post on how to write an introductory letter (we probably will soon). Because you will be contacting numerous women it's best to write a general introductory letter that you can use as a template.
More or less the letter can follow this pattern. Each item should be about a paragraph long:
- 1Hello I'm....(basic biographical info: age, where you live, height, weight, lifestyle, education, career, religion, etc.)
- 2Paint a picture: Description what you enjoy about your life and lifestyle, and things you do in your city. Give the woman an glimpse into what life would be like with you.
- 3I'm looking for more: Your life is good, but you need/want a ___ woman because____.....(what attributes/character traits are you looking for?)
- 4I'm serious: Talk about how you're a man on a mission and don't want to waste time on online romance. Mention your upcoming trip and its purpose.
- 5Ask her for contact info: This is the part where you transition and ask the woman if she would be willing to contact you and see if there's any chemistry between you.
This is a general outline, but you should get the idea.
Now don't go copy and pasting this template verbatim, and then start spamming every pretty woman you see on the site. Use the template as, well....a template. You should be reading a looking over each profile you message. Incorporate something personal or specific to a woman's profile in your letter to her.
Phase 3: 4 weeks- trip date
This is where you sign up for a premium subscription on International Cupid, upload your photos and personal info, and start contacting ladies.
Use the general requirements list you made earlier to inform your search. Be honest and realistic, and stay clear of any red flags.
You'll want to send out a lot of introduction letters, as not all women will respond or be interested in contacting you. If you're taking your time and reviewing each profile like you should, this could take a while.
Make sure the women know that you're planning on meeting multiple women in their city, but that you will only pursue the one you have the most chemistry with.
At this point you should know when you'll be in town so give the dates to the ladies who are interested in meeting you and start arranging dates .
Phase 4: the trip
This is where your hard work, planning, and research pay off! enjoy your dates with the ladies, and always deal honestly with them. If you feel there is chemistry between you and a woman tell her, and ask her if she feels the same way.
If you don't feel things clicking then be honest and tell the lady at the end of your date (make sure you thank her too!).
What other people say about International Cupid
"The variety is excellent, much higher than niche dating websites, but you can still find a girl within your type. The profiles are authentic. They have an excellent, multi-layer security policy.
But what I actually loved about International Cupid is how there was someone for everyone. There were the adventure chicks, looking for fun and nothing more, and also the gorgeous Russians that were ready to start a family. You can really find somebody that shares your goals and vision for the relationship.
That’s priceless."
"Is it Worth It?...
Yes, in particular situations. If you’re staying in the Americas then it’s not really worth it. Instead, you’ll want to use LatinAmericanCupid. However, if you’re moving around various countries in Europe (I heard it’s REALLY good for Eastern Europe) and Asia then you’ll find some good success. All in all, internationalcupid.com is a good site if you are looking for the possibility of meeting new people, girls in particular. I have met some good women in cupid international, but they are more into casual dating. While the website is generally safe, it is still up to you to be careful and really look into the profile of the members you are connecting with."
Alternatives to International Cupid
International Cupid casts a wide net (literally most of the world). Here is a list of their most popular country specific sites.
ASIA | EUROPE | LATIN AMERICA |
|---|---|---|
 Asian Dating |  Russian Cupid |  Latin American Cupid |
 Filipino Cupid |  Ukraine Date |  Colombian Cupid |
 Japan Cupid |  Elena's Models* |  Dominican Cupid |
 Thai Cupid |  Mexican Cupid |
*Elena's Models isn't a Cupid Media site, but it is a great site for Eastern Europe.
I love the idea of using a dating site like International Cupid, picking a city and going off on my own to meet foreign ladies; but the amount of work, logistics, and fear of the unknown can be a turn off for some guys.
The company I'm about to talk about here solves those problems. They take care of your entire trip (minus airfare), and provide everything you need to meet serious women in Ukraine, Colombia, or Thailand. All you have to do is show up.
Dream Connections is an American based company started by the American/Ukrainian couple Mark and Ana Davis. The company is unique in that they function more like an introduction/matchmaking agency than a romance tour agency (which is good because I don't trust most romance tours).
Each tour has about 15-20 guys and up to 100 or so local ladies. The company screens both men and women for relational intent and basic background information.
They also feature a unique system where each man has a personal translator/personal assistant for the trip. The dating starts off with a series of short speed dating sessions after which men are free to contact interested ladies and go on dates apart from the group.
Conclusion
International Cupid works best for anyone looking to date overseas who either 1) isn't sure where they want to go yet, or 2) Are looking for another international dating site to supplement one they're already using.
If you have an idea of where you'll be going it's better to go with a site dedicated to that specific country or region. You will likely have more results on such a site.
If you do decide to go with International Cupid, be careful. Stay smart and avoid obvious scams to use the site safely.