Darth Confidential

[jone]

Depends on where you're going.
No. But the bigger question is why do you need to carry 5K? Keep your cash on your person or hidden away in your luggage. If you are taking 5K be sure to hide it in numerous places and most importantly, do not flash it around or let anyone know you have it. Thieves are more danger than customs. Sometimes they are one and the same. I would suggest you only carry on your person what you can carry safely and not be paranoid or suspicious and again, avoid showing it or flashing it for any reason.

2

Yeah, especially to your wife.  It will disappear even faster.

[Boethius]

What's the best credit card for international use? Capital One Quicksilver has unlimited 1.5% cash back, no annual fee, and no foreign transaction fees.

Is there a danger custom agents steal your money if you bring like 5K?

Best credit cards, in my experience, are VISA and Mastercard, because they are widely known. 

There is little danger of custom agents stealing your money, but you don't need a lot of cash.  You can use credit cards and get cash at banks/kiosks as you need it.  Just make sure your bank, and credit card companies, know you will be abroad.   You could also use a preloaded VISA card.  I never carry more than $300 cash when travelling.  My general perspective is, I never carry more than I would be upset about losing if pickpocketed/robbed, and the former is much more likely than the latter in Ukraine.  There are expert pickpockets there, going back to Soviet times, and they seem to have a radar when it comes to targets.  My better half knew many of them, as he worked near their hang outs, and he told me the number one thing they look for is inattention.

[Noch1]

My very first trip I carried 2k, never used it all.
This was before I knew how bank cards, credit cards
etc worked in Ukraine. Sometimes you will get better deal on apartment or
driver for a day if you have US dollars.
My bank card worked fine, took out what I needed daily.
My bank charged $5 per transaction.
Last few trips I took 1000 USD and always came back with a few hundred.

Ukraine has no lack of bank machines, the odd one doesn't work.
but never had issues getting cash.

[jone]

I carry cash that equals two weeks of living expenses.  Beyond that I rely on plastic.

You should note that using the Bankomat(s) as they are called (we call them ATMs) will cost you some money.  The banks charge 3% in fees.  For instance, if I take out 500 Rubles here in Russia, I am charged slightly more than $75.

You should also know that there are restrictions in the amount of money that you can take out from an Eastern European ATM.  I do not know the current limit in Ukraine, but here in Russia it is 500 Rubles.  Of course, Russia has so ruined its economy that 500 Rubles used to be almost $150 US compared to the $75 it is today.

[amal8]

3% uncapped is so brutal

[Noch1]

I carry cash that equals two weeks of living expenses.  Beyond that I rely on plastic.

You should note that using the Bankomat(s) as they are called (we call them ATMs) will cost you some money.  The banks charge 3% in fees.  For instance, if I take out 500 Rubles here in Russia, I am charged slightly more than $75.

You should also know that there are restrictions in the amount of money that you can take out from an Eastern European ATM.  I do not know the current limit in Ukraine, but here in Russia it is 500 Rubles.  Of course, Russia has so ruined its economy that 500 Rubles used to be almost $150 US compared to the $75 it is today.

I would suggest one check with their own banks,
Used two different debit cards, one was flat fee of 5 bucks, regardless of the amount. Lowest I was ever forced to take was 2000 Grn. Most I could get in one shot was 5000. Other card was about 12 dollars per transaction.
Credit cards was very small fee. It would depend on who you bank with and
each banks policies, if your getting nailed $75 dollar to take out 75 dollars,
your bank is raping you

[cc3]

I carry cash that equals two weeks of living expenses.  Beyond that I rely on plastic.

You should note that using the Bankomat(s) as they are called (we call them ATMs) will cost you some money.  The banks charge 3% in fees.  For instance, if I take out 500 Rubles here in Russia, I am charged slightly more than $75.

You should also know that there are restrictions in the amount of money that you can take out from an Eastern European ATM.  I do not know the current limit in Ukraine, but here in Russia it is 500 Rubles.  Of course, Russia has so ruined its economy that 500 Rubles used to be almost $150 US compared to the $75 it is today.

My math must be way different than your math. At today's exchange rate of roughly 68 rubles/$, 500 rubles is about $7.35. Do you really mean to say that you are charged $75 to withdraw the equivalent of $7.35 from an ATM? And...re your last statement, 500 rubles is most definitely not $75!

[ML]

For instance, if I take out 500 Rubles here in Russia, I am charged slightly more than $75.

= = = = = = =

I think he meant to type 5,000 Rubles.

And he probably means they take out a little more than $75 from his bank account to cover the withdrawal AND the fee.

[Darth_Budda]

Just want to let you guys know...

If my trip goes all Tom Hanks. Our chats have been nice...



All most the 15th

[2tallbill]

What's the best credit card for international use? Capital One Quicksilver has unlimited 1.5% cash back, no annual fee, and no foreign transaction fees.

Is there a danger custom agents steal your money if you bring like 5K?

Whatever card you use be sure to tell them in advance that you will be
traveling to the FSU or there is an excellent chance that they will lock
your card and it will be worthless for anything except scraping the frost
off of a car windshield. 

Udachi!

Bill

[Darth_Budda]

in kiev with viktoria....  all is good....   i can not stand the water....   can you get american style water in ukraine?

[cc3]

As an American, I don't know what "American style" water is. My S.O. and I just buy 6 liter plastic bottles of water from various grocery stores or "producti" shops and refill them at water dispensing vending machines. It tastes fine to me, but if you are referring to local tap water, stop drinking it now!

[Boethius]

I drink tap water in Kyiv, no problems.  But in some buildings, the water will have sediment.  I agree, buy bottled water, lots of locals won't drink tap water either.

[jone]

I drink tap water in Kyiv, no problems.  But in some buildings, the water will have sediment.  I agree, buy bottled water, lots of locals won't drink tap water either.

First time I was in Kyiv, the water in the tub was actually brown.   And I was in a very nice hotel.  No, I did not make the water that color.   

[Darth_Budda]

viktoria told me not to drink the water... but i tried some... tastes better than the sparkling water....   i will ask the hotel staff if it is safe.....   

[calmissile]

viktoria told me not to drink the water... but i tried some... tastes better than the sparkling water....   i will ask the hotel staff if it is safe.....   

Good luck with that!  Several members can tell you the name of products you are likely to need to purchase at the pharmacy.     

My wife and her family even used bottled water for cooking (Kiev).  I was sick for 2-3 days at a time on a couple of trips before I wised up.  Bottled water, sodas, and vodka are a much better bet.

[Slumba]

in kiev with viktoria....  all is good....   i can not stand the water....   can you get american style water in ukraine?

Glad that things are going well.  If you mean "bottled water suitable for drinking, without carbonation" then you want to look for water that has the phrase "bez gaz" or something similar.  Probably if, under the brand name, it says "без" (Russian word for "without") then it is the version without carbonation.   When I was in Kiev about a year ago, every produkti (corner store) had it.

I wouldn't recommend drinking the tap water, even if it doesn't make you sick it can have non-microbial impurities in it such as lead, zinc, cadmium, etc. in it.

[2tallbill]

viktoria told me not to drink the water... but i tried some... tastes better than the sparkling water....   i will ask the hotel staff if it is safe.....   

Don't drink the water. You can buy bottled water without gas and it tastes fine.
He = no  so look for bottles with the He on it.

You can't taste most microbes or many chemicals, what do amoeba's taste like? they
can still cause you serious problems. If you spend a day or two on the toilet but save
a few bucks, but save a few dollars on water is it worth it?

Udachi!

Bill

PS nice looking couple in the photo

[deccie]

Agreed about don't drink the water without at least some decent filtration. Not only because of the issues billy mentioned but also because the piping can be really bad. They still use lead pipes in some places. So anything from bacteria to viruses to pesticides and heavy metals could be in that water.

Our river water here comes from a river that runs past a former nuclear test site in KZ....

[Faux Pas]

There have been hundreds if not thousands of posts on this forum about not drinking the tap water in the FSU. There are very good reasons for that even if it tastes and looks fine. Drink it at your own risk. Nobody I know personally in the FSU drinks the tap water. Uses it in all the ways you use water, sure but nobody drinks it.

[Darth_Budda]

Glad that things are going well.  If you mean "bottled water suitable for drinking, without carbonation" then you want to look for water that has the phrase "bez gaz" or something similar.  Probably if, under the brand name, it says "без" (Russian word for "without") then it is the version without carbonation.   When I was in Kiev about a year ago, every produkti (corner store) had it.

I wouldn't recommend drinking the tap water, even if it doesn't make you sick it can have non-microbial impurities in it such as lead, zinc, cadmium, etc. in it.

You saved me.... " Bez Gaz "

[Ridersfan]

   I hope that you enjoy your time in Kyiv. I have not been there in over 6 years but always enjoyed my time there.
  If you are looking for a good restaurant that serves authentic Ukrainian food, I would recommend Vulyk, 1 block south south of Tolstoho Metro station on Velyka Vasylkivska St. Also Patio Pizza on Krutyi Descent is a good option for western food. It is across from Bessarabskiy Market which is an interesting stop.
 You have probably already visited St. Michaels (Golden Domes) and St. Sophia. which are popular tourist destinations, if not, the bell towers of both offer a nice photo opportunity. There is also a nice park behind St. Michaels and the upper station for Kyiv Funicular. Not far from St. Michaels is Andriivskyi Descent where you will find numerous souvenir booths and the proposal statue (my name). Also in this neighborhood is the National Historical Museum which has some original foundations outside of it dating back to the beginnings of Kievan Rus.
 The opposite side of Khreschatyk St. behind the Hotel Ukraine is a nice neighborhood to stroll and view the architecture, Mariyinsky Palace, and the house with the Chimeras (# 10 Bankova St.).
 The War Museum and Pechersk Lavra are also worth a visit.
 
 

[Boethius]

There is also a nice park behind St. Michaels and the upper station for Kyiv Funicular.

Volodymyrska Hirka (St. Vladimir Hill).

Not far from St. Michaels is Andriivskyi Descent where you will find numerous souvenir booths and the proposal statue (my name).

It's a monument of Pronia Prokopivan Sirko-Serkova and Svyryd Petrovhcy Holokvosty-Golokhvastor, two of the main characters in Mykailo Starytsky's comedic play, Chasing Two Hares.

Starytsky was a 19th century Ukrainian writer, and Chasing Two Hares is a comedy about a young man chasing two women, one wealthy but unattractive (Pronia), the other, very attractive but poor.  This was made into a move in 1963, and was my better half's favourite movie as a child.  Some background -

http://www.day.kiev.ua/en/article/history-and-i/mykhailo-starytskys-comedy-chasing-two-hares-national-hit

The movie, with subtitles -

[BillyB]

in kiev with viktoria....  all is good.... 

Viktoria is beautiful. Congrats! When will we hear the wedding bells?

First time I was in Kyiv, the water in the tub was actually brown.   And I was in a very nice hotel.  No, I did not make the water that color.   

Old galvanize pipes do rust. With pressure changes, pipes can shake some of that sediment loose and deliver it to you. Hopefully there's no lead used in making those pipes.

[Darth_Budda]

In kirovograd..  now..  took a nice train ride...   time to meet her family...  do some drinking with her friends...  break out the local New York wine...   


The bells will ring soon....  my grandmothers

 ring in on her hand....


I am constantly mistaken for Ukrainian...  until I talk...  the look on their faces is always surprise....  kinda funny....  I am here for about a week than back to Kiev for a few more days...

Time for some beer....  peace..