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Kiev Ukraine
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Posted by: lechef

Anyone have the hot tip for renting a flat for 7-10 days at a reasonable or inexpensive rate? It should still be a nice and livable place please. Anything else to add would me much appreciated folks.

I planing my trip to Kiev and Moscow and just want to go their first before so that I can 100% sure I am truly into Russia women. I want to be a tourist with the camera, eating fine food and getting to know the culture.I will most likely be on the move most of the time..

Posted by: lester

lechef,
try this link.

http://www.russianmeetingplace.com/....php?forumid=47

Posted by: lechef

Posted by: Jill

I'm afraid I don't have any info on short term rentals at the moment, but if you need any other info about Kiev, let me know.

When are you planning to go? I'll probably be there in late May (not definite yet, though).

By the way, Kiev is one of the most wonderful cities on Earth (in my highly subjective opinion

). Moscow doesn't do it for me, though. The atmosphere is too heavy and intense. But I guess some people like that

Posted by: rtking

Well, I don't know what you'd consider reasonable, but I've had fantastic luck with Sherborne Guest House. In fact, I've stayed with them 3 times in the last 3 trips to Kiev. The apartments (about $85 for a studio) is not 'cheap', it's very comfortable and follows Western standards.

Bob

Posted by: lechef

Well thanks for the info I booked a flat at 60.00 a day and it is within 15 min walking to all that I have planed to see. so roughly around 500.00 for a week.

Posted by: Jill

I guess that's not a bad price for a short term rental (especially as rent in Kiev hs been skyrocketing in the past year or two).

Have you at least seen pictures of it? Where is it located?

Posted by: lechef

Quote:

Originally posted by Jill
I guess that's not a bad price for a short term rental (especially as rent in Kiev hs been skyrocketing in the past year or two).

Have you at least seen pictures of it? Where is it located?

I have seen it and it is actually a real nice flat. It is located right next to the Canadian and French embassies and it also has a bank underneath it..

http://www.kievhotelservice.com/kievapartments.html

It is the third one down.

Posted by: rtking

Good job, Lechef!

That's just up the hill from the Globus Mall and you're actually quite close to O'Brien's pub (great breakfasts) and McDonalds (ick!) There's a great bread shop right near Globus also. You'll easily be able to walk around Khreschatik from that location. The apartment looks great! When are you going?

Bob

Posted by: Jill

The one on Mikhailovsky? That's an excellent location!

And as Bob said, right by O'Brien's

Posted by: lechef

Quote:

Originally posted by rtking
Good job, Lechef! That's just up the hill from the Globus Mall and you're actually quite close to O'Brien's pub (great breakfasts) and McDonalds (ick!) There's a great bread shop right near Globus also. You'll easily be able to walk around Khreschatik from that location. The apartment looks great! When are you going?

Bob

End of July if all goes well I had to put 50% down to hold it. But as the days go by i am getting more excited everyday. I really want to go now as I would think there would be electric feeling in the air with their new President and a sense of hope for the country.

By the way does 3 thousand sound like it will cover a week with air fair and visa. I kinda on a budget as I am trying to buy a house right now and here in southern California it awful of the housing prices. I can not even think of getting a house in my area for under a million and that a bit off my financial status at this time.

Posted by: lechef

Also I like to add in this journey I want nothing to do with any type of American food or flavor. I want to be lost in a world I do not understand and be a child in class and this is where I get my adventure from. I want to hang out in a café and just try to speak to the native people, eat where they eat and just blend in if that possible to do.

Posted by: Jill

Quote:

By the way does 3 thousand sound like it will cover a week with air fair and visa.

Depends on the airfare. But Kiev is the kind of city that can be as cheap or as expensive as you want it to be. There are high end restaurants with prices like what you would pay in any large American city, and there are cafes where you can get a meal for pocket change. Basically, if you're looking to save money, don't eat anywhere that has a menu in English

Entertainment (museums, theater, opera, ballet, etc) is generally very cheap, though. Local bars are cheap, Western bars are not. And walking around Khreshatyk is free

Posted by: lechef

Quote:

Originally posted by Jill
Depends on the airfare. But Kiev is the kind of city that can be as cheap or as expensive as you want it to be. There are high end restaurants with prices like what you would pay in any large American city, and there are cafes where you can get a meal for pocket change. Basically, if you're looking to save money, don't eat anywhere that has a menu in English Entertainment (museums, theater, opera, ballet, etc) is generally very cheap, though. Local bars are cheap, Western bars are not. And walking around Khreshatyk is free

Air fair is approx 1300.00 with tax. But I have miles to use if they are transferable which I think I can do.

Posted by: Jill

OK, so $1300 for airfare plus $500 for rent and about $100 for a visa--you will have PLENTY left over for a nice week in Kiev.

Posted by: lechef

Quote:

Originally posted by Jill
OK, so $1300 for airfare plus $500 for rent and about $100 for a visa--you will have PLENTY left over for a nice week in Kiev.

I just got an email from kiev apt and they have me on a special 7 day for $385 US.. yippie..

Posted by: Jill

That's a great deal! And they offer pick up at the airport, correct?

Posted by: rtking

Hi Lechef!

$385 for 7 days? As Jill said, that's a fantastic deal. If you get an airport pick-up also, you're doing great!

Airfare can vary in July from $865 to $1,360 from my experience. From LA, the carrier I like to use is Northwest/KLM. They fly from LA to Minneapolis (or Detroit) to Amsterdam to Kiev. It's a long flight and economy class can be a bit stifling. If you've got the points, I'd recommend an upgrade to Business Class if possible. The flight from Minneapolis to Amsterdam is the longest leg and this is the one you'd definitely want to upgrade if you can't upgrade all segments.

As far as money goes... $3000 for the entire trip is more than adequate. $1360 (airfare) + $385 (apartment) = $1,745. That leaves you $1,255 for 7 days... a little less than $100 per day. You'd be pretty hard-pressed to spend $100 a day unless you're being lavish, eating in Western-style restaurants all the time and buying expensive gifts.

A hint: I'd leave most of you money in the bank. There are plenty of bank-o-mats here and if you carry less than $1000 US Dollars into Kiev, you can use the "Green Line" to get through the customs line. Otherwise you have to go through the "Red Line" where they X-Ray your luggage and ask you about how much money you're bringing-in. (Sometimes they ask you to show it to them too.)

There are a couple of immigration forms you'll need to fill-out when you arrive in Kiev: One is a Customs Declaration (found at the airport terminal) and sometimes it's not possible to find an English version of it. The other is a form that's distributed on the airplane and it has two parts that are nearly identical. If you want, I can make copies of my forms and give it to you so you'll know what you're filling-out. I live in Huntington Beach... so not too far away or I can fax it to you. Just send me a PM. I'm in Kiev now but will be home in LA on Wednesday afternoon.

Bob

Posted by: lechef

Quote:

Originally posted by rtking
Hi Lechef!

Just send me a PM. I'm in Kiev now but will be home in LA on Wednesday afternoon.

Bob

God I wish I was there right now.