Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
»
In hostels stash your gear away in lockers - traveller-on-traveller crime is all too com-
mon.
»
Lock your compartment door on overnight trains.
CREDIT-CARD FRAUD
Some embassies have warned of a rise in credit-card fraud. They suggest you use your
card only as a last resort, and only in reputable locations. Take all the usual precautions to
make sure no one sees or copies your PIN.
THE DROPPED-WALLET SCAM
This well-known rort starts with you suddenly noticing a wallet or a large wad of cash on
the ground nearby. If you pick it up, you'll be approached by someone saying it's theirs.
They'll thank you…and then say that they had
two
wallets or wads of cash and accuse
you of stealing the other. Alternatively, they'll directly accuse you of stealing the first wal-
let. Accomplices might be brought in as witnesses or 'police'. Don't get involved and walk
away quickly.
Racist Attacks
Ukraine has tended to be more welcoming to people of African, Asian and Caribbean ap-
pearance than neighbouring Russia, though that's not saying a lot. There have been at-
tacks on non-Europeans but the situation is nowhere near as bad as it is in, say, St
Petersburg or Moscow. If you're black, Asian or Middle Eastern, stay alert and exercise
extreme caution if going out alone at night.
GOVERNMENT TRAVEL ADVICE
The following government websites offer travel advisories and information on cur-
rent hot spots:
Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade
(
www.smarttraveller.gov.au
)
Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada
(
www.dfait-maeci.gc.ca
)
UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office
(
www.fco.gov.uk
)
US State Department
(
http://travel.state.gov
)
Solo Travellers
More independent travellers are making their way to Ukraine and, though the rest of the
country still doesn't exactly cater to their needs, the growing network of hostels does.
