Any advice for trip to Lviv, Carpathia and Black Sea?

[sideskraft]

In a few weeks I will arrive in Kyiv to spend a few days with my lady.  Assuming all goes well, we plan to hop a train to Lviv and spend a couple days there.  Then we want to go to the Carpathian Mountains (in Ukraine) for a few days, possibly staying in a private family house in a village/town.  Then I thought it might be interesting to take a train to the Black Sea, either southwest or east of Odessa (intentionally keeping our distance from the masses of the city).  Are there any good resorts or romantic places along the Black Sea for us to stay for a few days in those areas?  I have never been southwest of Odessa, but there must be some kind of coastal communities there.  Neither of us have been to Lviv or Carpathia, so we're pretty excited.  Any assistance and suggestions would be appreciated -- thanks.

[Donhollio]

 I took a overnight  trip to the beaches in Zakota. Its west of Odessa about one hours drive. very nice beaches that go as far as I was able to see.
 Theres small resorts for rent,and I enjoyed it.  I would have your girl make some inquires at local travel agencys,as you tastes and standards may vary from mine.

 Here's a photo I took at dusk.

[Simoni]

In a few weeks I will arrive in Kyiv to spend a few days with my lady.  Assuming all goes well, we plan to hop a train to Lviv and spend a couple days there.  Then we want to go to the Carpathian Mountains (in Ukraine) for a few days, possibly staying in a private family house in a village/town.  Then I thought it might be interesting to take a train to the Black Sea, either southwest or east of Odessa (intentionally keeping our distance from the masses of the city).  Are there any good resorts or romantic places along the Black Sea for us to stay for a few days in those areas?  I have never been southwest of Odessa, but there must be some kind of coastal communities there.  Neither of us have been to Lviv or Carpathia, so we're pretty excited.  Any assistance and suggestions would be appreciated -- thanks.

The "beaches" of the black sea tend to be made of small, sharp stones!  So, either start going barefoot now to "toughen" your feet, or take along a pair of those shoes that divers wear that they attach their fins to.

We had a good experience at  Ponizovka, near Simeiz.  I did a Trip Report on that vacation, so you can check it out for pics.

Have fun!

[groovlstk]

In a few weeks I will arrive in Kyiv to spend a few days with my lady.  Assuming all goes well, we plan to hop a train to Lviv and spend a couple days there.  Then we want to go to the Carpathian Mountains (in Ukraine) for a few days, possibly staying in a private family house in a village/town.  Then I thought it might be interesting to take a train to the Black Sea, either southwest or east of Odessa (intentionally keeping our distance from the masses of the city).  Are there any good resorts or romantic places along the Black Sea for us to stay for a few days in those areas?  I have never been southwest of Odessa, but there must be some kind of coastal communities there.  Neither of us have been to Lviv or Carpathia, so we're pretty excited.  Any assistance and suggestions would be appreciated -- thanks.

I spent a few days at this hotel in Simeiz:
http://www.simeizhotel.com/english/pages/index.htm

Very western, very quiet, nice pool, and with unbelievable views of the sea. The desk clerks spoke English but at that time (2005) they didn't take CCs. The village center is a short, safe walk from the hotel and there are several cafes overlooking the sea. There are no streetlights, just torches and light from cafes in the village center, it's extraordinarily romantic.

But like Simoni said, toughen up the soles of your feet or plan to wear close-fitting sandals. Watching the Russian people walk around barefooted on the rough stones as if they were silk pillows is a bit humbling 

[johnichka]

You might want to stop in Yaramche in the Carpathian Mountains.  My fiancee is from Yaramche and it is a beautiful area and the town swells with tourists during the summer.  Excellent restaurtants and craft markets.  From there, you could go to Ivano Frankivsk.  This is a city of about 200,000 in the Oblast.
From there, you could go down to Chernivtsi, a city of about 300,000.  This is a historical city.  Good Restaurants, etc.

From Chernivtsi to Yaramche (or vise versa), if you get the right taxi driver, you can negotiate a pretty good fare.  My fiancee just went back to Yaramche on Saturday from Chernivtsi, she paid roughly $50.00 USD for the ride. It was 2 hours and 10 minutes....worked out to be about two hryvna a kilometer...

[Donhollio]

I don't know what gravel pits beaches you have been on, but I have yet to step on to any beach there that had sharp stones.  And I have spent two summers there.

[LiveFromUkraine]

I don't know what gravel pits beaches you have been on, but I have yet to step on to any beach there that had sharp stones.  And I have spent two summers there.

Same here Don.  I have stepped on some stones when going out in the water but none on the beach.  Now condoms, cig butts, bottles and so on are a different matter.   



Thomas

[Donhollio]

   Yeah I was hoping to omit those other items.   But for me the worst thing I have ever seen on the beaches of Ukraine was this  :hairraising:

I guess he was trying to rid his crotch of some tan lines   I'm just glad he's wearing his headband so he didn't burn his forehead

[LiveFromUkraine]

  Yeah I was hoping to omit those other items.   But for me the worst thing I have ever seen on the beaches of Ukraine was this  :hairraising:

  

Looks like he has a furry animal on his waist.

I really don't know if that is worst than the huge babuskas in thongs always bending over in front of me.  I seem to be a magnet for them.  :whirling:


Thomas


P.S.  We are in Illichivsk and the beaches are a lot nicer than Odessa.

[ScottinCrimea]

I think most experience the beaches around Yalta and those are small stones, not sand.  Though not particulary sharp, I, too, found it not so comfortable.  Other areas in Crimea do have sandy beaches, such as the eastern shore around Sudak, etc.

[Gtex]

And as shown in the picture up line there is sand.  It is mostly in the north east and north west regions of Crimea (Between Evaptoria and Odessa and on the opposite side above Sudak near Kerch.  Otherwise, the black pebbles vary in size by location,  but are uniformally smooth and rounded.  Here they are sold as Mexican River Stone or Moonstone, used in landscape applications.   Still, not comfortable and weird for westerners, the locals and native tourist are just happy to be there.   I think DonHo spent most of his time around Odessa and it is generally conceded to be more polluted there.  I am shocked.

[sideskraft]

Thanks for the good feedback!  I need to clarify, that I don't plan to go to Krym (although I have been there and Simeiz is definitely my favorite).  I am talking about the Black Sea coast southwest of Odessa and between Odessa and Kherson (not the Crimean Penninsula).  Sorry for not being more specific.