Any tips about traveling to Ukraine and Crimea?

customs in ukraine did not ask me what i was bringing in, only how long i would be staying. dont offer anymore information than what they ask. they pretty much stamp your passport and you move on through. dont put any valuables in your checked luggage, you probably will not get them back. once i got my luggage through baggage claims, they had been rifled through pretty good. dont be in a hurry to give her a ring until you spend time with her. you still actually dont know this lady, so she may not be what you expect. i would wait until the last couple of days you are there, if it feels right then give her a ring. dont forget to take plenty of pictures with you and her together, this is very important later for visa apps to prove a relationship.

We are on the same page with the ring, the plan is to take her to a special spot on the last day if all goes well. After that we plan to meet her parents. This is her test, if she has doubts she won't put me in front of the family. If she likes the idea I give the ring. By the time we meet we will have three months of every day contact. Without this kind of connection I wouldn't be taking a ring at all, just save it for another trip.

The ring was tricky, so for most I would say don't bring one. I have a very special circumstance (training) in uncovering deception as part of my career and have a very high confidence she is legitimate. For everyone else I would say "Don't try this at home". Thanks for pointing that out so I could clarify.

My advice is, meet your girl from Russia in Western Europe, Paris, London or Prague. You save yourself the hassle and the lack of western standards in lodging and services, not to mention the unclean surroundings, and vexing customs and police registration in Russia. Besides, you give the girl a time of her life. Of course you pay her expenses, but it is well worth it. If she likes you, she will give you the world.

Most other dating services are a fraud. You talk to un ugly guy at the other end and pay 10 dollars for each contact. You never get the email or phone number of the girl, just look at some half-naked pictures from some porno magazine, and pay for it like a nitwit.

I am not so concerned about western standards in hotels etc. I think I will gain better insight into my lady friend by observing her living standard and lifestyle.

She has not said it, but I get the feeling she is a little concerned about what I may think of her apartment etc, as if it would be a reflection on her personally, but I already believe she is a woman of high quality, regardless of her surroundings.

I have read others talk about "miserable" conditions, but I think it's a mistake and disrespectful to judge by such things. I was looking for a quality woman, not an apartment!

The advantage to Ukraine is she doesn't need a visa. You have also get her on familiar territory so she can feel more at ease. Someone posted here on the advantages of visiting there and it made sense to me. I think one of the ladies even agreed with him.

If you are paying travel costs it also lessens your risk. You can send her train fare to the nearest city and catch the flight together. From where I am Moscow is a direct flight. I would check into a hotel and rest and then fly back out the next day. One of the scam guides says to say you want to meet in Russia even if you want to meet somewhere else, because it will filter out the scammers. They know there won't be cash coming for a plane ticket.

In my case I wanted to see Moscow anyway. Last time I was in Europe the wall was still up.

Well, you know she is female.

I suspected we had the same issue but in a more severe way. She was clearly troubled. I approached it this way. I told her a story about how my mother and I had fallen into poverty and welfare after my parents split up. I described the conditions I lived in for a time and it gave us a connection. I told her that our poverty was a matter of circumstance not weakness. We did it on Skype and I could see the tears on her face before she looked away. We never spoke of it after, but her concern in showing me her apartment went away.

I am anxious to hear how tour trip goes, mine is a little after yours. Are you going to one of the ocean towns?

I am anxious to hear how tour trip goes, mine is a little after yours. Are you going to one of the ocean towns?

Yes, we are staying at a hotel near Yalta with a private beach. Close enough to the city to take advantage of restaurants and shops, but far enough away that we can enjoy the natural beauty of the area with a little precious solitude as well.

We have not planned any special trips or sight seeing tours - we will play it by ear - but I am certain we will have an enjoyable stay.

Little more than 3 weeks away!