I've used [url]www.kievlet.com[/url] often enough and was never disappointed. Some really nice flats.
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I've used [url]www.kievlet.com[/url] often enough and was never disappointed. Some really nice flats.
Thanks for the apartment links guys. These look perfect. Some gorgeous 2 room flats centrally located with all the amenities for $100 per night. Contrast that with the "4 star" hotel I've been staying at for $150 for a room barely large enough to fit a bed, TV in Russian, and no internet access.
A few questions...
How is the availability if I generally pop into Kiev on a week's notice? Do they make you shuttle around from night to night?
Also, how is payment handled?
When they say cable TV, does that mean Ukranian/Russian cable with just BBC in English, or something more robust?
How do you 'check in' when you arrive to get the key?
Sorry to be off topic.
[QUOTE=Brandon88]Thanks for the apartment links guys. These look perfect. Some gorgeous 2 room flats centrally located with all the amenities for $100 per night. Contrast that with the "4 star" hotel I've been staying at for $150 for a room barely large enough to fit a bed, TV in Russian, and no internet access.
A few questions.
How is the availability if I generally pop into Kiev on a week's notice? Do they make you shuttle around from night to night?
Also, how is payment handled?
When they say cable TV, does that mean Ukranian/Russian cable with just BBC in English, or something more robust?
How do you 'check in' when you arrive to get the key?
Sorry to be off topic.[/QUOTE]Availability is fine with the guys I suggested, a weeks notice should be ok. I've had to shuttle around before but only when I gave them a days notice.
Cable TV can range from BBC world + CNN in English to BBC prime and the Turner movie channel but not much more than that. If the place has a DVD, then movies here cost about $7 to buy.
Check-in would be 1 of the manageresses meeting you at the apartment with keys etc. If you use the airport transfer then maybe the driver will have everything with him.
Payment is the 1st night in advance with the balance in cash on arrival.
As there is now snow in Kiev, a central address is the wise move.
Actually Brandon it's all on topic. ISG is about traveling for sex, and that is all part of it.
The only time I ever had a problem with an agency asking my to change apartments was when I was here last year for New Years and I had to stay one place for 5 days and then another place for the next 5 weeks - not too bad. But some times the apartment shuffle does happen. The 'name' agencies on this board while fine will also be the most expensive. Of course it is still a step up from just about any hotel in Kiev (price and accomodations)
Cable generally means the local channels - no english. Sat TV generally means BBC CNN and some awful Arabic-Italian-Indian channels. I actually prefer the local channels over the crap loaded Sat TV. Besides, if you aren't working you should be out chasing poon - I'll be checking up on you. ;)
The easiest thing for check in/check out is to have the agency pick you up at the airport. It ranges anywhere from $20-40. That way they know where to take you and can call the manager when she will ineverably be late.
As any FSU traveler will tell you, and you already know. Resolution to any problem (major or small) is a huge case of YMMV.
Didn't I tell you this a couple of weeks ago at Arena? ;)
Yes, you did, but I am eternally optimistic. :D
I just don't understand European satellite. Every hotel in Asia has satellite HBO, Cinemax, Discovery, etc etc etc. I can understand if we're in the hinterlands, but I'm talking major tourist destinations...Paris, Athens, etc.
well, after a year away from eastern europe, i'm finally back. after a fantastic weekend in moscow i landed at borispol sunday night, and found that i was quite lost. none of the old phone numbers worked, and i only had a vague recollection of the places i visited last year, so i wasn't quite sure where to go.
fortunately, the battle-scarred forum professor cruiser d offered his help in getting around kiev, and starting tuesday we went on a grand tour of kiev strip clubs.
[b]rio[/b]: we started in this place tuesday night. it's a small one-room joint with like 6 booths. it was full and they weren't letting any people in. there's a stage with three dancers on it which rotate. they don't come up to you or anything after the dance - you have to attract their attention while they dance and ask them to come up to your table yourself. the club had maybe 15 girls rotating, and i found only one of them appealing. however she avoided eye contact the entire time she was on stage and never came up to me. i also liked this one waitress, asked her for a phone number, and she gave me a schpiel about how she never gives it out to patrons, blah blah blah.
[b]status[/b]: shot down in flames; debris rep001tered over a wide area.
[b]millenium[/b]: we went there next. the place last year had a great selection as i remember. it's also a tiny l-shaped room with a handful of tables, a tiny main stage, and two even smaller extra stages, which that night were empty. the girls were, to use a russian term, [i]polnyi otstoy[/i]. we sat there for half an hour, drank a beer each, and left empty-handed and disgusted.
[b]status[/b]: secondary target obscured by clouds; returned home; ordnance dropped on targets of opportunity.
[b]spearmint rhino[/b]: i hit this wednesday night. a slightly larger club, nice big stage, comfy booths, but absolutely horrible torture device chairs, if you can't get a booth. right at the entrance, the greeter told me "be aware, our establishment does not do [i]intim[/i] (sex)". i nodded and winked, and the greeter gave me a weird look.
the girls were generally pretty nice, lots of variety, definitely something for any taste out there. they were very polite and didn't hassle me at all. a two-song private dance cost 150 hrivnas. however, all the girls would start singing the "no intim" song as soon as they got to me, and in the private rooms you can't touch their privates, although they kind of touch yours. subsequent attempts to ask the three really cute dancers to go home with me were met with "seriously, what do we keep telling you about no sex in this club?" i got two phone numbers, paid a very reasonable 150 hr bill for about three hours in there, and went home very frustrated. i saw a bunch of other patrons go home empty-handed, looking all gloomy, so at least it wasn't just me that night.
[b]status[/b]: pull up, pull up! return to base immediately!
so there you have it gentlemen. it's all kind of funny i guess, and i spent very little money so far, maybe 1,000 hrivnas in all three clubs combined, but it's pretty sad too. what's the world coming to when a guy in kiev with a wad of cash in his pocket and a naked girl in his lap can't get laid? o tempora, o mores!
Irish, you are going to be amazed at how well and quickly the snow is cleaned from the major umm, 'tourist' areas. It always make for an interesting walk late at night/early morning to watch the old ladies shoveling snow into carts drawn by tractors.
My some time’s snowbound home city would do well to import a hundred or so of them. Despite the many 10's of million of dollar spent every year the sidewalks and parking lanes generally remain unpassable until the spring thaw.
Sorry about disappearing last night, 109. It's hard to turn down two hot blonds in hand for a night of hit or miss strip club trawling. If you didn't get my pm I might be able to offer some insight as to the 'no sex' thing at the Rhino last night during lunch.
Guys, where in Kiev do you recommend to stay?
Is there a region where most of the clubs or best restaurants are? Whats the best location to stay close to where all the action is?
Baseina Street?
Khreschatyk Street?
Bessarabs'ka Square?
The most clubs and restaurants you can find in the centre area, but that does not mean that this area is the best place to hang out. All over Kiev you can find some nice places. But the centre area is a good place to start. The streets you mention are good places to have an apartment, especially if you are new to Kiev. It is all situated next to each other. From there you can easily reach some good action on walking distance.
When you are on Bessarabs’ka square you are at the beginning of Krasnoarmiskaja Street (Chevronoarmyiska Street) and at the end of the Khreshatik Street. You are also at the beginning of Shevchenka Boulevard and at the end of Baseina Street.
Next to Bessarabs’ka square you can see Arena city and on the other site you can go to for instance Fridays restaurant. On the back of Arena city you will see Mandarin Plaza. It is on Baseina. Walk around these Streets and the little site streets for a few hours and you see so many clubs and restaurant that you don’t know anymore where to go. I think by searching and reading this forum you can easily find out where the action is.
Have a nice trip.
[QUOTE=Nufc9]Guys, where in Kiev do you recommend to stay?
Is there a region where most of the clubs or best restaurants are? Whats the best location to stay close to where all the action is?
Baseina Street?
Khreschatyk Street?
Bessarabs'ka Square?[/QUOTE]
Of those areas, I prefer the Bessarabsky area... probably because Arena (currently closed for remont I understand) was always a welcome option for me and it is right there. Ismael is right though, all of the areas are central and that is what matters.
One note though, in Kiev there isn't a single "where the action is" place. Top clubs and so on are spread throughout the city. Kreshatik is the center and there is plenty to do there... you could stay a week in Kiev and never leave Kresh for that matter... but many of the famous clubs mentioned here are a 10-20 minute cab drive away from Kreshatik and often located completely on their own away from other bars or clubs.
When budgeting your trip, don't forget to budget in about $50/day for taxis. Will be more if you do a lot of club hopping.
Taxi used to be 2 $ no matter where to in the beginning of 2006 - now, prices raised, but you can still go WHEREVER for 20 Ghrivna.
Unless you travel by taxi all day long, you don't need a lot of cash to go by cab. Cheers!
When I first came to live in Kyiv. 2003, you simply could not spend 15 minutes on ' K ' street without SCORING! Now it might be a WG, but many times it was a local or a gal just visiting. Also, scoring does not mean we had SEX! But you could easily find a lady to give you some time.
Well that sure changed. I don't even see the WG's anymore. UNTIL.
Last week I had a lady friend coming in from Russia so I booked a central apartment. I had it 1 day early as she arrived early the next day. Hmmmm, lets use this FREE night!
My plan was to simply go to Arena and PAY for it (even though I hate that scene). I much prefer the 'freebie game'. So here I am strolling down K street and I meet this young (well she turned out to be 33) lady walking with a flower. Hmmm Where's her guy? She actually slowed down, and after she saw me stop and use my mobile (I wanted a reason to just stand) she did a you-Turn and plopped down on the bench 10 feet away from me.
Ok, where's her guy? So I go up to her and ask: "do you speak any RUSSIAN? " She laughs and says of course! (in english)!
So I get out my SAVED sms in russian and ask her to translate. 'sorry but I cannot meet with you tonight' (now she knows I am FREE)
So I say thanks, take her hand and propose VODKA! I always start with Vodka. Many do like it. But if NO. Then just work your way down. All the way to chai if needed!
Long story short, after one drink we hit the super market in Mandarin, and head for the apartment. This was my 1st pull from K Street in over 3 years AND it was almost too simple!
Life is one big 'cycle'. 'never. Ever. Give UP'!
LS Guy
[QUOTE=Wallyally]Taxi used to be 2 $ no matter where to in the beginning of 2006 - now, prices raised, but you can still go WHEREVER for 20 Ghrivna.
Unless you travel by taxi all day long, you don't need a lot of cash to go by cab. Cheers![/QUOTE]
You are right. Most trips are 15-20 Grv. I miscalculated. I probably take the taxi about 6 times a day at 20 Grv = 120/5= $24.
My bad.
Well anyway, plan in $50 a day for taxi and what you don't spend on taxi blow on booze and broads. At least I always find a way to spend all my money on something... :)
Yup, just to add an extra warning about the taxis, always, always agree on the price before the trip, and never, ever agree to go on the meter. 30 hrivnas will literally take you from one side of town to the other, so no trip around downtown should ever cost you more. The cabbies will hear your accent or see you with a broad and quote you 50 hr or 100 hr or whatever. Just walk away and try the next street corner.
There are a lot of unfortunate visitors paying outrageous prices for taxis in Kiev, and that's a horrible way to get ripped off. Save it for the more enjoyable activities.
First off we will deal with information that really might matter - taxi's.
Wally - Dr - men at the opposite ends of the spectrum; Wally, I don't know where you have been traveling to in Kiev but catching a taxi to anywhere in Kiev for $2 or 10hrv isn't very viable. Even before the Orange Revolution. True I used to get fares around 10-15hrv but it was rare and for a very short distant. Now it cost 20hrv to go from one end of Khreschatyk to the other, actually 20hrv seems to be the standard for traveling anywhere in the center. But you can still travel to the other side of the river for 25-30hrv - so there is an obvious premium for traveling in the city center. Dr, honestly I really can’t picture spending $50/day on taxi’s (you can rent a car for $30) unless you are putting a lot of girls in cabs for the ride home. If you speak Russian well use taxi agencies to get around, simply call them and they will come to pick you up. I took one taxi who used the meter - which is so far the first and only time this has happened to me. I was going from Manadarin Plaza to Pidol it usually costs 20-25hrv, with the meter it cost 28hrv. I could be wrong about my rates but the girls seem to confirm it - it could also be I haven't been taking too many private cars during this trip.
Life, as far as your adventures on K street. I have always had great luck with going up to girls and just saying, ‘hello, how are you doing?' Scoring = sex. Getting a phone number or café date in Kiev is very easy. I don’t see the need for tricks.