long train trip in Ukraine - sleeping berth

[Noch1]

I read a story of a man who was drugged and robbed by two girls, one met at agency and the other a translator.
they put it in is drink, he woke up, money gone computer gone and camera gone.
they did not take wallet or credit cards.

hmmm maybe you should only drink coke and bagged chips

[Brillynt]

CDW,

You seem very paranoid.  Are you able to relax and have fun?  99.999% of strangers are not trying to drug you.

[Daveman]

CDW,

You seem very paranoid.  Are you able to relax and have fun?  99.999% of strangers are not trying to drug you.

And that other 00.001% are conveniently nowhere to be found when you really need a fix...

[CDW]

I read a story of a man who was drugged and robbed by two girls, one met at agency and the other a translator.
they put it in is drink, he woke up, money gone computer gone and camera gone.
they did not take wallet or credit cards.

hmmm maybe you should only drink coke and bagged chips

The moral of the story is not to accept drink & food from strangers!  Learn to say "No" to strangers!

Cannot say "No" then you also cannot say "no" to send money to potential scammers!!!

Paranoid or not, learn to say "No"

[Shadow]

Not everyone in this site comes from USA !!!

My bad. But knowing the English cooking, you are in no risk whatsoever in Ukraine

[Miri22]

I'll never forget that night in Thailand when my cocktail was drugged. Woke up in a bathtub of ice. I miss that kidney.

[CDW]

I'll never forget that night in Thailand when my cocktail was drugged. Woke up in a bathtub of ice. I miss that kidney.

It happened to a guy in Colombia a while ago too.  The taxi driver told to my ex-girlfriend who told me about it.   Instead of kidney, he woke up without eyes!!!

[Ranetka]

And that other 00.001% are conveniently nowhere to be found when you really need a fix...

   So funny! We need like button here.

[Noch1]

The moral of the story is not to accept drink & food from strangers!  Learn to say "No" to strangers!

Cannot say "No" then you also cannot say "no" to send money to potential scammers!!!

Paranoid or not, learn to say "No"

So you are visiting people who you have met and are good friends with?
Maybe family?
 Give me strength

[Gator]

A True Love Story on a Long Train Ride
 
A man and a woman who had never met before, but  who were married to other people, found themselves assigned to the same two-person sleeping cabin on an overnight  train.

 
Though uneasy over sharing a cabin, they talked some.  However, both being sleepy, they soon got into their berths, she in the lower berth, and he made the awkward climb into the upper berth.

At   1:00 AM, the man leaned down and gently woke the woman saying, "Ma'am, I'm sorry to bother you, but would you be willing to reach into the closet to get me a second blanket?  I'm awfully cold."

"I have a better idea," she replied,  "Just for tonight, let's pretend that we're married."
 
'Wow! That's a great idea!' he exclaimed.

'Good,' she replied, 'Get your own damned blanket.'                           

After a moment of silence,  he farted. 

[LAman]

Thats funny, Gator!!!!
In the irony, much truth!!!

[southernX]

 

love the joke gator

i am one who is generally a light sleeper when travelling , can sit for 12-13 hours on a flight without sleeping or getting up , if i have a book to read im fine , once i get on the trains i sleep easy , love the old stle rock and roll of them tbh

the old style of trains in fsu are great imho ,much better to travel by train see the country and its people , you can get a feel  for their life much better this way , compared to flying over it and them between cities

even the long haul trains from kiev to st petes [23- 24 hours ]are good ,

food ??take your own if your that worried about it , i very much doubt the level of crime involving food druging on trains is a concern , maybe in the metro stations re small time thieves , but even then keep your wits about you , use common sense and you will generally be fine ,
iv never had a bad experience there myself nor heard of any with food

FWIW , if your going to seriously be hoping to marry a lady  from any fsu country , ??why would you not want to immerse yourself a little in the people and culture she is from ??  fact is it will become  a big part of your future life , understanding it is a big plus imho train travel helps with that

SX

[JayH]

Guys -give the op a break here will you  please--he is feeling his way-- asking questions.A lot of info on the inet warns of the potential pitfalls and mentioning it here does not hurt him.  To point out a few things-- the time his flight arrives leaves some awkward timing to get to Kherson. No flights to Kherson -so option was Odessa-- where he would have arrived at 23.00(if flight was on time) choices would have been to stay Kiev overnight or odessa overnight --or get taxi to Kherson--presuming arrangement could be made. Arrival at best about 03.00 AM!!!  So-- all in all-- an overnight train that takes you to Kherson looks like quite a good idea ( and way cheaper) . While it will not be a scenic tour( dark most of the time) --he will start to feel the culture and the people --in just doing the transition and trip. Train has the potential of least hold ups if compared to alternatives. It has been very cold this last week with a lot of snow around Kiev and extending a fair way south.
So--to the OP-- a good plan considering all the issues to take into account.
I have had some great experiences with Ukraine people-- found them helpfull and willing to go out of their way to help.Most younger people have a little English-- although they can be reluctant to try as they are embarrassed that they are not very good-- generally speaking it is usually good enough to be able to help.

Last--it is not hard to get some idea what  a poster is on about-- there is often a country flag  under user name-- how hard is it to note it and not make posts based on erroneous presumption.

[Jumper]

Yes i've used the train a few times.


It's no problem and you could enjoy it.




I'd advise you to  relax a bit.


No one will have an elaborate scheme to drug you and remove your eyes,
i'll even give you a money back guarantee on your train ticket price if they do.


 


On the practical side i wouldn't take the economy tickets, you'l be far more comfortable sharing a cabin,even if you refuse food or drink offered.


I would highly advise taking something to eat and drink with you,maybe even something
to share with others.
Its a nice gesture , even if they refuse,and its breaks the ice to help you interact and try to get a grasp on the culture ,if they accept.




good luck

[stef]

Well, guys, pretty funny tread....lots of good and weird experiences here....
But to me, my most romantic experience ever was on a night train....
I was seventeen and came back from a holiday in Italy, close to Venetzia, and well, in the 4 people compartment, there was a sixteen years old girl;...We didn't understand each other, because she was Italian, and I could speak only a few words of it, but the magic of the train, the atmosphere, everything was pushing us to have a romantic affair together...We kissed, played a Little around and once back home i never saw that girl again....
great memories, forty years later.....

[CDW]

Well, guys, pretty funny tread....lots of good and weird experiences here....
But to me, my most romantic experience ever was on a night train....
I was seventeen and came back from a holiday in Italy, close to Venetzia, and well, in the 4 people compartment, there was a sixteen years old girl;...We didn't understand each other, because she was Italian, and I could speak only a few words of it, but the magic of the train, the atmosphere, everything was pushing us to have a romantic affair together...We kissed, played a Little around and once back home i never saw that girl again....
great memories, forty years later.....

I wish it is the case, but not very romantic travelling alone lol

So, you are 47 now? lol   I will be glad to have a romantic in the train. Perhaps Moscow to Vladivostok lol

[ML]

I wish it is the case, but not very romantic travelling alone lol

So, you are 47 now? lol   I will be glad to have a romantic in the train. Perhaps Moscow to Vladivostok lol

You could get married, impregnate the gal, and be divorced by the end of the train ride.

[Lily]

An overhight trip in a platskarta wagon would be more exciting.

 

[calmissile]

An overhight trip in a platskarta wagon would be more exciting.

 

What class of service is this?  We had one trip out of many that had double bunks along a long hallway down the center.  We had to take it because it was the only class available.  There was no socialization at all.   I much prefer the compartments of 1st or 2nd class.    LOL

[mendeleyev]

Calm, this class shown as Lily says is the platzkartz level, basic. Sometimes called 3rd class. Think Southwest airlines with a party going on.

See photo below for how it looks empty before passengers begin to board. On one side are 4 berths, two being upper bunks and there is a small table that everyone shares. Opposite at the window are two single seats with a small table and bunk above. At night the person on the bottom lowers the table to the same height as the seats and uses that area for the bottom bunk.

[ECOCKS]

Informative as always Mendy, thanks!

[mendeleyev]

Thank you, sir. 

[JayH]

Did the OP ever do this trip?

[Vasilisa]

We should really NEVER accept drink or food from strangers regardless how good/trustable they are.  You never know!!!  It is your own risk.

I hear many horror stories how people got drugged from strangers.

WATCH: Alfred Hitchcock's STRANGERS ON THE TRAIN   

CDW, honestly I have no idea why you are trying to date foreign women, all this idea of traveling to a different country is about risk and adventure, you face thousands of risks every day everywhere , even staying in your own country, but when you travel it means you are ready for adventure and some fun after all, I have read a lot of your posts and it's all about being extra careful, cautious and negative.
I am not saying it's normal to accept food from strangers, etc, but you can get drugged by anyone, how can you travel and date women you have never met before without being afraid of being drugged by them on the first date? Just an observation.

[Vasilisa]

CDW, you made me laugh. I do not think anyone would poison your food. However. I have not travel for awhile but actually I would be careful to drink other people's alcohol and do not play cards:-)


On another note CDW I hope you do not mind too much but I think it will be good for you to drop some paranoia. :-) Sorry but tight and paranoid is not going to be popular, you'll scare all honest women; leaving only ones with hidden agenda.

+1000000000000000000000000000, well said