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[JoeyB]

Hey everyone,

I will be visiting a girl in Kiev in six weeks. And I've read quite a bit on this site. Now I'm introducing myself. I do very well dating in Seattle, but I really prefer the Slavonic girls. Feminine and traditional. Very hard to find in Seattle. I have traveled extensively around the world on business and have met and dated Russian and Ukrainian girls abroad and in Seattle but have never been to FSU.

I started out over six months ago with Google, ended up on MyPartnerForever. The site isn't affiliated with just one agency. They contract with many different ones in many cities. I do not recommend using any agency, based on my own experience. It was pretty obvious to me that the site was not going to find me a real girl. For starters, I was a rock star! Over 90% replied to me. Felt great, but also smelled bad. I'd say MPF is not nearly as bad as Anastasia, but still... MUCH fraud. Most of them are pretty easy to find on VK.com since they post their name, city and birthday. It just takes one message to see if she is the one writing to you or not. Oh, and that was the first and last time I thought about communicating with a girl who doesn't speak English well. You are pretty much at the mercy of the agency and their need for cash if you use a translator to exchange letters. I happen to be quite the expert on that since my girl is a former translator for the agency in Nikolaev. She had to quit after a few weeks because she couldn't stomach it. She worked as both letter translator and date interpreter. She has some stories... :)

So, as I mentioned, my girl is in Nikolaev and we met on BridesandLovers.com. We have been in constant contact since we met a month ago. Skype 1-2 times a day and Viber texting. She is a very typical girl and is always texting. BTW, I have "met" several other girls on B&L and had many weeks of Skyping and some very serious almost relationships. They faded before I ever decided to meet in person. I will not fly that far for a girl I'm not in a very close relationship with already. And no, there won't be any backups. That's how I roll.

We both decided Kiev was the best due to the unpredictable nature of the country. I have been very involved since my last girl lived in Lugansk and I got a blow-by-blow with pictures on Viber. I don't think Donetsk and Lugansk regions will be in UA in six weeks. I'm hoping Kiev will be fine. But who knows what six weeks will bring.

So... looking for any info on Kiev. Are there any threads posting recent stuff, other than trip reports? Would love to contact anybody living there. I have read the post about the "spending money" requirement.

Can somebody recommend a nice hotel? How about AirBnB? And definitely I'd like to know which part of the city to stay in.

[BillyB]

Welcome to the forum Joey!  

I really prefer the Slavonic girls. Very hard to find in Seattle.

 

Are you kidding me? You just have to know where to look. Tens of thousands of Slavic women in and around Seattle. I wrote a thread linked below of my dating experiences here. Sometimes I'd date Slavic women almost every day and sometimes twice a day. I'd give you pointers on where to look but it seems you already found someone.


http://www.russianwomendiscussion.com/index.php?topic=11638.0

[Hammer2722]

Welcome Joey, I gotta agree with Billy, I too live in the Seattle area. My Russian girlfriend lives in Lynnwood area. There are over half a million Russian/ Ukrainians living in the greater King/ Pierce and Snohomish counties. I met my girl online and she is the best FSU lady I have yet met!!!! This after 6 trips to Ukraine!

[Anotherkiwi]

  JoeyB!

My first comment, which I'm sure will be backed up by the majority who've been to Ukraine or Russia, is: DON'T STAY IN A HOTEL.  An apartment will be far better for any purpose that you care to name - the ability to come and go at any time, and to live basically as you would at home, far outweighs whatever you might be used to in terms of hotels around the world.  Kyiv and Nikolaev (Mykolayiv) both have hundreds of apartments for short-term rent, ranging from absolute flea-pits to the height of luxury.  You will be able to find whatever type of accommodation you want in whatever price range you want.

As for which part of the city you want to stay in, I would recommend either the areas around Kreschatik Street (the centre of Kyiv, running into Independence Square [the Maidan]), or heading up the hill to the west around St Michael's Cathedral and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (much quieter, a bit cheaper for the same quality, and safer because of all the Government offices around).

I'm sure others will have their own favourite areas to recommend, but keep well away from the east bank of the Dnieper - the seemingly endless rows of depressing tower blocks representing suburbia aren't going to impress either you or your lady friend.  Going past them on the way from and to Boryspil airport was enough for me!.  If you do pick a place that's some distance from the centre, make sure that you're close to a Metro station or a bus/marshrutka route - it just makes it easier to navigate your way back home.

Whatever you do, stay alert.  The situation in Kyiv at the moment may well be relatively peaceful, but the next ten days before the election could see that change quite drastically, and six weeks is an awfully long time when you look at events in the east of the country.  Good luck. 

[JoeyB]

Not kidding. I know there is a large Russian population in Seattle. Hard to go to Costco these days and not hear Russian everywhere. But I'm not sure about the "half million" in a region of less than 3,000,000. That would put them at almost 20%. I have dated many Russian and Ukrainian girls here. I have not been exclusively looking abroad.

Thanks for the tips on hotels vs. apartments and location. Really appreciate that. Hopefully more will chime in. Is there a go-to website for apartments in the area? Any customer reviews? Anybody have an apartment to recommend?

[BillyB]

. But I'm not sure about the "half million" in a region of less than 3,000,000.

I once read in the newspaper 75,000 FSU families are living in our area. How the newspaper arrived at their number and how much is in a family, I don't know, but there are a lot here.

Anybody have an apartment to recommend?

I've used the site below. Stayed in the first apartment on the page I linked. Price went down and dollar is stronger. $50 a night in the center of the city is a good deal. Most places to tour is within walking distance. For additional cost, they can pick you up at the airport and drop you off. That company did me good. If you can't read the site, use Google translate. You can Google "Kiev apartment rental" to get more options. Make sure you ask for apartments in the center of the city otherwise you may have to use public transportation everyday.


http://www.kievlux.com.ua/dvuhkomnatnye-kvartiry-posutochno.php

[Hammer2722]

Not kidding. I know there is a large Russian population in Seattle. Hard to go to Costco these days and not hear Russian everywhere. But I'm not sure about the "half million" in a region of less than 3,000,000. That would put them at almost 20%. I have dated many Russian and Ukrainian girls here. I have not been exclusively looking abroad.

Thanks for the tips on hotels vs. apartments and location. Really appreciate that. Hopefully more will chime in. Is there a go-to website for apartments in the area? Any customer reviews? Anybody have an apartment to recommend?

Back in the 80's there was a large population of Ukrainians resettled in the Seattle area. These were religious refugees from the Soviet Union days. Now consider how many of these families later brought the rest of their relatives over in the intervening years and you have your answer.

[ML]

Hi Hammer and Billy.

I don't know jack-sheeet about this, but . . .

The number of half a million or even 75,000 families just sounds absurd to me.

Any chance you have access to census data or whatever to back-up these numbers?

Thanks

[Hammer2722]

Hi Hammer and Billy.

I don't know jack-sheeet about this, but . . .

The number of half a million or even 75,000 families just sounds absurd to me.

Any chance you have access to census data or whatever to back-up these numbers?

Thanks

Obviously not census data but there are several sites like this:


http://russianinseattle.com/russians-in-seattle-who-are-they-2/




http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=615089

[BillyB]

There are 3.5 million people in the Seattle metropolitan area. Your site estimates about 300,000 Ukrainian and Russian people living here in which is 8.5% of the population. It's possible. In my search I found a forum where one person said 25% of the company's customers are Russian.

[jone]

Good Morning, Joey,

Saw your post and have had experience with both apartments and hotels in the Nikolaev (Mykolaiv) area.  I lived there last summer and enjoyed my experience.

There are multiple opinions as to where to stay, but almost everything is within a short taxi ride in Niko.  (By the way, do not use the term 'City Center' as that means a mall on Prospect Lenin.  The part of Niko that everyone seems to meet at is the McDonalds on Prospect Lenin and the old 'Sovietskaya'.

I have stayed in an apartment.  Fully furnished should not be more than $60 per day.   If looking on a map of Niko, most of these apartments are near the AIRPLANE PARK.  You'll see where I mean if you just look.  They are not 'downtown.   My favorite hotel to stay at was the Reikhartz (River) hotel.  It is right on the Bug river and they have great classic rock bands playing there on Friday nights during the summer.  The cost, which should be even more discounted now, because of the troubles, should be around $50 per night.  It comes with a breakfast that will absolutely  overwhelm you.  Moreover, the establishment caters to Western guests and the desk clerks are all bilingual.  Taxi to 'downtown' is around $3 or $4 dollars.   

Last summer I started with an apartment and after my relationship went sour, I switched to a hotel.  It was $23 a night.  It was not a Western favorite, but located right next to the Soccer stadium and called 'The Tourist'.

Send me a PM and I'll tell you some of the local hangouts that were superb.