Just looking for some pros/cons about anyone's experience with the AFA tours. Specifically, which cities (St Petersburg, Moscow, Odessa, etc.) attended and how satisfied you were with the trip. I realize most on this board seem to not to prefer the "Socials", but as a newbie, I think it would be the easiest way to embark on this.
CCIE,
Have you never been on holiday by yourself before, it's quite simple, you book some air tickets, arrange a visa if necessary, source some accommodation by searching the internet and away you go.
Once you get there you source some western style pubs/restaurants and meet some nice ladies. Of course you could select your destination by writing to some ladies online before you go and set the ball rolling that way.
Why can some guys not fart, it seems, without the financed assistance of an agency?
Thanks for your advice mate, although somewhat contemptuous. I usually book trips via a travel agent and I'm really not concerned about spending a few extra grand if necessary (And no, that doesn't mean flagrantly on the women). I was entertaining the idea of going on a "tour" first, and arranging any subsequent trips on my own....assuming I'm still interested. I prefer meeting someone face to face, and would rather jump on a plane than spend hours behind a keyboard. However, I will keep your idea in mind...and still may go the solo route and not use AFA or another tour company. Anyone with experience or advice on the AFA tours would be welcome.
CC I have attended the AFA socials in St. Petersburg, Yalta, and Kharkov. The tour itself is worth it for a newbie in my opinion. You have a good plan. Tour for the first trip and then go freelance in the future. The key is to build you network while on the tour. Choose and work with at least two and maybe three interpreters. Find an apartment broker or connection in the city you visit. And one bonus I found was meeting other guys just like you searching for a girl in the FSU. Some will have a wealth of experience to share with you and other will learn with you. I have made a half dozen new friends from this and have returned to Ukraine with some of them and did our own tour. Good luck!
CC..you could go on a shopping tour for your first trip...the fact is... these women are looking for just one special man(just like you are looking for one special woman) and when you turn up to meet alot of them together in the same room at a function..well..just imagine if the shoe was on the other foot and you were in a room full of men all vying for the attention of one lady...
Martin may sound contemptuous to you...you are a newbie...his advice is sound and based on experience...experience now similar to mine...if you must use a tour service..use it as a fact and familiarization tour...not a shopping tour for a human being...thats my advice.
Okay, so this thread is like 4 1/2 years old, but I want to know the same thing now. I am planning to go to the Ukraine this summer for a vacation and/or meet the love of my life. I know no Russian except for ordering a beer. I've been emailing some very lovely women and some scammers. What now?
I think it would be a hoot to go out on an "date" with a model type girl 20+ years younger than me. I also would like to find a wife that shares some of my same interests. I guess I would like the back up the tour would provide, but I would also like to spend time with "the one" who may not be affiliated with them.
I'm a friendly and polite guy, but I don't know if I could pull off a foreign one night stand. Is it wrong to want to have a back up plan? and if not, how many women should I be talking to? I sometimes feel like a kid in a candy store. And I'm not just talking about the eye-candy type girls, but beautiful women 30+ with kids. (Yes i would like a built in family. I think it would be easier move for her if she had children to occupy her time here)
Jason you can do it on your own the first time but if you do have 3 to 4 solid women lined up in each city before you go. I mean lined up! 6 months of letters so you know they wont flake. I did my first trip this way (and didnt speak a word of russian) an had a kick ass time. Rent your apartments through http://www.bestkievapartment.com/ Say hi to the woman who is on their skype line. SHs a sweet heart and will do anything for you including emergency transfers! They are good photos of all apartments and you can use pay pal for deposits to insure you wont get ripped off (although these people are #1 if you take my word for it) They will get you low price transfers from BSP or to and from any city you wish. They ROCK!
Then after things are lined up dont let the women tell you where they will meet you! They will all suggest some very nice expensie place for dinner. Tell them you only have so many nights and you would like to save them for later with someone you have found and wish to get closer with, maybe them, but you dont know. SO meet for tea at lunch time. 80 hyvrnia for both! Get a perfume sampler from the duty free shop on the way out and wrap each of the 6 bottles ($60 total) in a good paper you brought from home. At tea give her a bottle of real French perfume and see how things go. Maybe she will be cooking you breakfast tomorrow, maybe you dont want her to, but who cares. $10 for perfume and 40 hyvrnia for her tea. If you like her then decide to spend more but dont toss sums of money at a woman you dont like already.
If you wish to date a #10 model type woman 20 years younger than you, you are going to spend money simple as that. If that doesnt matter to you, then go for it, but dont bitch about the money later.
My next trip was an afa tour and I have to say I paid $1000 more than it would have cost me to do the same thing on my own. Well now add agency fees for the 500 women you can meet and maybe not. THis trip will be a hybred. a tour of cities where I have several women already lined up. Talk about a back up plan! IF the women flake out or we dont get along I will need to console myself at one ofthe socials with 500 other women to choose from. OR if I dont see who I like at the socals, I can always call one of the others I know up after wards and say my obligation with the tour is over and would you like to meet somewhere!
Then combine that with the foolproof anti scam deal I run on women and you gotta do great! ALl you need to do is make your reservations , even with agency women here on thissite, and send them your hotel address, phone umber and dates you will be there. If they respond "Ill only meet through my agency" maybe they are scammers , maybe they arent. If they respond "Ive written that information down and I will be there the first night you are in town", my money is shes for real. ID say if you are worried do a hybred tour. Ill let you know when I get back from mine in a month.
It's very simple. You have the opportunity to actually get the contact info of 30 women that are just your type and interest you with a total support system from the tour organizers. You meet women, interpreters, drivers, apt renters, ... From 3 different cities. Where's the down side? I went solo the first time, afa the second, and when I arrive in September for two weeks I have more dates than I could ever go on.