Flights to Simferople

[raenman]

Hello, Does anyone know of any major airlines that fly to Simferople from Europe? All the Search engines fly to Kiev first, and I would like to aviod that if possible.Thanx, Raenman.

[Richard]

... in response to Flights to Simferople, posted by raenman on Dec 26, 2003

try viena = simferopol on Austrian / Tyroloean.  it may be seasonal and expensive.

[romachko]

... in response to Flights to Simferople, posted by raenman on Dec 26, 2003

I went to Simferopol via Kiev once and via Istanbul three times. There are flights from Frankfurt and Tel Aviv during summer but I have never used either.

The route via Istanbul is very good in my opinion. There are several airlines between the U.S. and Istanbul. Turkish Air (TK) gives a direct non-stop flight between the U.S. and Istanbul. By the way, Istanbul is listed as a European city in the airline industry. TK is practically the only reliable airline between Istanbul and Simferopol, two round flights a week. I used a frequent flyer's ticket issued by NWA/KLM twice between ORD and IST. There is one stop at Amsterdam Airport, very modern and full of shops and restaurants, even a Sushi bar! Last April I got a round ticket between ORD and IST on priceline.com for $520. The airline turned out to be Lufthansa. It stopped at Frankfurt and Munich on the way to IST but only at Munich on the way back. This price included insurance for medical and forced cancellation. A round ticket between IST and SIP costed me $288 through my Istanbul agent. Also, this agent can get you a TK ticket between ORD and IST at a very reasonable rate but, of course, not beating priceline.com.

You don't have to get a visa to Turkey in the U.S. because you can "buy" one right at the IST airport. The price for the visa to a U.S. citizen is pretty high and going up every time. Last time I paid $100. My Ukrainian debushka paid only $20. Some other nationality, like Japanese, pays none. The flight from IST to SIP is very late at night and the flight from SIP to IST is very early in the morning. It is highly advisable to stay in IST a day or more on the way to and back from SIP. There is a hotel in the center of the old town overlooking Blue Mosq, Aya Sophia, and Topkapi on European continent and Ushkadara on Asian continent. It is a spectacular view! I paid only $24-35/night for two (depending on the season), which included excellent breakfast. There is no inspection by customs office at IST but the inspection at SIP is a nightmare. Also, the immigration gate at IST is among the fastest in the world while that of SIP is among the slowest. So, stand next to the door in the shuttle bus from the jet to the office so that you can outjocky other passengers. Oh, one more thing. Take a roll of toilette tissue. A tourist book says, "Toilette tissue in Ukraine feels like moon rock." If you are curious how moon rock feels like, you have a rare opportunity.

Istanbul is one of the most fascinating cities in the world. By the way I have visited 57 countries on every continent in the world, excluding the south pole. If you would like to have more info, please feel free to contact me. I know one very helpful agent in IST. You can communicate with her through E-mail and purchase a ticket with a credit card. If choose IST route, I can also give you a lot of advice about IST. If you like to know more about SIP and Crimea, I also can give you a lot of advice.

[Albert]

... in response to Re: Flights to Simferople, posted by romachko on Dec 29, 2003

I have been through SIP 4 times.  I didn't experience the nightmare that you stated.  The only problem was with local passengers who don't have courtesy to stand in lines.  They want to crowd into front of line.

And what is this bit about the toilet tissue.  You can go to most any store in Crimea and find toilet tissue of various grades of softness.  So you have a choice of how to treat your butt.

Also, not just to be picky, but you say, "There is a hotel in the center of the old town overlooking Blue Mosq, Aya Sophia, and Topkapi on European continent and Ushkadara on Asian continent."

It would be more correct to say there are dozens of such hotels.

My Turkish friends say that the cost of visa to US citizens will keep going up to match all price increases US applies to visa for Turkish citizens.

[T P Cornholio]

... in response to Flights to Simferople, posted by raenman on Dec 26, 2003

Try SVO - SIP

[Albert]

... in response to Re: Flights to Simferopol, posted by T P Cornholio on Dec 27, 2003

To go through Russia, he would need to apply for both Ukrainian and Russian visa.  Each of these countries now require that you send in your original passport, so the lead time and chance for lost passport doubles.

No visa required to catch connecting flights in Istanbul (transit visa required in Moscow), and if you want to spend time in Istanbul, can purchase visa instantly at airport in Istanbul.

[CS767]

... in response to Flights to Simferople, posted by raenman on Dec 26, 2003

Summer only as of summer 2003--

[Albert]

... in response to Flights to Simferople, posted by raenman on Dec 26, 2003

Only Turkish air regularly flies into Simferopol, and those flights are from Istanbul.  A Ukrainian outfit also flies between Simferopol and Istanbul, but I was advised to avoid that airline.  Apparently they cancel the flights at last minute if a certain number of passengers are not reached, etc.

During summer months, there are some direct flights from European cities on some of the major carriers (Lufthansa, etc.), but those flights are not year round.

But, I highly recommend the Turkish air service.  A good thing is they are nonstop from Chicago or New York into Istanbul, so that is a long time to get some sleep. Other carriers stop in France, Germany, etc., and then to Kiev, so less time to get some sleep.