I need some advice :)

Originally Posted by Moose55

I was wondering if I needed some sort of special Visa? I have a passport and a regular Visa that I would use in Canada.

Originally Posted by Raspberry

No visas required, for a normal tourist stay in Ukraine, for US, Canadian, EU and Japanese passport holders.

Originally Posted by Chrismc

Moose

It would help enormously if you gave us an idea of where you are going, Ukraine is a big place you know. Eastern, Southern, Western would help, if not an exact city there is a massive difference in price if you are going to Kiev as opposed to a smaller city in Western Ukraine say.

Also is it a hotel room price or an apartment price you are after? What kind of room are you looking for, one room apartment, two room apartment, a double bed hotel room, a twin room, a suite, too far little to go on here I'm afraid

Originally Posted by freebird

Moose you said you have "a regular visa that you use in Canada", are you not Canadian? Where is your passport from?

My next question is does anyone know how much rooms cost in Ukraine? I am just trying to get an idea on how much my trip will cost. I will probably end up in several different cities.
Any help would be great guys. I hope that after I get more experience on the international dating scene I can help members here like you members have helped me with my search.
Thanks again!

Originally Posted by Raspberry

No visas required, for a normal tourist stay in Ukraine, for US, Canadian, EU and Japanese passport holders.

Originally Posted by Moose55

The thing is I will probably be all over Ukraine. I am following the advice of a few members and visiting 3 or 4 different girls. I think they all live in smaller towns. I have just started and am only in stage 1. My hope is that I will like one of them and next time I go there I will spend a lot of time with her. They all speak good english so translating is not a problem. I was just trying to get an idea of what the overall cost will be. I will probably be staying for 2 or 3 weeks.

Originally Posted by freebird

When you get to the airport in Kiev BEWARE the taxi drivers are like sharks there. There is a motor coach that takes you to the railway station in Kiev, otherwise you will pay about $30 - $40 for a taxi, its a 45 min ride. You might consider writing down the name of the city you want to travel to, on a paper write {in Russian} "Train Station" - "train to city XXX"

Originally Posted by freebird

If you are staying for 2 or 3 weeks & visiting several different girls then you probably can't get an apartment in the same place for a couple of weeks.

Generally you can get a decent hotel room for $40 - $60 a night in the smaller cities {Kiev is more $$$}, and expect restaurants to cost about $10 - $20 per person for dinner. I got a car for about $35 per day, it's alot easier than using train & taxi for all of your short hops around Ukraine. Make sure to get your international drivers licence before you go, you can get it at CAA auto club. Gas costs about what it does in Canada.

When you get to the airport in Kiev BEWARE the taxi drivers are like sharks there. There is a motor coach that takes you to the railway station in Kiev, otherwise you will pay about $30 - $40 for a taxi, its a 45 min ride. You might consider writing down the name of the city you want to travel to, on a paper write {in Russian} "Train Station" - "train to city XXX"

Originally Posted by Chrismc

You also need to know how you are going to travel between cities, there are cheap ways that will take you a long time, say by train and expensive ways that will get you there quicker, by plane, or car. It would be a lot easier if you just told us what cities you are visiting then the guys can tell you where to stay, how to get there etc etc

Originally Posted by Moose55

The one I really want to see lives in a town near Chernivisty.

Originally Posted by Pin Boy

think twice about driving in ukraine, especially on your first visit. you may want to see it for yourself first before deciding if this is something you're comfortable with. good luck and keep us posted.

pin boy

Originally Posted by freebird

Yep, as a foreigner you will probably need a special driving permit if you are stopped by the militia. It has Pres. Andrew Jackson's face on the front....

Originally Posted by AkMike

Nah.. That's just for us Yanks.. Cannuks pass off a handfull of Loonies.

Originally Posted by Moose55

Lol, the thing is I have only actually told 2 of them that I would visit them. I have only been trying the internet dating thing for like 2 months so I still have a little bit to work on the other 2. The one I really want to see lives in a town near Chernivisty. The other one lives in a town named Kalinovka which is somewhere in eastern Ukraine (aparently there is more than 1 town by this name). Nothing is set yet and things could change, I just created this thread so I could find out if I have to apply for anything special to go there.

Originally Posted by AkMike

I've never been to Chernivisty. That's Chris's stomping grounds. I'd say to write many, narrow it down to 2 then travel. Visit the favorite one first, just in case. Also try to find ones that are in smaller towns if you live in a smaller town. Or at least smaller than your town.

Originally Posted by Chillidog

Sorry,
I could not remember where exactly your wife was from, just thought it was the same as Chris's. My apologies.
Do they have towns smaller than 1000 people?

Originally Posted by Chillidog

In your best interests it would be better to find one city and set up shop.

Originally Posted by AkMike

I'd say to write many, narrow it down to 2 then travel.

Originally Posted by I/O

Moose: Ukraine is approximately 8% of the land area of USA just as an idea of the area you are trying to cover (604 000 SQ KM), with transport systems that make Mexican systems look like "Pimps Porches" if you get the picture.

I suggest you get a good atlas first, read it well and then have a talk to someone like Stirlitz to feel out where or how you might be going. You have nominated cities from one side of the country to the other and with 3 or 4 weeks to spend, you haven't much hope of covering all those with any degree of focus.

I'm not against the idea of visiting a few locations and or people, but you will need to get a little more targeted than simply............."Ukraine". Seems to me you are picking out the women who suit best and not really considering distance between locations. That is all well in theory, but in practice, logistics will most likely beat you.

I/O

Originally Posted by Stirlitz

Only to find one of them sick the other suddenly too busy at work.

Originally Posted by Raspberry

If you ever have tried to drive across Texas, you will understand what the distances in Ukraine are all about.

Originally Posted by Stirlitz

Not necessarily. Touring Ukraine is also a good way. You never know.Only to find one of them sick the other suddenly too busy at work.

Come on. Don’t put all your eggs into one basket. Five at least.

Originally Posted by Chillidog

For me I do not understand the men going over there and the woman backing out, I think this happens much more when you do visit many, and in my eyes means not enough of the ground work was done prior to the trip.

Originally Posted by Chillidog

Show some commitment to her and she will do the same for you.

Originally Posted by Stirlitz

I saw it happen to men who were Writing-One-(for months, by the way)-Visiting-One. Women… they are not men and that’s that.If only things were so simple!

Whatever you do from overseas it is very difficult to be sure of her until you met her and spent some time with her.

Originally Posted by Chillidog

I think our personalities will dictate which approach is best for us

Originally Posted by I/O

Ahhhhhhhh........ did you factor in the road condition differences? Multiply that Texas thing by a few. I/O

Originally Posted by AkMike

But the logistics of such long distance dating says to have a back up plan. If things go suddenly south and you find yourself alone. Have a second or more choices is what Stirlitz and I are saying. I opted for 1 backup and fortuneately wasn't needed. It might be better to have more than 1 as Stirlitz says.
Each and everyone of them should be 'screened' by a couple of months of emails. I still suggest to have a face to face meeting within a couple of months of contact. So there isn't a fantasy personality built up w/o realizing that she actually has flaws.

Originally Posted by I/O

Moose: Ukraine is approximately 8% of the land area of USA just as an idea of the area you are trying to cover (604 000 SQ KM), with transport systems that make Mexican systems look like "Pimps Porches" if you get the picture.

I suggest you get a good atlas first, read it well and then have a talk to someone like Stirlitz to feel out where or how you might be going. You have nominated cities from one side of the country to the other and with 3 or 4 weeks to spend, you haven't much hope of covering all those with any degree of focus.

I'm not against the idea of visiting a few locations and or people, but you will need to get a little more targeted than simply............."Ukraine". Seems to me you are picking out the women who suit best and not really considering distance between locations. That is all well in theory, but in practice, logistics will most likely beat you.

I/O

Originally Posted by Chillidog

I am not saying in VO the woman will never stand you up, but I see this happining so much more often when the man does the VM, and from my view point it appears to me that the woman just does not think the man is serious in his intentions towards her, and so she many times does not even bother to show up or makes excuses.

Originally Posted by Moose55

Thanks for the advice. I know that it won't be easy, and I might be worn out. However the purpose of this trip is to find a girl that I really like so the next time I go there (if all goes as I hope), I will spend all of my time with one girl. I think it is a good idea to see at least 3 girls Stirlitz is right 1 or 2 may back out. I don't think this would happen but I am sure other guys thought this as well. Plus I have to consider the fact that I have never met these girls in person before. I have been on dates before that went downhill fast, who knows it might happen. I know I may have to cover a large area, but I am not going to turn down a chance to meet a girl that I really like because I may have to travel a extra day. I am going there for a purpose so I will do what I have to to achieve my goal.

Originally Posted by I/O

Moose: Just sayin', it can take twice as long to go between two FSU cities which are 1/2" apart on the map than it does to go from JFK to Kiev.

I/O

Originally Posted by Stirlitz

We have a saying. Make a fool pray and he will smash his head against the floor. I never meant you should VM just for the sake of seeing as many as possible, making scores. Homework is needed anyway.

But to make your choice and bet everything on one via e-mail and phone calls across the ocean is risky. When you see her face to face she can be very different.

So what I suggest is somewhere in-between. I don’t get why all people who object to WMVM see it as a trip of meeting as many women as possible with no attention to the rest.

Originally Posted by JohnnyLaRue

I figure those who will cancel based on the VM method are probably not ones I am compatible with. I mean I've had a female "friend" from Japan visit me for vacation and spent 3 days with me and 3 days with another guy and the last few with an another. Needless to say I was not a good match for her but it did not bother me in the least and we still keep in touch as friends.

I guess for me I knew she was looking overseas for a guy and I respect her for trying to see who she got along with the best instead of feeling pressured to be with me and thinking it's either me or nothing. I did not feel used for sex, food, lodging, paying for her Disneyland ticket..etc during those 3 days at all. Nor did I feel insecure or was upset she had 2 other guys lined up after me.

I do understand the viewpoints of those against the WMVM approach. I think it's just a matter of personal opinion.

Originally Posted by JohnnyLaRue

I agree 100% to give the other your undivided attention and I also agree with your viewpoint. I mean if you are uncomfortable with it or would not be OK if the shoe was on the other foot then by all means do not use that approach.

I only take issue with those who use the WMVM approach but then get upset that the woman is also doing the same thing (Write many meet many).

As far as my future trip goes. I dont want to hijack the thread. I currently am in contact with 3 great woman on a daily basis. The other woman from my last post where I said I was in contact with 18 have not been compatible, have lost interest in each other or just decided to be friends/pen pals.

I have 2 coming out my way in the late summer. One is visiting friends and the other is visiting her sister. There is not much chemistry between us over the emails but I will still meet them and see what happens. Worst case scenario I make a new friend right?

I'm looking for a winter visit to Russia. Then again this is all dependent on if any of the 3 woman are ones I would like to try to seriously pursue a relationship with.