The Crimea and the Sea of Azov are the most popular recreation spots in Ukraine in the summer, so if your hoping to vacation down south any time soon, itХs important to plan ahead.
First, try buying return tickets in advance because by the time you are ready to come back to Kyiv, all tickets might be sold out. To buy a return ticket to Kyiv, go to the booking office no later than 40 days before the departure date.
If itХs already too late, try to buy return tickets as soon as you arrive down south.
Your only hope might be to buy tickets from scalpers who hang out at all major train stations reselling tickets for a profit. Most of these tickets are authentic, but beware of fraud. Find someone who cooperates with the booking office and who can provide a receipt verifying authenticity.
Most trains donХt go directly to the coastal resorts in the Crimea. You will need to take a train to Simferopol, Sevastopol, Feodosia or Kerch and then take a bus, trolley, taxi, private car or mini-bus to your final destination. In most cities, the bus station is located near the railway station and cabs are always standing by.
ItХs good to know in advance the distance from the railway station to your destination. The southern cabbies are notorious for overcharging; they can drive you all around the city before you realize you could have walked the distance in 10 minutes.
If you want to book a reasonably priced hotel for July or August, start looking now.
Many hotels advertise in the classified ad paper, RIO. Prices range from $15 to $50 per person per night for a two-person room with utilities plus three meals a day. You can get a decent deal for $10 a night, but the toilets and showers are usually down the hall.
Many firms advertise the price as low as $5 per night, but it is either a room in a private apartment or a cheap hotel in one of the less popular parts of the Crimea.
Another option is renting a room or apartment from a private person. You donХt need to go far: Just hop off the train or the bus, and a crowd of babushkas will surround you offering a variety of choices Тclose to the sea and with a marvelous view.У The average price is around Hr 25 per person. But be prepared to have neighbors.
If you stay in a tent camp or rent a flat, you will need to register with the local militia. Upon registering, you will be given a propiska Р evidence of registration Р which should be carried along with your passport in case you are stopped by the militia.
Finally, always boil drinking water and beware of upper digestive track infections, common in southern Ukraine during the summer. ItХs best to avoid homemade fare, especially foods containing meat and dairy products, sold on the beaches and at the stations.
