In Ukraine, we bought the “L” data and phone package with Lifecell, which gives us 5GB data, unlimited calls to Lifecell phones, 150 minutes of calling to non-Lifecell phones, and 150 SMS messages within 30 days. The film is … "Generally we host German, French, British, Belgian, or North American tourists every year, but this year visitors are mainly from Russia, Ukraine and Poland," Beceren stated. The US State Department considers Ukraine a generally safe country to visit, but warns that street crime is a widespread problem. And when I say adventurous, I mean it in the sense that we travel to off-the-path, adventurous-to-us destinations, and do so independently, rather than in the sense that we’re bungee jumping off bridges and skydiving whilst we’re there. The Tourist Hotel Complex has classic-style rooms and suites with satellite TV, refrigerator, and desk. I never had any problems. And there’s a seemingly out-of-place extreme-ish sports culture that includes jumping off bridges and zip lining across the Dnieper River (if you’re into that kind of thing). If you are a resident of another country or region, please select the appropriate version of Tripadvisor for your country or region in the drop-down menu. Out and about in Kiev, we can definitely tell Ukraine is fighting a war. Coffee is cheap. I seek advice to all fellow Americans who have traveled to Ukraine. Are there any major sicknesses going currently strong such as measle, mumps, etc.? Barron retired in 2016 to start US Traveler Assist (USTA), a safety and security company that provides American travelers with expert in-country resources and on-the-ground fixers. Now for the Disclaimer. Despite all the s**t that does happen – and yes, our collective cup does seem to runneth over with poop these days – what we’ve actually seen and experienced on our travels is that places we thought might be scary (Colombia, parts of Mexico, and yes – Ukraine) have turned out to be not scary at all. Reconsider travel to Ukraine due to COVID-19. Don’t be naive about the risks of theft and scams there. If you’re interested in Kiev’s craft beer spots, check out this post from Megan Starr for a few suggestions on where to go. At Maidan, where the latest revolution (and the one before that) happened, there are signs everywhere of those who lost their lives, and the violence that happened back in 2014 through to the war that continues today: memorials with the victims’ pictures, dates of their lives and deaths, and flowers and candles. These are really the safety tips I’d give to anyone, going anywhere, but they stand for Ukraine as well…. There are awesome coffee shops everywhere. Gold star for you? As mentioned above, we tend to use a range of sources when we’re trying to decide whether to travel to a particular destination. I look forward to reading your other Ukraine posts now I have found your website!! There have been over 47,000 drug-related murders alone in the past five years. I use the, Something I don’t currently use, but will certainly purchase when I upgrade my phone, is the, We both use Macbooks, which look expensive and are easily recognizable. To us, Kiev and Lviv feel safe to travel to. We’ve heard many, many stories of travellers and friends running into very bad situations in nightclubs around the world, and we’ve personally had to get out of a nightclub really quickly on one occasion. Ukrainian yellow and blue are everywhere too…small signs of nationalism, signals that seem to show many Kievans see themselves as firmly Ukrainian. The ban coming into effect on Saturday will stop tourists from all countries, even low-risk nations, from entering Ukraine. On a separate note, how do you expect people to detect you are an American, please? Worldwide health advice: don't travel. Nobody ever guesses that I am American and I usually don't tell anybody. But if you’re looking for something organised to do, they seem to be a good bet (and you can check Trip Advisor reviews for Active Ukraine here – they have tours all around the country). I absolutely love guidebooks, but unfortunately don’t use them that much anymore, because we simply don’t have the space (or extra weight in our luggage) and because we’re going from new country to new country, and don’t have a base. What you should know as an American tourist. While things could change at any moment, we absolutely feel safe travelling in Ukraine. The airline landed at Kyiv’s Boryspil International Airport (KBP) on July 8th, marking the resumption of scheduled services. Thank you for the information again. I’m an American who has visited Ukraine (Kiev only) once before. However it is true that you need to watch out for scams and rip-offs, especially in Odessa where there are some truly shocking scams going on. Tex said 3 years ago. In addition to checking for advisories and getting visa information, you can set up alerts to be notified if a new travel warning is issued. Some areas have increased risk. That you’re a brave adventuring hero and we’re wimps for being a bit nervous for travelling to a country that’s at war with Russia, doing our research to decide it’s safe, and then coming here and enjoying it? To be clear, violence in Mexico is no joke. I’d checked Global Affairs Canada — our answer to the American State Department — daily, waiting to see the magic words I knew would be there: There is no nationwide advisory in effect for Ukraine. We’re the travel-crazy couple behind Wandertooth. We have over 45 city and regional guides spanning four continents, with more being added each month! Anywhere. about YouTube vlogger Fun for Louis visiting North Korea really nails the issue of bloggers papering over serious issues within a country under the (true or not) excuse of spreading positivity and intercultural connection: Your email address will not be published. There is so much to see. Honesty time: even after travelling the world for the better part of 15 years, and full-time for 3 years, we still get a little nervous and intimidated when we arrive in a new country or city; doubly so when it’s a place we’re already slightly unsure about, and especially when we’re arriving at night. We’ve yet to have a bad cappuccino, and for the most part, we’ve been able to get delicious speciality coffees for around US$1.15 / CDN$1.50. We got a freelance visa in Czech Republic that wasn’t too difficult if you’re looking for another Euro base – happy to answer any Qs about that! I also have quite a few books (fiction and non-) on my reading list for the time we’re here. Some areas have increased risk. Looking forward to see more of your trip. Ukraine’s border closure is set to expire on September 28 th , and we have now learned that Ukraine will allow the ban to expire, re-opening the country for tourism a second time. Citizens of the USA, Canada, Japan, Switzerland, or citizens of the European Union countries can be qualified for a tourist visa when they submit a round-trip ticket issued by the Ukrainian National Airlines. ), it also makes a difference to your safety, being able to get home quickly, know exactly where you are, or call for help. Speaking of prices…some of the prices are actually mind boggling for us. This is a post of first impressions, and that’s it. If you see a logo of the taxi cab on top - no need to fret. The coffee budget goes far in Kiev, and the same goes for beer. However it is true that you need to watch out for scams and rip-offs, especially in Odessa where there are some truly shocking scams going on. Visas - All tourists need to have a visa in order to be able to visit Bhutan which is most of the time issued when entering the country but one can also apply in advance to get their visa approval before … Frankly, just because a blogger says somewhere is great or safe to visit, doesn’t mean it is and doesn’t mean you should. Topics 1938, Soviet Union, Soviet Russia, Home Movie, Stock Footage. I also believe that in the earlier safety discussions there should have been some replies from your compatriots, too. Exercise increased caution due to crime and civil unrest. That said, we are far more adventurous than the average North American traveller. I’ll start with some general first impressions, talk about how we feel, safety wise, and then offer some trip planning and safety tips that may be helpful at the end. Tags: havana cuba, havana safety. We have a good number of Expat community that live in Ukraine. Thank you for your assistance. Kyiv is relatively safe as long as you use common sense--stay out of areas that you wouldn't normally go into in your hometown. It's as safe as in California, and may be even safer (I love California, especially Sierra Nevada - lake Tahoe part). Going along with our cautiously adventurous travel style, we are pretty cautious when we’re in a new place. In addition to Uber, we took the metro in Kiev a few times, which was also quite user-friendly. Well ! And one more comment, if I may. While it’s true that many people don’t speak English, most people speak a few words of English. In my opinion, nothing says “rob me” like Canon, Sony, or Nikon splashed all over your camera strap. Safe? But in addition to those gems, the Internet seems to be rife with outdated warnings about the city: You’ll get ripped off by taxi drivers in Kiev, for sure! Unless you behave rude and arrogant, most locals won’t even care who you are. Despite all there, there really didn’t seem to be any sense of tension that we (as casual tourists!) However, some stone-pelting incidents in 2018 showed that this may no longer be the case. We’ll be in Lviv until Oct 16 and then are incidentally going to Frankfurt for a few days. I'm sure there were some left by Americans among these: http://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowTopic-g294473-i3662-k3903466-Ukraine_Trip_Reports_Collection-Ukraine.html#28348864. Bob White. Note, to use either solution, your smartphone has to be unlocked, which means you 1) either bought it outright and own the phone, 100%, or 2) you have to contact your carrier at home and have them unlock it (policies differ across countries and carriers, but in our experience it’s completely worth doing this!). Due to the political turmoil in Ukraine, Kyiv has lost some of its tourist appeal in recent years. 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