Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
but when you encounter one, you realise why people so often prefer to go behind a
bush.
Where it's not possible to consult nature, pay toilets are the most bearable. An
attendant will demand 2uah and proffer an absurdly small amount of toilet paper in
exchange. Public facilities in Crimea are generally much better than elsewhere in
the country. The toilets at newly renovated train stations are quite acceptable, too,
if a bit smelly. Avoid free blue Portaloos, which often stand unemptied for days and
can be categorically vile.
The bathrooms on the trains are another mucky subject. By the end of a journey,
they are usually awash in liquid - but be consoled that it's usually nothing but wa-
ter that's been splashed around from the tap.
Toilet paper in Ukraine is no longer so bad or so rare that you need to carry a ma-
jor stash. That said, it's a good idea to always keep a little on hand.
Tourist Information
Reliable tourist information is not as hard to come by as it once was.
Local Tourist Information
You can obtain tourist information in several ways:
Hostels
Hostel staff and owners are sometimes very up to date on what's going on loc-
ally, and they speak English.
Hotel receptions
Due to the lack of tourist offices, reception staff have become used to
fielding travellers' queries.
Internet
There's a lot of information on the net if you know where to look. Sadly, much of
it is out of date.
Tourist information offices
Most large towns in the west of the country have tourist of-
fices; the east lags way behind.
Tourist Offices Abroad
Ukraine has no tourist offices abroad, and the information stocked by its consulates and
embassies is very general and basic.
Travellers with Disabilities
Even Kyiv, the best-equipped Ukrainian city, isn't that friendly to people with disabilities.
The rest of the country is worse. Uneven pavements, steep drops off curbs, holes in the
