Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
expats who open up, party for a couple of seasons, then move on. Check out the follow-
ing websites:
Hostelling Ukraine International
(
www.hihostels.com.ua
) Gathers all of Ukraine's hos-
tels in one place. Online booking available.
Hostelworld
(
www.hostelworld.com
)
Still the best international website for booking a
hostel in Ukraine.
Youth Tourism & Hostels of Ukraine
(
www.hostels.org.ua
)
Hostels listed tend to be in
rather odd locations.
Hotels
As in most countries of the former USSR, Ukraine has a bewildering array of hotel and
room types. At the bottom are Soviet-era budget crash pads for less than 100uah, at the
top 'six-star' overpriced luxury in over-the-top surroundings. Everything in between can be
very hit-and-miss and there are no national standards to follow, so forget any star ratings
you might see.
Things to know when choosing a hotel in Ukraine:
»
In big cities unrenovated Soviet-era hotels are now rare in city centres.
»
Older Soviet hotels often offer the full range of rooms, from semi-luxurious to downright
grotty.
»
At reception you'll often be presented with a baffling list of room prices and types. Pick
your price, then view the room to see if it's acceptable.
»
Single rooms in miserable unrenovated or partially renovated Soviet-era hotels cost
around the same as a hostel dorm bed.
»
Communal heating systems, to which Soviet-era hotels are linked, aren't switched on
until early autumn, long after things have got nippy.
»
It's only worth booking ahead in Odesa and Crimea in summer, in big cities in late
December and early January, and in the Carpathians from November to March.
Renting an Apartment
Even if you never normally think of renting an apartment when abroad, you should con-
sider it in Ukraine. With insufficient midrange hotels available, these help fill the gap.
Single-night stays are perfectly acceptable, and for longer sojourns you not only have the
benefit of a washing machine and a kitchen, you can save up to half the cost of a hotel.
Things to check before you commit to renting:
»
Does the apartment have its own hot-water supply (the only guarantee of 24-hour, year-
round availability)?
