Traveling to Russia

The advent of the internet, and in particular internet dating on an international scale, has caused a number of people to redefine the parameters of their thinking in regards to what does and does not qualify as a “relationship”. While it is certainly possible to establish meaningful and, in many ways, mutually satisfying relationships with people across the globe via the internet; when it comes to romance the medium is, by its very nature, fairly limited. After a certain period of time, the simple human need to touch and be with one’s romantic interest surfaces, and needs to be satisfied. At this point, if the relationship is genuine, travel by one or both participants in the relationship will be required.
The growth in the popularity of Russian dating sites – and particularly sites that cater to men looking to forge long term relationships with Russian women – has caused a number of men to travel to the states of the former Soviet Union to not only meet the women they have met online but, in some cases, strengthen the relationships they forged on their computers, and sometimes even marry the women in question. Not only is travel to this part of the world a natural extension of the online relationship, but it allows the traveler to get to know more about the country and culture that the woman he is interested in hails from. More than just a typical tourist type of excursion, this kind of specific travel often times entails exploring areas that are both off the beaten path, and which present unique challenges to the individual visiting from the West. Unlike trips taken to the more common and popular cities of Europe such as Paris or Rome, trips to Russia and the former Soviet states require a considerable amount of planning and preparation. Here are some tips to help make certain that your romantic adventure goes smoothly:
* Check the Status of Travel to the Country – While most of the states of the former Soviet Union are safe for Americans and other westerners to travel to, there are occasionally incidents which make for both domestic and international instability in certain parts of the region. Before making your travel preparations to travel to this area (or, actually, to any area of the world) it is best to check with your country’s State Department or Foreign Ministry, and pay close attention to any travel advisories posted for the region. For residents of the United States, travel advisories can be found at the State Department’s website, www.state.gov.
* Research the Area you are Traveling to – Two of the very true things that can be said about the former Soviet Union are that it is very beautiful, and it is very large. In fact, it is enormous. Given the size of the area, and the different levels of modernization that exist across the various countries and regions, it is important that you familiarize yourself with exactly where you are travelling to. Don’t make the mistake of assuming that simply because your online lady love has a stable internet connection that she lives in a place with all the modern transportation and accommodation conveniences that we westerners have come to take for granted. Certainly if she lives in Moscow or Kiev or any of the literally hundreds of other modernized areas in the region you will be able to find pretty much what you are looking for, but should she live in a small town or village, there could be some issues. If this is the case, it might well be worth your while to arrange to meet up with her in one of the larger cities in the area and take things from there. A 20 hour train trip (one way) after an 18 hour flight is not usually a great beginning to a romantic get-away.
* Research, Book and Confirm your Accommodations WELL in Advance – While for many of us, the differences between a three star and a five star hotel in a major American city (with the exception of the nightly room rate) might not be all that important, when travelling overseas the ratings system for hotels can be a little confusing. Part of this is because some ratings systems award stars based on how a particular hotel stacks up against the other hotels in the immediate area. A three star hotel in the Ukraine is unlikely to have the same level of service and accommodation as a three star hotel in mid-town Manhattan. Likewise, in some parts of the former Soviet Union, pricing can be a fairly fluid thing – particularly where foreigners are concerned. It is strongly advised, particularly if this is your first trip to the area, that you use a reputable travel agency to help you make your arrangements, and make certain that agency is familiar with the specific area you will be traveling to. If you have been using a reputable online Russian dating or marriage agency that you are satisfied with, it will be worth seeing if they know any agencies they would recommend, or if they might be able to help you with the arrangements. Though it is not common yet, recently Dream-Marriage.com announced the launch of their apartment rental service where men will be able to rent guest quarters in selected localities for their stay in Russia and the Ukraine right from their site.
* Take Proper Precautions – International travel, no matter where you are heading, involves a certain amount of risk. This is true whether you are an American travelling to Moscow, or a Frenchman travelling to New York City. As a stranger in a strange land, you will be unfamiliar with customs, neighborhoods, culture … virtually everything. Unfortunately, when travelling for the purposes of meeting someone you met online – whether it is to the next county or half-way around the world – the risk factor is increased. You may have spent hundreds of hours chatting with the person online and believe that you know them – and in most cases, particularly if you have met them through a legitimate agency that verifies identities, they will be who you believe they are – but extra caution should still be exercised. It is advised that you not tell the person you are meeting the specifics of your travel arrangements and, at least until after the first physical meeting, you not inform them of where you are staying. It is usually a good idea to arrange your first meeting in a public place, and you should pay attention to your surroundings at all times.
Traveling to the former Soviet Union – or anywhere else in the world – to meet the woman (or man) of your dreams for the first time can be the experience of a lifetime. With a little planning, and a few common sense precautions, the love connection that you made on the internet could easily transfer into real life. The key is to make certain that you spend your time while abroad enjoying the experience and the person you have travelled to see, and not making up for a lack of proper preparation.