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Andre from Holland, 15-18 August 2008.
My stay was very well organized. And also i didnt had to worry about anyhting. I felt comfortable and at ease. I didnt worry about anything cause of the wonderful assistance and guidance of Karina. She is wonderful and in my opinion the best. Next time with a trip when beautyabroad comes to holland or I come to ukraine, i definitly will ask for Karina for guide. She is wonderful and very kind, very professional and speak english perfectly, much better then I do. I thank her very much for everything and I believe she deserves a bonus ;).
I am happy with how everything went. And am pleased with all the service of BA.com. My thanks and warm wishes to BA team and especially to Karina. I wish her strength in these hard times for her, cause of her relative that past away.
From a satisfied customer,
Andre
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- Entering and Leaving Ukraine
- Health Insurance
- Money
- Crime
- Water
- Radiation
- Electricity
- Etiquette
- Wheather
- Medicaments
- Luggage
- Documents
- If you should become "lost"
- Cameras, film, and batteries
1. Entering and Leaving Ukraine
To enter Ukraine, a visa is needed for all the foreign citizens except the CIS citizens and persons with diplomatic or special passports of the countries that have appropriate agreements with Ukraine.
The best and cheapest way to obtain a visa is through the Ukrainian consulate or Embassy in your country prior to departure. To extend your visa, contact the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (tel. +0038-044-293-44-88). Entering or leaving Ukraine, you may proceed other through green or red custom corridor. Save all documents you receive and fill out going through customs - you will need this to leave the country.
Red corridor - for people caring goods or cash that must be declared:
- Any prohibited items;
- More than $1000 and 85 hrv. in cash;
- Personal jewelry whose value is exceeds $240;
- More than 1 liter of alcoholic beverages;
- More than 200 gr-s of tobacco products.
Green corridor - for people do not have any goods to declare.
2. Health Insurance
Medical travel insurance although not required, is recommended and there are now several travel insurance companies offering this service to travelers going to Ukraine. This type of insurance provides protection to you in the event of a major illness, injury, or death while overseas. The cost of this insurance is between $3.00 and $4.00 per day. This insurance should cover the cost of emergency evacuation from the foreign country back to your home country. Medical treatment while in a foreign country, physician referrals, prescription purchase and delivery, expatriation of remains in the event of death, and more. Check with your current health insurance carrier to understand the nature and extent of the coverage they extend to you as a policyholder traveling to Ukraine. If your health insurance provider does not cover you for travel to Ukraine, they may offer you a rider on your current coverage for an additional fee or you may purchase this coverage separately. Although no one of the following companies is recommended over another, all of the following are reliable travel insurance providers:
- International SOS Assistance, 800-523-8930
- Travel Assistance International, 800-821-2828
- Traveler's Emergency Network, 800-275-4836
- Medix Insurance Services, 800-732-5309
- Wallach & Co., 800-237-8615
3. Money
Plan on spending approximately $40.00 - $60.00 per day average ( on the top of the interpreter and apartment expenses). Take your Visa, MasterCard, or American Express as they are sometimes accepted and you will get a better rate of exchange by paying with a credit card. You can always get a cash advance if you need the extra money. Be sure to contact your credit card company, notifying them of your travel plans outside the country. Travelers' checks are not advisable because there are only a few places where they can be exchanged for money and the exchange fees are high. Spread your risk, disperse your money throughout your garments inside a locked suitcase and some in a leg stash on your person. Remember the amounts in each location, and when making purchases, only retrieve the amount of money needed for that purchase. Try to get a safe deposit box at the hotel your in. Also you can pre send cash to yourself prior to your trip with Western Union or wire transfer.
4. Crime
Crime is low in Ukraine compared to Western rates. Still, beware of walking alone late at night and flashing a lot of money.
5. Water
It's recommended that you boil tap water 10 minutes before drinking it. We recommend you to use mineral water for drinking and making tea or coffee. Be forewarned that the water supply, especially hot, can be irregular.
6. Radiation
Radiation levels in Kiev and most of Ukraine are considered safe and normally by the US Embassy and other official bodies.
7. Electricity
The standard electric voltage in Ukraine is 220 volts. If you bring electric appliances, make sure to take a plug adapter and a surge protector.
8. Etiquette
When visiting Ukraine, there are few simple rules of etiquette that may be useful:
- If invited into a family home, it is traditional to bring a gift. A bottle of wine, a cake or a bouquet of flowers is customary. If there is a child in the house, it is appropriate to provide him/her with a small gift as well;
- If you bring flowers, make sure it is in an odd number;
- Do not shake hands across the threshold of a door. It is considered as bad luck;
- When shaking hands, take off your gloves;
- Be prepared to remove your shoes upon entering a home;
- At the entrance of upscale restaurants, expect that your coat, briefcase or baggage will be checked;
- When eating dinner at someone's home, causal dress is accepted;
- Be ready to give toasts at dinner, for guests are often asked to do so;
- Be ready to accept all food and drink offered to you when visiting friends. Ukrainians are known for their generosity when it comes to feeding others. Turning down food may be considered rude;
- In Orthodox churches women wear scarves or hats, and men take off their hats.
9. Wheather
Take an umbrella and warm clothing! Weather is often unpredictable and can get very cold to extremely hot in the middle of the summer. Spring and Fall are typically cool to cold and it can even snow, so prepare accordingly. Take a comfortable pair of sneakers and jeans to beat around in; you will not look out of place. Do not take your expensive watch and expensive or flashy jewelry. Most Ukrainians are not very materialistic and they resent what they see as "rich" foreigners. Suggested gift items: Ukrainian ladies silk scarves, coffee, hand lotions, small cosmetic items, or costume jewelry. But, keep in mind Ukrainian ladies typically enjoy small but thoughtful gifts more than expensive things.
10. Medicaments
Take over the counter medications such as aspirin, Tylenol, cough syrup, Alka Seltzer, antacid, anti-diarrhea compound, laxatives, throat lozenges, allergy medications, first aid cream, and the like. These will be difficult to find and quite expensive if you are able to find them in a "Ukrainian drug store". Keep all medicines in their original bottles and make sure prescription medicine is labeled as such. This will avoid problems at Ukrainian Customs. Take toiletries. If you connect with a favorite lady, before heading home you might consider leaving all of your over the counter medications with her as they are quite valuable but too expensive for the average Ukrainians. If you wear glasses or contacts, take a spare pair in your hand carried luggage.
11. Luggage
In your hand carried luggage, pack a survival kit with enough clothes and toiletries to last a couple of days (include on nice outfit to wear to 1st social) in case your luggage is misrouted. This especially occurs if you will be connecting through more than one city before your arrival. Airlines are usually good about getting your luggage delivered to your hotel the next day if it does occur to you. But, don't get caught unprepared.
12. Documents
Before you leave for Ukraine, photocopy all of your documents, and carry separately. Check your Visa and make sure the entry date coincides with the actual date of your arrival. If you have any questions contact your travel agent immediately till "Designated drinking buddies". Do not drink alcohol with people you do not know. Again, buddy up with a lady after dark, particularly if you do not speak any Russian. No exceptions. Do not get into a taxi that has more than one person (only the driver). If you are with a lady have her do the talking with the taxi driver to specify the destination and set a price. Be sure she set's a price for the ride before getting into the taxi. If your luggage or belongings are put into the trunk, do not exit the taxi until the driver gets out and opens the trunk, and leave the passenger door open until all of your property is removed.
13. If you should become "lost"
When you are in the city acquire a map of the subway (Metro) system (available everywhere) and keep it with your city map. If you should become "lost", most Ukrainians are friendly and if you do have a map, you can indicate to them that you are lost, you can point on the map to where you want to go, have them point to your current location, and then have them point you in the right direction. Almost all of the ladies you meet will be honored if you ask them to be your guide to the sights. It will be as exciting an adventure for them as it will be for you. These city streets are very safe when you use your head. But, you are a tourist in a foreign city, and vulnerable because you are unfamiliar with the language and the local customs. Just look confident and aware and use common sense.
14. Cameras, film, and batteries
Take a Polaroid camera with enough film for sixty or so pictures, for use as described. If you plan on doing any sight seeing at all, an inexpensive, good quality, 35MM, auto-focus, "point and shoot" type camera is recommended. Take plenty of film, as high speed (ASA-400, ASA-200). It is recommended that you do not take big, bulky, expensive, professional camera equipment unless you are a professional photographer going to Ukraine for that purpose only. Along with plenty of film, take batteries for everything battery powered, that you will be taking on the trip with you. Although, batteries are becoming very easy to find anywhere in the Ukraine, Calculators are helpful in calculating currency exchange and bills.
If you get into trouble, call the local police. The law in Ukraine does not like when the locals "mess" with the tourists.
Perhaps, one of the most important travel tips by all means, is to learn several words in Russian. The Ukrainians, that you come in contact with (the ladies and as well as others) will be impressed and honored that you took the time and made the effort to learn some of their language. Russian is a very difficult language to master and any attempt you make will be respected. There is plenty of sites on the web which you can download simple Russian.
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