After months of working hard, studying like crazy and partying on the weekends, life in Athens can take a toll on even the most determined person. So, when summer vacation rolls around, most of us are dying to get out of Athens and hit the beach, wherever it may be. We work hard and I think we deserve to play hard as well. And vacation can be the perfect place for that...especially for the single gal looking for love.  And, let’s be honest here - you know that you haven’t been working your booty into shape all quarter at Ping for nothing. With a toned body, that new bikini and some much needed sun, vacation can be the perfect place to make a romantic connection. But is it a just a fling, or can it be the real thing?
   Steve Nakamoto, author of Men are Like Fish: What Every Woman Needs to Know About Catching a Man, gives us a little insight into why vacation romances can flourish or fail. He gives us a list of factors that ultimately lead to the success or demise of a vacation relationship:
          ·How far apart are they? (100 miles: not so bad. 3,000 miles: probably            won’t work)
          ·What is the amount of hassle involved? (Family, career, lifestyle,            insecurities, etc.)
          ·Can either relocate easily? (Job market, college choices, etc.)
          ·How strong are their family ties in regard to choosing a mate? (Some            people actually like to please Mom and Dad)
          ·How hard is it for each to fall in love? (Rarity enhances value)
  Even though the odds of finding your soul mate on vacation are slim, it isn’t impossible. The dating scene in Athens can be quite frustrating, especially if you aren’t a frequent bar hopper. Nakamoto says, “As far as whether vacations are more desirable for people to find partners, I think it’s true for people who become jaded by the dating scene. Vacations have a magical quality if you are willing to let go and be in the moment.”
   Just beware. Vacation romances tend to move quicker than normal relationships. With that return flight looming, you can go from meeting someone, to liking them, to falling in love and having sex in three to five days. Nakamoto says that the “highs are higher on a vacation romance. If you’re the type who dreams of thrilling romance, then vacations are the place where these things happen all the time.”
   So as summer vacation nears and your travel plans are made, be open to the possibility of lasting love. You may find the perfect man, it might work out, or it might not. But in the event that your real thing turns out to be just a fling, don’t beat yourself up. The odds were against you any way.