Exchange Rates / Lack of Tourism Creates Opportunity in Eastern Europe

[jone]

For those who are unacquainted with life in Eastern Europe, the war in Ukraine, coupled with the fall of the price of oil have made seeking a significant other in Eastern Europe cheaper than in recent memory.

The Hryvnia in Ukraine is trading at 22 to a dollar, with over twice the buying power of just a year and four months ago.  Similarly the Ruble is trading at 62 to a dollar, with almost twice the buying power over a similar period of time.

The current lull in the conflict in Eastern Ukraine and the relative cheap price of oil also is conducive to an inexpensive jaunt.  I priced airline tickets to Moscow and to Kyiv from Los Angeles.  Both can be obtained for a round trip at under a thousand dollars.

Finally, using the experience of the members of this forum, it is now easier than ever to qualify a woman as a candidate for your affections.

While I abhor the fighting that brought about some of this economic relief for travelers, I acknowledge the situation as being a watershed event in the life of a man seeking an Eastern European woman.

(NOTE:  The cynical among our crowd would also point out that Eastern European women are more likely to want to leave Ukraine or Russia in a time of war or of an economic downturn.)

What are your thoughts?

[mendeleyev]

Very true, Jone.

At the same time, that has meant inflation for those who live in the FSU. Thus, one might expect an increase in the number of scams, and you know how much I hesitate to join in the dating anti-scam hysteria.





Example: Eggs. Here you you see the number "10" indicating how many eggs are in a carton. At 83 rubles, that is about $1.40 which may seem cheap to some, but the average salaries across the region ranges between $450 to $640 monthly. It is estimated that the typical Russian family spends 50% of their monthly income on food.

Russia's "reverse sanctions" has made food to be quite expensive. Just a few months ago a package of 10 was 54 rubles, so inflation continues to rise rapidly.

[ML]

Jone, you are forgetting that with the decline in FX rate for a country, comes inflation.  Almost all prices for locally produced goods will increase, although not all proportionately.

However, many things will be priced in USD, so there is no bargain whatsoever regardless of FX rates.

Examples would be apartments, taxi drivers who cater to foreigners, top restaurants, etc.  Also airline tickets.  Any lower prices you see for airline tickets now are reflective of the season, not of FX rates.

[mendeleyev]

ML, as for apartments, today those available for rental to tourists have dropped dramatically in price. This is the result in a plunge of foreign visitors, thus those who typically have units that were normally rented short term to travelers are dropping those rates quite noticeably.

Of course, your point is well taken in that for those who live permanently in the FSU, inflation is hurting the average man on the street.

[KenInUtah]

Agreed the economy for residents is killing them.  My FSUW said she is now spending 50% of her income on food each month...and no, not caviar and expensive stuff.  Chicken, vegetables, tea...normal staples

[BillyB]

(NOTE:  The cynical among our crowd would also point out that Eastern European women are more likely to want to leave Ukraine or Russia in a time of war or of an economic downturn.)

What are your thoughts?

Even the cynical here would like to live a better life if given the chance. As the situation worsens in Ukraine and Russia, I'm sure more women would be open to leaving. Who wants to live in an environment that's not favorable to raising a family and everyone suffers? Lots of women and men want to leave the situation they're in but they want to find love too. A woman shouldn't be faulted for looking for a better life. Her motives should be questioned though. Is she doing it for love or does she want to use any guy as a step towards a better life?

[lordtiberius]

Have you no shame sir?

[fathertime]

Have you no shame sir?

Jone asked a question...Billyb gave a normal response.....you don't like it and want to 'shame' him....really it is YOU that have the problem.


Fathertime!   

[BillyB]

Have you no shame sir?

If a woman wants to live life and raise kids in an environment of war and misery or even satisfied living life in a trailer park in America, that's shameful. What do you respect about that?

[AC]

Have you no shame sir?

Please go back and read what he wrote more carefully.  There's nothing wrong with what he wrote!   

[lordtiberius]

This thread stinks to high heaven.  These people are fighting and dying.  These people are my family.  You yard birds are picking them over like chattel or meat.  These are people.  This ain't a slave auction.

[jone]

LT -

You really are off the ranch.  Pull yourself together.  The comments made by previous posters were not condescending or had anything to do with demeaning those of your wife's country.

Most of us here are very sympathetic to Ukraine.  Some of us have been more than active in providing support in its time of need.

The purpose for this thread was to encourage men who might not have yet taken the plunge and go over and discover for themselves the wonderful people located in Eastern Europe.  That is something both you and I have done.

Please think through what you are writing.

[BillyB]

These people are fighting and dying.  These people are my family. 

Women and children are supposed to fight and die? Many people in east Ukraine have already left their homes and some have left the country. So what if women leave a country experiencing economic hardships and war through marriage? These things happen and it's not necessarily a bad thing.

You yard birds are picking them over like chattel or meat.  These are people.  This ain't a slave auction.

You are imagining things and think it's reality. Most men at this forum and most women in the FSU on dating/marriage sites do want to find love, not a slave. You need to preach to men at sex forums that will take advantage of the situation thinking desperate women will give them more bang for the buck. Save the world somewhere else.

[lordtiberius]

No one here should take any kind of guff from the kindergarten dater and the forever searcher.  The whole thurst of this thread is so macabre.  Why not look for sex in a morgue.

Sir, if you can't see how odd and tasteless this thread is, I can't help you.

And to the child rider, not even our Novorossiya gymnastic word twister went as far as you did to defend yourself.  I am not preaching.  The committal non committed asked a question, I answered.  Don't like my answer, don't ask the question.

  I am not here to save you or the world.  I could careless about the success of your sex life - animal, mineral or vegetable.  Just stay away from my kid.

If you are loser enough to troll for chics in a war zone, . . . this thread is so stupid.  Hey Genius, where the best spots to scout teenagers in Mariupol?  What do you say on your first trip that you want to have sex with your refugee girlfriend?  How to negotiate rental rates with women with children orphaned from the war?  How to deal with disapproving male family whose wages have been slashed 75% in 2 years?  Do or don't date married women whose husbands are amputees or POWs? 

Qualify, cheap, desperation . . .those are your words, men not mine. 

[BillyB]

LT, ridiculing people isn't going to get them to see it your way. I hope you don't use this method of persuasion when your wife disagrees with you.


In another thread you told Natasha we're all weird and some of us are creeps. You're on a roll lately with the insults. She probably won't be coming back if she believes you, but why are you socializing with a crowd you think is weird? Don't you think that's weird?

[LiveFromUkraine]

No one here should take any kind of guff from the kindergarten dater and the forever searcher.  The whole thurst of this thread is so macabre.  Why not look for sex in a morgue.

Sir, if you can't see how odd and tasteless this thread is, I can't help you.

And to the child rider, not even our Novorossiya gymnastic word twister went as far as you did to defend yourself.  I am not preaching.  The committal non committed asked a question, I answered.  Don't like my answer, don't ask the question.

  I am not here to save you or the world.  I could careless about the success of your sex life - animal, mineral or vegetable.  Just stay away from my kid.

If you are loser enough to troll for chics in a war zone, . . . this thread is so stupid.  Hey Genius, where the best spots to scout teenagers in Mariupol?  What do you say on your first trip that you want to have sex with your refugee girlfriend?  How to negotiate rental rates with women with children orphaned from the war?  How to deal with disapproving male family whose wages have been slashed 75% in 2 years?  Do or don't date married women whose husbands are amputees or POWs? 

Qualify, cheap, desperation . . .those are your words, men not mine.

You still went to a economically challenged country to find a woman.  I take it the war is a line you won't cross but it isn't a big deal before war when the economy and outlook was still shitty.


I do agree, though, that saying this is an opportunity for men to pick up a woman who is eager to leave is sort of creepy for lack of a better word.


I don't see a problem of people wanting to take a trip and taking advantage of the currency devaluation just like many people visited the US when our dollar tanked.  Not so much to look for desperate women.

[lordtiberius]

You can't any more serious than life or death. 

[lordtiberius]

LT, ridiculing people isn't going to get them to see it your way. I hope you don't use this method of persuasion when your wife disagrees with you.


In another thread you told Natasha we're all weird and some of us are creeps. You're on a roll lately with the insults. She probably won't be coming back if she believes you, but why are you socializing with a crowd you think is weird? Don't you think that's weird?

Are you going to give me more advice on how to be successful with women?

You're right socializing with wierdos is weird.  But I am weird.  You know that.

[BillyB]

I do agree, though, that saying this is an opportunity for men to pick up a woman who is eager to leave is sort of creepy for lack of a better word.

 I haven't seen anybody on the forum saying "There's a war going on in Ukraine! Now is a good time to take advantage of the situation and marry an FSU woman in her desperation". LT thinks somebody here said that and is upset with that imaginary somebody. If anything, the war with its dangers has turned Western men away from looking in the FSU. OTOH, men on a sex forum may talk about taking advantage of the situation desperate people are in and the exchange rate giving them more bang for the buck.

[AC]

No one here should take any kind of guff from the kindergarten dater and the forever searcher.  The whole thurst of this thread is so macabre.  Why not look for sex in a morgue.

Sir, if you can't see how odd and tasteless this thread is, I can't help you.

And to the child rider, not even our Novorossiya gymnastic word twister went as far as you did to defend yourself.  I am not preaching.  The committal non committed asked a question, I answered.  Don't like my answer, don't ask the question.

  I am not here to save you or the world.  I could careless about the success of your sex life - animal, mineral or vegetable.  Just stay away from my kid.

If you are loser enough to troll for chics in a war zone, . . . this thread is so stupid.  Hey Genius, where the best spots to scout teenagers in Mariupol?  What do you say on your first trip that you want to have sex with your refugee girlfriend?  How to negotiate rental rates with women with children orphaned from the war?  How to deal with disapproving male family whose wages have been slashed 75% in 2 years?  Do or don't date married women whose husbands are amputees or POWs? 

Qualify, cheap, desperation . . .those are your words, men not mine.

Kuckoo!  Eat some more jelly beans pal.  Then take a valium and go to bed.

[LiveFromUkraine]

 I haven't seen anybody on the forum saying "There's a war going on in Ukraine! Now is a good time to take advantage of the situation and marry an FSU woman in her desperation". LT thinks somebody here said that and is upset with that imaginary somebody. If anything, the war with its dangers has turned Western men away from looking in the FSU. OTOH, men on a sex forum may talk about taking advantage of the situation desperate people are in and the exchange rate giving them more bang for the buck.

No, no one said specifically "There's a war going on in Ukraine! Now is a good time to take advantage of the..."


The reason there is a lack of tourism is because there is a war going on.  Why else would more women be more open to leaving as you so put it?


I do think LT is overly dramatic, but I don't think his comments are coming from left field.  haha Well, some of his comments.  I didn't understand much of what he wrote.  There were comments about women being more open to leaving because of the current conditions which a big part is the war. 


If we got the intent of your posts wrong, I would be interested in more clarification so I can understand where you're coming from.


I don't know anything about the sex forums so I couldn't say.  I didn't take any post in terms of sex tourism.

[jone]

The purpose of the thread is acquaint readers with the fact that the USD or the EURO has extra buying power right now and that flights are cheaper.  Any inferences from our critical friends is both unwarranted and unappreciated. 

If I were a friend of a guy who got married to a Russian lady and was thinking about following his footsteps, reading this thread would be very helpful.

As to LT's inferences about my dating life, he has proved himself once again to be extremely under-informed.  He is an island in his lack of knowledge because it is impossible, having offended everyone on this forum, to get any news as to what is really is going on.

Stop issuing insults, LT.  They have a tendency to come back and bite you.

[LiveFromUkraine]

Any inferences from our critical friends is both unwarranted and unappreciated. 

I didn't make an inferences.  You and others have made it a point that women may be more open to leaving.  I commented on that and I suspect LT did as well.  If you don't appreciate it, I am ok with that.  I will still post my thoughts in any case. 

[Boethius]

Not to defend LT, but based on the thread title, and this -

While I abhor the fighting that brought about some of this economic relief for travelers, I acknowledge the situation as being a watershed event in the life of a man seeking an Eastern European woman.

I can see where his position comes from.  If he has misread the thread, it should be clarified.

I have always stated that economic disparity is a factor for many FSUW looking abroad. 

[jone]

Boy, you all must be reading more into this than I intended. 

I purposely dispelled the idea that I was of the cynical group by putting the disclaimer in the opening post.  Try resolving that in your pipe and smoke it.

There was no cynicism.  As to LFU, I disclaimed the idea by excluding myself from the cynical group as to say "That is not me". 

I made no more references to it anywhere in the thread.

Perhaps you all missed the statement:  "The more cynical on this forum"

The thread was intended for Russian women as well as Ukrainian women.  It was written that way.  Bifurcating it is redirection in my book.