"When it comes to planning a date (whether it’s your first date or your millionth with your long-term significant other), the most dreaded questions of all time are as follows: What should we do tonight? Are you in the mood for anything specific? Where should we go to dinner? Do you have anything in mind? Because the answer is almost always something along the lines of: It doesn’t matter to me, I’m up for anything, or It’s up to you, which is the opposite of helpful and makes planning a date more overwhelming than exciting. But what if it didn’t have to be that way? What if you could have date ideas at your fingertips or take the guesswork out of planning a date altogether?
Enter: DUO. A new app created by a fan-favorite couple from The Bachelor, Lauren Burnham Luyendyk and Arie Luyendyk. DUO (Dates Unlike Others) launched on March 1, and in just a few days’ time, it rose to the top of the Apple charts which can only mean one thing: Couples are in desperate need of an app that provides date ideas and planning services. From surprise date concierge services to group date organizing and more, this app does it all, so we are diving into everything it can do and how you can use it to experience epic dates.
DUO’s Purpose & Pricing
The Bachelor franchise is no stranger to planning elaborate dates that can help people get to know each other and fall in love, and that is exactly what Arie and Lauren experienced during their time on the show. In an interview for The Unplanned Podcast, Lauren shared that this app was created to replicate the experience she and Arie had while filming their season. “We like to put people in situations where they can learn something new about each other that challenges them in some way,” she added. This can help bring a new dynamic into a relationship that can help it grow. To reap those benefits with little to no planning required? Sign me up.
DUO is accessible to anyone at any price point. It is completely free to download and explore hundreds of date ideas in the app, and if you want to use their planning concierge service, they offer plans that start at $24.99.
3 Ways DUO Can Help You Plan Dates
Whether you’re interested in trying out some new at-home date ideas or you and your partner are hoping to meet other couples to go on double dates, DUO has features that can help you. We’re breaking down their top three features and how they work ahead.
Get “date-spiration” on DUO
There are hundreds of date ideas (or date cards as they call them) in the app for free that are meant to give users “date-spiration”. These include at-home date ideas, activities you can do outside of your house, events in your area, and more. Arie explains this feature to be similar to Tinder where you can swipe through each idea and favorite or save the ones that you like and want to remember to do with your partner.
Ask DUO to plan a surprise date for you
After filling out a short questionnaire that helps DUO understand your preferences and budget, one of DUO’s planners will plan an entire date experience for you and your partner. Since neither of you will have any idea what’s in store, date planners guide you along the way. They start with telling you what to wear and when to be at your first location, and since the surprise dates are typically split into two parts, you will unlock the second part of the date once the first is complete—keeping you both on the edge of your seat the entire time!
Go on group dates planned through DUO
If you want to join other couples in your area with similar interests to you and your partner, there is a feature for that too! There are pre-planned dates in the app that you can book like a group surf date, snorkeling, hiking, and more. All you have to do is explore the dates and choose what you’re most interested in, and you will receive a confirmation of your date plus details and instructions for when and where to meet. Feel free to do this with couples you already know or show up and meet new people!
Final Thoughts
Dates are essential for maintaining strong and healthy relationships, we already know that, but that doesn’t make planning them and coming up with something new and exciting to do together any easier—no matter how long you’ve been in a relationship. DUO takes the guesswork out of planning a date, allowing you to focus on what matters most—you and your partner. Whether you download the app to explore their budget-friendly or totally free options or you treat yourself to a surprise date for a special occasion, you’ll be glad to have this app at your fingertips.