Apartment in Odessa?

[JamesDH]

Just returned from a wonderful trip to Odessa.
Met an amazing woman and things are sweet.

This got me to thinking..
Why not rent a small apartment in Odessa?
I mean rent it monthly and go there whenever I get ready or find a service that can get me into one on a short notice for a few weeks at a time.
my job is such that I get every other month off and I'm thinking.. head to Odessa for a few weeks or more every other month.

That would put me close to the woman but not in her face all the time. If things progress then great.. if they don't I'll be in the thick of things.

Any ideas?
Price?
Location?
Drawbacks?

I can think of positives and negatives but would appreciate comments from different viewpoints.

Oh!! the possibilities!!

[JR]

I think it's a great idea James! It'll give you two a lot of face-time.

Not sure you need to rent it full time thought. Might be cheaper to just find one or two good rental agencies and use them. Once you get to know them they might give you "frequent flyer" discounts. It would also mix things up a bit.

If you have your "own" place you'd probably start getting a lot of clutter. Then when it came time to move out there would be all this "stuff" to deal with whereas if you rent short term all you have to worry about is suitcase or two.

[boaterguy]

It has been 5 years since I rented anything in the FSU so things might have changed. If you are talking about a long term rental...a year at a time then it will be much cheaper. Perhaps your lady can see if she can find an apartment for you to rent. My guess is if you are going every other month it will cost 1/2 what a short term rental arrangement will. On top of that perhaps you could rent it short term while you are not there and break even or perhaps even profit!

[JamesDH]

The initial searching found some short term apartments for $50 per night and up. Waaayyy to expensive for a one room apartment.
Long term (one month) started in the $700 per month range. Still more than I was hoping to pay.

I'm hoping to find something in the $400 range. Get a maid to come in a few times a week while I'm there and I'll be set.
Just hang some clothes, fill the fridge with beer, get internet and TV. Instant bachelor pad.

[janic]

Long term (one month) started in the $700 per month range. Still more than I was hoping to pay.

I'm hoping to find something in the $400 range.

If you want it to be cheaper than that you'll have to rent it locally and with a one year contract. From what I hear prices in UA are dropping and a good apt in Kiev is available for about 500 USD. I think Odessa shouldn't be more expensive.

For a regular contract you will most probably need from your lady because from my experience ppl don't really like to rent out apts to foreigners. - Especially not single men...

G'luck,
j.

[ML]

For a regular contract you will most probably need from your lady because from my experience ppl don't really like to rent out apts to foreigners. - Especially not single men...

G'luck,
j.

I heard the opposite from two landlords in Kyiv.  They indicated a definite preference toward renting to foreigners vs Ukrainians.  Said they had very bad experiences with Ukrainians with respect to damage to apt and left the apts in quite filthy condition.

I don't think they were just blowing smoke up my a$$ to try to make me (a foreigner) feel good.  They mostly told these words to my local friend who was with me during the apartment search.

[LAman]

I heard the opposite from two landlords in Kyiv.  They indicated a definite preference toward renting to foreigners vs Ukrainians.  Said they had very bad experiences with Ukrainians with respect to damage to apt and left the apts in quite filthy condition.

 There IS a definate preference for renting to foreigners.....why?....because they can charge more!!!!

[Sculpto]

I paid $35 a night for a remodeled studio on Ekaterninaskaya right in the middle of everything.  My friend arranged it.. same apartment through the apartment sites is $65 a night..