When she just doesn't get it

[ECOCKS]

Good luck CM!

Let us know how it goes for the two of you!

[RussianWind]

We have chosen the south of Spain, temps in the high teens.
Is 666 a lucky number in Russia? 

Spain is loyal to Russians now. A year ago they made getting their visa easier and I will not be surprised if she gets a multi visa for 6 month. Today Spain supports the idea to cancel visas for Russians in the EU zone. We bring good money 

[Aloe]

Don't get nervous, she will get her visa. She is not 20 y.o. and just returned from the DR. If she can afford travelling to the DR, why shouldn't she afford a trip to Europe.

There is a question in the application form "Which countries did you visit during last 5 years"

 

im 21, like i said, got my visa in a clean passport 1 day after applying i wasnt married then and no children

[Gylden]

I think XMan left the building a long time ago!
 

[CanadaMan]

im 21, like i said, got my visa in a clean passport 1 day after applying i wasnt married then and no children

Wow that's pretty impressive! I'm a little surprised, but great for you.

[UTRO]

I think XMan left the building a long time ago!
 

More like 'shoved out' Gylden! lol

[XMan]

OK, I cannot say I read every post, more like skimmed them. 

After some confusing direct communication, I brought in the interpreter and things got more or less back on track. 

It's fairly simple.  She is not coming to this hemisphere.  As to why, that is still a mystery to me.  If it is not a beach near her, then she wants something else (i.e. a non-beach) near her.  She does seem convinced that getting a visa to anywhere that requires one is impossible. 

I am not against the idea of an alternative, I just don't haven't seen one I thought was a good idea.  She did ask to me suggest an alternative, but I already had thrown out 3 ideas and didn't have a 4th. 

She recommended Hungary (Budapest).  I've contacted pro travel agencies, researched on my own a fair amount, etc.  It is surprisingly more difficult than I imagined.  Out of all the online "tour companies" I contacted, in 7 days I got zero responses.  Zero.  I got one e-mail from an independent guide (who actually provided some assistance with some questions I had, which I appreciated). 

Even the pro travel agency in the USA didn't have a "pre-scheduled tour" they could point me toward.  Does this seem strange to anyone?  I thought Budapest would be a popular destination.  Frankly, this is hard enough as it is.  If someone could say, here you go, 7-day tour, this is exactly what you will see and do, I'd be all for it. 

When I researched hotels (believe me, quite a number of them), wow, it was not easy to find one that did not have long lists of complaints.  In fact, I couldn't find one that didn't.  Yes, I could be missing something.  I am not a Budapest expert, and there are many, many hotels. 

One common complaint (in general, not specifically hotel-realted) -- no English menus in restaurants.  I'm used to that in Ukraine.  Not 1 in 10 I visited had one in Chernovtsy.  But the interpreter and the lady in question both insisted that "English will not be a problem in Hungary" (including restaurants, etc.) and that "guides speak English and Russian."  OK, I seriously doubt the former from what I've seen thus far, and regarding the latter, they may exist, but they sure aren't on the Internet, or if they are, I'm using the wrong search engines. 

I should explain a bit further. 

I wanted to go to a Russian speaking or English speaking country.  There is already somewhat of a language barrier.  Going to another country with a different language just seems to be asking for unnecessary trouble. 
I think this is quite logical on my part.  What I don't understand is why she doesn't think so.  And this is coming from a woman who when she traveled to Bulgaria:

1) The bus driver had never been there before and got dramatically lost (in the heat, with no air conditioning on the bus, and her small daughter crying half the time). 
2) Finally, as night approached she had to hire a car in whatever location she was at to take her the rest of the way.
3) Got food poisoning a couple of days later.
4) Had to use a different method to get back to the Ukraine, and could not get her money refunded that she had paid in advance for the travel. 

OK. That's just part of disastrous trip that she still manages to remember fondly.   
Yet somehow, "I am trying too hard to plan." 
I like some adventure.  I just don't like to taunt disaster.  I have enough B.S. to deal with on a daily basis. 
Why would I invite it to happen during what I hope would be a romantic trip?
Why would I complicate it to a degree that it would introduce unnecessary problems?

If other folks disagree, that's fine.  But I'm not looking for someone to tell me I'm wrong.  I can get that anywhere at anytime.  I'm looking for some helpful information or ideas if someone has any. 

If you can give me more info on Budapest, cool.
It there is some other magical country I can visit instead, that's OK too. 

Thanks.

[Boethius]

I've never been to Budapest, but anyone I've known who has visited says it is a spectacular city.  I'm pretty sure you'll find English speakers.

Here is a link to tripadvisor's hotel reviews.  Looks like there are lot of good, and cheap hotels -

http://www.tripadvisor.com/Hotels-g274887-Budapest-Hotels.html

You can go to tripadvisor's Hungary forum, read it to answer some of your questions, and you can ask questions as well.

I don't know how easy it is for a Ukrainian to get a visa to Hungary.

[XMan]

I'll check it out immediately, thanks. 

Not sure on the visa.  I should not make the assumption that she knows, so I will see what I can find out. 

[UTRO]

yes, Budapest is very cool.

[ECOCKS]

I still didn't catch when you are trying to set this up but if it's right now, you should just have her schedule a tour to Zakopane (Poland) for some skiing. The tours are available everywhere and the agency can walk her visa request through with the receipts showing the itinerary. Make sure it's refundable though if, for some reason, she doesn't get the visa. If not into skiiing, go do Krakow.

If it's summer time you're thinking of (June-August), just go to Sozopol or the Golden Beach area north of Varna and enjoy the beaches, clubs and restaurants. You'll be fine.

[GregfromGa]

I recommend Nepal. Great country, nice friendly people, wonderful food,cheap,great views.

[ECOCKS]

I recommend Nepal. Great country, nice friendly people, wonderful food,cheap,great views.

Hmmm, wasn't Nepal having a near-revolution too??????

[GregfromGa]

Hmmm, wasn't Nepal having a near-revolution too??????

You cant let a little thing like a revolution stand in your way of a great vacation. Great place.

[UTRO]

Nepal?!? You kidder you Greg!!! lol

[GregfromGa]

Theres always the old standby Monaco.

[ECOCKS]

I keep reading that Mogadishu hotels and beaches are not very crowded with the tourist trade, perhaps some great package deals are available down there? Don't think the airport is popular but the natives keep sending small boats out to greet the ships.

[Jumper]

XMAn,

Go to Budapest then..  ?

She needs to contact a local travel company in her city, and they CAN arrange it on her end..
it is not the big deal,seriously.

It's a unique destination, and you'll have fun ,both of you!

Yes ,my *ex" (ukrainian by the way) went there and it was easy for her to set it up on her end..
was easy enough for an american to fly there as well,, no problem.

Since neither of you can manage to decide, or logistically get to different country...
 just go to Kiev  since you both can go there and get to know each other ,
which is the whole point anyway..

Mostly folks are just  pointing out the obvious choices , or in the case of you and her ,  lack of them .

[XMan]

Thanks. 

By the way, 2 hotels now look rather promising in Budapest, so I appreciate the post Boethius. 
I would prefer if she reviews their websites, so we'll see.  I'm so tired at the moment that I don't remember if Russian or Ukrainian was a language option for the 2 hotel websites for these 2 hotels, actually. 

Monaco.  Now that is a place I would never have thought of.  Interesting. 

Frankly, Kiev seems like a good idea, but I am sure it lacks the "exotic" and/or "romantic" quality she seems to genuinely yearn for.  In a way, I understand.  She's a single mother working 7 days per week in two jobs.  That alone might explain it. 

Thanks again.

[Gylden]

XMan,
My wife and I were in Budapest last year and had a fantastic time! Good food, decent and clean hotel right on the walking street. No problem with English and Russian. We were also to Prague, but we were both much happier with Budapest.

[facetrock]

Xman.... Go to Budepest and quit worrying about finding a tour. Here is some advice. Tours are way overpriced. You want to know where to go, do a google search on the places of interest in Budepest. Then when you get there hire a taxi and it will be far cheaper than being herded around on a tour. Do it and act confident. She will love you for it. Trust me.

  As far as the hotel goes who cares. A 3 star hotel can be another mans 5 star. The hotel room should be the least of your concerns. You are there to get to know her,not worry about if your room is perfect. Look at some pics of the rooms and make a decision and stop reading stupid room reviews.

 Why are you worried if the menus are in English or if anyone speaks English? It would be good for both of you if they didnt. Now you will see how she reacts to a situation like that and she will find out if you go bonkers if everything isnt just so.

I read your trip report. In my opinion she was very into you but you had a hard time accepting that. I dont know if its a self confidence issue or your just one of those people that have a hard time deciding on anything.

My advice is man up and make a decision. You make the decision where you are going. You decide what hotel you will stay at. In other words get on the horse and get it done.

You want to impress this woman? Take control because I have a feeling she is waiting for you to show some strength. Good luck

[ECOCKS]

I think he's doing the tour bit so his GF can simplify the visa process since she's so nervous.

[Shadow]

I have been to Hungary, and I can tell you that Budapest is a great city which has a long international history.
If you wish to find an English-speaking country, there are two islands in the Mediterrenean, Malta and Cyprus.
Both are relatively easy to gt visa for, and had already a lot of Russian tourists as well as British. You will not be seen as a target there any more as the usual tourist.

[Gylden]

ECOCKS,
Yes I believe you are right about the tour bit.  My suggestion is to have someone who can read and write Russian search for it, as in English you won't find much directed for Russian people, almost everything will be in Cyrillic and you will have to search in Cyrillic. Best if she could find the tour herself, because it might be even better for her to visit a tour agency in person in the city which she is living. (then wire the money to her or the tour agency, if you are paying for it).

Budapest has a new National Theater, which is just fantastic, if you enjoy music/theater.

[facetrock]

Ed, I dont think this woman is nervous at all. Xman yes. She had a bad trip the first time there but remembered it fondly according Xman and still wants to go back. That doesnt sound to nervous to me.

 I took at trip to Paris with a Ukrainian women and all the travel agency did was get her a visa, plane ticket and a tranfer from the airport to the hotel room.. Very simple for her to do and Bulgaria I think would be easier to get a visa than France. Maybe I am wrong though but I dont think so.