Send Flowers to Russia, Ukraine and Worldwide with Cyber-Florist.com Fiance.com: Beautiful Russian brides
Home  |  About  |  Forum  |  User Blogs  |  Login  |  Register

	Create New Topic   My Posts   My forum buddies   Invite friends   Private messages Russian brides > Main Forum > Accomodation in kiev Author Post devilmaycare Member send PM   block PM add to buddies Send: 12/20/2007 4:32:21 AM   I'm planing a visit to kiev end of jan, any suggestions for 2-bedroom apartments ?. Infact any tips on anything related to visiting kiev would be appreciated. Ive been looking at http://www.sherbornehotel.com.ua which isnt the absolute cheapest but looks to be well located and of a resonable standard. GeminiDreams Member send PM   block PM add to buddies Send: 12/20/2007 12:35:26 PM   Why do you need two bedrooms? Get something close to Kreshatik. I usually use uaapartments.com too_tall Member send PM   block PM add to buddies Send: 12/21/2007 2:57:41 AM   Bassuk, my friend Pavel offers various apartments in Kiev and other various services like renting a local cell phone, translation etc. I have used him several times, he is very reliable. You can reach him at: http://www.yourukraineguide.com.ua/ Other Advice. 1. Make all your own arrangements for apartments etc. This way some agency doesn't have control over you. 2. Stay in an apartment not a hotel There are several advantages to staying in a hotel. A. You can cook or better yet your lady can cook for you. B. Having a refrigerator / morning coffee in your underwear / a midnight snack since your jet lag will mess with the time space continuum. C. Some ladies will not visit you in a hotel and could be thought as prostitutes by someone who sees them there or hotel staff. D. The price is usually the same E. You can do laundry in many of them so you wouldn't have to pack as much. 3. Bring a couple pairs of good walking shoes (not athletic shoes) RW will not want to see you wearing sneaker and you will walk a LOT! Imagine walking 5 to 7 miles per day on asphalt or concrete (with cracks and pot holes) Your feet will take a beating. I would also advise wearing new shoes for a couple of days at least to break them in before you leave so you don't get blisters. Make sure that you have a nice polished finish on your shoes. 4. I bought a cheap cell phone with a couple of prepaid phone cards or rent a phone There are advantages of this as well. a. you will have a local number for ladies to contact that will travel with you while you are out of your apartment. A phone with a non local number will cost a lot for ladies to call and they don't have a lot of money to spend on it. b. RW love to send and receive SMS c. If things don't work out between you and your primary lady then you will be able to setup arrangements to meet others without waiting by the phone like a highschool girl without a prom date. d. 99.99% of phones have both a clock and an alarm clock in them. This way you don't oversleep and end up late for a date or anything else (think jet lag). I would also recommend treating the local water as hazardous waste. Shower in it but brush your teeth with bottled water, rinse your dishes in bottled water etc. It is something that simply isn't worth the risk to ruin a trip having Montezuma revenge in the middle of a trip. I also bring Pepto Bismol but luckily have never needed it. Other tips 1. Chapstick. You will not believe how dry your lips will be after many hours in the air. 2. A swiss army knife in your checked baggage. Too many uses to list here. 3. A small flashlight, I have never been on a single trip without a power interuption. 4. Power converters / adapters. They use 220V and a completely different plug 5. I carry an Ectaco translator (not required but nice to have) It is nice to be able to know the Russian word for Milk or Toothpaste while in a store or to ask directions etc. 6. A big fluffy towel, all the towels that I have seen in the FSU apartments have been thread bare and small. 7. Little packets of wet ones towellets 8. One roll of toilet paper. You likely won't need it but imagine needing it and not having it. 9. A couple books about your area, scenic lakes, nature, your city etc. will be very popular with a woman who is considering relocating. You can tell stories about the pictures, history etc. There are several of them at a Barnes and Noble or from Amazon. Show here one on your first date and give it to her (if you have chemistry). It's a good ice breaker and she will look at every page many times when she gets home. I am sure that others can give you even more things to think about. Udachi! (good luck) Bill nasfan6 Member send PM   block PM add to buddies Send: 12/21/2007 6:45:50 AM   Sherbourne is a good place. Off the main drag a bit. I've used ua aparments before they're okay, didn't much care for the service or the apartments. Sherbourne is about 15 minutes from Kreshatik using the tube. Anna and Vlada will take care of everything for you. The can arrange tickets for concerts and other entertaiment and they don't add a surcharge for their services at Sherbourne. They always have a driver available. Your aparment is cleaned daily at the Sherbourne. Rag'n'Bull Member send PM   block PM add to buddies Send: 12/21/2007 11:23:02 AM   Why rent a mobile? Just buy a UA sim card for a few dollars and put it in your existing mobile! bassuk, If you're looking for 2 bedrooms then that is what is known as a '3 roomed apartment', room number 1 being the living room. tringa Member send PM   block PM add to buddies Send: 12/22/2007 7:17:33 AM   If you are looking for something special, Apartment.kiev.ua has the best ones I could find when I was planning my visit, but they have limited cooking facilities. Depends if you plan to dine out or not. The cheaper apartments on a lot of the other sites look pretty dismal, and remember, holiday apartments are rarely quite as good as they look on the photos. Kiev is a very nice city to visit. jetmba. Member send PM   block PM add to buddies Send: 12/22/2007 12:47:15 PM   too_tall: Where were you with your advice four years ago!?! Nearly everything you mention I agree with and have learned the HARD way. Towels in apartments as so threadbare as to be made of crepe-paper. A Swiss Army knife is absolutely crucial, or a leatherman (or similar) which as the pliers you will need to fix SOMETHING you never would have believed would have broken. Chapstick is critical as well as you will NEVER find it over there, and I find that my lips become chapped, not so much from air travel as from certain..... activities that come up. Martin: In the US most mobile phones are locked to a particular service provider. They are typically very cheap (or even FREE) but in return for that we are obligated to a particular provider for one year or two. Also our phones typically use different GSMs - 850 and 1900, I think. WHere in Europe they tend to be 900 and 1800. Unless American has the foresite to buy a TRIband or quadband "worldphone" and UNLOCKED - an FSU SIM card won't do him much good. Rag'n'Bull Member send PM   block PM add to buddies Send: 12/22/2007 2:01:14 PM   jetmba, Mobile providers over here also give literally free phones but it only costs a few dollars to have them unlocked. I've long since given up with that system, I buy my mobiles on ebay and use pay as you go. Land of oz Member send PM   block PM add to buddies Send: 12/22/2007 9:09:10 PM   In the States there are two cell phone systems, Gsm and cdma. Unfortunately where I live the only coverage is with the cdma carriers. A cdma phone used by Alltel and verison will not work on a gsm network such as is used in Europe and the Fsu. If you use T-mobile, singular, or att&t as a carrier you can buy an unlocked quad band phone that all you have to do is switch sim cards in which you can purchase at Kbp airport. If you have a locked quad band phone you can search on ebay for "unlock code motorola phone" as an example and find a code to unlock your telephone and if it supports quad band then pull your sim card a put a local one in for the country you are visiting. I used Martins method: bought a phone on ebay and sim card in Kbp only to learn my phone was defective, I could hear but the mic did not work so I could not be heard (it did not have coverage here so I did not buy a sim card for the states and test it). But still I was able to buy a nokia 1100 there at the airport for $70 US and was set. One caution if you buy there have the phone man switch the display language to English. I rode the train halfway to Dnepropetrovsk trying to study that Russian display language and figure it out until I finally ask the non english speaking gentleman siting beside me on the train: Vwe moge nigh tee angleesky zdeece (you able find english here). His big smile and conishna (of course) was worth every minute of it. The phone was much more functional after that. I used that phone in Russia by putting a different sim in it this summer and it has been to Ukraine several times with friends. The sim card remains good as long as it is not left unused for 6 months or a year ( do not remember which). You can buy minutes from the street venders or in Russia at the grocery stores were vending machines that you put paper money in and added minutes to your phone number. Probably is in Ukraine too but I did not know it. At any rate I would not be without a phone over there now. If I get over my head about something I have English speakers at my finger tips. GeminiDreams Member send PM   block PM add to buddies Send: 12/23/2007 3:37:24 AM   You dont want to be located out of the central area especially the first couple of times. If you stay central you can basically walk to whatever you need. You dont want to be catching the metro, especially on your first visit and by staying central you can go out for a couple of hours, then go back to the apartment then go out again and if everything is close its no hassle. If you are out of the centre it is a real pain to pop back to the apartment. Phones are cheap in Kiev, $60 - 80 will suffice, $10 for local SIM card and maybe $10 for a recharge if you talk on the phone rather than SMS. Ive always found the water safe but it doesnt taste so good. I have drunk it boiled and unboiled without incident. Cant vouch for other cities. Beware the bottled water as they have a passion for soda water there and a number of times I have been caught with it when I wanted still. jetmba. Member send PM   block PM add to buddies Send: 12/23/2007 9:41:27 PM   I took my unlocked Samsung E250 when I visited my lady in July and August in Ukraine. I used an old UMC SIM card I actually purchased in April. I have to admit - I was quite suprised at how fast a 25 grievna (about $5) phone card was used up just with a few short coversations to my lady on her mobile. Seemed like I was ALWAYS looking for a street vendor to buy another and we seldom spoke over our mobiles! This time I am taking another ebay purchased phone, my CECT P168. Its an iphone clone (triband) that I hope to use in addition to a laptop to surf the internet. As previously mentioned in this forum, I bought a wireless modem that I hoped to use for that purpose, but have since decided to give my lady a notebook computer of her own. Since they (notebooks) are quite expensive in Ukraine (certainly over $1,000) I am taking one along which I expect to pay around $500 for. I will then leave it for her. But I doubt I would be allowed to take two into the country and make it past customs without paying some sort of an import tax. I feel better having a phone that (I think) can surf the internet as well. jetmba. Member send PM   block PM add to buddies Send: 12/23/2007 9:52:31 PM   Regarding water - I've never really had a problem with it. Though I have to admit I try to limit my exposure to that which I use to rinse my toothbrush. I know that even THAT can expose one to micro-organisms but I have had a problem so far. As far as beverage - I happen be practically addicted to diet cola - which is readily available in Ukraine as "Coca Cola Lite" or "Pepsi Lite". Never say "Diet Coke" in a restaurant. They won't know what you are talking about - will ignore the "Diet" part - and will simply bring you whatever sugared cola that they have. devilmaycare Member send PM   block PM add to buddies Send: 12/25/2007 7:50:57 AM   I prehaps should mention I'm from the UK, so I'm assuming my phone will work fine as its a multi band job. Guess I should investigate a local sim although lady doesnt speak much english. On the suject of languages - whats the going rate for an interpreter ? and any suggestions for a good one ?. I was going to do 2 bedrooms so that I could offer the lady a room of her own, and it doesnt look like it increases the cost too much and with current fx rates its dirt cheap anyway - that apartments au site has reasonable looking places in good locations for 50 UKP/night which is pocket money to me. Anyway I dont want somewhere too posh since I dont want to give the impression that I'm well off (even if I am ...). So far lady #1 has offered to travel from maruipol which is a hell of a journey (dunno if shes flying or taking train) with as yet no mention of me helping out financially. In reality I will reimburse her least partially if she turns up and appears to be genuine. Also it was my sugestion to meet in kiev initially so I'm reasonably confident she isnt intending to scam me for non-existent travel costs. Given some of the tales of woe on this site I'm prepared for a no-show but my instinct tells me shes on the level, I'll definately have a contingency plan though even its only making a fool of myself chatting up local girls in cafe's and bars :-). beemer18 Member send PM   block PM add to buddies Send: 12/26/2007 9:13:09 PM   'In reality I will reimburse her least partially if she turns up and appears to be genuine.' Question bassuk.... IF she does show up...she will be taking train...so exactly what part of the $30US( her price is probably cheaper, that was my price from kiev-odessa) will you be reimbursing????? Are you too lazy to go to Mariupol?? Good you are prepared for no-show, expect strange looks at you while 'chatting up' at cafe's and bars!!! Wonder how your russian is??? Guess it is bad, you are asking for interpreter. My thoughts are for you to have another girl lined up that you have written to and know somewhat!!!! I think I have # to a lady I used, from my experiences....will never meet a girl in another city...I go to her city..I have my reasons!! Good luck!! yorkie67 Member send PM   block PM add to buddies Send: 12/27/2007 4:26:12 AM   Beemer, I would not be surprised if the lady travelled by plane rather than train, based on when I met a lady in another city before (like you, I agree that going to her city is better), so he may be expected to pay the full fare for return flights. Also based on my experience before, the money side may well not be mentioned until the meeting itself! Im not saying it will be the same scenario, but I think, Bassuk, you should enquire out of interest how she will be travelling there, so you will at least be ready when you are hit for a request for $200. Rag'n'Bull Member send PM   block PM add to buddies Send: 12/27/2007 8:35:20 AM   beemer, Can see you're having a good Christmas :) bassuk, perhaps erring on the side of caution and perhaps for fear of being flamed, has said 'least partially', perhaps, just perhaps, he was referring to circa $200 in airfares rather than $30 train, I would imagine that if she turns out to be 100% legit he'll reimburse her 100% likewise, erring on the side of caution it is called. Chatting up in cafe's and bar's, are Kiev cafe's and bar's any different from those in Mariupol except that one may blend in more in the more cosmopolitan city of Kiev? bassuk, If she's legit, I mean that she doesn't frogmarch you to the cosmetics or clothes shops, then reimburse her in full, can check airfares on www.ukrainefare.com . If you're looking for an incognito place to eat and a beer or two then I can recommend TGI Fridays in Kiev, all staff are English speaking and extremely friendly (as pretty as they are :) and the going rate for an interpreter is circa $10 or EUR10 per hour but try to source one via the internet before you go, if you're renting an apartment then enquire of the apartment company regarding an interpreter. Good Luck jetmba. Member send PM   block PM add to buddies Send: 12/27/2007 10:14:07 AM   Both nasfan and I have had experiences where laides from Mariupol are not particularly proud of their cities and would prefer to meet guys for the very first time in a bigger city. Donetsk is okay, but Kyiv is even better. Not quite sure WHY the ladies seem embarrassed about Mariupol. So it is industrial and not very big, but it certainly has its charm. Still, some ladies feel that way. MY lady took a train to meet me in Kyiv for our second meeting. I errored at the time in not offering to reimburse her. And she never asked. Later on I found out that it was around $30 - but that was for cruddy third-class seating in a way overstuffed cattlecar. I walked through a few of them while traveling first-class with her to Simferopol and vowed that she would never travel that way again, if I could help it. When she comes to met me next week she will travel second-class (four people to a berth). I seem to remember that it was a little over $100 to fly from Kyiv to Mariupol. I did it in August. So I'm not quite sure why yorkie would automatically think that she would travel by plane - unless his women are a little better off financially than some of those I have met. Land of oz Member send PM   block PM add to buddies Send: 12/27/2007 10:26:05 AM   One thing I might mention. If there is a choice it is better to get an Interpreter that is not associated with a marriage agency, especially the agency that your lady is from. Because you want the Interpreter working for you and not juggling you against potential future profits of the agency. If she/he is working for you then they can give you not only literal translation but subtle hints on problem areas as well as a character tips on the lady you are meeting. I like to have an idea about the lady as soon as she agrees to write to me and if possible I have an interpreter/guide meet with her and deliver flowers. I feel like spending 50 to 100 dollars is well worth it to find out if the lady is serious and the kind of lady I want to meet as well as being personally introduced to her by someone I know and trust and who knows me. I realize my philosophy is different than many here because I want to be zeroed in on a target before I go rather than spending 3 or 4 Gs meeting 10 or 12 women to pick a target out of. And bassuk you have the contact info for the lady that I use. Billo Member send PM   block PM add to buddies Send: 12/27/2007 8:47:48 PM   The women from either Mariupol or Donetsk think their towns are armpits. The smog can at times be appalling and this time of year the beach at mariupol has nothing to offer. Meeting in Kiev is fine. She may just want to make sure you are real and ok before she brings you to a small city where everyone recognises her with a new man. If you like each other you can always get on the train and go to mariupol and then meet the parents or other relatives. Mariupol is a nice town but when Illich and Azov Steel are fired up and the wind is right, well..... beemer18 Member send PM   block PM add to buddies Send: 12/27/2007 9:44:52 PM   guys...from what I know of girls in ukraine, train travel is widely if not totally used for travel within ukraine by ukrainians. At ~$100 each way, that can be average monthly salary for some. That is reason I said she would travel by train. You are right yorkie, I am sure this girl will spring the expenses to get to kiev near time of meeting. What confuses me is bassuk said he suggested to meet in kiev, yet said girl offered to travel from mariupol to kiev, did he just say, lets meet in kiev and said nothing about how 'she' would get there. martin...who suggested to meet in Kiev??? According to my proper etiquette, girl should have 100% paid for trip. I don't understand the partially reimbursement line. What was said and what was meant, not even close. What could have been said.....if she is legit, I will pay for 100% of her expenses. I do get your point thou. Your Reply: Your name:   New Registration Password:   Forgot password?   refresh Code:   Russian brides > Main Forum > Accomodation in kiev
	Pages: 1 2