Question on trip to Odessa - Russian Ukrainian Belarus Travel Music Woman Dating News

	The Russian Meeting Place: A place to meet people and talk about all things Russian... International Discussions about Russia, Ukraine, Belarus, Travel, Music, Russian News, Ukrainian culture, Belarusian Dating, Moscow, Saint Petersburg, Kiev and other intelligent topics about life in the former Soviet Union.

Pages: 1

Question on trip to Odessa
(Click here to view the original thread with full colors/images)

Posted by: Paul_K

Hello,

This is my first post here; seems there is a lot of good information! I am planning on traveling to Odessa within the next 6 weeks or so to meet a wonderful woman with whom I've been corresponding and conversing.

I have a couple questions:

1) I would like some advice on a good travel agency that could help me arrange my flight, lodging, and Ukrainian visa. If anyone has any positive experiences here, I'd appreciate your advice.

2) Typically, how much time should I allow for the visa application to go through (especially if I'm paying an agency to do it for me)?

2) How much might I reasonably expect to spend for the above (let's assume a flight from New York) to include a 6 - 7 day stay? I speak Russian reasonably well, so I won't be needing the services of a translator.

Thanks in advance!
Paul

(Hope this is the right forum for this post.)

Posted by: rtking

Hi Paul,

First, I recommend that you do the visa yourself. You can save yourself a little money and it usually takes about 30 days. Just get 2 passport sized photos, go to the Ukrainian embassy website to download the visa application and send it off certified to the visa processing center located on the website. It's pretty easy. Don't expect that things go any faster with an agency... the bottleneck is the consulate issuing the visa.

As for travel agencies, you can probably search online yourself. I believe you can get a pretty decent rate just by searching Expedia.com or Travelocity.com. A quick search on Expedia shows that Austrian Airlines/Lufthansa (and AeroSvit Ukrainian Airline) flies from New York to Odessa round-trip for $889.43 (in April). I've also used Kosmos Travel in Los Angeles and they've been very competitive in pricing.

Just guestimating a 6-7 night stay at $60 a night + airline tickets to be about $1,500. (Apartments may go for more however, so be prepared. I paid $85 per night in Kiev.) If you factor in food, entertainment (about $100 a day is lavish) and safety money of $250 (in case you have a very expensive date or want to buy a very lavish gift), you're looking at a total of almost $2,500.

Bob

Posted by: Pin Boy

for your visa, try www.gotorussia.com i used them a few times and they are quick and dependable

you can also try them to book a flight. 3 times i went through them on Austrian Air and traveled from new york to vienna (2 hr layover) then a 90 minute flight to odessa.

the good thing about Austrian Air is that on the way back you land in Vienna about 4:00 PM and stay overnight at a nearby motel. Once I stayed at a nice hotel that I walked to right across the street from the airport. You can take a shuttle into the city and see the sights of Vienna. Watch out for that Euro exchange though - OUCH!!!

As far as lodging, you can try gotorussia.com, but I never booked lodging with them. There is a decent hotel called the Black Sea Hotel in center city that is fine accomodations. All rooms are air conditioned.

Hope that helps!

pin boy

when you're in Odessa, could you look up my ex and give her a good pimp slappin' for me??? JUST KIDDIN" EVERYONE!!!

Posted by: mtbclay

I have used gotorussia for both of my Ukrainian visas with quick results. I would recommend spending the extra ten bucks with the to get a double entry visa, in case you want to return within six months. I made this error because I thought that I would not be returning to Ukraine within six months and I returned in three. So I ended up spending another 180 for a new visa. I bought the double entry this time. I figuered ten bucks is cheap insurance just in case.

Clay

Posted by: Paul_K

Thanks Bob, Pin Boy and Clay -- a lot of helpful information! I appreciate it, and I'm pretty excited about getting over there.

Paul

Posted by: lester

$180 for a visa?

I was there last July, and mine cost 30 euros.

You can get visa at airport on arrival too
That costs $20

Posted by: Paul_K

Ok, realistically, what is the advisability of waiting until you get to the airport to get your visa? Isn't this assuming that all the stars will line up perfectly?

TIA, Paul

Posted by: lester

I had visa waiting for me at airport,
only problem was my spare passport photos
were in my suitcase, other side of passport control!

filled in application form, paid $20,
Immigration officer photocopied passport photo,
and all done!
Showed copy emails of hotel booking, travel company
emails and gave name and address of "lady".

took about 30 mins.

Posted by: mtbclay

I believe the visa that can be bought at the airport is only good for 14 days. I obtained a private entry visa good for 6 months. The price included the consular fee plus the FedEx costs. I chose to have everything in place before I left.

Clay

Posted by: Pin Boy

no reason to doubt lester, but i wouldn't risk flying halfway around the world and then be stuck at the airport without a visa a'la Tom Hanks in Terminal

pin boy

Posted by: mtbclay

Pin Boy,

I agree, You are correct! That was my point, cheap insurance as far as I am concerned. Plus here in the US I get asked at check in for my visa.

Clay

Posted by: rtking

I think it's OK to get a visa at the airport... but I do believe (as mtbclay said) it's good for 14 days.

I spent about $180 (I forget the exact amount) and got a private visit visa good for 5 years and multiple entries. It's come in VERY handy!

To get one, you just apply that you're visiting someone in Ukraine and supply their address. That's it! I used Olga's name and address (since, of course, she's who I'm going to see.) She lives in a student's hostel and I was worried that they may not like the address I gave them, but it wasn't a problem. I recommend getting this visa if you think you'll return to Ukraine.

Bob

Posted by: lester

You are correct. it is a 14 day visa.
I've just checked it!

Bobs deal is best! 5 years multiple entry, thats the
one for next time!

Thanks Bob for that.

Posted by: rtking

I wish I could take credit for that suggestion, but I can't. That recommendation came from our forum member Klawsite I believe. But it's a heck of a visa and I encourage anyone with friends, family or a girlfriend/boyfriend in Ukraine to get one. I'm OK to enter/exit Ukraine now until November, 2009!

Bob

Posted by: AkMike

But I think you have to ask for the 5 year multi visa. I just got a 1 year multi.
Getting the visa is easy, do it your self.http://www.ukraineinfo.us/

Posted by: Paul_K

Thanks everyone for the tips. The 5-year multi-entry sounds like the way to go, especially if things work out!

$180 isn't cheap, but what the heck, I've spent that much on flowers already.

Thanks again, Paul

Posted by: mtbclay

Ya the 5 year would be the way to go. I just found out about it before I left in January. The 5 year will be my next one.

Posted by: Tex

The visa at the airport is only good for entry in the two cities of Odessa and Simferopol, have the 14 day time limit and supposedly you are restricted to where you can travel, such as if you come into Odessa or Simferopol your really not allowed to travel to say Kiev, or Dnepropetrovsk. People do it, but are also at risk.

Regarding the 5 year visa. I did not know individuals could get the 5 year visa by applying directly to the Ukraine consulate. I know of a few guys who got a three year, many with a one year, but have never heard of an individual getting the 5-year by applying directly himself. But by going thru an agency, such as Go2Russia or Russia House, these guys could get you a 5-year visa, as Russia House did for me.