Quick Question About Ukraine For Recent...

[RickM]

Travelers...
I have a few friends planning from stsge one a trip to Ukraine(Odessa,Lugansk and Dnvpt.)...
First question is about visa is what is best type,is invitation and registeration upon arrival needed?
Second question is about travel.Seems most arrive to Kiev.Is it necessary or can you fly into the other cities and avoid Kiev?
Third and finally before I tell them to search Brama is about accomodations.Is it best to have arrangements in advance or better to negotiate once there?
I been to russia many times before but never Ukraine.Is it that much different.It is 3 American men going in October...
Thanks for any advices...

[Zoidberg]

... in response to Quick Question About Ukraine For Recent...., posted by RickM on Jul 17, 2003

I went on a personal visa for 3 weeks in May. I flew from San Diego to DC to Vienna to Dnepropetrovsk and the same on the way back with an overnight in Vienna that the airline paid for. The cost was $1k through Russia House Travel. I know Tyrolean Air flies to a few places in Ukraine from Vienna but I don't remember what flights I saw while there.

As others said I'd also set up hotels or flats before going if it is their first trip there. Flats are cheaper and you can get decent ones for good prices. Transportation is excellent using the micro bus and everything else they have.

Z

[Philb]

... in response to Quick Question About Ukraine For Recent...., posted by RickM on Jul 17, 2003

Besides the others mentioned below,you can also enter Ukraine via Kharkov.  There are flights between Kharkov and Vienna.  By the way, I will be returning to Ukraine mid September through mid October.

[John K]

... in response to Quick Question About Ukraine For Recent...., posted by RickM on Jul 17, 2003

1) How long do they plan to stay?  Are they going to be exiting the country and reentering?  If they intend to stay less than a few months, a tourist visa is fine.  You don't need a letter of invitation anymore for that, nor are you required to register anymore.  If you are entering Ukraine and then leaving, a single entry visa is fine.  If you are taking a side trip out of the country and then returning, a double entry visa is required.

2) You can also arrive in Odessa.  I think there may be one more place to arrive as well.

3) If they were going during tourist season they'd need to  make reservations beforehand.  October isn't tourist season though.  If they want to chance it, they can try to negotiate on the spot.  Personally, I try not to leave anything to chance.  Last thing I want is to be running around a foreign city looking for a hotel to take me in.

As far as comparing to Russia, I can't help you there.  Hopefully, someone else can provide you some info on that.

[RickM]

... in response to Re: Quick Question About Ukraine For Rec..., posted by John K on Jul 17, 2003

They can send to a Consular inside US for their visas?They are planning to go to Ukraine and stay there about 3 weeks visiting Odessa,Simferpool and Lugansk last they told me.
So no need to register visa any longer?That's great!!
Russia requires invitation letter and registeration with-in 72 hours of arrival.
Thanks a lot...I'll pass this on...Better yet,have them get busy reading archievs and posting....

[John K]

... in response to Thanks John...So I Guess..., posted by RickM on Jul 18, 2003

They can send all the paperwork into the Ukrainian embassy at Washington DC or at one of the Consulate offices (one's in Chicago, there may be another in LA(?)).  Either that, or you can use a third party service like Red Star Travel.  

Registration is no longer required, but it they stay at a hotel, the hotel will register them as a convenience.  Your travellers have nothing to worry about there.  

If they are city hopping, they might want to arrange some transportation with a travel agency in Ukraine.  They can then set up tour guides, cars with drivers, translators, etc. beforehand.  If they are travelling by train, they can get the tickets purchased beforehand.

If they travel by train, they should reserve private coaches for themselves.  Coaches are reserved for 2 to 4 people.  If they want to travel alone, they will need to buy the other tickets for the coach.  They can buy children's tickets to save themselves some money.  I also brought a little bit of clothesline in my suitcase, so I could tie the door shut when I slept.  My wife and I weren't really disturbed after the train got started, but it was a nice precaution.

Hope this helps.

[Richard]

... in response to Re: Quick Question About Ukraine For Rec..., posted by John K on Jul 17, 2003

I know that there are flights into Simferopol (SIP) and Dnepropetrovsk (DNP?), but you are going to pay more with fewer connection options.

There seem to be connections in Kiev from many major western European capitals (London, Paris, Amsterdam, Frankfurt, Zurich, Vienna, Scandanavia) while the other cities seem to have connections primarily through Vienna (Austrian Airlines / Tyrolean (their commuter airline)) and Frankfurt (Lufthansa).

[RickM]

... in response to Re: Re: Quick Question About Ukraine For..., posted by Richard on Jul 17, 2003

nt

[romachko]

... in response to Thanks...N/T, posted by RickM on Jul 18, 2003

Another route is US-Istanbul-Simferopol. If your destination is Simferopol, this is the cheapest route I found.