Austrian, Malev and Czech are often the cheapest ways to get to Kiev, but require a flight change. As long as you dont leave it too late though, BA is not expensive
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Austrian, Malev and Czech are often the cheapest ways to get to Kiev, but require a flight change. As long as you dont leave it too late though, BA is not expensive
Thanks fellows, will check BA then.
Johnny
If credit cards are used are they charged in US dollors or in Ukrainian currency? How can you tell?
Hi everybody,
I would like to invite one of my Ukrainian girls over to Schengen-Land (Western Europe for you American guys).
She does not have a passport and is quoting an "official"? fee of "70-100 USD" for it. Can anybody confirm that amount. It is twice the level of what I pay in my country (Germany).
Actually this is a test case for me with regards to potential scamming.
Thanks
GERMAN
A brief overview of how credit cards work
(1) Ukrainian restaurant charges you and your sex kitten date UAH 200 for your meal.
(2) You proffer your Black card (raise eyebrows at date to make sure she notices).
(3) Restaurant processes your 200 hryvnia bill
(4) your credit card company (visa, mastercard, diners amex etc) pays restaurant about 190 hryvnia, and keeps the remainder as its cut.
(5) credit card company converts your UAH 200 bill into your home currency (at a wholesale foreign exchange (FX) rate on the date of processing) and charges you in the domestic currency of your credit card.
(6) your bank (card issuer) pays the credit card company in your home currency
(7) your bank charges you exhorbitent interest in your home currency
(8) you eventually pay your bank in your home currency
So restaurant gets its money in its domestic currency (in this case UAH), and you pay in your domestic currency (which I am assuming is USD) - with the amount converted at a wholesale FX rate on the day the credit card company processes the transaction
I used my visa card to take out cash on the ATM machine outside of bank in Tolstoy Square. When I checked up online statement after a few days, I found somebody else cashed out everyday for two days. Because it was my checking debit card, daily limit was $300. I called the bank and asked to block the card. If I did not check up online statement timely, they could cashed everyday until I found it.
Anyway, my bank gave me credit after investigation. But, I still don't know how they could do without card.
Watch out when you use ATM machine.
Good Morning and Happy New Mongering Year
Best Sex,
I am sorry to hear your ATM problem outside of bank in Tolstoy Square. Can you tell us which bank? It would be good for others to stay away from that particular bank and machine.
There has been a small surge of fake ATM machines here in Ukraine so you have to exercise some caution.
I make it a point to use machines only tied into three banks. The primary ATM that I use is with Aval Bank who have a fairly extensive network of banks and ATMs. I have used them in about 95% of my withdrawals and never have had a problem.
The other bank with ATMs that I use if Aval is not available is Azhio and Privatbank.
Other than these, I would use a currency exchange booth if I needed local cash.
BS, all they need to do is use a fake reader. Get the info and pin number you put in and burn a new card. Walk up to a real ATM with the newly burned card, tap in your pin number that you fed into the fake machine...and out spits the money.
That scam is about 15-20 years old in the US. When ATM's first became widespread here.
[QUOTE=Best Sex]I used my visa card to take out cash on the ATM machine outside of bank in Tolstoy Square. When I checked up online statement after a few days, I found somebody else cashed out everyday for two days. Because it was my checking debit card, daily limit was $300. I called the bank and asked to block the card. If I did not check up online statement timely, they could cashed everyday until I found it.
Anyway, my bank gave me credit after investigation. But, I still don't know how they could do without card.
Watch out when you use ATM machine.[/QUOTE]
I have a confession to make, whenever people ask about recommended apartment agencies, I always tell them a few that I dont use. Thats cause I wanted to keep my favourite one to myself.
Well they have given me such good service that I feel obliged to publicise them. They are called Edem Club and their web site is at:
[url]http://apartments.com.ua/[/url]
They also do the visa invites for a paltry $30. And if you are into that sort of thing, like most apartment agencies, they also run a marriage agency.
Edem Club wins the prestigious January 2004 Roger Mellie Stamp of Approval (from now on known as the "Zolotoy Hui" award)
[QUOTE=German]Hi everybody,
I would like to invite one of my Ukrainian girls over to Schengen-Land (Western Europe for you American guys).
She does not have a passport and is quoting an "official"? fee of "70-100 USD" for it. Can anybody confirm that amount. It is twice the level of what I pay in my country (Germany).
Actually this is a test case for me with regards to potential scamming.
Thanks
GERMAN[/QUOTE]Hi German,
Did you get any answer? I am trying to do the same but for Switzerland I would much appreciate your experience in this matter and how did you contact your Ukraine lady?
I read in a german forum that Germans no longer need a visa for traveling to the Ukraine as a tourist.
Is that true, can anyone confirm this information?
Axel,
The immediate answer to your query is "not yet."
There is much discussion going on in the new government as to what they will do to help increase investment and tourism. The first consideration out in the open is the suspension of visas for residents of the EU.
According to the latest reports, however, this will not be instituted until late spring at the earliest and there also is talk that the EU must also provide to Ukraine some signals of potential cooperation such as naming it a market economy.
It still has a way to go but it is in process.
Yep, the plan is to have it in place by the Eurovision finals in Kiev (mid May). Dont hold your breath. A lot of talk coming out of Kiev now but until we start seeing action, the verdict on the new Government is out
Hello,
I see that the Ukraine embassy wants my Social Security Number as a part of the visa application. Does anyone know if they really check it? I don't like giving it out due to fears of identity theft. I would rather give a fake one.
Thanks!
Hello,
The form given to me from the Ukraine Embassy in the USA asks for my Social Security Number. Given my fears about identity theft, I would rather not give it. Does anyone know if they actually check it? I would rather give them my real one.
Thanks!