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it would be refreshing to see more users who view these forums to leave a thread, Don't be shy gentlemen!

Yes, there is always the same people posting here...it would be enriching to have more participants.

I think it would also be interesting to see the number of women who view the mens forum, and who is viewing more, the men or the women.

Honestly, I'm not really using this site, but it is interesting to hear your views. I have had my own experience with a Russian lady, I wrote about it under "What do Russian women want from western men". Now again, I am involved with a lady from Ukraine, things seem to be going great, but of course I am a little gun shy. Are any of you guys involved with a lady? or still just looking? Have any of you traveled to meet someone? if so, how did it go? I'm just curious to know if my experience was normal, I've been to Ukraine 3 times this past year.

Have you been in Russia too? What differences do you perceive between russian and ukranian women? If you do perceive any.

Vincent,

Any information you can add from your experiences travelling would be greatly appreciated. I have not traveled yet, but probably will before the end of the year. Work is too consuming in the Summer for me to take-off.

What I found to be the most important thing in my trips to Ukraine, is make sure you have new crisp American bills. The banks there will not cnange old American bills, they will only exchange new bills. Of course don't drink the water, buy bottle water only. Public bathrooms are not great, the free ones, has no toilet, it's just a hole in the floor. The ones you pay for, at least has a toilet, but very dirty. Other then that, I really had a great time.

Surprising!

Hi Vincent,

What you describe is almost identical to what you see in China. You need new bills, as the locals are very concerned about counterfeiting; be selective about public toilets (although most places that cater to tourists will have 1 or 2 western-type stalls) and most importantly don't drink tap water, even at finer hotels. Also, when you buy bottled water, buy brands you know. It is not uncommon to see bottled water that was merely filled from the tap!

I would also add that when you pay for items, even with local currency, pay with bills that are closest to how much you owe, so you get as little change as possible. In China, taxis were a common source of counterfeit money and you can't go back to that person to fix a problem, even if they could understand you

As for UK pound notes. Russian cities UFA, Omsk and Vladisvostok will not accept old notes either, though other cities will do. Belarus will accept anything.

How do I know the that dollars that I will get to my trip are of the new ones? Differences from the old? Is this restriction applying for Moscow city too?

Thanks for the help friends!

I have had the good fortune of traveling much of the world but never to Russia yet. However I have found its the condition of the bill that matters in most European countries so get bills that are in crisp condition no tears to insure this get them from your bank I also arrange to get foreign currency from my bank before I leave because the worst exchange will be found in the airports, which of course will be the first place needed for transportation.

Make sure you lete the bank know at least a week ahead of time, so they can order the currency from the Federal Reserve. This is a very common request and most banks are used to it.

If they say "no", go up the chain of command until you get somebody to say "yes".

You can always use an ATM to withdraw money from your debit card.
If you have a debit card from Citibank and you find its office in a Russian city, you can withdraw dollars without additional charges. http://www.citibank.ru/russia/branches/eng/branches.htm
You can pay for a hotel, etc using a credit card from CapitalOne. It doesn't have foreign withdrawal charges.