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 > Currency in Ukraine Author Post ragingbull Member send PM   block PM add to buddies Send: 1/20/2013 5:51:36 PM   Money in minutes with Western Union are probably the highest. But, next day delivery is $5.99. I believe that's up to $500. That's about as much as an ATM fee. lonelyranger1701 Member send PM   block PM add to buddies Send: 1/20/2013 11:22:51 PM   I have a Visa debt card and I have to temporary increase it’s spending limit to buy the plane tickets. I also must tell the bank that I plan to travel with it, otherwise my spending limit is small. This last year I forgot to, and my limit at ATMs was like 200 to 300USD. In 2009, I planned for an 18 day trip, so that’s what I told the bank. However I extended it to 22 days, and when I went to buy that famous pair of ear rings, I had to make three withdrawals to have enough cash. lonelyranger1701 Member send PM   block PM add to buddies Send: 1/21/2013 2:21:58 AM   debit bowhunter Member send PM   block PM add to buddies Send: 1/21/2013 7:59:49 AM   I use my paypal debit card, it has a 250 dollar limit but also carry around 500 cash. exchanging currency even the pound can be done quite easily there are signs all over with the current exchange rate. I also have a debit card I carry for a backup.I travel there every year so taking grivna back with me is no problem. paypal has the lowest fee I have seen so far making it an easy choice. blu_craze Member send PM   block PM add to buddies Send: 1/21/2013 11:54:22 AM   You go with a Credit Union you can get a Debit Card and an original ATM card. Both with a withdrawal limit of $600 each/ $1200 per day using both cards. Its a life saver when I travel! Rick4girl Member send PM   block PM add to buddies Send: 1/21/2013 12:29:35 PM   Ive never had a problem using my VISA and MC cards in Ukraine except for once with my Chase bank card which I forgot to pre-authorize on a spur of the moment trip when one of my good friends who was tour guide at Chornobyl died in 2009. My Synovus bank cards work perfectly and the foreign transaction fees are refunded also in a couple days on my MC as its a VIP Platinum card for business travelers. Unlike 2004 when ATMs were only located at banks and select hotels, they have proliferated greatly and one can find an ATM virtually anywhere.... well, I have been a few small villages without them. If you travel often to Ukraine, consider opening an account at a strong Ukrainian bank such as Privatbanc. You can make 6 month notes that pay 11% interest which means a 1000 deposit, converted to UAH will earn 55 bucks in 6 months. You can even make online deposits to this bank from home. western union by contrast is very expensive. you will pay over 100 bucks to send 1000 to Ukraine. As most here have mentioned, I take little from my apartment when I go out. a few hundred UAH, a $20 bill and one ATM card. Its plenty for a day out. durak Member send PM   block PM add to buddies Send: 1/21/2013 4:19:19 PM   To repeat myself a bit, a word for those who travel to the FSU with debit cards: I learned the hard way, when my wallet was stolen, the disadvantages of a combination ATM/debit card (mine was VISA). The card could be used for purchases without the PIN. The crooks were well organized -- it took me about 45 minutes to get back to my flat and notify all the card companies (not easy, when one is abroad), but in that interval they ran up charges on all of them. When I got a new card, I insisted that it be ATM only (it doesn't say VISA or anything like that on it). It is absolutely useless without the PIN. My bank issues only combination cards by default, and I had to go through some special procedure to get the ATM-only card. So now, if I were to lose the card, I wouldn't be able to top up my cash -- but I wouldn't have to deal with crooks reaching their slimy fingers into my bank account. In fact, I only carry it with me when I am planning to hit up an ATM. lonelyranger1701 Member send PM   block PM add to buddies Send: 1/21/2013 11:00:35 PM   Durak,, in 2009 when I thought I was having problems with my card, I tried to call the number on the back of the card and could not get through. I was in Lugansk, and having problems connecting with the internet, and my Life cell phone has never been able to call home yet. This year or last, I was able to text my parents,,, and when I got home I showed them how to open it!! Lol I didn’t know the phone number of my bank,,, credit union , so I asked my parents to call them and have them extend my spending limit for travel. They, the CU,, wouldn’t do it! I even gave my parents all of my account info. I don’t think I ever got through to the CU until I arrived home,,, and they told me it was all proper procedure. One of the problems I had, is that the hotel didn’t allow any international phone calls. The interpreter and my girl took me to a place just for making calls. It was like a internet café,,,, but just for phones. The idea of a strictly ATM card sounds like a good one. durak Member send PM   block PM add to buddies Send: 1/22/2013 12:24:32 AM   @lonely: When my wallet was pinched, I was very lucky that I was staying in a deluxe apartment with a desktop PC and broadband connection, and had some time remaining on a Russian calling card. (This was back in the days before I traveled with my own computer, and broadband became so widely available.) Otherwise, it would have probably taken me several hours longer to make the theft notifications. lonelyranger1701 Member send PM   block PM add to buddies Send: 1/22/2013 12:45:07 AM   Durak,, since I have traveled there in the winter time, I have always had a leather jacket on which gives me many pockets and covers my behind!! Lol Literally!! I carry my extra wallet in my jacket, so I’m fairly well protected. If thieves would also want my jacket,,,, well, then I’m screwed! I haven’t seen a computer in an apartment before, but one hotel had a “public” computer. The Zirka in Odessa. What a dump!! I didn’t think it was safe to use that computer for anything personal. moyarishka Member send PM   block PM add to buddies Send: 1/22/2013 2:01:25 PM   lonely, Zirka is not a hotel it's a piece of sh*t :) RodanTsunami Member send PM   block PM add to buddies Send: 1/22/2013 9:29:35 PM   The worst place to keep your wallet is in your jacket pocket. You'll get squezzed by a crew and every pocket will be gone through before you know it. I was wearing a Levi jacket with the pockets buttoned and all the pockets were opened. I had a small amount of "flash" money for the Metro that they got without me knowing, I was just protecting my passport. Your wallet in your back pocket, a guy with a box cutter, your wallet is gone. Front pocket, with your hand on it and a willingness to get busy or loud is best. They do not want to be noticed. lonelyranger1701 Member send PM   block PM add to buddies Send: 1/23/2013 12:11:07 AM   RT,, I put it in the inside pockets along with my passport. I have three black leather jackets, two are ¾ length, down past the back pockets, and one has an elastic band around the top of the pockets. All of them have several pockets on the inside with snaps or Velcro! The thieves would have to get very personal to get anything out of the inside pockets. Each of the jackets were bought with an overseas trip during winter in mind. I sometimes wonder what I would do for a summertime trip? Where would I put all of my stuff when it’s 20 to 30+C?? I’ve seen people wear a plastic envelope on a rope around their neck to carry plane tickets. I hate fumbling in my pockets in a crowd,,,, something can fall out and you may never know it. I also avoid crowds and stay alert when people pass me on the street. Another reason for not having any problems on the street, I’m 5’11 and 200 to 210lbs and wear a 18-18 ½ 34/35 shirt. If anybody wants to mug me,,,, they better be prepared to be thrown head first through a car window! lonelyranger1701 Member send PM   block PM add to buddies Send: 1/23/2013 9:46:44 PM   Moya,, you are right! I asked the taxi driver who took me from the airport to Zirka about it,,, he said: It’s a Sh!t hole!!!! The way he said it with his accent made me laugh! I only stayed there about 12 hours,,,, the place was like a spring break house. A bed with a stack of sheets on it,,, a bathroom, TV, fridge,,,, that’s it! I couldn’t even have the TV and fridge plugged in at the same time,,, just one wall socket! I couldn’t close the bathroom door while sitting on the can,,,,, my feet were in the way!! The next morning I asked the girls behind the desk if there was another hotel nearby,,, and they pointed me in a direction, that’s how I found the London Hotel. I walked in and said out loud,,,, now this is more like it!! I went back to the Zirka and packed my things,,, throw the keys over the counter,, I didn’t even ask for the 2nd nights money back. I bought my cell phone nearby too. RodanTsunami Member send PM   block PM add to buddies Send: 1/23/2013 9:54:52 PM   I once believed it was impossible for me to pick pocketed too. I found different. As I wrote, my pockets were opened by a "crew" without me noticing. My attention was diverted by a "blocker" on the Metro. It was not until after the event that I understood what had happened. I knocked the blocker out of the car to the ground, checked for my passport, stepped left, ready to swing at anyone in pursuit as the mass of people moved forward. It was when I felt for my passport that I notice all the pockets opened. Back when we boarded, my lady signaled me that I was a target. The car was full and I was herded away from her when we stepped on board. If this happens to you, just push your way through regardless if people think you are rude, as I have done since. I had my hand over my wallet in the front pants pocket and my passport was in a buttoned jacket pocket. During the commute, my attention was only on my passport. I could not even raise my arms, but my other hand was up against my chest near the pocket with the passport. They went for the jacket pockets when the door opened at our stop and was blocked. Every other pocket was probably already gone through. You cannot monitor every person or even sense every contact in a crowd. They only got my decoy/flash money,,, enough to buy a beer. These guys will go through every pocket you have, even an inside jacket pocket. I have no doubt, I was a fraction of a second from loosing my passport and possibly my wallet as well. The guy I knocked down was probably the joke of his buddies when they counted take. lonelyranger1701 Member send PM   block PM add to buddies Send: 1/23/2013 11:01:22 PM   RT,, I don’t think it is impossible for me to be pick pocketed,,,, just not easy. Because I’ve traveled during winter,,, my jacket is also zipped up. I worry about traveling during the summertime, I don’t know how the hide everything. You need to protect your belongings without drawing attention to them. If you seem overly nervous about your wallet,,, they will think you have something to steal. When I walk past people on the street, if they are close enough to grab something,,,, I’ll turn or let my arm swing to block any attempt to reach my wallet. ragingbull Member send PM   block PM add to buddies Send: 1/23/2013 11:10:01 PM   I was thinking of using safety pins to close my pockets. Will that work? RodanTsunami Member send PM   block PM add to buddies Send: 1/24/2013 12:15:10 AM   The only reason I kept my wallet and passport is because my hand was on my wallet and had I reached up to hold the grab bar, my passport would have been taken before the door opened. The attempt was not made by someone seeing me with my hand on my pant's pocket and nothing better to do. It was well planned and executed. The reality is, I surprised them by clearing the doorway and why I stated the guy knocked on his ass, would have been clowned by his confederates. I was the target of a crew of at least 4 men and targeted before I stepped on the Metro. They know a western man by shoes , clothing, haircut and just the way you carry yourself. I was not the only one standing out in the crowd. I spotted them as well as my lady as a crew. Chances are, anyone reading this will not be targeted, I was,,,,, and got the best of them, this time. I lost less than 20 hryvnas, knocked someone on their ass, kept my passport, didn't have to put the boot to anyone and walked out of the Metro laughing. It was cheaper and better fun than Disneyland. If my passport was taken,,, that day and looking back would not be funny for me or for at least one other person. durak Member send PM   block PM add to buddies Send: 1/24/2013 12:23:37 AM   It's become almost a reflex for me to keep at least one finger in contact with my passport when approaching a crowded area. It's life in the city! If you suppose locals are immune to this kind of robbery because they "know the ropes," I can tell you of natives I know personally who have suffered theft of mobile phones and purses. When I'm visiting Russia, losing my passport would be something of a disaster. If lost before I get to Russia, it would mean I can't enter the country. If lost in Russia, it could mean a week or two before I can leave the country, and potential problems getting a future visa. Losing a wallet is just money. RodanTsunami Member send PM   block PM add to buddies Send: 1/24/2013 12:35:50 AM   Yes Durak, westerners are not the only targets, but you know we are the best targets and likely to be a better payoff. Your Reply: Your name:   New Registration Password:   Forgot password?   refresh Code:   Russian brides > Main Forum > Currency in Ukraine
	Pages: 1 2 3 4