Planning my trip to Ukraine

[Jack]

BTW, should have been there for that pivo. Had a great time. Next time.

       
 
 
Muzh, next time is like 6 weeks away.  Maybe you will be in Kharkov then?

[Muzh]

       
 
 
Muzh, next time is like 6 weeks away.  Maybe you will be in Kharkov then?

Nah, more like next summer.

[Patagonie]

Last thing about change, i have now the habit to have always at least 2000 grv. As soon i run low i go directly to the bank to change more. Why, some days bank have no money to change. So you are stucked with yours $ or €. Never wait the last moment to change money. I've met this sort of situation several times, in particular during or after the week end.

[XMan]

Have not been to Dnep, Jack.
I have been quoted deals in Kharkov and Chernovtsy at anywhere from $30 to $90 per day, dependent upon length of stay, location, studio, etc.  Dnep may be very different, and I definitely could not say as far as "center of the city."

The phone I picked up was 3 years ago, so there may indeed be far cheaper options.  I also imagine that the definition of "basic" may vary from person to person. 

To clarify on the SIM, how much calling does one plan to do?  I went through about $50 in calls one trip.  Last trip far less due to Skype use.

Regarding flights from Atlanta, they may or may not exist any longer.  Worth checking into.  It was only Monday/Wednesday/Friday when I flew.  I don't remember flights / days on the JFK flights though.  But I know both Aerosvit and Delta had direct flights from JFK, I believe they still do.  I thought Delta service was better, but to each his own.  I liked the flight from Minneapolis to Amsterdam best (Delta) because it was an Airbus 330, which seemingly had more legroom than the Boeing 767.

I do remember dialing Life to Life for free, but that was 5 months ago and could have changed as well.  Worked well in Kharkov, Poltava, and Chernovtsy.  I was able to call from Amsterdam using my Life SIM / phone, which came in quite handy twice.   In the past I had to carry this crazy phone with an Estonian phone number in order to call from a "3rd party" country. 

[LAman]

In re to phone services, I started out with a Life sim when I was in Odessa, worked fine but problem I had was after certain amount of time( 3-6 months?)no matter how much coin you have in it, it wouldn't work. It had to be 'recharged', I usually put 25UAH then it was fine.
My MTC & Kievstar kept their balance and worked fine when I inserted sim card.
 
X-man, did you have to dial special number to call from amsterdam with life phone?

[Muzh]

Last thing about change, i have now the habit to have always at least 2000 grv. As soon i run low i go directly to the bank to change more. Why, some days bank have no money to change. So you are stucked with yours $ or €. Never wait the last moment to change money. I've met this sort of situation several times, in particular during or after the week end.

Pat, there are money exchange kiosks on every corner and sometimes better rate than the banks.

[XMan]

In re to phone services, I started out with a Life sim when I was in Odessa, worked fine but problem I had was after certain amount of time( 3-6 months?)no matter how much coin you have in it, it wouldn't work. It had to be 'recharged', I usually put 25UAH then it was fine.
My MTC & Kievstar kept their balance and worked fine when I inserted sim card.
 
X-man, did you have to dial special number to call from amsterdam with life phone?

Surprisingly, no.  Just the typical country code, etc.  Actually called my friend in Ukraine from the KLM flight prior to taxiing out.  Very handy, as I was delayed on the ground.

[ML]

Surprisingly, no.  Just the typical country code, etc.  Actually called my friend in Ukraine from the KLM flight prior to taxiing out.  Very handy, as I was delayed on the ground.

But you paid roaming charges; yes?

Probably pretty expensive . . . but can be worth it when it's really  important.

I have a SIM chip from a company called MOBAL.  Works in 180 or so countries with GSM systems.  Very expensive, but worth it when in a bind.

[Patagonie]

Pat, there are money exchange kiosks on every corner and sometimes better rate than the banks.

You are correct Muzh, i would mean kiosks, chepar and more convenient.