Meeting in the Caribbean

[Patagonie]

As i suppose that you have never met this girl, i would recommend you to go in FSU and meet her locally.
To have fun and enjoy life style you found plenty girls, to get married a little less. All depend of your goal.

[chip]

As i suppose that you have never met this girl, i would recommend you to go in FSU and meet her locally.
To have fun and enjoy life style you found plenty girls, to get married a little less. All depend of your goal.

Yes, aside from finding a good spot and ease of travel, the other burning question is, "Should you do this?" Kiev in winter... Yuk. Setting is important. On a first date, you take a girl to a nice place. And she is not aware of this plan. She thinks we'll meet in Kiev, so lifestyle is not why she is meeting me. I would agree with you if it were Summer in Ukraine.

[mendeleyev]

He says that he knows what he's doing Pat, although he doesn't but who cares? He wants to spend money to fly a girl who he's never met to a foreign country for a honeymoon vacation and if the honeymoon goes well in his mind then he'll proceed to file paperwork to bring her to the USA without having to get his feet dirty in the FSU.

Now we learn that the gal doesn't know that the man she's never met it has told her they'll meet in Kyiv but on arrival he's ready (or so he thinks) to whisk her off to a foreign location of which neither she or her family is aware. Flippin' brilliant. NOT.

He knows what he's doing, or so he says so it begs the question as to whether he is aware that most FSU folk leave the foreign passport at home as it is rarely needed. The internal passport is what she'll use to purchase train tickets, etc, in her travel across Ukraine.

so lifestyle is not why she is meeting me

Well, she certainly isn't under the assumption that you are going to downgrade hers. However, Pat's point is that you should be able to observe her in her natural environment.

"Should you do this?" Kiev in winter.

You don't want lectures, but since you asked the question, YES.

Kyiv one of the most beautiful FSU cities in winter. Unless you are a wuss from some warm weather place, yes you should go there in winter.

Setting is important. On a first date, you take a girl to a nice place.

So you arrange for a Caribbean island first date. Do that for every gal you date or just the one's you've never met?

She'll learn a LOT about your ability to provide from that trip. The expectations you'll set are so high that the second date, the third date, and the short span of married life will never top the first date. You see that as romantic. She will see that as a bait and switch and when her divorce lawyers drain the remaining balance of your bank accounts you'll be on the scammer forums screaming about how you were the one who was misled.

[Shadow]

Well at least they are meeting in Kiev so she has the chance to say Phuket.

[GQBlues]

There's a perfect Caribbean destination that I can suggest. It's a small isle nestled on the southern strait close to Dominican Rep. and Puerto Rico. I've personally have not been there but heard only a chosen few ever get to earn the 'pass' to get there. It's pretty secluded and I believe it will be perfect for our hero.

It's called Durak Del Rey.

[chip]

He says that he knows what he's doing Pat, although he doesn't but who cares? He wants to spend money to fly a girl who he's never met to a foreign country for a honeymoon vacation and if the honeymoon goes well in his mind then he'll proceed to file paperwork to bring her to the USA without having to get his feet dirty in the FSU.

Now we learn that the gal doesn't know that the man she's never met it has told her they'll meet in Kyiv but on arrival he's ready (or so he thinks) to whisk her off to a foreign location of which neither she or her family is aware. Flippin' brilliant. NOT.

Yes, talk about the poster in third person and snicker amongst yourselves. Very condescending stuff. Thought we weeded you all out in the big "topic split". Feel free to move over to the other topic and say bad stuff about me there. Here we are discussing places we might take a girl and not psycho-analyzing when we obviously have no ability to do so.

And not to be too condescending myself... oops too late... where did I ever say I would surprise her with this change of plans only after we met in Kiev? Just another RWDidiot who reads whatever he want so he can demean the poster and look important to the other RWDidiots (who are a very small minority I'm sure).

[Gator]

Chip, good to see you are still here  after the warm welcome.   No comment on what I don't know.  I do know about the Caribbean. 
 
DR is your best choice assuming your needs are typical.  I have been to the DR many times, mainly with AW or on golfing trips (Casa de Campo).  Flew on the first airplane to takeoff from Punta Cana airport (only one hotel then, Club Med).  To comfort us, a taxi deriver showed us his pistola when we entered an unlight neighborhood to buy cigars, see a cock fight (not again), etc.
 
Have met three RW there.   Two arranged an all-inclusive trip and added me for a land-only package.  Yes, I sent them the money so they could purchase the trip and charter flight from their local travel agent.  The last trip it was possible for the RW to buy only the flight (Condor Air via Germany) and we stayed in a better resort than available through the Ruskie agents.

[mendeleyev]

Third person? Correct. My comment was to Pat if you'd have read.

where did I ever say I would surprise her with this change of plans only after we met in Kiev?

Ah...here:

And she is not aware of this plan. She thinks we'll meet in Kiev,

[GQBlues]

...Kyiv one of the most beautiful FSU cities in winter. Unless you are a wuss from some warm weather place, yes you should go there in winter....

Likely not as cold as Kyiv, but Seattle, Washington isn't exactly warm either, Mendy. The difference will likely be minimal in the winter since there isn't such a large disparity in latitudes for both cities. (N 50 Kiev, N 47 Seattle). That 23 degree tip during winter solstice won't make that much of a difference in these two cities.


Maybe for additional info, one can follow Seattle resident's tweeter account (easy to get), any resident, and have them stop by the thread so they/he/she can give their opinion about all of these.

[chip]

Chip, good to see you are still here  after the warm welcome.   No comment on what I don't know.  I do know about the Caribbean. 
 
DR is your best choice assuming your needs are typical.  I have been to the DR many times, mainly with AW or on golfing trips (Casa de Campo).  Flew on the first airplane to takeoff from Punta Cana airport (only one hotel then, Club Med).  To comfort us, a taxi deriver showed us his pistola when we entered an unlight neighborhood to buy cigars, see a cock fight (not again), etc.
 
Have met three RW there.   Two arranged an all-inclusive trip and added me for a land-only package.  Yes, I sent them the money so they could purchase the trip and charter flight from their local travel agent.  The last trip it was possible for the RW to buy only the flight (Condor Air via Germany) and we stayed in a better resort than available through the Ruskie agents.

I've been to several Caribbean islands but not DR. I'd recommend staying away from Puerto Rico since the beaches are mostly polluted. Where do you recommend staying in DR?

For the others who recommend Thailand, do you have beach/island/resort recommendations?

[TomT]

Southern Krim is sub-tropical, has mild winters and great rates in the low season.

[alex330]

I've been to several Caribbean islands but not DR. I'd recommend staying away from Puerto Rico since the beaches are mostly polluted. Where do you recommend staying in DR?

We stayed at one of the all inclusive resorts in Punta Cana. Lots of deals online for these resorts. Wife loved it as it was her first trip to a tropical destination. Personally there are many other places I would opt for if we did not have the VISA issue, but DR was the best option at the time.

Take her swimming with the nurse sharks, wife must have jumped 10 feet out of the water when one swam under her 

[Gator]

Chip,
 
You asked where in DR and Thailand.
 
Punta Cana on the eastern tip of DR is no longer the quaint seaside resort, yet RW like it.   It depends upon what you like to do because there are remote places as well.  Use Tripadvisor to screen the possibilities such as Cabarete on the northern coast (surfing). 
 
SE Asia  may be an easier trip.   Your lady should be able to book convenient flights to Bangkok, and it is not too far for you.
 
I have been all over SE Asia, first time in 1966 (yes I am old).    The 1966 SE Asia is gone yet the modern Thailand is still a fun and interesting place.  I abhor the crowds so I stay away from Phuket.  In the same region you can find the less crowded beaches at Khao Lac,  Krabi, etc.  Nearby Phi Phi Island (pronounced pee pee) is outstanding but you may get island fever after a few days (site of the film "The Beach").    The area was devastated by the Tsunami yet has been rebuilt. 
 
Northern Thailand is interesting too, arriving in Chiang Mai and journeying from there. 
 
If you like to go back in time Laos is superb, yet still not 1966.   To indicate the difference, in Laos the hill tribe children are very shy.  In contrast,  Thai hill tribe children run to tourists to beg.   Alas, the Lao have cleared most of the jungle, which as a naturalist captivated me decades ago.  Cambodia is a happy median with Angkor Wat.   And Vietnam is another possibility.  RW that I traveled with preferred Thailand over Lao and Vietnam.

[southernX]

For the others who recommend Thailand, do you have beach/island/resort recommendations?

id reccomend club andaman in phuket , thailand
http://www.agoda.com/asia/thailand/phuket/club_andaman_beach_resort.html

very nice place , great staff , close to beach , and central shopping etc

gator is correct about the islands ,
phi phi is worth visiting it is also the shoot location to one of the james bond films ,

one of the best vacation day trips iv ever done was in thailand, , natural jungle /forrest full day trip on the back of an elephant , travel for a few hours up into the mountains , meet your elephant and then get astride and be taken for a walk through the mountains , stop halfway  for lunch at a mountain river and waterfall for a seafood /salad lunch & swim in the waterfall lagoon &with elephants if you want downstream ,  then move on back down the mountain on elephants

amazing how sure footed they are on mud & steep mountain terrain ,
 elephants  where well looked after  as well by their mahoots , which was also reasuring  to see


see if you can get on a white water rafting trip as well 
im a fan of thailand   

tom t ...  Southern Krim is sub-tropical, has mild winters and great rates in the low season.

yep id second that as well
 still in ukraine , easy train trip south from kiev for you ,
book into  a villa elena resort , off season & visit some local places ,

SX

[JayH]

Yes, talk about the poster in third person and snicker amongst yourselves. Very condescending stuff. Thought we weeded you all out in the big "topic split". Feel free to move over to the other topic and say bad stuff about me there. Here we are discussing places we might take a girl and not psycho-analyzing when we obviously have no ability to do so.

And not to be too condescending myself... oops too late... where did I ever say I would surprise her with this change of plans only after we met in Kiev? Just another RWDidiot who reads whatever he want so he can demean the poster and look important to the other RWDidiots (who are a very small minority I'm sure).

Chip-- or is that chip on shoulder? Mende is THE most respected  forum member--so please apologise and direct your "idiot" comments at those who are.Let's face it--branding anyone who comments contrary to your "opinion" as an "idiot" says more about you than the people commenting.Whether you like it or not-- there are plenty here who do know a lot more about the issues involved here.
You clearly have not bothered to read too much of this forum(or others) where to topic you introduced here has been  covered many times.Perhaps you would be happier is I simply commented " here is another ignorant idiot " seeking advice? How does that read to you?

[Donhollio]

 Jay, Mendy mistook what Chip said. No where did Chip say he was he going to surprise her with a tropical vacation once she had already made her way to Kiev.
 
 

I did not know there was direct flight LA to Bangkok.....please let me know where.....

 I don't know if they do offer direct flights, that's why I said hopefully.
 
  Chip, Mendy is a staunch believer in going to see the girl in her country for a first visit, many are. I will say that I never did, I flew her to Russia in December and spent a week with her in Volgograd. I even sent her money for the flights without meeting her first. Next visit I went to Uzbekistan. Trips 3 and 4 were to Thailand & Malaysia. Last trip was her flying to Canada where she's been for the past year living with me. 
 I liked having her away from her language and culture, I really believed it helped us grown as a couple faster than her darting home at the first sign of problems. I know Mendy doesn't agree, in fact I think the only time the ole guy gets riled up is when someone tries to haul her ass away before you met the family. I dunno about others here, but I can't communicate with my MIL, so I have no idea where she stands on many matters. All I know of her is basically hearsay.
 
On Topic;
 
 Chip, Bangkok will be the landing point, from there you fly to other areas. The flights were cheap when I did this on the two domestic airlines I used. One was budget, and one was a about twice the price.  before tossing out resorts & hotels, I think you should think about where in Thailand you want to go.

[Daveman]

Southern Krim is sub-tropical, has mild winters and great rates in the low season.

Yes definitely great off season rates...

yep id second that as well
 still in ukraine , easy train trip south from kiev for you ,
book into  a villa elena resort , off season & visit some local places ,

Usually I agree with both of these guys.. but my January trip to Yalta (just about as southern Krim as it gets) was, um, rather wintery.      


Not Siberia, mind you, or even Kiev, but there would definitely be no non mentally retarded sunbathing going on.

[southernX]

Yes definitely great off season rates...



Usually I agree with both of these guys.. but my January trip to Yalta (just about as southern Krim as it gets) was, um, rather wintery.      


Not Siberia, mind you, or even Kiev, but there would definitely be no non mentally retarded sunbathing going on.

dave , you made me laugh like hell with this line in bold .

 no swimming reccomendation from me either lol 

but still lots to see and do in milder  weather compared to kiev !!

its all about his choice with her

EDIT . yalta i think had one of its coldest winters this last season dave , you may have been unlucky , they have just had a bit of snow recently[  oct] as well !!

SX

[Ooooops]

I abhor the crowds so I stay away from Phuket.  In the same region you can find the less crowded beaches at Khao Lac,  Krabi, etc.

We just booked us a room in Khao Lak for Christmas.       Gonna rent a car at Phuket airport and do some driving around (Khao Sok park is near by and we haven't been there yet) in addition to beaching. 

[lonedrake]

Yes, aside from finding a good spot and ease of travel, the other burning question is, "Should you do this?" Kiev in winter... Yuk. Setting is important. On a first date, you take a girl to a nice place.

 I have no idea if you normally take a local first date on tropical vacation....but if you don't.....just go to Kiev.  As far as settings go.....whats wrong with Kiev? IMO the most important part of a first date is to just see if you are compatible.....does not matter much where you go. Why complicate things?

[chip]

I have no idea if you normally take a local first date on tropical vacation....but if you don't.....just go to Kiev.  As far as settings go.....whats wrong with Kiev? IMO the most important part of a first date is to just see if you are compatible.....does not matter much where you go. Why complicate things?

Kiev is still the primary option. I just have heard nothing but bad things about winters there. Thought it would be fun to explore other possibilities. And, if I'm going to spend a week somewhere in winter, I would personally enjoy a beach. I'm sure she would also. Trying to impress her is not the deal, but romantic surroundings will go a long way in setting the right mood.

I'm getting some great info and I appreciate it.

[lonedrake]

I just have heard nothing but bad things about winters there.

 I am going there in January and I will be renting a car. Its a modern city.  The airport is also getting better. Actually as long as you do not have a connecting flight....its pretty good.

As far as the winters go...to me it is no problem. Just  some snow and colder. Nothing to worry about.

[Ooooops]

Why complicate things?

Different people have different level of adventurism in 'em.       But I'd definitely ask that girl in advance if she'd like this kind of first meeting or not.   

[TS]

Having lived in Kiev and owning property there it is a horrible city in the winter.  Sounds like Chip wants fun and sun. 
Maldives and Seychelles is another option as dpending on the month it actually is not very warm in certain areas of Carribean.  I have been in DR in December and it was cold. 

[chip]

Having lived in Kiev and owning property there it is a horrible city in the winter.  Sounds like Chip wants fun and sun. 
Maldives and Seychelles is another option as dpending on the month it actually is not very warm in certain areas of Carribean.  I have been in DR in December and it was cold. 

I know the Maldives is a favorite destination for Ukrainians. Any idea what the visa situation is for them?