I am planning a spring trip to visit my girlfriend in Nikolaev? The biggest stumbling block has been figuring out if I should fly to Odessa or Kiev? Flights to Odessa are much harder to get and more expensive than flying to Kiev. But Kiev is much furthur away from my girlfriend's hometown.
I am asking the experienced posters here what would you do? Would you fly in to Kiev and take the train to Nikolaev or bite the bullet and fly in to Odessa as it's much closer to Nikolaev but the dates on my flight are very hard to get. Any good advice would greatly be appreciated. One other thought was to try and fly into Kiev and then take a flight to Odessa. However I can't seem to find a way to book a flight once I get into Kiev to Odessa.
Pro....best to fly directly to odessa from western europe. Yes it is cheaper to fly into Kiev. If your timing is good catch flight from Kiev to Odessa on aerosvit.ua/eng, maybe flights are still around $65 each way. Arrange taxi from odessa to nikolaev, should cost
around $60-65 each way(maybe prices are up). I use ukrainefare.com ,just check prices.
I prefer to fly into Odessa. Going through customs is much easier in Odessa, and in general it is much less hassle. It will also be much easier to fly out of Odessa when it is time to leave.
I usually fly LOT from Warsaw to Odessa; they have a flight every day I believe. I don't know where you are flying from, but United/Lufthansa/Austrian connect to Warsaw from Frankfurt.
Going rate for taxis out of Odessa to Nikolaev these days is 3 hrv/km. Nikolaev is around 150km, so total of 450 hrv, so around $75 depending on exchange rate.
Malev have flights to Odessa from Budapest, Transaero from Moscow (Domododovo), Austrian from Vienna. Otherwise fly to Kiev and then fly to Odessa on Aerosvit as suggested.
And just ignore, turn your back on, the taxi drivers at Odessa airport. They are 10 times worse than their Borispol equivalents, even shouting 'Foxtrot Oscar' at these guys had no effect and there was a time I had to ask for police assistance to get the guys off my back, I'd only popped outside the terminal for a quiet cigarette :)
what you need is for someone to meet you in kiev airport, take you to train station and get you a ticket. Let me know if you would consider this and i'll send you the contact info for the person who does this for me.
is there a reason why your girlfriend isn't meeting you at odessa airport?
Fly to Odessa. Ask for the Taxi driver to drive you to the Bus station and listen for the man screaming Nikolaev. There are mini-buses leaving from Odessa all the time. Takes about 2 hours to get there... Cost about 4-5 dollars... By taxi will it cost about 50-60 dollars...
Please write me if you needd more info., i live there and please check out my dating site.. Trying to start one without scammers... God help me!!!
www.russianlovemail.com
Just look at it and comment please.. All feedback is great
Thank You for all the posts and great information to consider.
Gecko my girlfriend will meet me in either Kiev or Odessa it does not matter to her where I fly in but the hard part is trying to get the flight to Odessa that has been the biggest stumbling block. Trying to get the exact dates and times that works for both of us. That's why I was asking if it was better to fly into Kiev and then try to get a flight to Odessa. If I need the assistance you suggested I'll definately let you know.
Rune thanks for the tip on the mini bus from the Odessa airport. That is the first time I heard about the mini buses going to Nikolaev. Quite a big difference in getting to Nikolaev using the bus. And good luck on the dating site it'll be hard to try and sniff out every scammer in the book but I am sure you'll have a fine reputable site. . I'll definately check it out.
Sounds like you have seen a Ukrainian bus yet! It's not unusual to see, perhaps, an 18 seater minibus with probably 30 crammed people on it with no doubt a high stench of body odour!
Where do you live ProBowler? Then perhaps some better tips on how to fly there.
I live in the Midwest. Probably in the worst economy going right now in the USA Detroit Michigan. Good thing I do not work for the automoive companies here but the trickle down effect has been enormous. But I am still good with my job and also have a business venture that I am working on so not everything is desperate here. But any tips flying from the Midwest is greatly appreciated.
Check out www.aerosvit.ua/eng for prices from JFK (and Toronto) to Odessa then check prices for connecting flights within N.America to get you to/from JFK or YYZ (Toronto).
Also, Northwest are in bed with KLM so check out what Northwest might be offering to Kiev, it will route via Amsterdam no doubt.
If one wants to visit Ukraine and Russia...is it easier to go to Russia first and then Ukraine or vice versa?
Any tips? It seems all roads go from Kiev to Moscow and Moscow to Kiev. It is not cheap.
Has anyone taken train from Russia to Ukraine? Has anyone rented car in Ukraine?
Last Summer I visited a lady in Moscow then flew to Kiev. No problems! On the return trip there were problems, when I arrived in Moscow from Kiev I did not arrive in the international airport. Anyhow I just followed the blue "in transit" signs thinking I would have no problems catching my next flight out to the USA but low and behold I did not realize it but I only had a "single entry visa" for Russia. And of course I had already used the single entry when I visited Moscow a week earlier. After a three hour delay and being passed between four different "handlers" I was put on a special bus and taken to the international airport where I was allowed to leave.
MAKE SURE YOUR RUSSIAN VISA IS A MULTIPLE ENTRY VISA IF YOU WILL PASS THROUGH RUSSIA A SECOND TIME.
Anyone any details of how to get to Ochakov .I do not know is this city near to Nikolaev. And is it best to fly to Kiev .Greatful for any help in details of how to get to this city .thank you .