Question on travel in Russia

What is so difficult? Apartment agency or landlord must complete the registration process. If they don't know what to do, simply don't rent from them. If you want to rent from an apartment from a noncommercial friend, yes it is probably a headache unless they know what to do. Workaround is to reserve a hotel room for entire stay (where a refund is offered for unstayed days), spend 2 days in hotel, look at apartments for 2 days, have hotel register visa, then exit the hotel, move in to the apartment. Many have been ripped off by the apartment they have rented, site unseen. Better to look at several apartments and pick a good one after seeing it in person.

As Scotty mentioned, I prefer to have the lady travel to a large centralized city like Moscow or Kiev. If she is not too busy with work, she would prefer to take a short vacation trip. The lady does not like to be seen by her friends and coworkers touring around her city with a foreigner (especially if he turns out to be a dork). All her local boyfriends will be mad if they see you romancing her.

try talking to a travel agent and they'll point you in the right direction. mine took care of it for me.

When you try to get a personal invitation visa, the time and effort needed for the both of you are simply too much.
That's by choice of the Russian bureaucracy.

However, you usually can manage to get such an invitation (and only a invitation) from a travel agency far easier and far quicker, and far cheaper, for about 30 $.
The main point of cost is still the visa for Russia, which can't be avoided, unless you meet in the Ukraine, and the most annoying thing is that in the meantime, you have to go to the embassy personally (no more via-post), for which you will already need one day of holidays... (obviously, the Kremlin doesn't want tourists over there)

The most annoying thing however is that you have to go to the OVIR (alien's police) to register your arrival within 3 days of your arrival. Registration would (theoretically) be free, but most times, they will charge you something like 5 dollars for it (this charge is illegal, but who does really want to fight for one hour for about 5$?).

The registration process took 'only' about 4 hours for me (about 3 hours 45 minutes of them are waiting time)...
So I guess this is why most travel agencies (indirectly) recommend you not to go there, and pay the penance instead.
As for the proverbial patience of the Russian people, I can only say that common speech obviously mixed up Ukrainians and Russians. You might find a lot of people in a bad mood there, and some of them can be be quite tempered...

Oh, and if you go alone, bring your dictionary, you'll have to fill out forms there.

OlgaUkraine , can I ask you.

Do you know who hotels is sentral and popular, and places kafe in day-time, and
pooular night-clubs recoment for me a man seeking an living lady around 30 who can maybe can move to Norway .its first time I plane to go to Odessa.?

I have done both tourist visas and home stay. I would strongly recommend home stay.

Get your Russian friends to send you an invitation>

tksmith, can I ask?
Why would you recommend home stay? ))

Sure. When I went to Russia, my friend sent me an invitation (home stay visa). I registered a day or two after arriving and didn't have to think about government regulations for the rest of my two-week stay.

In Uzbekistan, I just got a tourist visa because I thought it would be easier for my friend. I planned to rent an apartment because it would be cheaper than a hotel, and like many people here, I was under the impression that the landlord could register me. My friend thought this as well, and so did my landlord. So, all of us got up bright and early and went down to the local government office, where we were informed that a tourist visa requires you to stay in a hotel. I ended up renting an apartment anyway and paying the cheapest hotel in Tashkent to give me a stamp every three days, as this still came out cheaper. It was really annoying to go back to the hotel every three days, even though I was only there for two weeks. I know Uzbekistan maybe be different, but I don't see why it should be. If nothing else, have your acquaintance check with their local office first.

Ty for your answer.
Don’t know about Russia, but in Uzbekistan we have such strange rules since May 2009 (if I remember well). All visitors (who get tourist visa) should stay ONLY in hotels (not in rented apartments). If you get home stay visa then you should stay in flat/house of your friend (as you should be registered by this address).
So here’s easier to get tourist visa and stay in hotel.

hello dear ; How are you ?

The most annoying thing however is that you have to go to the OVIR (alien's police) to register your arrival within 3 days of your arrival. Registration would (theoretically) be free, but most times, they will charge you something like 5 dollars for it (this charge is illegal, but who does really want to fight for one hour for about 5$?).

Hello dear, 1001nights, sorry I can't help you with the question about hotels in central popular places and cafe in Odessa and to recommend you night-clubs. I don't know them. I have been in Odessa long time ago only once.

Moreso You see I can't imagine how are you going to find at the night-club a lady around 30 who "may be can move to Norway" . I don't know.... how do you see such situation? You see her at the club and say: "let's go to live to Norway" and she is agree in 10 minutes. Sorry I see I am a very old-fashioned person.

but if you are going to visit just your right girl I think the best way to ask her what places are interesting for her to go with you. What she wants to show you at her town. May be the best way to speak with your woman about your time together? Sure she knows several places. By the way you will find out if you like the same things. may be she prefers skating-pool more than night-clubs.

You don't need to go to the OVIR (alien's police) to register in Ukraine...at least Europe USA Canada for sure...have heard from India is needed -other countries don't know.

I don't know about the Ukraine, but in Russia, it's definitely required.
That's definitely a reason to go to the Ukraine instead of Russia
But only after winter has passed