Sorry everyone I originally posted this report the other day in the wrong section. I requested Jackson to have it moved but did not hear from him so I am re-posting.
There have been interesting points raised recently on the forum that I would like to contribute to. I landed in Kiev 5 days ago.
Background:
I have visited Kiev for hobby purposes 8 times since 2009. However, this is my first trip since the summer of 2012. Kiev has been unusually warm this December with highs of 8 C. However, this will change next week as the temperatures will drop to a low of -11 C! The current exchange rate is 24.5 UAH to a Dollar and 26.5 UAH to the Euro. I am on the wrong side of 50, know some Russian and do not have a particular budget- which means, within reason, I spend as I see fit. I have a good size black book with lots of telephone numbers and I have done my homework mostly on Mamba before landing in Kiev. I have setup evening dates for the first two nights of my arrival. I have rented an apartment in the center close to many EU embassies in Kiev.
Safety:
I know this has been discussed extensively in the forum recently. The center appears to be void of any police presence. I am not sure I have seen any police officers or vehicles since I arrived. I am not sure if this is good or bad as Ukraine police's reputation is less than stellar! Private security guards appear in front of most embassies though including the German and the Swedish. Some reports had expressed safety concerns. Frankly, I had never been concerned about my personal safety before in kiev and walked the City streets at all different hours but I must confess this trip I have been more careful as there are more dangerous looking elements on the streets of the center. Let us not over react here, I still do not believe kiev is any less safe than London, New York or Paris. So let us keep things in perspective but yes safety situation in Kiev is not as good as before.
Prices:
If you think Kiev is a bargain because of the current exchange rates or the state of the economy in Ukraine, you are in for a shock. Accommodation (Western Style) , decent food and the girls have all adjusted for the exchange rate pretty much. Alright let us discuss girl prices as I think food and accommodation is not what we are here for in this forum. I will share with you club girl prices, Rio girl prices and Mamba girl prices. I met two club girls who quoted me $300 for an hour or two. Subjectively I would rate them 8-9 which I declined naturally. Rio girls (those that actually go out) are still $300 for 3 hours and yes you do have to pay in advance; the club does not offer credit! You pay the girl before taking her out. Mamba girls have been discussed at length but they also know the value of their relative beauties and charms. If you can actually get their real photos on Mamba, those that I subjectively rate as 5 or less can be had for around 1500 UAH for 1-2 hours. Those that I subjectively rate at 5-7, ask for $100 but may be ok with 2000 UAH for short time (2 hours). The prettier ones, those that I subjectively rate at 7-9, all 3 stopped responding to my messages when I offered them 3000 UAH for short time (ST)! So I do not know for sure what they would go for but I do not need to know I guess! In short, the days when you could stick to your guns and offer 1000 UAH for 2-3 hours for a decent girl are long gone.
RIO:
The demise of RIO is greatly exaggerated. I live two blocks away from the club and drop by often not so much to pick up girls but more because I like to see naked girls (topless) move on stage for an hour or two before retiring. Yes it is true the quality of girls at RIO has gone down over the years but again from my perspective, I would accept 90% of the RIO girls to bed, I would pay $300 for 3 hours to about 10% of the RIO girls. I just am not sure how many of that 10%, I could tolerate their attitude but again that is all subjective. It remains true that while convenient to visit an open brothel, RIO girls have never been a bargain in Kiev.
One note about Sandra (RIO dancer). I went for a 400 UAH private with her (lasts 2 songs)- I gave her a 500 UAH note. I let her go before the second song was over. She decided to keep the balance of 100 UAH as her tip I guess and disappeared in the club. 100 UAH means little to us but I wonder how club manager would react?
Other observations:
1. Some reports had expressed a more hostile attitude towards foreigners, particularly to Westerners. I am afraid, I felt some of that. I am not sure this hostility or indifference is any more pronounced than the attitude shown towards some of our Turkish or Middle Eastern brothers. yes please be aware and consider carefully before engaging in political discussions. I am hoping this is common sense for most of us.
2. Clubs are dead (really dead) mid week but become uncomfortably crowded over the weekends.
3. Smoking indoors (clubs-bars) is still the norm in Kiev based on the evidence I have witnessed so far.
4. Traffic is worse than I remembered; I would compare it to NY and London in the center of kiev! perhaps because of the holidays, the traffic has been worse? Be careful walking on the streets ; do not assume as a pedestrian you have the right of way anywhere!
5. You read about doomsday scenario about the country's Economy in most publications; well i am not sure this has really reached the Kiev public. I saw no evidence of panic anywhere. Ukrainian rich spend money like it is going out of style. It is still common to see flashy cars driven by 22 year old girls and boys of the wealthy.
6. I went over lunch today to Maiden where they have photos of the recent dead due to the recent political events\war. I ended up contributing to 7 different collector boxes as every regiment in the armed forces and hospital serving the military in Ukraine is raising funds separately. If true, this does not surprise me entirely.
7. I am here for another week or so. I will do another report after I get home. I guess the question some of you may be asking is " is it worth going to Kiev to monger still?". I am not sure I have an answer for you so far. Maybe by the end of next week, I will have more to say about that.
8. PM if you have any questions and I will try to answer. As always I am willing to share contacts with those who have shared with me or contribute to the forum adequately.
I hope this helps.
