Last Minute Travel...

[TwoBitBandit]

I read that I should bring some dressier clothes.  How dressed up do guys get over there?

If you're not born with a GQ gene, my recommendation is that you do the following:

1.  Black dress shoes.  The style of shoes in the FSU is more "pointed" than is typically found here.  By "pointy" I mean shoes where the end where your toes are tapers and is narrower than the rest of the shoe.  You definitely *don't* want the boxy flat-front shoes that were in style a few years ago in America.  (Although the trend in the past couple of years seems to be moving toward "pointier" shoes.)  If you look around you can find these kinds of pointy shoes in high-end department stores.  Buy nice shoes.  Girls notice shoes.  I recommend that you don't spend less than $200 on your shoes.  And for God's sake, leave your tennis shoes at home.

2.  Black slacks, cotton or a cotton blend.  No pleats.  Definitely *don't* wear beige Dockers or similar pants, those girls hate that.  No blue jeans.

3.  Black belt.

4.  If you have no style in shirts, just stick with dark solid dress shirts and you'll be fine.  Depending on your skin tone, dark blue, dark green, and gray look good.  Black with thin white pinstrips can look good on some guys.  If you're not sure, go to a high-end department store and ask the female sales clerks... or take some girls you know.  Russians don't tend to wear loud colors and patterns like Americans sometimes do.  Simple patterns are probably OK if you have at least a tiny bit of fasion sense.  Buy nice shirts.  No polo shirts or T-shirts, the girls hate that stuff.

These simple guidelines are oriented toward someone with no fashion sense who wants to make a good impression with a simple, classic style.  By all means, if you spend your spare time pouring over issues of GQ and love watching "Queer Eye for the Straight Guy," then mix it up a little and the girls will love you for it!  But if you don't have fashion sense, don't overplay your hand, just keep it simple and classy.

You've asked an excellent question.  It's important.  Russian guys definitely dress better than American guys.  If you want to look good to RW, you gotta kick it up a notch from what you could get away with at home...

[TwoBitBandit]

...and one more thing: your bills must be in perfect condition or they won't exchange them.  If the corners are missing, if they have any ink or writing on them, any holes, if they're excessively worn, etc., you won't be able to exchange them at full value.  When you go get money at the bank before you leave, look at each bill carefully.  Don't let them give you any currency that isn't in great condition.

[Daveman]

...and one more thing: your bills must be in perfect condition or they won't exchange them.  If the corners are missing, if they have any ink or writing on them, any holes, if they're excessively worn, etc., you won't be able to exchange them at full value.  When you go get money at the bank before you leave, look at each bill carefully.  Don't let them give you any currency that isn't in great condition.

Absolutely, positively, without question... this is absolute fact.  the larger banks are a little more 'lenient', but not much.  Do not even fold the bills in half.. carry them in a way where there will not be a crease.  This is a very important point. Don't overlook it.

[Jet]

...and one more thing: your bills must be in perfect condition or they won't exchange them.  If the corners are missing, if they have any ink or writing on them, any holes, if they're excessively worn, etc., you won't be able to exchange them at full value.  When you go get money at the bank before you leave, look at each bill carefully.  Don't let them give you any currency that isn't in great condition.

Better yet, stop into the bank a few days early, explain that you are travelling abroad and ask them for NEW bills. They usaully know the drill and even if your branch is too small to order new bills, they will set aside good ones for a day or two until you come back in to collect them. Also 50's and 100's are easier to exchange than 20's.

Pay very close attention to TwoBit's recommendation, my wife had a crisp new $100 bill turned down because it had a hole from a single leg of a regular paper staple at one end of it!

[eubanksae]

Okay everyone, thank you all for the advice!

I start traveling tomorrow morning at 7am, and I get to Kiev about 11am on Thursday. 
I was able to extend my time there, so I don't leave until Friday morning on the 27th.

Any last minute advice?

So I know about O'Brien's..  Are there other restaurants, cafe's, bars, clubs, sites, ... that you all recommend?

Is there anyone on this forum that is currently in Kiev, that I could lookup while I'm there?

Thanks again,
Andy

[Kuna]

Last minute advice???

HAVE FUN!  Treat it like a wonderful holiday and it'll become that...

Don't be afraid to eat local food... don't eat in McDonalds... treat every lady you meet with respect and decency and PLEASE post a trip report!

There's also some comments on places to do while in Kiev in this thread:

http://www.russianwomendiscussion.com/index.php?topic=4080.0


You're going to have a ball!

Kuna

[GregfromGa]

Theres a great little Ukrainian kitchen across the street from Obriens. When I say across the street I mean when facing the entrance to Obriens it will be on your right. There is only room for about 15 people in there and it is also non-smoking. The food is cheap and good. As far as Obriens goes,well let me just say that in my years of going to Ukraine there was this girl named Victoria that worked there and she's got the best ass by far that I've ever saw. Another girl named Vika that works or worked there might be the prettiest girl in Kiev. Tall,dark hair,beautiful smile,blue eyes and just as nice as she can be. I know the girl with the great ass is no longer working there. When I was there last March they said she took a job on a cruise ship as well as about 7 other girls that worked there.

Stay away from TGIFridays,Arizonas and any other American theme place to eat. They are all overpriced and the food sucks. I also like Golden Gate Pub. Very pretty girls working there as well. There was a Sveta that worked there. She was 21 from Nikoliv and put the full court press on me, but being the happily married man that I am I couldnt even flirt with her much.You'll be surprised what a constant smile,a few warranted complements and a good tip will get you in Ukraine. I'm really wanting to go for about 10 days in mid-May but the wife really doesnt want to go for that short of time. Keep us posted on everything going on and pictures of girls in short skirts are always encouraged.

[Phil dAmore]

Welcome Andy!

Bradenton... home of Tropicana, and just down the street from Sarasota if I recall...  Or as I like to call it "Circus World"  (It's the winter home of Ringling Brothers, yes?)

Good luck in your search.  If Ukraine doesn't work out for you, come see me in St. Petersburg!

Phil