closerfolk.Set a recognizable meeting point
Choose a specific public place instead of a block or a vague neighborhood reference. Send the plan in advance and make sure each person can arrive independently.
Do not use a first meeting as a reason to collect a home address, a hotel room number or a ride from someone you have not met.
Keep the plan flexible
A coffee, an early meal or a short walk leaves space to extend only when both people want to. A good plan has a clear end point as well as a start point.
If the venue is too busy or closed, agree on a public alternative rather than improvising a private one.
Think about the way home
Event traffic, weather and late hours can affect the route. Keep your phone charged and your return transport under your own control.
Tell a trusted person where you will be and check in afterward.