Russia and CIS - Travel To Ukraine

 

The map remains the same, with the awe-inspiring, monumental capital of Kyiv at its heart, irrepressible Odesa and striking Crimea on its southern shores, plus cosy central-European Lviv near rolling western hills. Several years down the track, the industrial, pro-Russian east has forgotten its threat to secede.

Nonetheless, the Ukraine you’re visiting today is not the country that previously existed. ‘Post-Orange Ukraine’ might have the political blues as successive parliamentary stalemates drag out, but its press is freer, its attitudes more open and its economy improving. Memories of demonstrating on ‘the maydan’ (Kyiv’s Independence Square) still fuel increased civic awareness. There’s fledgling democracy instead of autocracy, fair elections and a tolerance of genuine public debate. At the same time, the unfulfilled promises of a weakened president have injected a sense of realism, if not cynicism.

Ukraine, whose name means ‘borderland’, is slowly, and sometimes indecisively, shifting. You still frequently encounter the surly, unhelpful bureaucracy that reigned when this was part of the Soviet Union, but now it’s tempered by widespread aspirations to eventually join the EU. The younger generation, central to the Orange Revolution, are looking forward and revelling in newfound freedoms. Traditionalists, meanwhile, are concerned about floating too far out of neighbouring Russia’s orbit.

A patchwork nation, as contemporary pundits like to call it, Ukraine draws on numerous historical influences, and as a patchwork nation it’s searching for unifying 21st-century symbols. The dominant culture is Slavic, but Scythian gold is still hoarded in the history museum at Kyiv’s Kievo-Pecherska Lavra (Caves Monastery) and Byzantine mosaics line the capital’s St Sophia’s Cathedral.

The golden domes of myriad Russian and Ukrainian Orthodox cathedrals gleam out across one of Europe’s poorest nations. Yet, among the rocky outcrops of fascinating Crimea, you’ll also find Turkic architecture, not to mention ancient cave cities. The country’s marauding Cossacks are remembered on the Dnipro River’s Khortytsya Island, as well as in musical and dance rituals.

Best time to find the cheapest flights to Ukraine

Spring (late April to early June), when perfumed chestnut trees bloom and people throw off heavy winter coats, is the best time to visit. The Orthodox rituals surrounding Easter are fabulous, and there’s a sense of reawakening as cafés set out pavement seating and hikers take the heights of the Carpathian and Crimean Mountains. (Even in April though you might still find snow on Hoverla, the country’s highest peak.)

During the sometimes stiflingly hot summer, things get pretty busy as locals head en masse for Crimea, the Black Sea Coast and the Carpathians. Indeed, Yalta in August is complete madness and probably best avoided. Most theatres close throughout July and August when the country’s focus shifts to the great outdoors.

Autumn is almost as inviting as spring, as the crowds dissipate and the mercury drops to a more comfortable level. In December and January it’s bitingly cold inland, particularly in the east; however this is a good time to head to the Carpathian Mountains, Ukraine’s skiing district.

It’s wise to book ahead during the public holidays in the first weeks of January and May.

 

Navigating Ukraine

Rather than flying to Kyiv, some budget travellers now take the train into western Ukraine from neighbouring Hungary, Poland or Slovakia. They do this because it’s cheap, but it’s probably also a little bit greener – although not too much as the country’s diesel-fuelled rolling stock is pretty ancient. If coming to Ukraine, you might want to consider offsetting your carbon emissions. Calculate big.

The majority of visitors fly to Ukraine – generally to Kyiv. However, low-cost flights to neighbouring countries mean a growing number of travellers are entering the country overland. Flights, tours and rail tickets can be booked online at ASAP Travel Deals.

Crossing the border into Ukraine is a fairly straightforward, if slightly drawn-out, affair; expect customs personnel to scrutinize your papers.

Heading in the other direction, out of Ukraine into the EU and Schengen zone, be prepared for delays. These are popular cigarette-smuggling routes, and there are thorough – although not always entirely effective – customs checks. Indeed, after the extension of Schengen in 2008, some border crossings popular with cigarette smugglers were at least temporarily closed so it’s always best to check the latest where you can.

When heading for Belarus, Moldova or Russia also ensure you have the right visa. You might need special medical insurance for Belarus, purchasable at the border.

Bus

In most cases, you’re better off going between Ukraine and Belarus by train, although the Lviv–Brest bus service (nine hours, one or two a day) is a possible exception. It leaves from Lviv’s Bus Station No 2.

Car & motorcycle

Only two crossings are official. The M20 road north from Chernihiv to Homel crosses just north of the Ukrainian village of Novy Yarylovichy. The M14 road between Brest and Kovel crosses just southeast of the Belorussian village of Makrany.

Train

The main services are Kyiv–Minsk ($35, 12½ to 15 hours, one to two daily), the Lviv–St Petersburg train that passes through Minsk, and the summertime Varna–Minsk service, which passes through Lviv. Lviv to Minsk takes 13 to 14 hours. Change at Minsk for Brest. To even pass through Belarus, you will need a transit visa.

Facts about Ukraine

Food, transport and museums are reasonably cheap in Ukraine, although you always pay a premium for eating out in Kyiv and Odesa. Accommodation is often wildly overpriced throughout the country.

A decent double hotel room in Kyiv will generally cost at least $100 but more likely $150. (Renting an apartment is a great alternative) A basic meal in a midrange restaurant in the capital can easily cost 150uah to 200uah ($30 to $40) per person, without drinks.

If you choose cafeteria-style eateries or spend more time in the countryside, meals can set you back as little as 20uah ($4). Furthermore, if you’re prepared to stay in unappealing former-Soviet hotels and share a communal bathroom, you can get away with paying $15 to $20 a night. Decent hotels in the countryside usually start at about $40 to $50 a night.

For the tourist, Ukraine is second to none in beauty. You'll enjoy the beautiful Carpathian Mountains, Lviv's Architecture and lifestyle, Odessa and the Crimea with its sub-tropical climate on the Black Sea, The Mighty Dnipro River with its Cossack history and Kyiv, Ukraine's capital, with its business opportunities and boundless beauty. The cafe culture has returned, with elegant bars and restaurants vying for trade among foreign visitors, entrepreneurs and local gangsters. In fields and gardens surrounding green-painted cottages, villagers grow sunflowers, potatoes, apples and corn in the rich black earth that earned Ukraine the title, "breadbasket of the Soviet Union." Although your trip might not be relaxing, a glimpse of this colorful part of the world will definitely be worth the effort. And, traveling to all these places is not a pain at all especially in trains. Traveling by train in Ukraine is a convenient and inexpensive way to get around the country. For tourists first class sleeping cars are recommended. Cars can be booked as double or quad occupancy. Taxis are very plentiful in cities like Kyiv and Lviv and comparatively inexpensive. So come and experience this beautiful Southeastern European republic and have an unforgettable Ukraine tour.

Ukraine Airport

Major international airports that connect Ukraine to rest of the world are: Antonov International Airport, Boryspil International Airport, Cherkasy International Airport, Dnipropetrovsk International Airport, Donetsk International Airport, Ivano Frankivsk International Airport, Kerch International Airport, Lozuvatka International AIrport, Luhansk International Airport, Mariupol International Airport, Odesa International Airport, Rivne International Airport.

Visa/Passport requirements

Your passport must be valid for at least one month beyond your intended departure from Ukraine. It must be stamped with a visa if you need one. For stays of up to 90 days, citizens of the EU, Canada, the USA, Iceland, Japan, Norway and Switzerland do not need a visa, nor do those of Andorra, Liechtenstein, Monaco, San Marino and the Vatican, plus the Balkan and CIS nations. However, if arriving for the purpose of employment, study or permanent residency, visas will be needed even for these nationalities. Other nationalities always need visas, as do those intending to stay in Ukraine for more than 90 days. It’s important to note that you can’t stay visa-free in Ukraine for more than 90 days in any 180-day period. Therefore, it’s not possible to leave the country after 90 days and immediately come back across the border by renewing your entry stamp.

You seldom plan an overseas vacation with your family. But if you do, it has to be really exiting and memorable. A lot depends on the expenses. Money saved is money earned, isn't it? We at ASAP Travel Deals will help you save money on your airfares to Ukraine. Log on to ASAP Travel Deals, get a cheap ticket to Ukraine, and make the best out of your vacation. All major international carriers such as United Airlines, Lufthansa, Austrian Airline, and Delta Airlines serve Ukraine. We at ASAP Travel Deals will make sure that you don't miss any opportunity to find cheap airfares for your trip to Ukraine. It doesn't make a difference which class of service you are traveling by. Be it economy class or business class, we guarantee you cheap airfares for your Ukraine flight. So don't hesitate, just log on to ASAP Travel Deals and leave the rest to us.