Introduction, question

[n00bie2006]

Greetings, everyone,
I apologize in advance if this is the wrong board for introductions! My name is Jack, and I'm from Texas. I work in sales, and I travel a lot. I'm older than I care to admit (over 40), and I've never been married.
I am very new to the foreign bride scene. I've tried to do my homework, but I decided to get a few first hand opinions, and signed up at your board.
I would really love to find that special someone. I'm also just learning about tours to many of these places, and I am very grateful for all those who've been sharing their experiences on the boards, even if they do make me feel that I have a lot to learn, and a long way to go before I find my bride!
Are the tours a good/safe/effective way to go? Which are the best companies? Is any particular place better than other places?
Thank you for having me on your board,
Jack B.

[Turboguy]

If you are talking tours like A Foreign Affair and Anastasia have, they have their good points.  If you have not travelled and are nearvous about going to Russia they are a good way to get used to the culture there.   I think after all the sorries we heard from the days of the USSR going to Russia can be a little more intimidating that going to London.

As far as a good way to meet the girl you dream of, those tours, no.  I have been on a number of them and had a wonderful time.  Probably on most of them I came home thinking I had found my woman, as did a lot of my friends.   Did it work out for any of us.  No.   The big tours tend to attract too many scammers and pro daters. 

I am doing a little different type of tour in two months that is more focused and kept small.  I think there are some tours that are worth while.  The big agency tours, no. 

There are lots of good ways to meet great Russian women.  Read as much as you can here and you can save a ton of money and a ton of work.   Good luck and welcome.

[KenC]

Welcome Noobie,
I like the method of touring that Jack Bragg of First Dreams uses.  The customer signs up for a muti-city tour and pre-selects the women he wants to meet in each city.  So you have the ability to correspond with the women before and after the tour and you can have some control over exactly who you are going to meet.  It seems much better than walking in blind to a party full of strangers and party girls.  Yet you still have the camaraderie of traveling with a group of guys you get to know and everything is arraigned by a professional. I reccomended Jack's program to a good friend and he had nothing but good things to say about it.
KenC

[Turboguy]

Adding to what Ken said, when I made the statement that I was doing a tour in a few months that is more focused.   It is one of Jack's tours.   If you want to go the tour route it is an option you might want to check into.

[Rvrwind]

Take a holiday, go see the sites, soak up the culture & the scenery & if you meet a hundred ladies along the way, enjoy. Its all about fun...put preasure on yourself to meet ladies is sure to spoil the mood when you don't find that 'special someone'.
Be a tourist & make friends, the options are unlimited.

[KenC]

Noobie,
When I answered your post, I was only focusing on the tour side of things, but there are also many alternatives.  Like hooking up with one fine agency and limiting yourself to a particular geographic area to look for a mate.  The agency can help you in the selection process as well as coordinate your travel and lodging.  A little "hand holding" goes a long way on your first trip.
KenC

[RussianGal]

I work in sales, and I travel a lot. I'm older than I care to admit (over 40), and I've never been married. I am very new to the foreign bride scene ...
... Are the tours a good/safe/effective way to go? Which are the best companies? Is any particular place better than other places?

Dating an FSU woman.. Well, it is no rocket sience really. :-)
If you are a social person and did not have problems dating women in the past, then just apply the same dating rules to dating Russian ladies; don`t loose you head - use your instincts, be aware of scammers, be realistic and honest and, most importantly, stay positive! It`ll come to you.

Good luck.

P`S` About organized social gatherings in FSU - I personally would not go there if I was looking for serious relationships. IMHO too commercial.

[PeeWee]

Greetings, everyone,
I apologize in advance if this is the wrong board for introductions! My name is Jack, and I'm from Texas. I work in sales, and I travel a lot. I'm older than I care to admit (over 40), and I've never been married.
I am very new to the foreign bride scene. I've tried to do my homework, but I decided to get a few first hand opinions, and signed up at your board.
I would really love to find that special someone. I'm also just learning about tours to many of these places, and I am very grateful for all those who've been sharing their experiences on the boards, even if they do make me feel that I have a lot to learn, and a long way to go before I find my bride!
Are the tours a good/safe/effective way to go? Which are the best companies? Is any particular place better than other places?
Thank you for having me on your board,
Jack B.

I had not thought about the tour for 5 years but then I saw the movie "A Foreign Affair" and as a result I would not mind taking one of them, maybe next spring.

Peewee

[Durk]

 
     I think the first thing you need to do is seriously look at why you are going outside the US
for your gal. I am in the same or similar situation age etc. I have been auditing this industry for
about a year and a half and will be posting my findings shortly.
      The members above have suggested Jack Bragg and I am in the planning process for a tour
with Jack as well. His program makes the most sense to me. Turbo glad to hear you are going over
with JB I think you will have a lot to tell us when you get back. The time and effort you have made
not to mention the cash has to produce results sooner or later.
       One question I would have for Rus.Gal is why would you not want to meet quality men if
you had the opportunity? I understand the travel and canned social format may not be ideal not
to mention some of the guys, but the experience is part of life regardless if you still only go for
fun. You never know if you do not have a positive attitude. Things have a funny way of working
out!
                                                                                                 Dave 

[catzenmouse]

Welcome Durk! Can you tell us a bit more of what you mean by "auditing this industry". It sounds interesting.

Ken

[Ste]

Welcome Durk! Can you tell us a bit more of what you mean by "auditing this industry". It sounds interesting.

Ken

Not Durk McQuickly of The Rutles, The Pre-Fab Four who's legend would last a lunchtime?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Rutles

Ste

[TheHorseman]

Take a holiday, go see the sites, soak up the culture & the scenery & if you meet a hundred ladies along the way, enjoy. Its all about fun...put preasure on yourself to meet ladies is sure to spoil the mood when you don't find that 'special someone'.
Be a tourist & make friends, the options are unlimited.

That is the best advice I have read on the board since I got here.

[Todd]

I would echo the advice by RW and the Horseman...Go on a holiday...have fun....be social.  While on holiday, try to go a little off the beaten path and see a glimpse of what is going on under the surface.  If when you return, you are still interested, then proceed.  With your trip behind you, you will have a much greater knowledge of the country and its norms.  Also, if you decide to go the letters route, women will take you far more seriously as you have ALREADY gotten on a plane and been to their country, which is far more than most can say.  I think that is the biggest fear on the other side of the coin...that the man will not come.

As for tours, I cannot imagine Kate every doing a tour.  If she did, it would only be once for the experience.  (Kate loves to experience new things, and I could see her doing something like that just for the experience.)  Somehow, it would strike me as something someone who is really focused on leaving the country would want to do.  Personally, I would not want to be with someone that focused on wanting to leave their country.