ta.queueForLoad : function(f, g){document.addEventListener('DOMContentLoaded', f);})(function(){ta.trackEventOnPage('postLinkInline', 'impression', 'postLinks-47335715', '');}, 'log_autolink_impression');Ukraine forum! I’ll admit I thought Kiev would be a lot uglier than it is. We bought a tube of Sensodyne toothpaste the other day, and it cost us about $2 Canadian / $1.50 US. Anywhere. Don’t be naive about the risks of theft and scams there. To be honest, it’s exactly the type of post I wish I could have read before we got on our flight to Kiev: just some simple observations from someone with a similar travel style — and zero knowledge of Russian or Ukranian — to give me an idea of what to expect when we arrived. Ukraine is a safe place.I lived there for 10 years. And one more comment, if I may. Here are our top tips for women traveling solo around Spain, so you can have a safe and stress free holiday. Citizens of the USA, Canada, Japan, Switzerland, or citizens of the European Union countries can be qualified for a tourist visa when they submit a round-trip ticket issued by the Ukrainian National Airlines. Due to the political turmoil in Ukraine, Kyiv has lost some of its tourist appeal in recent years. However, some stone-pelting incidents in 2018 showed that this may no longer be the case. Like, you should definitely not go to Crimea, Donetsk or Luhansk right now. There are awesome coffee shops everywhere. Two other must-pack items for safety, especially if you’re travelling solo: a safety whistle and a doorstop. Mariupol visit in May, is it safe for tourists . (This is a bit of an aside, but this recent piece in Vanity Fair about YouTube vlogger Fun for Louis visiting North Korea really nails the issue of bloggers papering over serious issues within a country under the (true or not) excuse of spreading positivity and intercultural connection: That blinkered, synthetic optimism, mixed with this particular group of vloggers’ increasingly embarrassing self-importance—tethered to the assumption that they can heal and change the planet through quotidian daily vlogs and mawkish, surface-level “inspirational” sponsored content—creates a climate that allows for these truly unsettling North Korea videos to exist.). Bhutan is a remarkably safe country with a low level of crime, but at the same time growing with its population, this is why you as a tourist should be very attentive as everywhere in the world while traveling. American tourists are being left with few places to vacation A pedestrian wearing a protective mask passes in front of hotels in San Juan, Puerto Rico, on May 21. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Like Megan and others above, we always feel very safe when we visit Ukraine but you are right to ultimately just present the facts and leave the decision with the individual. In my opinion, nothing says “rob me” like Canon, Sony, or Nikon splashed all over your camera strap. Some areas have increased risk. Ukrainian yellow and blue are everywhere too…small signs of nationalism, signals that seem to show many Kievans see themselves as firmly Ukrainian. Too many bloggers are not being responsible enough with their information and ‘reckless’ seems to be the new cool thing to do (it creates attention). Are there any major sicknesses going currently strong such as measle, mumps, etc.? Thank you for the information again. I would say Uruguay is the only safe place to visit. The coffee budget goes far in Kiev, and the same goes for beer. Value) price represents the price at which similar merchandise is offered in the market, including department stores, specialty stores and online. Practice standard precautions to avoid having your drink spiked, and don’t be a drunken idiot. Level 3: Reconsider travel to Ukraine due to COVID-19. A sudden surge in cases throughout the summer prompted the nation to ban all non-essential foreign arrivals and tourists from entering on August 29 th, for at least 30 days. tourist visa : A letter of invitation from a Ukrainian or American tourist agency or a confirmation from a Ukrainian hotel is necessary to qualify for a tourist visa. Instead of drifting off to dreamland in the beautiful boutique hotel we were staying in, we both spent the four hours between midnight and our alarm clock tossing and turning, fighting each other for the sheets and reaching for our phones, blue light be damned. jaw-droppingly gorgeous golden onion-domed church, check Trip Advisor reviews for Active Ukraine here, Private Arrival Transfer: Kiev Boryspil International Airport to Kiev Hotel, Private Arrival Transfer: International Airport Kyiv Zhuliany to Kiev hotel, Private Arrival Transfer: Lviv International Airport to Lviv Hotel, Private Arrival Transfer: Odessa International Airport to Odessa hotel, Travel to Eastern Europe, the Balkans, Former USSR, Borderland: A Journey Through the History of Ukraine, The Gates of Europe: A History of Ukraine, The Fault Line: Traveling the Other Europe, From Finland to Ukraine, Picnic at the Iron Curtain: A Memoir: From the fall of the Berlin Wall to Ukraine’s Orange Revolution, a great list of classic Ukranian literature, How to Stay in a Hostel in Your 30s, 40s, 50s...And Beyond - Wandertooth, Lviv Golden Horseshoe: Visiting Western Ukraine's 3 Most Famous Castles, We both use DSLR cameras, but we don’t use the original camera strap that came with either camera body. Every. Less than USD $10.00. Avoid all international travel due to the global impact of COVID-19. The striking landscapes, historical sites and rich cultural heritage draw tourists to Northern Ireland. While it’s true that many people don’t speak English, most people speak a few words of English. We have over 45 city and regional guides spanning four continents, with more being added each month! The situation is improving though... Locals have their luggage wrapped in transparent plastic right there in the airport at about 6 Eur apiece. Americans I met and went out with were always super confident about their safety. ), Thanks for stopping by, Megan. All content provided on Wandertooth.com is for information and entertainment only. In other places, it’s certainly not safe to drink. Presumably this means 20 years after the Revolution, or 1938. Despite all the s**t that does happen – and yes, our collective cup does seem to runneth over with poop these days – what we’ve actually seen and experienced on our travels is that places we thought might be scary (Colombia, parts of Mexico, and yes – Ukraine) have turned out to be not scary at all. without any word of caution and that is irresponsible. I'll let you know in about 2 weeks. Obviously, that’s something only you can answer for yourself. The ban coming into effect on Saturday will stop tourists from all countries, even low-risk nations, from entering Ukraine. It’s my second home. After a decade of travelling the world together, we’ve picked up a few tricks! I use Elite taxi, spacious nice (ta && ta.queueForLoad ? We rely on bloggers all the time in our trip planning stage, but it’s also worth noting we read with a critical eye. We are not reckless travellers, and we don’t take unnecessary risks. Eating out in restaurants is cheap. There were a few great blogs that we did rely on while planning the trip, and they convinced us to give Kiev a chance. As mentioned above, we tend to use a range of sources when we’re trying to decide whether to travel to a particular destination. The border closure will include all foreigners entering by both land and air. Nobody ever guesses that I am American and I usually don't tell anybody. Tags: havana cuba, havana safety. This aggressive, competitive “I’m superior” attitude isn’t welcome here. When we first arrived, we bought 2 Ukranian SIM cards for our phones, each with 5GB of data and a bit of calling and texting. About Us. And don’t drink the water. But if you’re looking for something organised to do, they seem to be a good bet (and you can check Trip Advisor reviews for Active Ukraine here – they have tours all around the country). I would say, even more, an average Russian would think it’s so cool to meet an American. I'll be visiting Chernobyl and Kyiv. It’s one of the ways we earn an income off of this website, and keep the proverbial lights on and laptops whirling. I'm American and never faced any crime because I don't loiter in urban ghettos nor go to waffle house at 1:00am. Love the People and the place. Is Havana Safe for Tourists: The verdict. I exercised reasonable levels of alertness and it was fine. Ukraine’s main point of interest is Chernobyl, the infamous site of a major nuclear disaster that doesn’t exactly scream “tourist … The people were very pleasant and welcoming and I never felt any sense of danger. Even if you’re arriving during the day, as we did, it sure made things a bit more relaxed not having to stress about this right off the bat. A few travellers are heading there these days and writing rave reports about the place. Thanks and happy travels! Very valuable information. For group travellers, alcohol increases the likelihood of debauchery, pissing off the wrong people, and fighting (we saw this happen all the time in when we lived in Prague with stag and stagette groups having too much to drink, and getting too rowdy). Kyiv is relatively safe as long as you use common sense--stay out of areas that you wouldn't normally go into in your hometown. Kiev is a city of layers, each of which coincides with its complicated recent history, which makes it interesting if you have even a passing interest in architecture. We don’t stay out late, and we almost never go to nightclubs on our travels. Cheap. And on a random note- I am moving to Kiev indefinitely next month! Total cost was about $5, including the SIM card, and you can pick up local SIM cards at specific shops, or at kiosks on the street – they’re pretty much everywhere. In cities like Kiev and Lviv, it’s probably safe to drink from a bacterial point of view, but the quality of the pipes is questionable, and it apparently tastes pretty crappy. And I’d checked a few Eastern Europe traveller’s Facebook groups for opinions about what was — of course — top of mind: is Ukraine safe to travel in right now? See our full disclosure and privacy policy here. We never stay in a new country more than a day or so without having phone and Internet access. So, you are wondering if the American tourists are welcome in Russia and if it’s safe for the Americans to travel to Russia.. You’ll be very surprised, but the Russians don’t actually have anything personal for the Americans. I am curious to know whether or not it is safe for an American to travel to the Luhansk region. KnowRoaming offers data + text messages + phone, and you only pay for the credit you need. Looking forward to see more of your trip. ta.queueForLoad : function(f, g){document.addEventListener('DOMContentLoaded', f);})(function(){ta.trackEventOnPage('postLinkInline', 'impression', 'postLinks-47329146', '');}, 'log_autolink_impression');Ukraine. After a few days in Kiev, we’ll be basing ourselves in Lviv, and hope (plan?) I recommend checking out the Obolon district – it’s my fave by far. Travel is for everyone, and if we can give an honest account of our experiences in a way that encourages our audience to step off the beaten path and travel east past Budapest, then we’re happy. It is safe there. How was your experience in Ukraine? Just take Pakistan as an example. We try to read blogs with a critical eye, but in general love them as a way to get a feeling for a country or city, and to get travel ideas. First Impressions & Trip Planning Resources. We have a good number of Expat community that live in Ukraine. 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