Ukraine

[Closed Account 2]

Any one been ? I'm thinking of going to Krym and Odessa, as they have dropped the visa requirements and so you can just fly in and fill in the form on landing ?

Any tips from anyone ?

[FarBeag]

Yes. Been there loads of times. A mate of mine has a business in Kherson.I am sure that you will fly into Kiev. Pre-book a taxi or take a bus as the airport ones will take you for as much as you are prepared to give them. You have to spend at least a day or two in Kiev. It’s a beautiful city with even more beautiful women, the best in the world for certain and make sure you visit a night club called River Palace. Eat in the local restaurants as they are dirt cheap with excellent food and the beer is about 50p a pint. Take only light clothing with you and lots of factor 50 as it will be about 40 degree. There are two so called Irish pubs there if you get home sick at all. One of them is owned by a Brit. Just be careful with the police though particularly late at night. If you want to see corrupt policemen you will find them in Ukraine so make sure you carry a copy of your passport. Always ensure that you agree a fare with the taxi man before you get into the cab. You may find that some of the people are quite rude and abrupt in manner but overall they are quite a friendly nation.

I was in Odessa once about five years ago. It’s right on the black sea and a lovely city. Can’t remember much about it though. Took the train from Kiev station which runs overnight. It’s very cheap but buy a whole compartment for yourself where you can lock the door and have a good sleep safely. Don’t share with anyone as you may get beaten up and robbed by some skinheads with too much vodka down their throats. It’s happen a lot over there so watch you money and passport.Dont eat on the train as the food is poison. You can also take a flight there which takes a couple of hours.

Anyway I hope this help you a little. It’s a wonderful country and you will have an excellent time once you are on the ball . They accept US dollars widely. Enjoy

[HarpoJoyce]

Any one been ? .... Odessa, as they have dropped the visa requirements and so you can just fly in and fill in the form on landing ?

Any tips from anyone ?

That's the very same reason i went to Odesa in Sept. 2006 aswell. In case they change their minds.

Odesa city centre is a little down at heel but the streets get better around the Potemkin steps and towrds the port. I used the family stay mothers who stood outside the railway station in the centre of town on arrival and eve of departure. One good experience, one bad. I abandoned the bad experience and got a hotel near the Sanortoriums (Holiday spa resorts) outside the city centre. The bus station is away from the centre aswell.


I spent most of my holiday in Moldova (Chisinau) and the Romanian Danube delta side. I think there are some nice towns on the Ukraine side with some boat trips aswell.

I was in Kamynets-Podilskky (roman sp.?) near Chernovits. KP was the nicest town in the trip including a fortress almost surrounded by a gorge with a nice old town with some attractive squares. It is about 8-9hrs from Odesa and some buses go through Moldova, which isn't a bad thing.

In Odesa beer is sold and drunk on street from kiosk. Got some nasty frothing ones though (mental note more research needed.) Beggars collect the empty's aswell so just leave the bottle where someone can collect it.

Russian first language.

If I was going again to that corner, I would go to the Crimea pennisula as this is a Russian holiday destination. Also, there is supposed to be a music festival which last maybe 3 weeks during the summer.

I'm presumng aswell Ukraine is not your first visit to Central/Eastern Europe.

[DaveyCakes]

If you're going to the Crimea, it might be handier to fly via Istanbul to Simferopol. You should be able to go via Vienna or Germany either.

Yalta is well worth a couple of days. Beautiful setting, great weather, the best looking women in the world, plenty of things to visit..Masandra winery, a couple of fantastic palaces, some great hiking

Sevastopol is a must if you have any interest in Military history..Black Sea Fleet museum (they had their 225th birthday yesterday), museums of the 2 sieges (Crimean War and WWII), and plenty of hardware at various places, including an armoured train as you come in from Yalta.

If you're of a greater military history persuasion (guilty m'lud), you can also go to Kerch, where i think you can get a ferry to Novorossiysk (which is in Russia so visa required).

Chernigevskoii is a decent beer. That spelling may not be 100% correct
Anyway I hope this help you a little. It’s a wonderful country and you will have an excellent time once you are on the ball . They accept US dollars widely. Enjoy

Don't bother bringing dollars. Bring some Euros if you want, but there's ATMs everywhere.

[the ox]

What's the easiest way of getting to Odessa? I'm thinking of going, but from the Romanian/Moldovan side.

[DaveyCakes]

There are plenty of trains and buses from Chisinau to Odessa, Romania I don't know.

[HarpoJoyce]

I flew in and out of Odesa with Málev Hungarian but on arrival I headed North to Chisinau and eastern Romania.

From Chisinau/Kishiev (Rom./Russ.) to Odesa, there are numerous through buses (maybe up to 3 hours travel). They go through the Transdniestr autonous area. A passport and customs check to enter, I believe there should be no problems with an EU passport, the entry fee will depend on your passport I'm sure.

The easiest route from Romania to Chisinau is the town of Iasi (pron. YASH, NE of Romania), its near a recommended part of Romania, Bocovina, with rural villages and some other sites.

An alternative is to go North out of Romania into Chenovits (Cherinau? Rom.), Ukraine as described in a previous post and head south from there. I imagine the old Polish area around Lvov/L'viv is worth spending some time in too.

On the Danube Delta, I believe there are no water crossings for EU nationals. There ia a road connecting Galati (Rom.) through sth. Moldova ( 20 kms) and on to Southern Ukrainian towns. I never used this route, but I talked to a chap running a bus service on the route. At the time I hadn't a valid visa neccessary for Moldova.

Just looking at a map
http://www.infoplease.com/atlas/country/romania.html

If you want to use this route maybe getting a charter to the Black sea and making your way up may be an idea


Moldovan Embassy London
http://www.moldovanembassy.org.uk/index.php?text=0
No visa for EU nationals
http://www.moldovanembassy.org.uk/index.php?text=42&page_add=3

[Closed Account 2]

Just got back from a month mainly in Ukraine (also Moldova) and I have to say it's a great place. Highlight is Crimea, with Yalta, Sevastopol and Bachasary being well worth a visit.

[paul_oshea]

Do you ever work?!

[Closed Account 2]

Not if I can avoid it :D

... I was made redundant in April, have picked up part time work since (which I can do one day a week, all I need is an internet connection). It looks like the prospects of getting a full-time job wont be great for another 6 months or so, so I've decided to do a bit of travelling in the last few months, and probably for the next few months too.

[DaveyCakes]

Just got back from a month mainly in Ukraine (also Moldova) and I have to say it's a great place. Highlight is Crimea, with Yalta, Sevastopol and Bachasary being well worth a visit.

Was the weather as nice as when I was there this time last year?

[Closed Account 2]

Yeah, one cloudy day in Odessa, and one rainy morning in Kamyanets but apart from that sunny and warm, Crimea was like the Italian Riveria in terms of heat.

[don ramo]

any tips on kiev, im suppose to go there with friends next month, one of them know people over there, but im just wondering what to expect, i know itll be cold, but whats the night life like, would i need much cash, whats the story with visas, can you still just fill one in on arrival,

[DaveyCakes]

You don't need a visa, just don't lose the immigration card that you fill in on arrival.
The nightlife in Kiev is wild.
Money..dunno what things are like since the economy collapsed., the last time I was there there the hryvnia was about 7.5 to the Euro, I think its 11 or 12 now.
The war museum is a must see (although that can be said for just about every former Soviet city). A day trip to Chernobyl is worth thinking about.

[Closed Account 2]

any tips on kiev, im suppose to go there with friends next month, one of them know people over there, but im just wondering what to expect, i know itll be cold, but whats the night life like, would i need much cash, whats the story with visas, can you still just fill one in on arrival,

Good, there is lots to see and do there as well as the nightlife. I dont know if it's like Odessa where the venues for nightlife change from summer (Arkadia Beach) to winter (city center) - I know there are good summer bars on the banks of the Dniper river. I would say go on a river cruise, military museum (under the big woman statue) and caves monastery - all three are very worth while. Thinking about it the river might be frozen so I dont know if the boats will go - they go from the bottom of the hill under the unity arch. Chernobyl Museum and Golden Gate are good too. At tourist places you can fire guns (AKs, Makarovs etc) at firing ranges or drive a T-80 tank there too pretty cheaply if you're into that.


Alcohol is very cheap, as is food - a tip for food is go to Puzzata Hata, it's a Ukrainian self serve chain (red and white logo that looks like a waffle gone wrong) its great value. You get meat (chicken, shashlik - cubed kebab) and also traditional soups and plemini (ravioli pancake things - savoury).

How good is your Russian (Ukrainian) ? If you're with a native it should be ok. An election is happening very soon there now, and it will be hotly contested, with right wing, left wing, pro-EU (Polish funded), pro-Russian, and even a big Communist party all running. You will see lots of people running campaigns for it. Just be a bit careful as the election could get contested, and then I would stay indoors if you see demonstrations. Metro is very safe and the whole city is fine, maybe take a photocopy of your passport in case police ask for it - very unlikey to happen but you never know. All the Ukrainians I met were really friendly irrespective of their outlooks (pro-Russian, or pro-EU) if you try and speak to them in Russian (basic tourism Russian is the same as Ukrainian) they will do all they can to help you and often give you free tours of museums and ask you in for dinner - but it's like that all over the former USSR.

For beer "Oblon" or "Chernihiv" both are better than Western beers and cheaper too. Try the Odessan / Crimean champaign when you are there, it's about £3 a bottle but tastes great - I recommend you bring some of that or Khorchata (in Cyrillic it starts with what looks like an "X") vodka back as your duty free.

I was there 3 months ago, spent about 5 weeks in the country so if you need more information let me know. How long are you there for ? Crimea is beautiful and Odessa is worth a visit if youre in Kiev for more than a week (both are night trains, but Odessa can be done in a 6 hour mashrutka (minibus) but if youve never been in a minibus driven by a mad speed demon of a driver then stick to the train.

[Closed Account 2]

Was the weather as nice as when I was there this time last year?

Only saw this now, yeah it was great, blazing sunshine most of the time even in Kyiv at the end. Super place esp Crimea cant recommend it enough.

[sligoman]

A day trip to Chernobyl is worth thinking about.A few of us going over for the Rovers game(assuming they beat Glentoran) in a couple of weeks, flying into Kiev.

I'd be very interested in a trip to Chernobyl, is it handy to get to? Would their be a bus tour going from Kiev like or how?

[born2bwild]

A few of us going over for the Rovers game(assuming they beat Glentoran) in a couple of weeks, flying into Kiev.

I'd be very interested in a trip to Chernobyl, is it handy to get to? Would their be a bus tour going from Kiev like or how?
It's not that handy - everything in Ukraine takes much longer than you expect it to, it's the biggest country in Europe (apart from Russia) and with the Chernobyl thing you could get ripped off fairly handy. Sligo are playing in Poltava, which is in the east. Pripyat/Chernobyl are north/west.
Do yourself a favour and don't bother with Chernobyl, it's a depressing hole. Go to the Chernobyl museum in the Podil area of Kiev, (the Podil area is kinda laid back and cool - nice restaurants/clubs etc) then get an internal flight down to Crimea - go to Balaclava/Sevastopol and maybe Yalta. Crimea is beautiful, has a mediterranean climate and the chicks are seriously hot. Chernobyl? Nyet, spasibo.

[DaveyCakes]

I'd recommend going to Chernobyl..its fascinating, if a bit grim. Plenty of companies do day trips from Kiev, just Google it. IIRC, its about a 90 minute drive, probably leaving at 9:00 and getting back at 6:00. I haven't spent much time in Kiev, but the war museum is worth visiting (although I say that about pretty much every ex-Soviet city). Poltava was the site of a major battle between Russia and Sweden in 17something.

As has been mentioned before, my recommended tipple is Chernigivske.

http://www.chernigivske.ua/en/beer/kinds.html

If you are planning on staying more than a few days, I heartily endorse the flying down to Crimea suggestion.

[Dodge]

Hoping to be off to Lviv myself. Anyone been?

[sligoman]

I'd recommend going to Chernobyl..its fascinating, if a bit grim. Plenty of companies do day trips from Kiev, just Google it. IIRC, its about a 90 minute drive, probably leaving at 9:00 and getting back at 6:00. I haven't spent much time in Kiev, but the war museum is worth visiting (although I say that about pretty much every ex-Soviet city). Poltava was the site of a major battle between Russia and Sweden in 17something.It seems tours of Chernobyl are cancelled for the time being, such bad timing :mad:

Wont have time to make my way to Crimea, spending 2 nights in Kiev and then 1 in Poltava before flying home from Kiev again.

[DaveyCakes]

That is bad timing! Ah well, I'm sure you'll find something to do. Will ye be getting the train between Kiev and Poltava? Bring a few extra beers and a bit of food...people will share stuff around the carriage. The nightlife in Kiev is crazy.:bigsmile:

[DaveyCakes]

I'd also recommend bringing a printout of the cyrillic alphabet. It obviously won't help you with the language but at least you'd be able to decipher place names and the such. A fair few people in Kiev speak English, but I suspect that may not be the case in Полтава. (There are a few differences between the Russian and Ukrainian alphabets, but nothing too major).

[born2bwild]

A few useful phrases:
Ya peeva hatchu. Ya dva peeva hatchu. Ya tree peeva hatchu. Ya chiteeri peeva hatchu....

[born2bwild]

I'd recommend going to Chernobyl..its fascinating, if a bit grim. Plenty of companies do day trips from Kiev, just Google it. IIRC, its about a 90 minute drive, probably leaving at 9:00 and getting back at 6:00. I haven't spent much time in Kiev, but the war museum is worth visiting (although I say that about pretty much every ex-Soviet city). Poltava was the site of a major battle between Russia and Sweden in 17something.

As has been mentioned before, my recommended tipple is Chernigivske.

http://www.chernigivske.ua/en/beer/kinds.html

If you are planning on staying more than a few days, I heartily endorse the flying down to Crimea suggestion.

How would you drive to Chernobyl? Hire a car? Good luck with that. And the 'roads' and the paperwork, and the cops.

The war museum under the 'rodina mat' monument? It's class isn't it?

Kiev is cool; just be careful with the taxi drivers at the airport. Don't pay them anything more than 20 euros to take you into town.

Don't lose the bit of paper the cops put into your passport at the airport.

Chernigivski is ok - as is slavutich and obolon - they all taste a bit like heineken. By the way, my last post was 'I want a beer, 2 beers, 3 beers etc...'

[sligoman]

Will ye be getting the train between Kiev and Poltava?Nope, we'll be hiring a bus for it, seems it's going to take 4-5 hours.

[Dodge]

I'm definitely off to Lviv btw ;)

[DaveyCakes]

How would you drive to Chernobyl? Hire a car? Good luck with that. And the 'roads' and the paperwork, and the cops.

The war museum under the 'rodina mat' monument? It's class isn't it?

Kiev is cool; just be careful with the taxi drivers at the airport. Don't pay them anything more than 20 euros to take you into town.

Don't lose the bit of paper the cops put into your passport at the airport.

Chernigivski is ok - as is slavutich and obolon - they all taste a bit like heineken. By the way, my last post was 'I want a beer, 2 beers, 3 beers etc...'

No, I meant that the guided tour takes about 90 minutes to get there...but it appears as if its all academic now anyways. I was in Kharkov in May and they appear to have done away with the registration card ('the bit of paper the cops put into your passport at the airport')..they were there on the desks in the immigration hall and I filled one in, but the border guard just waved it away. Having said that, if you DO get one, DON'T lose it!

[mypost]

From that, is it safe to assume no visas are required?

Not going, well not yet. If we qualify for the Euros however....

[DaveyCakes]

No visa needed.

[born2bwild]

Nope, we'll be hiring a bus for it, seems it's going to take 4-5 hours.
Are you hiring a driver too? I assume so. Highlight of the trip will be the hilarious moment when he objects to you putting on your seat belt!. It'll be roasting hot and the roads will be fycking mental. I genuinely love driving in Ukraine in the summer. Best of luck!

[sligoman]

Are you hiring a driver too?Yes.

Highlight of the trip will be the hilarious moment when he objects to you putting on your seat belt!I'd say most on the bus wont bother wearing one, but why would he object anyway?

It'll be roasting hotBus has air conditioning.

[born2bwild]

Yes.
I'd say most on the bus wont bother wearing one, but why would he object anyway?
Bus has air conditioning.

It's considered an insult to the driver's skill to attempt to wear one. I'm exaggerating - slightly.

[Spudulika]

It's considered an insult to the driver's skill to attempt to wear one. I'm exaggerating - slightly.

Now you're lying b2w :-)

It's on the big sign as you come through passport control - "Thou shalt not wear a seat belt, you big jessy".

edit: Meant to add I'd half a bottle (litre size) of Obolon the other night, tasted not the best and even converting it into an alt bier bowle didn't help. It was an import too.

[born2bwild]

They're not great generally, Ukrainian beers - grand on a hot day with Shashlik! Obolon actually is the one that tastes least like the others (if that makes any sense?)

[Spudulika]

I get what you mean. I found it a little rough and in Russia, Moscow for sure, Obolon in the plastic 1 litre bottle is the one most commonly drunk by people on the streets or hardened drinkers. One thing I will say for it is that it's better than most of what Baltika has to offer. A real shame in Russia is that most of the small brands are now bought out by big companies like SAB-Miller, Heineken and SUNInBev, which means all of them taste the same. I don't know if it's the same in Ukraine though, there are lots of smaller breweries still doing okay, right?

[Sean South]

All you need to know

всосите мою суку крана

Call women "суку" they love it. (Pronounced suka)

[Closed Account 2]

I really would recommend Crimea if you can get the time to go there. Yalta is probably the best place, then Sevastopol. Most Kiev trains go to Simferopol (in the middle of Crimea peninsula, not that great) you can get a bus from there to Yalta takes about 1hr. Some trains go thru from Kiev to Sevastopol - you could stay there or just get a 40 mins bus to Yalta from there. On the way you will pass Foros which is a very nice little town - famous for the fact it was where Gorbi was held hostage back in August 1991 - dont know if there will be any 20 year celebrations. If you are anywhere in the country on the 24th August it is Ukrainian Independance day, which is a national holiday and the trains and buses are full (and less are running), but if you are in Kiev there is a spectacular Military display, you will see scores of Tanks, APCs, soliders marching etc, and they do a fly by with mig 29s, etc and some massive cargo planes.

[DaveyCakes]

One thing I will say for it is that it's better than most of what Baltika has to offer.

Baltika no. 7 is quite nice, most of the others are muck alright

[born2bwild]

I get what you mean. I found it a little rough and in Russia, Moscow for sure, Obolon in the plastic 1 litre bottle is the one most commonly drunk by people on the streets or hardened drinkers. One thing I will say for it is that it's better than most of what Baltika has to offer. A real shame in Russia is that most of the small brands are now bought out by big companies like SAB-Miller, Heineken and SUNInBev, which means all of them taste the same. I don't know if it's the same in Ukraine though, there are lots of smaller breweries still doing okay, right?

Not really, I mean there was this beer 'Zhigulovskyaya' from Zaporozhye, that, according to the missus, had been around back since before sovyetski soyuz - it was not great.
Not a great place for beer - but then I wouldn't want the place to start resembling Belgium!

[sligoman]

Kiev is a great spot for nightlife. The people are friendly and the food/drink is cheap.

Even managed to get to a Dynamo Kyiv game against Ruben Kazan. Tickets were sold out but bought them off a tout who thought he was great selling them for over double the price (about €13 instead of €6) but we didn't care, still cheap.