What to Expect / Travel to Odessa Ukraine - Russian Ukrainian Belarus Travel Music Woman Dating News

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What to Expect / Travel to Odessa Ukraine
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Posted by: dhutche1

Hello im new to this site so please excuse my silly question.. I just hope I put this in the right place and get some feedback

Im a little confused and worried on what to expect when flying to the Ukraine for the first time. I have been corrosponding with a lovely lady by the name of Tetyana in Odessa Ukraine and would vey much like to visit her and the family. It would not be the first time we have meet we took a 10 day trip to Paris France at the start of the year and now are goign through the Fiancee visa process

and its just taking so long that I cant wait to see her again. I thought it would be nice to visit her but I dont speak any Russian and have not heard good things about the Ukraine in general. Is it really as dangerous and corrupt as I had been reading? Also can anyone tell me how do I go about getting a visa for the Ukraine? Any help would be great im just very lost on this subject.

Thanks
Dave

Posted by: Jim_FL

Check your e-mail for some helpful info. Ukraine is not nearly as bad as they say, from what I've heard said by others who have been there

It will be somewhat different than anything you have experienced before, but you should really make the trip, you will always have fond memories of it!

Posted by: Castlestormer

I thought you didn't need a visa to visit Ukraine, only Russia. Not true?

Posted by: dhutche1

Yes from what I understand you do need a visa to enter the Ukraine at least that is what the travel people tell me. My Fiancee did not think that I would need one either but according to the people I have talked with you do. Although I dont think its that big of a deal to get one.

Posted by: Khashyar

Hi guys...

(And welcome to our forums, dhutche1)..

When I was in Russia last summer (2002), you DID need a visa to enter the Ukraine and Russia (as well as Belarus) if you are an American Citizen...

The Ukrainian tourist visa is pretty easy to receive for American citizens, and is not that expensive...

By the way, I have heard that Odessa is a pretty city (It is on the Black Sea with many beaches).

My wife's parents travel from Belarus to the beaches of Odessa every year for a vacation, and they really enjoy.

I think from a Western perspective, the Odessa beaches may not be as clean as we are used to, but... The Russians really enjoy them...

If you are in the Odessa area, a very beautiful palce to visit is Yalta, which is south and east of Odessa.... The Yalta area is also near the Black Sea, but has some very beautiful nature and small mountains.

There are some pretty good visa services that can apply for the visa for you (and provide you with the tourist invitation that you MIGHT need for visiting Ukraine.)

I know that it can feel like a long time waiting for the fiance visa process... Just be patient, and write lots of emails and speak with her on the phone regularly (There are some good phone deals to Ukraine from Nobelcom.com-- I think it is about 7 cents per minute to the Ukraine.)

As far as the mafia and danger in Ukraine-- as your fiance. I'm sure she can tell you where to go, etc... Especially if your fiance is with you, you'll not be in danger. She will help lead you through the city and country.

I was told the same thing about Russia (that is was dangerous, and about the mafia, etc).. but I was just a bit cautious and stayed alert, and I did not experience any problems at all...

I was also told some of the same things about the Ukraine from a couple of Western men, but... I believe that the Ukraine is safer than most Western American cities.

And, I think that especially since you will be led around by your Ukrainian fiance, that you will be safe and she will help guide you in being safe (although I don't think that there are many dangers in Odessa, since it is full of Russian and other vacationers)...

Khashyar

Posted by: dhutche1

Well I have my visa for the Ukraine now and im working on the airfair now.. Im going to be staying for 2 weeks with my Fiancee and I just cant wait to see her again. Its going to be so nice since I will get to meet her parents and spend time with them. We are going to spend 4 days in the Yalta area thanks to your suggestion not to mention all the pictures I have seen of the area its just stunning..... Does anyone know of a good safe hotel in that area? Im looking on the web and have found what appears to be very nice rooms but you never know what you are getting untill you are there.

Ohh forgot to say... my trip to the Ukraine is July the 11th and staying till the 25th should get some great pictures.

Thanks
Dave

Posted by: Khashyar

Hi Dave...

I hope you have a GREAT trip...

I have heard that the summer is very high season for Russian vacationers to Odessa and Yalta (many Russians see Odessa as their beach resort), so you want to plan ahead...

As far as finding places to stay in Yalta.... I really do not know of any specific accomodations there, but... the travel book "Let's Go Eastern Europe" had very helpful and updated listings for accomodations when I used it last summer.

I think that booking hotels in Russia/ Ukraine online is one of the most expensive ways of getting a hotel (online rates for Russia seem to be significantly higher than what you can find once you are there.).

Below, I have included two hotels that I found in "Let's Go...."

I think it would be a great idea to get a book on traveling to Russia or Ukraine, and check out which town you would exactly like to stay in in the Yalta/ Crimea area.... (I am looking through two of my travel books to see what they say.....) You could also base yourself in Yalta for those 4 days, and then go on excursions to other interesting places near Yalta and around Crimea... It sounds like you will have a beautiful trip...

Here are two Yalta Hotels that you can try (I found them in the "Let's Go Eastern Europe" book)... Perhaps you can ask your fiance to call them and ask for prices, etc....:

1) "Gostinitsa Krym"; phone: (8) (0654) 27-17-10 or (8) (0654) 27-17-03; address: Moskovskaya ul. 1/6

2) "Massandra"; phone: (8) (0654) 27-24-01; address: ul. Drazhinskova 46

That would be great to see your photos (and hear about your trip) once you get back.

Khashyar

Posted by: ShermanAtlanta

I've been to Ukraine twice this year landing and leaving from Odessa both times. If you have any questions I will be happy to help. I will email you my phone number if you want to talk about customs, the police, etc.

Posted by: dhutche1

Yes I would like very much to know what customs is like and if its really as big of a problem as some people have made it out to be. My home e-mail address is dhutche1@tampabay.rr.com . I leave on the 11th of July and cant wait to go....If you could even just give me some pointers and things to expect I would be gratful thanks very much

Dave

Posted by: ShermanAtlanta

The customs people in Odessa are very annoying. Every time I came or went, they tore everything I had apart looking for imaginary things. When i entered the last time they told me they were looking for an engagement ring. They took my video cassettes apart and ruined them. He claimed that one weighed more than the others. I would have bribed him if there weren't so many other people around but I just couldn't bring myself to do something that is so illegal here. You would never offer a bribe here out of fear of arrest. There everyone seems to be annoyed that you do not offer one right away. On all 4 of my trips through customs they delayed me by a half hour to an hour. The best time I had was when I only had a few minutes before my flight. The girl seemed annoyed that she didn't have time to hassle me. She kept asking me if I was taking any money out of the country. When I was entering they asked me how I could survive on only $200 and I told them I would use the ATM to get more. They acted like they didn't understand. By the way, I had almost no problem getting money from the ATM with the exception of once when it was out of order because of no power that day. Make sure that you don't wait until you are out of money before you get more. Also if you like a certain cab driver, give him a $5 or $10 tip and he will be waiting for you in the morning and he will leave for home when you go to bed. I spent about $40 on actual taxi fares in 2 weeks but I tipped him about $200. He became not only my driver but also my bodyguard. I trusted him to take me to the best places and to wait for me. Once he almost had to fight another person that wanted to ride in his cab. It was not good for international relations when he opened the door for me and my lady outside of a club after not allowing others in. I think I might have heard some Russian curse words. When I last saw him as he unloaded and carried my luggage to the airport, I tipped him $20/100 Hrivna, and he hugged me like a long lost cousin. I recommend that you be very generous to the people there. They can do a lot more with a little bit than we can here. I tipped one waitress $20 for a meal because she had treated us so well and the food was so good. The meal was for 4 people with more food than we could eat and the tab was about $12. My lady made a very good salary of about $100 per month and they lived okay. The main thing I noticed was the lack of clothes and shoes. Everyone has some very nice coats and some nice clothes but not in the quantity we have. I also noticed a very attractive coat on the hanger in a store and I asked her what kind of fur it was. Her answer, "Some Dog". Oh well, different strokes huh? Oh well, I sent you my phone number. Ukraine is a wonderful country with amazing people. Find someone you can trust and you will have no problems.

Posted by: dhutche1

Sherman thanks very much for the information and I will be calling you. I will be on a business trip this week so I may call you one night after work from my cell phone... I will be in Kentucky for most of the week coming up and im sure I will have time to call

not a lot going on in Kentucky at night...... anyway I will be with my Fiancee and her family the whole time im there so I will be in good hands im sure... we are spending one week in Odessa at her apaprtment and another week in Yalta at a hotel there that was amazingy expensive... I dont suppsse to many people from the Ukraine stay there since it was so high but Yalta just seems to be that way. Im worried about my Digital Camera taking it to the Ukraine its a very expensive model and looks it too becuase of the lens on it... do you think I should maybe consider getting something less expensive just in case and not take the nice one with me?

Thanks Again
Dave

Posted by: ShermanAtlanta

I took 4 cameras with me and had no problem. Take a million pictures while you are there. I regret that I didn't take more videos while there. I didn't know that it was taking 7 months to get a visa now. You might take a lot of digital so you can email them to her. I don't think you will have problems. You might call me in the day since I teach dance in the evening and can't take calls.

Posted by: dhutche1

Thanks once again for taking the time and alowing me to call you today to talk about my upcoming trip. You have put me at ease with what to expect so I owe you a many thanks for this.... It was great information and I enjoyed talking to you a lot... I will also taking you up on the offer of once I have Tetyana in the country to visit you and your lady in Atalnta I hope in the near future....

Thanks for helping
Dave

Posted by: ShermanAtlanta

I was happy to help. Send me an email from Odessa if you get a chance. By the way, if you get the least bit homesick, just go to the McDonalds in Odessa. It's just like home. Even the prices are the same. Actually, the most expensive meal I had in Ukraine was at the McDonalds. That was the one place everyone wanted to visit since they couldn't afford to eat there usually. My Lena ordered a salad and when it arrived she looked at the bowl of lettuce with a slice of tomato and said,"What is this?" I told her it was an American salad and she laughed. It sat uneaten and I bought her some McNuggets and fries. Now, whenever she asks me what I had for lunch, if I tell her I had a salad, she laughs. I must admit, the Ukrainian salads are 10 times better than ours. I know that you will have fun. Enjoy the time with her family.
Sherman

Posted by: dhutche1

Hello Everyone and once again Sherman thanks for all the information about Odessa and what to expect. Im happy to say that my trip was wonderfull just like my lady there. I spent two weeks with her in Odessa and we also went to Yalta for a look around... you cant even begin to imagine how pretty this place is. I will try to post photos later on this site. While there I spent a lot of time with her parents they are just wonderfull people and I cant wait to visit again.. Ohh by the way I did survive the Russian Orthodox wedding too... it was a moment I will never forget.

Well im tired now so im off to bed im still working on the wrong time zone.

Dave

Posted by: Khashyar

Welcome back, Dave

It sounds like you had a wonderful time...

I'm sure that people would love to read about your experience there, including what you found interesting about the Orthodox wedding, as well as how you liked Ukraine and the Crimea/ Yalta area....

(I'm going to travel to Belarus next summer for my Orthodox wedding

)

When you have caught up on your sleep, please feel free to post a trip report....

Khashyar

Posted by: dhutche1

You can be sure that I will post lots of information on here for you when im caught up on sleep

. Its tough coming back and getting back to normal with the sleep paterns. Today is the first day that I feel like I got a good nights rest. I will try to post photos and some trip information on here very soon. Where should I put this information should I just start a new thread in this area or is there another forum it should go in.

Thanks
Dave

Posted by: Khashyar

I can certainly understand what jetlag feels like after returning from Russia...

I think that my sleep patterns were disrupted for a week after I returned from Russia last summer...

I enjoyed the photos that you posted in the Photo Galleries-- thank you for posting them...

You posted SO MANY WONDERFUL and interesting photos... thanks for doing that...

If would like, please tell us more about your trip after you are rested

Khashyar

Posted by: Khashyar

I also enjoyed the photos of your Orthodox wedding...

Posted by: dhutche1

Yes the wedding was very nice and something that I will never forget. I have lots and lots of photos of it. I was so happy that the church gave us permission to have the wedding since it was out of the norm in more then one way since we had not gotten married first in the Ukraine. The main Father of the church did this for us I think that he could see it in my loves eyes

Posted by: Khashyar

That's wonderful that your wife appreciated the Orthodox wedding...

Most of the reason (almost all

) that Lena and I are going to be married again is because it is important for Lena and her family, and I can respect and understand that...

It will also be a nice further introduction into Lena's family, friends, and culture, but this Belarusian wedding is VERY important for Lena...

Posted by: dhutche1

Yes the Russian Orthodox wedding was very important to Teytana's parents and family also. It was very nice to spend time with them while I was there in Odessa they where wonderful people and im happy and proud to call them family.It was nice to have done the wedding in her hometown she has a very small circle of friends in Ukraine and of course family so there where only about 20 people at our wedding.... and I was very happy about this since I was nervous enough as it was

. I would have to say that it is a moment that I will never forget and will treasure the rest of my life.

Dave