You're reading: What to spend on Valentine’s Day during an economic crisis

St. Valentine's Day, the most romantic holiday of the year, prompts even the least romantic Ukrainians to shop for gifts to give their loved ones -- despite the financial crisis.

The Kyiv Post has hunted down a selection of the cheapest and most expensive options:


Holiday gifts on the rich side

Flowers seem to be the most desirable women’s present on St. Valentine’s Day. Still it is not a cheap gift. The cost for one rose, the most popular flower of the holiday, varies from Hr 30-75. Some bouquets reach even Hr 5,000.

Lingerie might be one of the most sexy and most suitable gifts for Valentine’s Day. Thrifty lovers can drop into Milavitsa, European inexpensive lingerie brand, and choose the felicitous bras for an average of Hr 300 and cute pants for Hr 180 or less.

Other stores, like Etam, French lingerie trade mark, offer seductive and feminine bra models for Hr 550-900. The fab pants go for Hr 140–520. An average price for a set of woman’s foxy lingerie in Kyiv varies from Hr 500 to Hr 3,500.

Jewelry is the best way to demonstrate the power of feelings and your generosity. Yet the prices are biting because of the current economic crisis. The golden men tie clips in Hemma, Kyiv jewelry factory, cost from Hr 9,000 to Hr 80,962. Women’s jewelry is even more expensive. In Zarina, a Ukrainian jewelry chain, the cheapest golden ring goes for Hr 8,100. The price for the most expensive ring is Hr 434,500.

A passionate lover can find a wide range of romantic, sexy and refine aromas for their significant other in Brocard, the German perfumes and cosmetics brand, both for men (Hr 570 – Hr 1, 673) and for women (Hr 642 – 2399).

Holiday gifts on the economic side

Originality and creativity are the best ways to present inexpensive Valentine’s gift. The workshop Double M Designers released series of wooden frames with inscriptions dedicated to St. Valentine’s Day. Cute photo frames “My Love” or “My Family” are nice signs of attention and beautiful pieces of home décor. Their price is Hr 350–390.

Double M Designers

https://www.facebook.com/MasterDoubleM

Stylish Valentine cards might be a modest reminder to a soul mate about your feelings. Postcard shop Mirabella Postcard offers touching Valentine cards for Hr 12. Valentines can be ordered online at www.shtuki.com.ua or one can buy the trinkets in Metrograd shopping mall (8 Velyka Vasylkivska St.)

Sweets are the best way to create a romantic mood on the holiday. Confectionary Candy Set offers a set of 12 small bars of milk chocolate for only Hr 55.

Candy Set

http://candyset.com.ua/gde-kupit

One can find a tasty and inexpensive gift for their significant other in Lviv Handmade Chocolate pastry shop. The confectionery presents special Valentine’s hearts made of white and black chocolate for Hr 43.

Lviv Handmade Chocolate

http://www.chocolate.lviv.ua/ua/901/zaklady-franch…

Gift certificate is an intriguing present. A certificate for a master-class or just simple relaxing massage excites partner’s curiosity and emotions. Creative and energetic people will appreciate the Date Movie for Two for or pottery lesson for Hr 200 on Bodo, an online gift certificate store.

Entertainment on the rich side

Kyiv restaurants prepared delicious menus to make the loving couples’ romantic evening unforgettable. The guests of a lovely Italian restaurant Vero Vero (18 Illinska St.) will enjoy the romantic piano music the entire evening. All guests will be treated with a glass of Italian Prosecco. Light salads, a dozen of oysters and a bottle of champagne are ideal meals for lovers who want to continue their romantic evening in bedroom. The restaurant’s average check is around Hr 700 for two excluding alcohol.

An evening at the Vozdvyzhensky hotel (60 Vozdvyzhenska St.) will dive you in the atmosphere of love. The restaurant offers special chef menu for Hr 1, 250 along with the valentine cookies and a memory photo. The guests are welcome to spend a romantic night at Vozdvyzhensky hotel for addition Hr 4,150.

Making a proposal in an air balloon flying over Kyiv is almost one hundred percent of confident that the partner will agree to the proposal. The average price for the romantic and exiting air walk is Hr 4,000 – 15,000.

Entertainment on the economic side

Nothing compares to walking arm to arm down the narrow street of ancient Kyiv Podil district. And this year’s Valentine day the loving couples can enjoy such romantic walk. A travel agency Interesny Kiev offers exiting four-hour walking tour along the Dniproriver for Hr 60.

Interesniy Kiev

http://www.interesniy.kiev.ua/excursion/lesnyimi-t…

Informal atmosphere and young cheerful guides will share their optimism and joy of communication with lovers during the everyday free walking tours along Kyiv’s most interesting places organized by Travel agency Kiev Free Tours.

Kyiv Free Tours

http://freetours.kiev.ua/index.html

Launching the flying lanterns in the night sky might be the perfect complement for a romantic evening that will remain loving couple’s for a long time. The Sky internet gift shop offers heart-shaped flying lanterns for Hr 20 per item.

The Sky online shop

http://thesky.com.ua

Kyiv’s observation desk in central Kyiv with its height over 100 meters is probably the best place to confess in love. Comfortable tables, aromatic coffee and panoramic views of modern and old Kyiv buildings and streets guarantee a perfect spending time. Entrance fee for the observation desk is only Hr 50.

http://www.smotrovaya.kiev.ua

Those in love interested in arts can visit National Art Museum’s exhibition that features the paintings that were prohibited since late 1930′ by the Soviet authorities. Most paintings are made in avant-garde style. The museum’s entrance fee is Hr 20.

National Art Museum

http://namu.kiev.ua

Many loving couples plan to visit cinemas to see the 50 Shades of Gray, a scandalous American film combining love and sex in one. The ticket price for the movie varies between Hr 25-70. Although In the Yard, the French film that touches the topic of relationships between men and women is also a good option. The film tickets go for Hr 40-50.