Need good advice for trip to Odessa

[zonker1708]

Hello all,

I have been chatting or emailing with several ladies from Anastasia's site for a while. I had visited there years ago using a small local agency and had little success in meeting anyone. So I am ready to venture back there and try again.

I wanted to ask if someone could recommend lodging arrangements in Odessa. I read the posts about the guy getting beaten up and robbed and it has me a bit concerned. Are apartments safe? Would a hotel room be better?

As I mentioned, I have been working through Anastasia. They have an apartment service and have a certain apartment they are trying to get me to rent. It seems a bit expensive (about $800 for 11 days), and I don't have a good feel for how much they will help me during my stay. All of their prices seem high (interpreter service, etc).

I have sunk a lot of money into writing and emailing these ladies, so I am reluctant to not follow through at this point with arranging meetings, etc. What is the likelihood I will meet the women from the site, or is this likely to be a scam?

All help/advice is welcomed, as I now have less than 2 weeks to finalize arrangements before I leave.

Thanks!

[BillyB]

I have sunk a lot of money into writing and emailing these ladies, so I am reluctant to not follow through at this point with arranging meetings, etc. What is the likelihood I will meet the women from the site, or is this likely to be a scam?

 
Anastasia is just a bad site. You spend money and you don't know if you've been trading love letters with a sincere woman or Ivan, the employee of the month. If you want success and a better chance on meeting real women that you can marry, go sign up at some of the sites in the link below.
 
 
http://www.russianwomendiscussion.com/index.php?topic=14615.0

[Shadow]

`Best to use your own apartment and interpreter. As for safety, do not flash your wallet and you will be fine.

Anastasia has a bad reputation, if the women disappear because you refuse to meet them on your terms you know the reason.

[jone]

Let me tell you, immediately, that unless you are talking to a woman directly on Skype and through normal email means, you are probably being scammed.  That is simply the way the agencies work in Odessa and for my girlfriend who I found through ADate in Mykolaev.

Having said that, there are means to get an apartment for 11 days for much cheaper than $800.00.  To give you an example, I am renting for two months this summer in Mykolaev and paying $750.00 per month or approximately $25.00 per day.  And that is considered expensive because it is a two bedroom and I am bringing my two dogs.

Your cost is $72.00 per day.

I would contact 'It Worked For Me' a commercial member on here.  If only to get your bearings once you get to Odessa.  He runs a bar and has contacts for apartments.    Great place for expats.

But, seriously, I would immediately create a 'Plan B', if only it means going down to the agency and picking out women that are immediately available.  Otherwise, it is my belief you will be staring at the walls of your apartment for long periods of time.

On this site are some great guys who run agencies in Odessa and can set you up with women if you are in town.

How did I get around ADate's scamming?  I contacted multiple women and asked them if they wanted to communicate away from the site.  I then gave them my email address by putting a portion of the email on each line of chat.    Before I offered to give them the email, I made sure that I was actually looking at the woman on video chat.

For instance:

jone

@

maildomain

.

com

If you use gmail or yahoo in your maildomain name, the software will see it.


I need to tell you one last thing:  You are in the zone.  You know you are going to be in Odessa in two weeks.  Now is the time to really find someone because you can spend time getting to know her and then propose to meet in a short period.  You will be considered a man of action.

Finally, you need to be judicious.  If it ain't working on chat - getting personal with a woman and getting her particulars, such as offline email address, it surely ain't gonna work in person.  If I were you, I might want to connect with a local agency who can hook you up with available women.  I cannot tell you how many men have gone over to Ukraine expecting to meet women that they were chatting with, only to have the women NOT SHOW UP or be PROFESSIONAL DATERS once they arrived there.

Good Luck.

Jone


Contact me off the forum and I will be happy to give you some of the things that have worked with ADate in spite of their support of agencies that are there to scam you.  You can do so by sending me a PM with your contact info in it.

[Larry1]

I wanted to ask if someone could recommend lodging arrangements in Odessa. I read the posts about the guy getting beaten up and robbed and it has me a bit concerned. Are apartments safe? Would a hotel room be better?

I wouldn't worry about getting beaten up in Odessa.  Just follow the usual advice to not get falling down drunk, not flash a big wad of currency, etc.

I think you'll find better accommodations at better value in an apartment than a hotel.  I've had good luck using this apartment rental service there:

http://www.ukrainetour.com/

They have a good selection of apartments in Odessa's city center:

http://www.ukrainetour.com/index.php?option=com_service&view=article&id=24&Itemid=206

I believe the woman I dealt with was named Olga Maslova.  She was terrific. 

I echo the advice given above that Anastasia is not a good place to meet a girl. 

[cc3]

Welcome to RWD, Zonker!

Do not rely on dating agencies for ANY logistical support (travel, lodging, interpreters, surface transportation, etc)...MAJOR RIPOFF. If you cannot use the web to make all of your arrangements, don't come to the FSU!

Two other reliable apartment renting internet sites are http://www.dobovo.com/ and www.booking.com

Find an apartment as close to city center as you can afford (vicinity Deribasovskaya Street/Potemkin Steps). Minimizes having to deal with taxi drivers (desirable, unless you speak fluent Russian)

Don't get drunk and stupid late at night and you'll be OK crime-wise (watch out for pickpockets in tourist areas at all times).

[Daveman]

Contact me off the forum and I will be happy to give you some of the things that have worked with ADate in spite of their support of agencies that are there to scam you.  You can do so by sending me a PM with your contact info in it.

He must have a certain number of posts to send a PM, something like three or five.  I'm pretty sure he can read them, so you'd have to send yours - or even better, just list your suggestion(s) in the open forum so that others might benefit as well.


Welcome Zonker.. You definitely need to break away from any of the agency services. They are designed with one purpose in mind and that ain't to assist you.  The services are designed to separate as much money from you as physically possible using any means in their arsenal of deception.

[LAman]

Hey Andy..
Better get your apt asap, 2 weeks is a very short time to get an apt especially getting into summer time.
Where are you from?
 I know a couple americans there in Odessa, I am sure they can help you in any way needed.
Another member is there currently in Odessa. As Jone said, it is easy to give your email address in live chat, IF you have a non-known domain name( mine is a Hotmail..... live.com). You can ask girls in letter for their postal address and give your ukraine number in any letter( get one now through someone there). Of course girl has to agree to anything given or taken, if girl is unwilling to do either she is just there for show and tell. Lots of things to do in Odessa in summertime. BTW, if you are going to meet any girl, YOU suggest where to go, plenty of small cafes for coffee/pastries and first meetings. An interpreter is likely to be part of first meeting..so keep it short, ask for girls number and contact directly, if all goes well. You will quickly find out who is interested.

[JayH]

Hi Zonker-- as others have said you need to do some more research on ADATE urgently. Do internet search and you will get  a lot of information.
Key point--if you are not in direct visual contact off the paid sites( eg-- you need to see and hear on SKYPE) you do not have a relationship-- no matter how much you have convinced yourself.'Even then-- same answer then applies until you meet in person.
Read forums-- all the potential explanations are here/there.
Last-- listen to what you are being told here-- the path you are on is well trodden and well known.

[zonker1708]

Thanks guys, you're comments are all a big help to me. I am checking out the other dating  sites and also checking the links you all gave for apartments.

I would like to get some clarification on how to get around the chat security with AD. My belief is that at least some of the ladies I have contacted there are sincere, even if the agency they work through isn't. It would be great to make real contact with them and somehow salvage the whole point of making this trip.

[Voyager36]

I would like to get some clarification on how to get around the chat security with AD. My belief is that at least some of the ladies I have contacted there are sincere, even if the agency they work through isn't. It would be great to make real contact with them and somehow salvage the whole point of making this trip.

Maybe try some more reputable sites, even if only as a backup.
 Perhaps better spending $50 or $100 now on Elena's or some other site that you are allowed to exchange contact info, rather than wasting days because your A-date suddenly vanished.

[LAman]

Maybe try some more reputable sites, even if only as a backup.
 Perhaps better spending $50 or $100 now on Elena's or some other site that you are allowed to exchange contact info, rather than wasting days because your A-date suddenly vanished.

Reputable sites mean very little if one has unrealistic expectations.
In nearly 6 years I have never (yet) have an A-date suddenly vanish.....am I just lucky or just make good choices??? How about you.....getting plenty of contact info?? Enough to make a trip??? 

[Voyager36]

Reputable sites mean very little if one has unrealistic expectations.

That's a whole other topic I think. 

In nearly 6 years I have never (yet) have an A-date suddenly vanish.....am I just lucky or just make good choices???

Still looking after 6 years, I dunno if I would exactly describe that as lucky or good choices... 
Depends what you're looking for I guess.

How about you.....getting plenty of contact info?? Enough to make a trip??? 

Yep, you should have a couple of phone numbers at least, trying to contact by skype or email while over there can be tricky.

[LAman]

Still looking after 6 years, I dunno if I would exactly describe that as lucky or good choices... 
 

So tell me Voyager...how many A-date girls have vanished from you? Not sure if you have ever taken a trip to FSU.....so maybe you are just speaking about what you were told??? I am sure you have some personal experience with A-date to speak about it , yes??? 
Off topic....your name reminds me of Star Trek...a favorite of mine.

[Voyager36]

So tell me Voyager...how many A-date girls have vanished from you?  I am sure you have some personal experience with A-date to speak about it , yes???   
 

Not any from A-date specifically, I was speaking generally about the possibility of the lady suddenly becoming "unavailable" just before your trip. I have heard of this happening at A-date, but it can happen with other sites too. (As it did for me with another service)

Not sure if you have ever taken a trip to FSU.....so maybe you are just speaking
about what you were told???

7 trips actually. 

Off topic....your name reminds me of Star Trek...a favorite of mine.

Mmm, 7 of 9 violating the laws of gravity. 

[zonker1708]

You mentioned never having an A-Date vanish LAman. So how did you arrange your meetings? Did you go through the website and pay, or did you manage to bypass the filters and communicate offline somehow?

[JayH]

You mentioned never having an A-Date vanish LAman. So how did you arrange your meetings? Did you go through the website and pay, or did you manage to bypass the filters and communicate offline somehow?

Read my post above again please!!
Nothing is certain-no matter how it is arranged. The more people involved--the less certain of it being genuine.
Let me give you a simple test-- however meeting is arranged-- you say--"I have arranged my own interpreter" -- and see what reaction you get!!
I am betting the guys here can guess the responses you will get. The response you will NOT see is "great" !!

[Voyager36]

Read my post above again please!!
Nothing is certain-no matter how it is arranged. The more people involved--the less certain of it being genuine.

Exactly. Regardless of how you arrange it, be prepared for the fact that she might get cold feet at the last minute, or suddenly have to go visit a sick grandmother in Gorky.
Have a back up plan.

[Patagonie]

It is time to change all your strategy if you want to avoid a second disaster.
It is time to stop Odessa, which is on the worst ranking city for meeting in the FSU,
and of course drop ASAP Anastasia, right now, with any regret, even if you have communicated with ONE genuine girl at least.
I cannot understand how men are betting on a herd of crap mules hoping there is one who will win the greatest derby. 

It is time to search here through the forum some valuable professionnals, aim a city, and contact all women you like on free sites or monthly sites.
You will start a normal dating, with trusty people (for the girl you meet through free or monthly sites, hire your OWN interpreter), and pass through the smoking screen full of BS of what you have met.

Stop Odessa and stop for the moment, as you are a newbie, all per paid letter site.

[LAman]

You mentioned never having an A-Date vanish LAman. So how did you arrange your meetings? Did you go through the website and pay, or did you manage to bypass the filters and communicate offline somehow?

I almost always arranged myself but there was most likely an interpreter to set up meeting, especially if girl's English is poor. Just remember to suggest the venue and keep it short if an interpreter is involved.
If a girl is interested in you and she speaks good enough english then you speak offline, sneak in your mail addy
and tell her to send you a note, then you have a way of contacting her directly.
Never let A-date set up date, waste of money. We all know it is just a scammer site!!!!

[LAman]

Exactly. Regardless of how you arrange it, be prepared for the fact that she might get cold feet at the last minute, or suddenly have to go visit a sick grandmother in Gorky.
Have a back up plan.

I actually agree with you!!!   But something popping up could be from any site...or any girl!!!
BTW, congrats to you on your marriage...I see you fully filled in your info!!!

[LAman]

Forgot to mention Zonker, I have some friends there that can help you with any needs you might have.
If you like, I'll send you a PM with their info. Have fun in Odessa. Lots to see. Arcadia should be up and running soon with all the eye candy!!   I'll be back in August for some partying and TLC........

[Turboguy]

If someone asked me for a list of things not to do in the search for a RW.
1.   The top thing I would suggest if not to use AWeb (or any other pay by the letter site but AWeb would be the one I would most suggest avoiding
2.   Don't go to Odessa (There are a few guys who have met sincere women or even their wife there but finding them is like finding a needle in a hay stack.) and it's actually the only city in the FSU that I would put on my avoid list.
3.   Don't drink the water.  (It's better to drink the water than to use AWeb or go to Odessa.  Heck it only makes you sick as a dog.
4.   Don't flash your money (It's better to flash your money than to use AWeb or go to Odessa.  Heck, you only lose the money you have with you.

[lonedrake]

All help/advice is welcomed, as I now have less than 2 weeks to finalize arrangements before I leave.


 I have no knowledge of Odessa or A-date. There is a new commercial member on this site that just started her own agency in Odessa. I believe it would be a good idea to contact her. She is just starting out and does not have many clients so she is much more likely to treat you right and work hard at finding a sincere woman for you.

MaryKuguk. She has a thread just down this page.

[Patagonie]

I would not rely a trip in a city on only one agency. As she starts, she probably have not a lot of ladies. What are you going if you meet the only two or three girls you liked on the site and it doesn't work ?

At least you need to "backup" with free sites or monthly paid sites.

Anyway, before going, contact all agencies you are going to use. This is very important, at least to check if they work when you come.