NEW YEARS EVE!!!

[Chef!]

Hey all, first timer to Kiev here, but not to traveling all over.  Just want to know the scoop for NYE!  I'm looking for something elegant and special for me and my girl.  Classy and a need to dress to impress would be a nice way to spend our first NYE together! I'm think a wonderful dinner to start, then somewhere with a band or orchastra.  Jazz, big band, etc would be the perfect musical motif, if it exists.  Does it?  Please forward any and all info for various ideas and/or celebrations that are happening around town to include prices to expect to pay, websites, anything available.  Thanks!!!!

[KenC]

Chef!,

What you have to understand is that NYE is the holiday in fsu countries.  It is kind of like our NYE and Christmas rolled into one.  I was in Russia many years ago during this time.  Most restaurants will offer a party/dinner package that will include music and dancing for a preset price.  As I don't know your situation with regard to your lady (or ladies) that you are meeting, it is difficult to guide you on this subject.  But if you are going to meet one special woman, it may be better to have her make the arrangments.  If your guest for the event is still unknown, you may look to an agency or a local contact to hook you up with tickets for the best event available.

KenC

[Jet]

Don't be suprised if tix to such an event are expensive by Western standards. I recall a thread elsewhere where the consensus was that $170 per person was not at all out of line. YMMV

[andrewfi]

I already posted this under your question elsewhere on the board.

I do not know the specifics, you will have to do the legwork yourself, unless a well off local can help, but you will probably find that the upmarket hotels and some restaurants will have New Year events. They will be 'dress-up' events and so you will almost certainly need to budget for a dinner jacket for you and a decent evening dress for your companion. In Tallinn, Estonia, we have many of these events. My favourite is at the Hotel next to my apartment. If I go with a girlfriend, it will cost me, without clothes, drinks etc, about 250 Euro.

Most nightclubs will have parties as well, probaby with advance bookings for tickets.

Your problem is going to be getting a place booked by remote control.

KenC is almost certainly on the money about making arrangements, but be sure about your companion. One of these do's, with somebody that you are not too comfortable with, can be purgatory!

Jet is correct, costs are high! Of course you also runa real risk of 'overfacing' your interlocutor. If she is not used to such events then she may well feel most uncomfortable and may end up choosing a much more mundane event, if given the choice and responsibility of ticket purchase. If she is accustomed to such events, I would be questioning 'how come' and also why she might be seeking a foreign guy!

[Ste]

And which New Years Eve to you mean?

Old New Year or 'New' New Year?

Ste

 

[Chef!]

december 31

[KenC]

Chef!,

That's the big one.  "Old" New Years is much more mundane.

From the other thread, I have learned that the girl you want to be your date for this event speaks English well.  I would suggest you talk to her about it.  This could be a very good way to evaluate her better.  When she makes a suggestion, ask if there are better events available and then ask if there are less expensive ones available.  You can learn a lot about her in how she handles this.  Did she pick the most expensive event right from the start?  Is she flexible enough to budget a bit?

I hope that you are not just assuming that the two of you will be together that night as this holiday is the biggest one of the year and family is usually involved.  (At least for part of the day)  Another tell tale sign will be if she will involve you with her family during this time. The final point I want to make is that you shouldn't wait too long to plan this out, because these events sell out early and the girls usually make their plans very early too.  Good luck.

KenC

[Chef!]

That's just it.  We've discussed this for a couple weeks now.  At first, I wanted to do a "weekend getaway" somewhere not too far.  We were thinking of Crimea.  Figured the further south, the better.  But her friends and people shes talked to say that it is pretty much dead.  So much for that idea.  then we kicked around Prague or budapest, which I haven't discounted, but be both agreed that it didn't matter where we celebrated, as long as we celebrated together.  I just want it to be dazzling, elegant, and special all in one.  As far as the family, they live quite far from kiev.  I'd be happy to go there too, if she asks.  I may bring up the subject and see what she says.  And, based on her occupation and dealings with so many foreigners with work, she has taken part in various events where one needs to dress up.  And, based on an hour plus conversation we had today, she does fairly well financially.  Nothing compared to western standards, of course, but gathering by the talk about clothes, food, and her position, I'd tend to believe she may earn a bit above average.  I may be modest. 

Now, as far as cost for that night, issues of "showboating" and such... it really doesn't matter.  Considering that I work in a part of the world where much attention has been focused on the past couple years, and the lifestyle I'm currently stuck with while here, I have no problem splurging once in a while, since I'm limited as to how much I splurge anyways.  I'm on vacation and i need to make up for the months that I have to go without normal civilization.  Plus, if the person I'm with is worth it, at least for that night, then so be it.  As long as we both have a good time (and i'm not just talking about getting laid, either.) then it's a win win situation. 

[KenC]

Chef!,

It souunds as if you have it together.  You'll do fine.

KenC

[Jack]

New Years in Kiev.
 
If you are planning on spending New Years in Kiev in the center expect to pay quite a bit more as compared to attending a party away from the center of Kiev.
 
In the center we have been quoted prices at the Hotel Russ at $200 a person. Because our group is going to be between 30 and 40 people they have quoted us $180 a person. The Hotel Dnepropetrovsk has quoted $160 a person. The Arena Club which we hear should be a wonderful place to attend has not quoted any prices and say they will the first week of December, as does the Cheikovsky club (located at the top of Bessarabian market). I think these places, and a few others, are waiting to see what the other places are charging before they commit but I think it's safe to assume these places will be in the $175 to $200 a person price range.
 
As you go further from the center the price will drop considerably. But it seems everyone wants to be in the center and at about 1am everyone goes from the ballroom or club they are in to Khershatyk. Expect maybe as many as 150,000 people on Khershatyk at about 1am, depending on the weather. Could be more if weather is decent.
 
And something new guys may not know, from about 7pm on December 31st until about 6 or 7am the morning of January 1st what you would pay for a taxi will not double, it will go up by 200%. The only time of the year you will ever see this but it is a tradition. So if you are not in the center where you have your New Years celebration and you head to Khershatyk after midnight expect a long delay to get a taxi and you will pay four times the normal charge.
 

[Journeyman]

Chef!,

I hope that you are not just assuming that the two of you will be together that night as this holiday is the biggest one of the year and family is usually involved. (At least for part of the day) Another tell tale sign will be if she will involve you with her family during this time.

KenC

Chef, I would second this idea, and add a few more.  

For the 2004-05 New Year's period (from about December 23 to January 7th, I spent this time in Ukraine with my girlfriend.  It WAS an important family time, and there were many activities for the whole family, in which I was kindly included.  It all was focus around December 31st/January 1st, which involved an "all-nighter" with the family at their apartment.  

Basically, we ate and drank, ate and drank, and ate and drank from about 8 in the evening until almost 5 in the morning. Just the family (and me and my girlfriend).  Presents were exchanged near midnight, and we watched some TV also (kind of like Dick Clark's New Year's Eve show), which also lasted throughout the rest of the night.  Then, we all slept from about 6 AM until about 11 AM on January 1st, and started again.......eating and drinking, etc., etc.,.......until about 5 PM on the 1st, when things kind of wrapped up.  Finally!

The point is that, from what I have seen, and from what other guys have told me about their experiences regarding New Years, it IS a very important time for the family, just like Christmas in the west.  There are big "festive overtones", no doubt.  However, I would urge you to think strongly about supporting whatever inclinations she or her family might have about spending that time together, as family time.  Then, as was noted, if you can find yourself included in all those family activities, that could be a big step in supporting your relationship overall.

Journeyman

[2tallbill]

Hey all, first timer to Kiev here, but not to traveling all over.  Just want to know the scoop for NYE!  I'm looking for something elegant and special for me and my girl.  Classy and a need to dress to impress would be a nice way to spend our first NYE together!

Seriously, your girl probably has plans in mind. Ask her what they are then
plan them together. She will almost certainly be game to something dress-up
and fun. I have been to the FSU several times for New Years.

My first ever trip report written here is when I didn't plan ahead with the girl
I was visiting and she decided that she would abandon me then spend it with
her family (then we would pick up in a few days and go on with pursuing romance).
I told her that wasn't going to work for me, Poka.

I didn't go into detail about it but that's what happened here
http://www.russianwomendiscussion.com/index.php?topic=3432.0