Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
choice for the smart set. Curiously, the 'English' name was invented by the hotel's
French founder in 1846. Robert Louis Stevenson and Anton Chekhov both stayed here.
Palladium Hotel
HOTEL$$$
$$$
( 728 6651;
www.hotel-palladium.com.ua
;
bul Italyansky 4; r from 865uah; )
With at-
tractive, pastel-hued rooms featuring minimalist decor and fine-textured carpets, and a
wonderful swimming pool, this definitely qualifies as a good deal for Odesa. Admission
to the popular downstairs nightclub (closed during summer) is free for hotel guests, as is
admission to the summer club Itaka.
APARTMENTS
As in most Ukrainian cities, many hotels tend to be quite poor value, and apart-
ments offer more bang for your buck. The cheapest flats are offered by the '
babushkamafia', as locals call it, whose members hang out around the train station
(though not in the numbers they once did) and ask around 100uah for a room, or
roughly double to triple that for a one-bedroom apartment. Beware: babushkasof-
ten falsely claim their apartments are located v tsentre(in the centre) or u morya
(by the sea). Carry a map to check. Otherwise contact the following apartment-
rental agencies:
train station; r/apt from 200/300uah; 7am-7pm)
If you don't want to deal with finicky
babushkasand haven't booked anything in advance, this is your best walk-in bet.
It's across from platform 4 near the train station's rear exit.
apartment-rentals.com
;
vul Derybasivska 5; apt from 800uah)
Only suitable for long-term
visitors, as there's a seven-day minimum-stay requirement.
www.odessarentaflat.com
; vul Rishelyevska 11; apt from 400uah)
Odessaapts.com
(
067 708 5501;
www.odessaapts.com
; apt from 400uah)
Eating
The Odesa restaurant scene easily rivals Kyiv's - not only because of its sophistication or
diversity, but thanks to a new phenomena that time has come to call - loud and clear -