Tex,
You seem insistent on dealing with an agency and looking at the prices you quote above, paying a lot of money for it.
Have you considered:
Browsing all the websites for ladies in Kharkov (or wherever).
A Google search of 'russia marriage' or 'Ukraine marriage' will reveal many sites but before parting with any money to that agency run another Google search on that particular agency first.
Writing to a number of ladies from Kharkov and before you travel reduce these to a shortlist of 1, 2, 3 or whatever. One you have names, email addresses of ladies run another Google search on the name and email address.
Run another Google search for 'Kharkov apartment' and organise some accommodation for yourself.
Then search www.orbitz.com , www.aerosvit.ua/eng or whatever for your air travel to Ukraine and basically do it yourself, travel and date independently and reduce your risk of meeting the 'professional agency girls' whilst saving a significant amount of money.
Martin_UK:
I agree with your information and it will protect me against scammers as well.
However, I am a little undecided yet on how to proceed regarding these issues you listed in your posts:
1. Since I still feel the match program for me is the best since I have little time on my first 7 day trip to schedule ladies. My trip will be only maybe 5-6 days in Kharkov. One Agency that I have talked with Helen suggest that I pick the Ladies then Helen's Staff will talk with each of them and then I will email a couple of times to see if there is the same compatibility interests otherwise they will be eliminated from scheduling a meeting with them in Kharkov.
The Good thing about this one agency so far it beleives emailing would be a waste of my time at this point of the process.
2. Another good thing about this Agency is that I can setup my own travel arrangments as well. The agency will do as much or as little as needed depending on my requirments.
Martin_UK:
However, I will still follow some of the searches you mention as well. I want to cut costs as well so thanks for all the great Info so far!!!
Yes, Martin is giving you good solid advice. It would seem to me that you have covered and found all the major agencies in Kharkov. Mordinson is the only one I would tell you to stay away from. Helen is a great lady. She is trying to make money and will try to sway you to services but she won't rip you off. I dated six of her girls and only one was a professional dater. The others were sweet nice girls. You have to remember that agencies scam us mostly when we are on the other side of the Internet. When you show up at their door it eliminates many of the traps they have laid for us. So, you can visit a scam agency and still meet a nice woman. The scam agency has to have just enough real girls to keep the engine running. And the age group you are after is almost always real and serious women. You just have to watch out for the professional dater type girl thats all, and she is usually young and hot.
Deano:
I was hoping for more clarification regarding your trip using Helen's Agency services that you used during your visit in Kharkov.
Deano did you use any of these three services and what did you think overall????
•Individual Search
•Individual Tour
•Individual Meetings
The following list is a brief description of each service:
•Individual Search:
There are following steps to the Search Program:
Step 1. Write us an e-mail with a request for detailed information on Search Program. We will send you all details of the search, our work on it and the details of newspapers (name, circulation, information on targeted audience, feedback, etc).
Step 2. After you sign up for the Search program, we will send you application form, which you fill out and write details on your interests, personality, and the type of girl you are looking for. Also we will ask you to send us your photos.
Step 3. After we receive your data, we will start the search in three directions:
• Place ads in local Kharkov newspapers. The ads will run every week, once or twice a week, depending on the type of newspaper, for the duration of four weeks.
• Advertise you among girls-members of our agency, and forward you photos and profiles or letters from those interested in you.
• Place your ad with Kharkov agencies-associates, and if they have girls interested in you, we will send you their profiles too.
We will keep you updated weekly on the results.
The price of the Search program is $200 and includes our supporting the ad campaign within the whole month - running the ads, answering calls of the girls, showing them your data in our office, inviting them to our office to write you letters, bring their photos, scanning and sending you their data to your e-mail.
Upon your agreement we will indicate either our telephone, address and e-mail for the women contacting from newspaper ads, or give your direct contacts (this we negotiate with you on the stage of preparation of the Search Program for you).
$200 pre-payment
•Individual Tour:
Full Tour Program includes:
• Preliminary organizational work on matching you and the women;
• Correspondence with the chosen ladies before your trip ;
• Introductions, unlimited individual meetings with women;
• Pick up at Kharkov airport/train station;
• Accommodation - in private comfortable centrally located two-room apartment;
• Interpreter-dating expert daily assistance;
• Sightseeing/cultural program guidance;
• Seeing off at Kharkov train station/airport
The Tour lasts 8 days, costs $900 (flight tickets not included). If you would like less or more days on the Tour, you can pay per No of days you require - $115 per each day. If Tour is less than 8 days then $115 for each day service is used.
•IndividualMeetings:
Designed for the needs of those clients who would not need Full Tour service package, we can offer Individual Retail Tour Services:
Unlimited Meetings with women from our agency-$200 Pay Now
Arranging meeting with one woman-$20
Finding apartment
see details at
Accommodations page
Interpreter/guide:
English language expert, Assistance at conferences, etc.
$10 one hour
Interpreter/dating assistant, excellent English-$8 one hour,
$40 - 7-8 hours (full day translations)
Kharkov train station/airport pick up-$20
Car transfer (Borispil - Kharkov)
$150
All these fees can be paid in cash upon arrival in Kharkov.
Deano:
You mentioned that you dated 6 ladies. How long was your stay on your trip and did you visit other Ladies from different agencies while in Kharkov???
Tex,
Included in the USD900 is an interpreter for 8 days. Much the same as trying to sell you the taxi idea, they have already decided, it seems, that you will meet non English speaker(s) and probably only non English speakers and any English speaker(s) that may show an interest in you will be swept under the carpet, they are non profit makers.
I would write to the agency and ask, in the event that you meet English speaker(s) do you get a refund of interpreter costs. I'd like to bet that the agency will respond that very few Ukrainian ladies speak English, it is always advisable to have an interpreter and associated bullshit, basically bullshitting you that they are helping you, rather than ripping you off, by providing an interpreter.
You should, ideally, be trying to meet English speakers, nothing to do with interpreter expenses, but because communications and perhaps a subsequent marriage will be so much easier and less stress related. This agency, it seems, will not introduce you to any English speakers thus as per my previous post, try looking for some such ladies independantly. By all means continue communications with the agency but 'do it yourself' also and see who comes up with the best ladies, you or they!
Martin_UK:
The Agency is "allbeautiful" with the com extension.
I agree with you, a very good point!! that, I will need to check on the usage of translating if there is a reduction in fee cost per day from $115. I know from what other guys have told me, "not to be cheap on this issue during first trip"!!
Their reasoning was that they said like you, there is so many complex understandings and issues that need to be address right away in the first two face to face meetings !!! The worse thing to happen is for both people to misunderstand each other over the language barriers.
I also will start learning the Russian language in hopes that it will allow me to understand my special lady better.
Tex,
The allbeautiful.com didn't get me anywhere except to a site associated with debt relief, perhaps somewhat appropriate :))
The guys that perhaps prepay for an interpreter, tell others not to be cheap, perhaps fall into the category of 'there's one born every minute'!
I talk with a number of these ladies, friends of my wife, in Zaporozhye. They will be talking English to me but they are considering an interpreter for that first date because they have a lack of confidence. I try to give them confidence but tell them that they should pre-discuss the interpreter thing with their guy.
I see it all the time, even ladies that speak poor English, after the first day, two or three, they decide to do without the interpreter because they want a 'personal' relationship, to learn about each other by themselves and without a third party present. With that agency it is not a problem, there are no 'tours' and you pay for anything, including an interpreter, as you use it, if you don't use it then you don't pay for it.
Again Martin brings to light a good point. Will these agencies find a way to keep you from meeting their English speaking ladies? Myself I haven't had to deal with these issues because I always had my own private interpreter. This is why I never get the so called full service these agencies offer. They will introduce you to many beautiful ladies. You'll have a great time. They make a lot of money from you, and then you're on your way home in the plane with no serious relationship with any girl. What you want to do is try to be as independent as you can. I have Interpreters/Friends both in Kiev and Kharkov. They take good care of me and I trust them 100%. When I went to Odessa this summer I hired my Kharkov interpreter to go there with me. My next trip will also be Odessa. My interpreter cannot go with me this time. What will I do? Well, I will rent and apartment and I will hire an interpreter from one agency and then use her to date girls from all the other local agencies.
Tex, I was in Kharkov for one month when I dated the girls from AllBeautiful. I showed up at their office with my private interpreter and the printed out profiles of the girls I wanted to meet. No past correspondence, no arrangements, nothing. I just showed up at their door. I showed Helen the profiles of the girls and asked her if she had more photos she could show me of each lady. I wanted to see more before I invested the time and money. I then paid for the intro date $20. I do recall on the first meeting Helen did try to persuaed me to use their interpreter because their girl was very shy and felt comfortable only with their interpreter. I stood firm and Helen never tried to sway me again. The date was fine and the girl loved my interpreter.
I dated a couple of girls from other agencies but it has been two years and I forgot which ones I used. I mostly date girls I meet on the street and cafe's and the clubs while walking with my interpreter.
Interpreter/dating assistant, excellent English-$8 one hour,
$40 - 7-8 hours (full day translations) Tex, if I read this correctly then you can use an interpreter for $8 an hour or pay $40 for 8 hours. I would use the $40 full day translation then. My interpreter charged me $5 an hour. When I first visited ALLBEAUTIFUL they wanted $6 and hour. I have heard that interpreter rates have went up. So, maybe $8 and hour is the going rate now. I still think Helen and her agency are honest but they are out to make as much money as they can off of you so keep that in mind. Tex if you need a back up interpreter I have a couple of girls in Kharkov. One I know for sure would work for you for $5 an hour. Let me know if you want her email and phone number. It's always good to have a back up! Good luck.
LOL Neon! It does seem like a long time. First trip was to meet one girl in a city in Russia called Astrakhan. That was the summer of 2000. I returned in the summer of 2001. Then I didn't return until April 2003 on a tour with AFA to St. Petersburg. Thats when I really caught the bug. :) That lead to Moscow in June (My worst trip of them all)and another tour with AFA to Yalta in July. Yalta got me hooked on Ukraine. I then took my last tour with AFA in Kharkov during the month of September. So, 2003 was a busy year. :) I had discovered the single mans paradise and I wanted more. :) In 2004 I started things off with another trip to Kharkov in January. Then came the big one. I then spent my entire summer of 2004 in Kharkov and Kiev. I didn't return again until May of 2005. Again it was Kharkov and Kiev. My latest trip was Odessa/Kharkov in August. WOW! I think I have a problem. :) I need help! :) All kidding aside I am serious about finding my future wife in Ukraine but I won't settle for the first beautiful girl I meet. There were many whom I was ready propose to but they didn't want me or the change of life I represented. There have also been many that wanted me but I did not want them. Sooner or later I'm hoping that it will all line up and come together. :) In the mean time I'm living a single mans dream. :) The search continues......
Although prices have gone up you should still be able to get a interpreter for $5 a hour maybe less particularly in less tourist citys ie Kiev and Odessa might not be so easy but anywhere else $5 is the max
most people dont earn $5 a day !
What got you hooked on Ukraine? I do understand that Yalta is an interesting city, and a few people have told me they really like Crimea. What did you find to be special about Ukraine?
Deano,
The single mans dream is to live here !
bars and cafes full of beautiful girls,
in the summer the crimea is as good as it gets to relax
even today the weather has been nice and sunny
Neon. I got hooked on Ukraine over Russia mainly because the girls there seem to be more of the girl next door type. Russian girls are a little too cosmopolitan for me. I like simple natural beauty. But keep in mind I only visited the big cities of Moscow and St. Petersburg (beside my private trip to see one girl in Astrakhan)and I'm sure the smaller towns in Russian have some very sweet and beautiful girls too. Also, Ukraine now has no visa required for USA.
Ski. The AFA tours give great value to the Newbie. You will be provided with a choice of many interpreters. Pick two to work with and two for backup. Get all their contact information (Email and mobile phone) so that you can create a network of support for future trips without the tour. Also, you get to meet many guys who are doing the same as you. Searching for a FSU bride. I've made a lot of new friends and have joined them on our own trips to the FSU. The socials themselves I didn't care for because I'm after the 18-24 group with no kids. If your willing to date the older ones or ladies with children then you will meet many beautiful serious ladies. Also the ladies you will meet there will probably be first timers. Once the girls see that there are only 15 to 20 men and 200 girls they never go back again. Can't blame them for that.
Chris I totally envy you! If I could I would live there. Not permanent but I wouldn't mind living there for a year or two. I have looked on the net a little bit for job opportunities over there but haven't found anything. I would love to work for US or British company over there. What do you you do over there Chris? Semi-retired? Are you living in Sevastopol?
Deano,
Its almost imposible to find a job here that pays resonable money maybe in Kiev , teaching or running a club or casino,
you have to create your own,
I came to Sevastopol looking to buy a hoiliday home, it made sence, as I like the place and spent most of my hoilidays here, so instead of pay rent for a not so nice flat having a good one of my own seamed to be a better idea,
now I rent mine and some of my friends apartments ,
so I surpose I am semi-retired,
gives me something to do also while I am here and meet new friends in the process,
I go back to the UK a couple of times a year a take a job while I am there, 2 or 3 months working there means I can live well here for the rest of the year!
I been here for nearly 3 years, I like to have this as a base to relax, UK is good for work, but its expensive to live,here it cost me about $40 a month for the gas / electric/water and telephone,
one question I have and I can never understand is,
why do guys pay $2000 + to come here on a tour when the same girls are walking down the streets, and in the bars and clubs ?
its as if its their ultimate fantasy to be in a room full of girls ?, and as you say the girls are not keen on these socials, and some of them pay for models to turn up to make it look good,
they can do it on there own for a fraction of that price $70 - $100 a day including meeting some girls,
I have never been to Russia so I can not comment, but Ukraine shore has some nice girls, and now there is no visa its much easy to come here,
so where is your next trip too ?
Deano:
What are your current requirements that you are looking for in your Special Ukraine Lady???
Age, Height, kids or no kids, hair color, job or housewife??
Are you currently using the ladies 18-24 age group with no kids as one requirement??
Currently my lady requirements are Age 30-40, height 5-6 and above, no kids to 1 child, and career Lady.
Deano:
Do you think this will be difficult in Kharkov???
Currently I am waiting for response back from Helen regarding translator fees!!!
Yeah Chris your absolutely right about all the girls you can find walking on the street or in the clubs and cafe's. I have had huge success with this. My interpreter and I called it fishing. :) She was great! I see a girl and point her out and my interpreter would chase her down. Sometimes we had to run. Those girls walk fast! :) But there is a problem meeting girls this way. These girls are not agency girls so they have never given serious thought to dating a foreigner or living abroad. I have lost many girls after the relationship started to get serious and she was faced with the reality of leaving her family and friends. That is why I still continue to use both agencies and meeting girls by chance. Chris my next trip will probably be Odessa with side trip to Nikolaev. Nikolaev is a new place for me. Great idea you got going! Again I envy you!
Tex. My search criteria is 18-30 but from 25 and up there are few girl who make the cut due to kids. I'm strictly no kids. I can find a thousand hot single moms here in the states if I wanted to go that route. 5' to 5'9" 90 lbs to 130 lbs. I prefer brunettes but wont toss away a blonde. Tex you will have no problem in any city with the requirements you are looking for. You will have many ladies to meet no problem.
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