"I flew more than 5,000 miles for a first date - but it was a flop"

A woman flew more than 5,000 miles for a 'first date' - which turned out to be a flop.

Kayleigh Castle, 35, flew to San Francisco, California, US, from London, in the UK, to meet up with a guy she'd met in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico.

The man approached her while she was in a bar and they had a brief holiday romance.

He then had to fly back home to California for work but the pair continued to message back and forth.

In February 2024, after she got back to the UK, Kayleigh decided to jet to the States for a 10-day date that he paid for.

The pair went sightseeing, wine tasting and walking - before Kayleigh realised he wasn't right for her seven days in and they decided to stay friends.

Despite not having a romantic connection Kayleigh said she doesn't regret going on the date as they have a strong friendship.

Kayleigh, a life coach, from Huddersfield, West Yorkshire, said: "I always say a man invests in what he values.

"If he is going to invest money into me he values me.

"He booked my flights, asked what I wanted to do - we went wine tasting, we went on a nice coastal drive - and then I came back home.

"We're still in touch and we had a lot of fun but we have decided to be friends."

In October 2023, Kayleigh was on a work trip in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, for three months.

The man came up to her in a bar and the pair got chatting.

She said: "He came up to me in the bar, sat next to me and then asked me out for a date.

"We went out a few times in Mexico and then he went back home to California.

"We continued to message back and forth and planned to see each other again.

In February 2024, the man messaged Kayleigh and asked if she fancied a 10-day trip to California.

She said: "He booked my flights and asked what I wanted to do.

"I said I wanted to go Carmel-by-the-Sea and on a coastal road trip."

Once Kayleigh landed, the pair went on a road trip, went wine tasting, visited Yosemite National Park, and coastal towns in California.

Kayleigh said: "We did a coastal road trip from San Francisco to a place called Half Moon Bay which was absolutely stunning.

"We then went more inland to Yosemite National Park."

It was on the date to the National Park where things went downhill.

Kayleigh said: "I love walking but he wanted to stay in the car on his phone.

"For me, I love waking - that is my quality time - but he was working and going to the bar.

"We have decided just to stay friends, dating is evaluating, it is over time you get to know everyone."

Kayleigh has another date planned for later this year for another man she met in Mexico who wants to take her travelling around Europe.

You can watch Kayleigh's dating diaries on TikTok at @dailykayleighshow.