Kyiv

[PhotoSlider]

I'm happy and that's what matters.

Solid preparation and great execution!

I'm jealous, but in a kindest way. Thank you much for sharing in such structured and detailed manner. Please continue whenever you have time.

Best regards.

[Kozerog]

I arrived at Boryspil from Barcelona Friday evening, about 21:00. Because Spain is on the red list, everyone was required to install and activate Дій Вдома (Dij Bdoma) app prior to passport control. You can download this app anytime and anywhere (from Google or Apple store). App is Ukrainian language only. If you have 2 phones, use Google Translate camera mode on one phone to translate what is displayed on other phone.

To activate app, you need to receive SMS sent to Ukrainian (+380) mobile phone number. However, you cannot buy local SIMs until after passport control, so if you don't have a Ukrainian SIM already, then you have 2 options:

1) Use a friend's or AirBnb host's number. That number will be linked to your case, so friend / host will receive police calls in case you violate self-isolation. They can then tell police your true phone number (SIM you buy after passport control). I haven't violated self-isolation yet, so not sure about such police calls.

2) Get friend or AirBnb host to buy local SIM for you in advance and then install that SIM in their phone temporarily, between time you arrive and time you get through passport control.

You can communicate with friend / host by email or Viber or similar, using Boryspil free wifi for internet access. Friend / host will receive SMS containing activation code, which they send to you, so you can enter into app.

Note that self-isolation app communicates to its remote server by internet, and never checks that current mobile number of phone is same as number used to receive activation SMS. Phone I'm currently using for app doesn't have any SIM in it. Phone number associated with my case is that if my landlady.

You show activated app to passport control and give them your address of self-isolation.

You also show your covid insurance policy to passport control. I used company below, and paid 850 uah for almost 4 months coverage, same price would apply to anyone up to age 80:

https://www.oberig-sg.com/strahovanie-migrantov

Once through passport control, buy local SIM or pick up SIM friend / host bought for you. If weekday daytime arrival, you can optionally visit testing lab on way to your apartment, so as to get removed early from self-isolation. List of approved testing labs here:

https://phc.org.ua/news/algoritm-pri...zhavniy-kordon

Since I arrived Friday evening, no labs open, so I had to arrange home nurse visit from Dila labs, for 1800 uah total cost, payable in cash:

https://dila.ua/rus/program/18505_ko...-iakisnyi.html

No home nurse visit time slots available Saturday or Sunday, so I had to wait until noon Monday. I received negative test results by both email and SMS (at landlady's number) Tuesday evening. As of Tuesday, I continue to receive check-in notifications from self-isolation app, so evidently my negative results have either not yet been sent to or not yet processed by Ministry of Public Health, so as to get me off their list. I'll investigate tomorrow.

Note that if you used phone number of friend / host to setup self-isolation app, you must give that number to lab to forward to Ministry of Public Health, since your case is identified by that phone number.

Passport control, Dila receptionist and Dila nurse all spoke Russian only. If you don't speak Russian, try to get a local friend / host to help with Dila and read my instructions above to get through passport control without needing help.

Everything is changing fast, so process might be different next week from what it was for me. https://visitukraine.today is official border service page, with latest information.

So far, I've seen my regular twice. Her face is clearly showing signs of age (these slavic girls fade fast as they approach 30) but I really don't care about looks that much anymore. I get along wth her, the sex is good, I'm happy and that's what matters.

[Hestendk]

Thanks, guys, for all the info.

It's just that some of my earning can be deposited into a PayPal account, so having a PayPal Ukraine and a bank in Ukraine should be convenient for me.

I'm not sure how stable PrivatBank is, either. (But it's the largest bank in Ukraine, so it should be ok for general public.) So I would like to opt for another bank. BNP Paribas told me they supports SWIFT.

But then, if PayPal Ukraine is not operational, there is no point for me. But an employee at BNP Paribas said it's possible to connect PayPal with PrivatBank, so I'll keep exploring.

All Ukranian banks are Fully SWIFT / IBAN supported, it happend last year so now all is much more easy to send money in.

Ukrsibbank have the best banking app in my opinion.

Privatbank I would see as an secure bank, they are state owned and are making money.

So look which one that can give you the best benefits and then select that, Privatbank / Ukrsibbank have ATM in nearly all cities as I see it.

[PhotoSlider]

some of my earning can be deposited into a PayPal account, so having a PayPal Ukraine and a bank in Ukraine should be convenient for me.

I'm not sure how stable PrivatBank is, either. (But it's the largest bank in Ukraine, so it should be ok for general public.) So I would like to opt for another bank. BNP Paribas told me they supports SWIFT.

But then, if PayPal Ukraine is not operational, there is no point for me. But an employee at BNP Paribas said it's possible to connect PayPal with PrivatBank, so I'll keep exploring.

Not sure when did the below change happen, but an FYI:

"payPal states that Russian GOVERNMENT restricts and prevents international payments from being received into a Russian PayPal account. ".

I doubt Ukrainian government would restrict its bread earners in a similar fashion. I also tend to believe what BNP Paribas employee states.

You will not know for sure unless you try it yourself, or see with your own eyes when someone dos it, or a trustworthy Forum member states he succeeded very recently.

Most of my friends in Kiev simply use ATM / debit and credit cards for access to their funds outside of Ukraine. It is convenience vs surcharge.

[Sorbonne]

There were a few international banks with offices in Kiev, that also had presence in Europe. I was given names, but they require further validation. Unicredit, Alfa-Bank, Pravex, OTP, Commerzbank, UkrSib-BNP Paribas Group.

Raiffeisen is good for transfers.

There are benefits and disadvantages. Ability to deposit the funds in your home country directly into the bank account, without PayPal or WU, might be useful. But it also gets under scrutiny of Western regulation bodies. Taxes and money laundering considerations are just a few.

While in Kiev, I visited PrivatBank in person, spoke to the bank employee, and could easily open an account with my US passport. I could later send money via Western Union from my smartphone, and then within minutes deposit those funds directly into PrivatBank account using smartphone App. Obviously paying WU fee, and transfer amount is limited.

Not sure how stable PrivatBank is at the moment.

Another way is bank wire transfer, I believe taking few days, and often requiring SWIFT support. Again, PrivatBank supports SWIFT. Not all Western Banks have SWIFT.

Sorbonne, perhaps you already know all of the above, and need to open an account specifically in Ukrainian bank for a certain legal reason.

Thanks, guys, for all the info.

It's just that some of my earning can be deposited into a PayPal account, so having a PayPal Ukraine and a bank in Ukraine should be convenient for me.

I'm not sure how stable PrivatBank is, either. (But it's the largest bank in Ukraine, so it should be ok for general public.) So I would like to opt for another bank. BNP Paribas told me they supports SWIFT.

But then, if PayPal Ukraine is not operational, there is no point for me. But an employee at BNP Paribas said it's possible to connect PayPal with PrivatBank, so I'll keep exploring.

[PhotoSlider]

Has anybody successfully opened a bank account in Ukraine?

When I walked in a BNP Paribas branch in Ukraine the other day, I was told all I need is a passport, even though I told them I'm just a tourist. Can that be true?

Somebody also has told me it's possible to connect PayPal to PrivatBank of Ukraine. Does that mean other banks are not possible to be connected?

Which bank in Ukraine is the most foreigner-friendly?

There were a few international banks with offices in Kiev, that also had presence in Europe. I was given names, but they require further validation. Unicredit, Alfa-Bank, Pravex, OTP, Commerzbank, UkrSib-BNP Paribas Group.

Raiffeisen is good for transfers.

There are benefits and disadvantages. Ability to deposit the funds in your home country directly into the bank account, without PayPal or WU, might be useful. But it also gets under scrutiny of Western regulation bodies. Taxes and money laundering considerations are just a few.

While in Kiev, I visited PrivatBank in person, spoke to the bank employee, and could easily open an account with my US passport. I could later send money via Western Union from my smartphone, and then within minutes deposit those funds directly into PrivatBank account using smartphone App. Obviously paying WU fee, and transfer amount is limited.

Not sure how stable PrivatBank is at the moment.

Another way is bank wire transfer, I believe taking few days, and often requiring SWIFT support. Again, PrivatBank supports SWIFT. Not all Western Banks have SWIFT.

Sorbonne, perhaps you already know all of the above, and need to open an account specifically in Ukrainian bank for a certain legal reason.

[Hestendk]

Has anybody successfully opened a bank account in Ukraine?

When I walked in a BNP Paribas branch in Ukraine the other day, I was told all I need is a passport, even though I told them I'm just a tourist. Can that be true?

Somebody also has told me it's possible to connect PayPal to PrivatBank of Ukraine. Does that mean other banks are not possible to be connected?

Which bank in Ukraine is the most foreigner-friendly?

BNP have an office in kyiv wherr most speak english.

And yes its possible for foreigners to open an account there. I did and many others.

They have a very good mastercard plan that if you use it give you some nice perks in the airport and other places.

Paypal as I remember cannot be connected.

You can use transferwise here if that can help you.

[Ringudor]

https://visitukraine.today/

Thanks by info, this website shows clearly how are things going on now.

[Uke Boy]

From the US Embassy today:

The Ukrainian government has launched Visit Ukraine Today, a new platform that provides information on the entry and exit requirements for foreign travelers who plan to visit Ukraine. The website contains information regarding observation and self-isolation requirements, medical insurance requirements and options, and specific instructions on how to take a COVID-19 PCR test and submit the results through the "Dii vdoma" mobile application to end the self-isolation requirement.

It appears from the cost that the two medical insurance companies are hungry for profit with some of it going to the government.

Here is the link to the most current Ukrainian government information on entry regulations and more:

https://visitukraine.today/

[Sorbonne]

Has anybody successfully opened a bank account in Ukraine?

When I walked in a BNP Paribas branch in Ukraine the other day, I was told all I need is a passport, even though I told them I'm just a tourist. Can that be true?

Somebody also has told me it's possible to connect PayPal to PrivatBank of Ukraine. Does that mean other banks are not possible to be connected?

Which bank in Ukraine is the most foreigner-friendly?

[Sorbonne]

If possible, I would like to open an account at PayPal and a bank in Ukraine.

Is PayPal fully operational in Ukraine?

https://www.paypal.com/ua/webapps/mpp/country-worldwide

Here it says, "We are available in more than 200 countries. " Yet when I click on Ukraine Sign Up, it says, "Something's not right. That page doesn't exist. ".

[PhotoSlider]

The only debt I have is my car and only because I have a 2% loan which means the present value of the money more than makes up for the loan interest.

Only if I invest the money held away from paying off the loan, and, after taxes are subtracted, earn on it more than the above 2%. I myself keep in mind that the percentage is compounded, and 2-3% over 10 years becomes something like 50% owed or earned, depending on what I do.

I myself do not have a car. Work remotely from anywhere, including Kiev in 2016-2019. No car, no loan, no repair mechanics, no insurance, no speeding tickets. More money for main hobby.

But we are getting away from the main subject of our discussions here.

Friend of mine, currently in Kiev long term, regularly partakes in ordering hourly girls, and is quite happy. Prices didn't change, offerings are abundant, he didn't contract any COVID yet, God forbid. He is multilingual, making it easier.

I'd like to see how the environment is going to change after the dust settles.

So far I envision fewer GFE options for free, especially DFK, BBBJ and DATY that I had with more than half of the girls.

Probably relying on regulars to even a higher degree than before.

Quarantine and self-isolation, in the unlikely event that they stay, will prevent many short-term travelers from venturing outside of their countries of residence.

Many Ukrainian girls are eagerly awaiting the lifting of travel restrictions, so that they can fly out of Ukraine through Minsk or whatever to earn their living. Therefore there's a potential for more hunting beauties closer to mongers home base.

The rest is not clear. Things may get much worse. It all depends on vaccine (which I do not see happening soon, if ever), on efficient therapy, and maybe COVID disappearing on its own, like Spanish Flu did 100 yaers ago.

[Ringudor]

Here an URL with countries in red and green zone, I'm in Spain now and this is no land place.

https://moz.gov.ua/uploads/4/24692-i..._naselenna.pdf

[YummyPL]

is a sure way to spend more than reasonably needed or even can be afforded.

Very much agree. I pay off my card every month without fail. I think it has been more than 15 years since I last ran a balance. No debt, no interest.

The only debt I have is my car and only because I have a 2% loan which means the present value of the money more than makes up for the loan interest.

[PhotoSlider]

Ha! Why not? It is a nice perk.

Agree to some extent. Earning miles is a useful by-product.

At the same time for most of population using the credit card, with or without miles, is a sure way to spend more than reasonably needed or even can be afforded. Difference between want and truly need.

Do I want GIA girls? Some of them, yes. Lovely memories lasting forever. Do I need them? No, for the last 2-3 years I did much better without. Financially and emotionally.

Besides using miles becomes more and more difficult. I have miles for at least 2 round trips to Kiev. Am I going to use them? Ever? Even before COVID buying tickets with my own funds was much easier than with miles. More flexibility in many ways.

I respect everybody's spending habits, and for myself I prefer credit for everything and cash to girls. If there were no ATM skimming, and no ATM charges, I would switch to using debit card in daily life, even for e-commerce, because mine has visa protection on it. Most of them do. So, simply use it as credit, not debit.

Budgeting with cash requires discipline. It is doable when expense categories are minimal and repetitive in nature. Or when you are an oil magnate, crown prince, and accounting is done by the army of designated court servants. I do not have a problem with people spending their earned or inherited funds lavishly. I am secure financially, still my objectives are slightly different these days.