Odessa

[Rain City]

This is my second visit to ODS, and I have noticed that more people speak or understand English this time than last year. This could be due to a number of reasons: 1) I used internet to meet up with girls who can speak English; 2) since school is over, more college students are in town or in clubs; or 3) people realized the benefit of speaking English and more people learned it.

In any case, as Doctor has so eloquently stated, I found so many of the girls in ODS to be free loaders. It is true that girls on the street or clubs are VERY impressive. ODS has one of the highest concentrations of babes in the world, IMHO. But they know their value also. Especially the English speaking girls -- they know they are in high demand. They expect you to buy them drinks, pay for the entrance to the clubs, or take them out for shopping, etc. They flirt with you, they may give you a kiss, but that's as far as they will go. I ended up meeting a lot of beautiful girls (not 9 - 10, but around 8 range), wining and dining, and in the end, no action.

I hope my fellow mongers do better than I in ODS. Some one has to teach these girls a lesson:-).

[Cruiser D]

One good way to tell if a cop is corrupt...if he wants to have drinks with you while on duty.

I am sure the cops were cruising the clubs looking for a pigeon - who knows it could have been a set up with security.


Hey FM...for a guy who touts his survival kit and being ready for anything why the need for 24/7 service? Oddly enough the only thing I want from an apartment service is a great apartment - I can provide the rest.

For some, arriving in Odessa, Ukraine for the first time can be a challenging experience. A former client of mine from the south of England arrived here with great hope and expectation and not a little naivety.

.

[James 006]

I have been on the website and I'm shure this is the club for me.

BUT

Is there any one who ever fucked some of the girls in there?

Information is welcome!

[Doctor_Skank]

FFMBud,

Apparently you didnt read what I wrote very closely. Besides the fact that it was $195/night and not the $165 you quote in your last post (maybe prices have gone up since you stayed there or you had a long-term rate or discount), I wasnt really complaining about the price as I did state a few times that it was a huge apartment suitable for 3-4 guys, nor was I complaining about the problems that are chronic in EE such as water stoppage etc.... its just that the apartment was advertised as having its own seperate water supply, seperate water heater etc, which is one of the reasons I chose it. Apparently it actually does have a second supply, or rather the building has a seperate supply, but this tank was not filled at the time and this feature subsequently of no use to me. So for me, these extra features didnt help me at all. OES may not have been able to influence the situation, however the apartment didnt come exactly as billed since I didnt have water for the first night and morning, despite the "seperate supply".

Moreover, I also wrote often enough that I was quite satisfied in general with OES and have known Ca_T for several years and can definitely vouch for his honesty, character and ability to start up and manage an apartment agency professionally, so for me the case is closed on this and I will use OES again in the future. That said, I dont think my comments were whining, but rather just observational and representing my perspective.

So stop whining about my whining.... and I will to. Promise.

[Ffmbud]

Doc: You certainly can't compare the $165, 3 bdrm, 2 bathroom you stayed in to the $50 studio you'd get in ODS at peak season. I know as I stayed there once myself. In fact, per bedroom its only a bit more than $50/person. Your mild dissatifaction doesn't seem to be of their making, it would be like attributing the lousy weather to them.

Cruiser D: I wasn't a Boy Scout but it sure helps having been one, in terms of survival skills going to locales unknown. Again the hotel rates in the same towns/cities are at least double what the apartment agencies offer. One has to do the math and figure if the minor inconveniences matter that much in terms of value.

I value the ability to call on the apartment provider 24/7 should I have a problem, even unrelated to the apartment, by trustworthy Americans, who seem to care about your experience and welfare, which OES offers. They're more than an apartment agency, they're more like a "Welcome Wagon" service in addition, which I appreciated and used. I know it sounds like an advert for OES, but having experienced other apartment providers in Moscow, Prague, Budapest, Kazan, SPB, ect. now, in comparison, I'd rate these guys top of the list recognizing they only started up 3-4 months ago.

[Odessa Man]

For some, arriving in Odessa, Ukraine for the first time can be a challenging experience. A former client of mine from the south of England arrived here with great hope and expectation and not a little naivety.

On his very first night out, after a tour of the local bars and cafes he finished up at Vicherney Odessa, a well known and popular nightclub. It wasn't long before he engaged a group of girls at the bar in conversation and began buying them drinks. The sense of occasion added to the effect of the Stella Artois aroused his natural exhuberance and he soon attracted the attention of the club's Security Staff. He was politely asked to leave and escorted from the club.

As misfortune would have it there just happened to be a Police car outside. On being asked for his documents the drunken tourist replied that they were in his apartment. The duty bound officers informed him that they would like to inspect them and suggested that they proceed there together.

On arriving the tourist retrieved his wallet containing his passport from the apartments safe. The Police inspected it, returned it to the greatful tourist and suggested that they enjoy a glass of vodka together. After about 20 minutes of banter the officers left the apartment.

On awakening the next morning the hungover visitor soon discovered that his mobile phone, camera and all of his money, some $1200 were missing.

Going out for a beer in Odessa is not the same as doing so in say downtown Manchester or Chicago, where this kind of thing is much less likely to happen. Not all Police Officers in Ukraine are corrupt and dishonest. However, their salaries are very low and most look to augment them by various means. If you exercise caution and use your common sense you should have no problems. For those planning a visit to Odessa check my advert in the Classified Section or PM me.

[Jerome49]

Hello !

Excuse me if i am not a current (usual) membership in these forums but I am a beginner. I'm french I'm 47 looks < 40 .

I wonder why you (travellers to UA) never talk about Moldova which is very close to Odessa. Why is Moldova so little attractive for you ?

(I still hesitate between the two country) Is it a question of language ? If you speak Russian more than Romanian.

I've got a very recent internet non pro contact in Odessa, she says she don't speak any foreign language but is PhD in Ukrainian ! ??? Is that not strange ?

Thanks for your advice .

[CA Traveler]

doc... I guess you are right that I didnt' give a discount, but be assured that according to our policy you will get one next time as a repeat guest, even if you are a weiner... er, whiner!

Actually, there was a two-bedroom with a jacuzzi that wasn't complete yet, though it is now, there was another one on Pushkinskaya with a jacuzzi for half the price of the big flat.

Plus, the big flat does in fact have a 250 ltr. backup water supply and there is an individual hot water heater for the flat, but it is located next door in the flat you stayed in last year. As I stated before, a backup water tank is only as good as the city water going into it because nothing lasts forever.

Don't worry about the next border crossing... my influence pretty much stops at my front door and even that is questionable at times. However, you probably should worry about the trail of broken hearts and sore orifices you and "M" leave behind... pun intended.

[Doctor_Skank]

Ca_T:

To close the chapter on my supposed soft-bellied whining, you may remember that when you offered me the other apartment with the "better" jacuzzi, you also noted that it probably wouldnt be finished by my arrival on June 15. You were open and up front about this. For that reason we selected the Bunina place, rather than go with an uncertain option of an almost finished apartment. Perhaps I selected poorly, but I've since moved on "emotionally" and am no longer losing sleep over this.... The Bunina apartment, provided it has water, is actually a very nice apartment... but you are right, the jacuzzi really isnt one.

In a previous post you also mentioned that I had even received a discount. I am not aware of any discount received, as I did pay $195/night up front for a total of $585.... its the price advertised on the site for a 3 day + stay. Please correct me if I am wrong. I dont recall asking for a discount or you saying you'd give one, so this is a non-issue, I just want to set the record straight.

Regarding the water, you do advertise "As in all OES properties, a back-up water supply and separate hot water heater is provided to ease the inconvenience of the occasional water stoppage in the city." Maybe I misunderstood or over interpreted "ease", and I certainly dont want to dwell on the issue, however I hardly think the general concensus should be that I simply be advised to "stop whining". It was a legit observation.

I really have stopped thinking about the apartment at all long ago and am instead looking ahead to my next excursion into Dyevland... provided of course you havent informed the border guards of my impending arrival...

FFMBud:

Cruiser D is right in the sense that I certainly judge an apartment and my relative satisfaction with it based on the price I am paying for it and on the expectations I have based on the agency. There definitely is a difference between a $50 apartment offered by a locally-run agency and a $195 "luxury" apartment run by an experienced American operator in terms of expectation. The apartment I stayed in was absolutely fine in almost all aspects and based on its immense size more or less appropriately priced, however the lauded "seperate water supply" and "individual hot water" advertised on the website were unavailable for more than 24 hours. The helpful staff was able to offer us a substitute shower after about 24 hours and the problem was fixed the following day, but nonetheless our expectations were not entirely met. I think you can understand my mild dissatisfaction in this regard, despite my knowledge and experience in terms of EE life. I think simply labeling me "soft" or saying that I am "whining" is a cheap and unfounded accusation.

[CA Traveler]

doc... thanks for your comments. First of all, as I said I've been traveling in sex prison for the past three weeks and if I didn't have someone looking over my shoulder, I was logged on to a public library computer which sent off fireworks and alerted the police if an attempt is made to access a "SEX" site. Of course, I could have probably downloaded bomb making instructions in arabic if I had wanted but that is another discussion.

So, while in this exile I rec'd several emails from friends/fellow mongers who happen to know us both personally commenting on your "negative" post and noted with shock at the detail which you felt obilgated to report. I am sure I built up the anticipation for finally reading it a few days ago. And I suppose I would have let it pass if there hadn't been continued whining about the "shitty" jacuzzi, especially since I had told you that it really wasn't a jacuzzi in the first place.

That said, OES is not yet up to the standards that it will be, but to clarify... Odessa Executive Suites is the facility located on Deribasovskaya/Krasny behind the old Fidels and McDonalds. The other nearby apartments are owned by The Odessa Group, but are even billed as a separate entity with slightly different standards.

Many of the new apartments of OES are open and the comments have been very favorable on the apartments themselves, but unfortunately there is still construction going on in another building which is a bit of an annoyance, but it will improve dramatically over the near future with the imminent completion and opening of the front desk, stairway and sauna. Later after all construction on the last couple of apartments are finished, the courtyard and archway entry will be paved with cobblestones and the outdoor breakfast area will be opened.

Of course, in the meantime, we recognize that there are many things still to be done which is the reason that we chose to offer free continental breakfast to all of our guests for the balance of the year as a way of saying thank you for dealing with the few things yet to be completed.

The other TOG apartments are quickly being brought up to OES standards, even though it was not planned to include "tea" and other condiments, we will certainly consider that as an upgrade to all of our apartments.

Believe it or not, we do take seriously constructive comments and we do take action to make changes when they make good sense.

ffmbud, next time you visit ODS, you can leave your S&P at home! BUT, it is still BYOC, since we will definitely NOT be putting condoms in the side tables... that would be a good way to drive our business into the hole with the way our guests are tapping the local talent 24/7!

[Cruiser D]

Fm, when one bills themselves as an 'American' (not European, not EE) style apartment service at American + rates (pricing is due to the rather unique popular EE destination pricing structure) one doesn't expect typical EE service with the lies err, misinformation of western service. No one knows this better then another American. He also knows how Americans will react when given less then adequate service - it isn't pretty. Americans set the bar high when it comes to service, if you don't want to meet it don't charge $100+/night for an apartment. Packing a kit as you described is cute when you are a Boy Scout camping in a tent, not when you are shelling out $100+/night.

Geez, the things guys will put up with to go poon hunting...

This is in no way an editorial on OES - I will post mine if and when I go to ODS and if and when I use OES. This is simple a comment on someones musing that it is ok to accept sub standard service. It's attitudes like that which will continue the western prices at EE service practices.

[Doctor_Skank]

FFMBud:

After many years of FSU experience, I am certainly able to judge apartment agencies.

As I said, OES is a good trustworthy agency, but I think they can improve and certainly not everything went right on my stay. Some of the technical problems are indeed FSU-routine and unrelated to the actual agency, but I have also had better experience from other FSU agencies in other terms. Could also be that the circumstances were just not in my favor. I know however what to expect when staying at an apartment or hotel, both good and bad. Call it soft-bellied if you must, I am just making a comparison.

If you'd rather I gave you the sugar-coated report on ODS I could. I however prefer to call it like I see it and experience it. Thats the purpose of the forum, unless I am terribly mistaken.

[Ffmbud]

Hey Doc,

In defense of CT, I think you should be considering staying in a hotel, with all that whining about this and that. I'm happy with the fact that you can trust the OES boys or any other apartment service to deliver a room as promised when you arrive at the price quoted.

The way I figure, if I'm saving anywhere from 50 to 65%, each and every night on room/lodging costs, one learns to accept the minor inconveniences (no water pressure, limited hot water, questionable internet access or none)when they occur (due to reasons beyond the control of the apartment service). Otherwise, stay in a hotel and put up with the idiosyncrasies of each hotel establishment depending on the hotel chain and the locale, which is not necessarily any guarantee that you're complaints would not be repeated, especially in the hinterlands of FSR. Missing teabags.......sheesh, hell with the hotel rates, I guess one should complain about missing condoms in the nightstand? If that's so important perhaps they should be part of your travel kit.

In my travel kit, when I stay in apartments, in addition to toiletries, I include instant coffee, tea bags (yes), couple of mini-packets of sugar/salt/pepper, a few packages of instant soup, mini-bottles of shampoo and liquid body soap for those situations which I may not have the time to hit the grocery store due to late arrival. I may even buy a few bottles of water at the airport if my arrival is late.

That's the advice, I'd offer to newbies if I were you, such an experienced FSU traveler as you claim. Otherwise, you sound too much like the soft bellied average American hotel dweller!

[Doctor_Skank]

Ca_T:

If there was any implication in my posts that you misled me, than it was unintentional and inaccurate. You and the OES staff were always honest, cooperative and helpful.

I noted that many times in my original report and the subsequent ones that followed.

I also made a point to mention that a substitute shower was offered to my flat mate and myself, which was much-appreciated. Moreover I made comments saying that I am sure things will continue to improve as your business develops. I have the utmost confidence that OES will reach the standard you aspire to, to being the top agency in Odessa. Perhaps you are already there now in your opinion, but I did still see room for improvement and cannot say I was 100% happy with the way things went.

I also stated that the problems I wrote about are FSU problems and cannot be blamed entirely on the agency, in the case of the water I am not familiar with the technical aspects of water supply in that particular apartment, I just know that the following day a technician showed up, worked for about 45 minutes and suddenly we had water.

Of course we both look at our reports and views subjectively, but I was trying to be objective as possible.

The lack of water for actually what was more than 24 hours was a serious buzz kill, and even though I obviously know that these things happen in ODS occasionally, I did feel it necessary to write about it. ISG readers can take this info for whats its worth.

The lack of tea, coffee, sugar or salt and pepper as standard apartment stock is not up to par with top service agencies. Seems a small issue to some, but tea is an essential part of any FSU apartment and on the first night it isnt guaranteed that the guest will be able to go shopping. I know you offer PASS, but the very basics should be standard in my opinion. I am sure you agree, as your original joint in Moscow, Moscow STAR, did set new standards there which other agencies have since adopted.

I dont recall making a big deal about the jacuzzi in my post, I just mentioned that it is shitty, which it is. No surprise though, a decent jacuzzi is rare in agency apartments. My point was to let potential renters know that the jacuzzi in Bunina 33 is not a reason to take the apartment, as it is virtually unusable.

I think if neutral readers read the post, they'll certainly know what to expect when they rent the Bunina 33 apartment, which I lauded in the sense that its huge and clean and big enough for 3-4 guys. They'll also know that OES is a good agency with excellent service as I reported.

The internet was down for much of my stay and a significant annoyance, whose fault it was is not my issue. I was just reporting the situation.

OES is marginally more expensive than some of the other agencies. At the time of my stay many of the newly-remodeled/renovated apartments/suites werent yet ready.

I think the readership also deserves to know of the kind of problems they can expect in ODS, problems that occur when using OES as well. Again, I cannot say whose fault what was, but just rather report on my experience.

I called it like I saw it. None of what I wrote should be considered particularly anti-OES, it is just a reflection of the facts and events from my point of view, and can be used by ISG readers as a reference when planning their trip.

[CA Traveler]

Doc… as you know, I’ve been traveling and I regret not being able to respond to your post on Odessa sooner. On the other hand, I’ve read your post several times and I can’t allow your negative comments to go without comment.

Since it does no good for me to comment on either your women or the weather, I would just like to present your review in another perspective…

You made it sound like you were “deceived” by being in such a large apartment that cost more than a normal two-bedroom flat. If you will recall, you were originally booked into a one-bedroom apartment and at the last minute, at least for a summer booking, you were joined by “M” and required a two-bedroom flat.

At the time, you were given two choices which were available and you chose the four-bedroom place since you and “M” had lived in the apartment next door for 8 days last year. During that time, I know you had a chance to see both that “big” apartment and the “really big” apartment which were both in the final stages of construction then. Your post makes it appear that I held a gun to your head and forced you to take this apartment, when in reality, not only did you receive a discount on the apartment, but you also had another two-bedroom apartment as an option, with a full size Jacuzzi, at half the price and you choose this apartment… I assume because you had seen it under construction and you knew what to expect.

Regarding the internet, as you well know… this is the FSU and things happen. I have been without Internet, which also serves the apartment you were in, for the past three days because of a lightning strike nearby… Now if that isn’t an Act of God, I don’t know what is! Right now, I don’t know the exact circumstances of your Internet outage, but it could have been anything. In any case, you got what you paid for since it was… FREE.

It is true that the water pressure was less than normal during part of your stay, but when there are so many problems routinely with the normal city services, it sometimes takes a little time to realize that the problem was in the apartment system, a clogged filter, which was quickly resolved. For that problem, we apologize. In the meantime, as I understand it, my home was opened up at least once for you and “M” to wash off all of the bodily fluids you had accumulated over the previous hours.

However, just one observation about your comments and the “backup” water supply… it is impossible to provide a “backup” water supply that lasts forever. If the water supply is disrupted by the city, at some point the water supply will run dry and when the back up is empty, you are in the same position as everyone else. VERY few other apartments in Odessa even have a backup supply of ONE liter let alone 250 liters… The new OES facility has a back up supply of 6,000 liters, but even that could run dry if the city water is out.

That said, the most personally offensive thing in your post is the big deal you made about the “shitty” little Jacuzzi tub.

I am surprised, and more than a little offended, at your comments since I told you very specifically without sugarcoating it at the time you were considering your options that the big flat did have a very small Jacuzzi tub/shower, but it should NOT be considered in your decision because it was not anything more than a small bathtub shower combo and it would definitely not fit multiple bodies in it. Perhaps you were in a “second stage” memory situation and the ”little head” is doing the thinking when you formulated this negative opinion, and you “forgot” my comments, but it is personally offensive when you imply that I swindled you into taking this apartment…

Overall, I will say to you, or anyone else who stays with us, we appreciate your business and we will do whatever it takes to solve a problem or place you someplace without the problem. With this in mind, it is important to us to hear about a problem since we are not mind readers and it’s the only way we can solve a specific problem and improve our overall service to our clients. We consider this response to the inevitable FSU problems as critical to our success in this marketplace.

At the same time we try to go out of our way to provide more service to the mongers who visit by sharing our knowledge of the local attractions… but of course when the “king” shows up, that service becomes less than necessary.