I thought it would be best to ask those who would know!! About traveling with vitamins( high potency)LOL!! Tylenol, Alergy, Basic stuff that I keep around the house and take pretty regular. Is it available in Ukraine and is it to much trouble getting on the flight with it. How is it to go through customs with it. I leave friday 2 pm for Yalta!! My lady and I are very excited and nervous. We both have a lot of hopes and wishes for the best.
I've taken all those things with me into Russia three times and never had anyone look at them. Most over the counter medicines are easily available, at least in Russia, but if you can't read Russian you will need someone to help you. That is why I take all the meds I think I will need. DON'T forget the immodium!
Have a great time!
PS....DO NOT take any illeagal drugs....anything a dog might sniff at. I had my bag sniffed in Moscow as I was preparing to check in for my return flight.
Thought I might add that I have even taken over an HP computer printer as a gift and worried about what they would think when the bag went through the X-ray scanner, but surprisingly not even a second look....here in US or in Moscow. No hassle thru costoms at all.
Pretty much the same for me. Take cold medications, immodium, allergy, vitamin C if wish.
I also had prescriptions I took with me that where not a problem.
I can't speak for custom in Ukraine, but my trip through Russian customs was a lot less of a hassle than coming back through customs in the U.S. With the recent terrorist attacks on two Russian flights, they may clamp down, but I really doubt you will have problems as long as you stick to what is already legal here (primarily over the counter).
I am assumming you are American. So here are some notes for me. If you live in a more liberal environment, just ignore these security items that may not apply. :P
I didn't have any problems taking vitamins and basic medications. Just leave them in the original packaging if possible. Do not wrap any presents. If customs sees items that are wrapped they can and will unwrap them to verify that they are safe. No nail files, toenail clippers, or any other sharp objects in your carry ons. I managed to get a manicure set through but had it buried inside my checked bagged. Later I found out that my checked baggage had been searched - most likely because of the kit. But they left it intact. Be sure to have your keys to all locks on your baggage. You will be required to turn them in to security so that they can freely open and inspect all luggage. They will return the keys to you so that you can secure them afterwards. They will band all the luggage with security ties and tape indicating it is clear and mark if it was hand inspected.
Look around in your local healthfood stores. There is a natural herbal product called No-Jetlag. It is a chewable tablet. It is for sale in the Whole Foods chain here in California but you will have to ask for it. They don't always have it out on display - but usually keep it in stock. Chew one every 2hrs or so if you can. It basically keeps your energy levels up high enough so you don't feel any affects from the flight. And yes, it did seem to work. Think it was about $6 for 48 or so tablets. Enough to easily make the full trip going to the Ukraine and back with plenty of extras.
Don't forget the power converters and adapters. The phones in the Ukraine are not like the USA. They use a 2 or 4 prong connector that looks more like a power plug than a phone connector. So if you have a laptop or anything you will need this to connect. The power is 220V @50hz. So if you have an electric razor or anything it can run as long as it is switchable and you have the right plug adapter. It may be slow since it is running at 50Hz instead of the usual 60Hz, but if it can accept 220v it should be fine. I bought a power inverter just incase so I could plug directly in at 110V @ 60Hz.
You will need to remember your camera and film. Digital preferred if you have it just for convenience. The best would be one that allows for a date/time stamp on the photos or an option to add this when printed. Reason being is if things go out well you must provide proof that you and your fiancee have met in person. This means dated photos, restaurant stubs, letters, etc. Anything you have and the more you can get the better. You will need to have photos showing both of you together. So don't get carried away with the single person shots and run out of film.
Wear comfortable shoes. If you are going through Moscow you may literally be required to run from your gate to the next so that you can make the shuttles on time. Keep this in mind and don't pack a ton in your carry on. You will more than likely be standing for hours on end. So be prepared.
If you land in Kiev there is a stand selling flowers right outside of the customs doors. Just know the girl only accepts Ukrainian currency. So be sure to change some at the terminal quickly. Not too much, but just enough to get you going. I changed $100 and it was plenty to cover the taxi and expenses for the first few days. The exchange rate is about 5gr for every $1. You will get a better exchange rate at the local bank, so don't go overboard. I think my food for the week at a local store was something like $26 US and I ended up giving most of that away to my girl when I left.
Interesting thing, ATM's in the Ukraine do not accept US Visa, Mastercard or American Express. The ones they accept are on the Eurocard system. My bank cards would never work. I had to go to a local bank and have money drafted from my card directly. Not overly complex, but something to consider. Nowhere did I see a single place that accepted American Express.
One other thing. Forget about travellers checks. They are basically worthless. No one in the Ukraine will know how to cash them and most likley will simply refuse to deal with you if you use travellers checks. Stick to cash whenever possible. It is a cash and carry society. Credit cards are a little more rare and are mostly just used in restaurants, major hotels and markets. So always keep cash. I prefer to use a Passport wallet and keep this inside a loose jacket inner breast pocket. Keep your passport on you at all times. Just be smart and don't flash cash around and try and keep a fairly low profile. Most of the people are really good, but for some $40 is a months salary. So don't tempt them and do things that could endanger you. Just use your brain when doing things and watch your surroundings.
Good luck south, remeber, everything in your gag is yours, they are not presents or they my try to tax you. If you can get away with saying it is yours, do so. If asked the value, as little as possable. Good luck
Wise words Brian.
As an FSU vet of over 3 years now I can only back up what you say about being careful.
I will say though, even in Ukraine banks will cash travellers checks with the usual passport accompanyment and fee of course.
There is no real problem taking a large sum of travellers checks and some cash, but be sure to take Dollars or Pounds, nothing else is even listed at the money changers !!
I would also recommend that you leave most of your cash in your hotel room, or safe at the hotel, I have Never had any money taken from my room in any FSU country, nor anything else go missing either come to that, and you dont need to carry your entire wealth on you at all times, its not safe to do so !!!
Last but not least, STUDY Russian, its bloody important !!!
Got about 1k of words in my head now, and it makes a lot of difference to how you are recieved !!
Amen to that last part. Your way ahead of me Tim. I have at most about 40 words. However, I am fairly decent at reading it, now, and this can make a world of difference.
In all the major areas where foreigners are expected, they speak English. In many cases, I have seen them list printed English where Russian is also shown (and I'm sure Ukrainian is as well).
In some cases, they are VERY surprised if you can speak at least SOME Russian.
Good day to you as well, Scott!! You guys are great with your experience. Knocks the fear right out of alot of the questions. I have been studying and I also have the language talk machine. I hope the interpreter and my lady will help as well. Tim it is good to see you around again!! We appreciate your experience and openess with it. I hope everything is well with you and yourlady!!! Talk to you when I return from this great adventure. Have a good day!!!
Actually, I have been dealing almost exclusively with women that already speak fairly good english.
I went to Novgorod on my own to see one girl I had seen in St. Pete. However, I did not remember her name (yes, I know, very bad on my part), so the agency tried to find her based on my descriptions of her and her job. They said they found her, and I took the bus to see her that night. When I got there and get dressed up for a night on the town, I met her with the translator (who was also the agency rep who found the girl), it turned out to not be her. Actually, I did not think I would need a translator to begin with, but she had stated she wanted one.
We went out on the town, anyway.
The next day I went to the agency and found her in their records. By chance, she was heading to St. Pete that day, so we went back to St. Pete on the same bus and talked on the trip back. She helped me with some of my pronounciation, which is the hardest issue I have with Russian. There is nothing like being immersed in it to help you speak it. For that matter, I helped her with pronounciation with her English.
GOOD INFO GUYS, I AM LEARNING UKRAINIAN NOW AS I PREPARE FOR MY TRIP. IT IS FUNNY, MY GIRL SPEAKS BOTH LANGUAGES BUT SHE PREFERS ME TO LEARN UKRAINIAN. DO THEY SPEAK THAT IN KIEV AS WELL?, AS ONE OF MY CO-WORKERS WHO GOES TO UKRAINE, HIS LADY DOESNT SPEAK A WORD OF UKRAINIAN. WHAT GIVES. ANY INSIGHT ON THIS? THANKS
I visited the Ukraine this August with a few friends of mine. We all had Ukrainian fathers or mothers and were brought up speaking the language.
I did notice though that whenever we tried to speak Ukrainian to the younger generation (say 18-30yr olds) if was difficult for them to understand us as most of them speak Russian. It was only the older people that actually understood and spoke Ukrainian.
iperedruk it depends on which part of Ukraine you visited. If you visited the eastern part, then maybe you just weren't lucky, as many people understand Ukrainian though may not speak it. In western part all speak Ukrainian, only!
always carry your passport with you. never leave your room without it. never. the local police in kyiv took 100 dollars from me for not having it on my possession.
jmoluv