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Important Info for Travellers to Ukraine
Take most of your money in cash. Take only bills with a series date of 1993 or later, as Ukrainians will not accept older bills. Do not take torn, faded, or worn bills or bills with writing on them. Plan on spending approximately $80.00 per day average. 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.
In preparation for meeting Ukrainian Ladies, have a good photograph taken of yourself, have many copies (30 or more) made in a 3.5"w by 5"h format and print (or use labels) your name, address, and telephone number on the back. By giving your photo to the ladies you stand a much better chance of having them remember who you are several days or weeks in the FUTURE. If possible, take a Polaroid camera and plenty of film with you to the socials and take a picture of the ladies whom you are interested in. You will meet so many ladies that after a couple of days you will forget who you met on the earlier socials. Have your interpreter at the socials take a picture of both you and your ladies together so that in the Fiancee Visa application process you can prove that you did in fact meet her in Ukraine. Take notes at the socials, also have the ladies write in your note pad in both English and Russian her name, address, and home telephone number (Be Discreet; Don't have her write her information under the info retrieved from ladies you met previous to her).
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.
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. 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.
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. At least 3 clients per tour will have their luggage misrouted or miss a connection with an airline. 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.
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 us
Hair dryers, electric shavers and a travel iron should be purchased with international conversion capability. Ukraine use the standard European voltage of 220 volts, 50 cycles, and they use the standard European sockets which only accept the plugs which have too round pins. Voltage converters and plug adapters are necessary. Check your local hardware store or travel store to purchase and get more information on supplies.
If you get into trouble, call the embassy (Local embassy numbers will be given on your itinerary sheets upon arrival in the tour city and keep it with you at all times)
In Kiev, 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 compared to most American cities. 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.
Cameras, film, and batteries. As mentioned earlier, 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) color print film is difficult to locate and if you do find it, expensive in Ukraine. 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 C.I.S. Calculators are helpful in calculating currency exchange and bills.
Usually, your existing medical insurance covers you while overseas. 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.
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. Please see English to Russian translations within this package.
Sincerely,
Helency Support Team
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