"If you think you can just learn a few words of Russian, browse through a couple of books or web sites about Ukraine, and be prepared to handle anything you might face on your visit, guess again! And if you are coming to Ukraine on a marriage/dating visit and think that the marriage agency will give you all the support you need, you'll be in for a very rude dose of reality.

Most marriage agencies will arrange to pick you up at the airport and get you to the hotel - for a fee - and of course, they'll provide a translator for your meetings with their ladies - again at a high fee per meeting. Some might even help you find a place to stay, but you can't be sure it will be a decent place or a good price. They will not be looking out for you except when it suits them.

Who will help you see the sights and get the most out of your experience? Who will show you how to take care of the important "little things", like shopping or doing laundry. Who will help you use the local transportation systems or keep you from getting ripped off by taxis? Certainly not the typical marriage agency.

Finding Discover Ukraine was the key to making my initial visit to Ukraine a success. At a very reasonable cost, I was provided with an outstanding, full-time, guide and assistant who was absolutely dedicated to making sure that I got the most out of my visit. My DU guide, Marina, gave me all the assistance I needed, each day, from meeting me at the airport to seeing me off safely at that same airport.

DU contacted the ladies I wanted to meet, arranged the meetings, and Marina provided all the translation, all within the daily rate for her services. This saved me from having to pay high prices to the dating agencies for each meeting. Marina also helped me to handle the local transportation system without getting gouged for high-priced taxis. She helped me find the various museums, cathedrals, shows, and other sites and events I wanted to see, and gave me invaluable insight into local customs and culture.

I had already made my travel and lodging arrangements via a travel agency affiliated with one of the dating agencies. That was a mistake. I could not do much about the international travel, but Marina was able to find me an excellent apartment for about two-thirds the cost of the hotel the travel agency found and in a much more convenient location. When I return to Ukraine, I will definitely turn to DU for help with travel and lodging at the beginning.

On its home page, Discover Ukraine states that its goal is "to assist you in making your acquaintance with Ukrainian lifestyle a beneficial and unforgettable experience." For me, that's just what they did. Whether you are coming to Ukraine on business, in search of your soul mate, or for general tourism, Discover Ukraine will definitely live up to that promise". Paul Farley, USA