Help needed for travelling advice to Kharkov

[NSDT dog lover]

Hi to all,
I need to reserve my airplane tickets from Portland (ME) to Kiev.
I will arrive at Kiew July 25 9:00 AM. I thought my interpreter could pick me up at the Kiev airport to drive me to Kharkov. This would simplify many things.

For my return, I was thinking about taking an overnight train from Kharkov to Kiev.
I would like to know which airport is the closest to the train station. Also I would like to know a little more about reservation so I will not  myself.

Thanks

[CCowboy]

If you take an overnight train, you're going to have about 13 hours to wait in Kiev since the train leaves about 10:30PM.  There is an express train that leaves about 5:30PM that will put you in Kharkov before midnight, but you'll need to get to the train station.  High priced taxi drivers will be glad to take you or you can take a bus from the airport for about $4.  If you hire a private car, plan to spend $300 or so.  For roughly $20, you can take the bus from the airport at 11:30 AM and be in Kharkov before 7PM.  Here's the link to Autolux, http://www.autolux.ua/english/.  You can't make a reservation until 2 weeks before your travel date and a reservation is a must.  I've done the bus several times and it's a pleasant trip.  They'll stop 2-3 times along the trip to stretch and get something to eat and drink.  Since it's daytime, it'll give you a chance to see some of the countryside.  Good Luck and enjoy your trip. 

[Vinnvinny]

I assume your flying with Delta? Wouldn't it be easer to continue with them onto Kharkov? 4 hour wait but maybe a lot less hassle.

[Brianinaz]

If your going in the summer why not fly. Round trip Kiev/Kharkov is under $250. The train or bus is less but it's a long ride. Round trip in a car will cost at least $150-$350 more than that and it's not a pleasent ride after the trans-atlantic flight or at 4am to make the return flight.

[BCKev]

A taxi arranged from their booth in Borispol airport (KBP) should cost about 1800 rph for the 450 km trip to Kharkov. One way plane ticket is only US$70 (Aerosvit).

I was pleasantly surprised when I used this taxi service to get to my wife's apartment in Dneprodzerzhinsk in time for New Year. All my flights were screwed up - 15 flight changes in 3 days. I got into Kiev, went over to the domestic terminal only to find out my flight was cancelled, and no more that day. They charged me 1600 rph (US$210) for the 400 km trip.

You mentioned something about an interpreter meeting you at the airport in Kiev. It is pretty straight forward to fly to Kharkov. You can buy the tickets online, and will have to change terminals in Kiev. This is more convenient than it sounds- the terminal are quite small by North American standards, are located next to each other. A couple of hundred meters walk across the parking lot and you're there.

Hopping a bus (or taxi) into Kiev to catch a train complicates things quite a bit if you are unfamiliar with the city or don't speak the language.

[GoodBrew]

Flying from Kiev to Kharkov will be the most convenient.  The afternoon flight to Kharkov departs at 1:30 and will arrive in Kharkov around 3:00.  For your return trip if you have a mid-morning departure from Kiev you might consider taking the overnight bus from Kharkov to Kiev.  If there is a delay with the early morning flight from HRK to KBP you may miss check in.  The bus stops just outside KBP before 7:00 in the morning.   

[Simoni]

I always try to fly when I am there.  Time on the ground there is precious, so why spend an extra day/night getting there?

Take the plane...