Meld misbruik
Kiev is a well-hidden jewel in Europe
Datum:10 april 2012
madameboden
Locatie:U.S.A.
Aanleiding:Zaken
Reisgezelschap:Overig
Algemene indruk:
5
van de
5
Hotels:
4
van de
5
Restaurants:
4
van de
5
Activiteiten:
4
van de
5
Winkels:
5
van de
5
Uitgaansleven:
3
van de
5
Evenementen:
4
van de
5
Uw tips:Don't forget to change your money back in Ukraine before leaving. It is not exchangeable here. We were lucky that we had Ukrainian friends who bought back the money we brought back not knowing we could not change it back once we left the country. Another tip is to learn a few basic phrases in Ukrainian. People will really appreciate it. They will respond to Russian if you speak it, but since they hate the Russians they don't respond as well.
My husband had to do business in Kiev and he took me and our daughter with him. We flew UIA from Western Europe and it was great service. We stayed first at the SAS Radisson (Fantastic breakfast buffet, comfort, excellent service) and the Hotel Ukrainia on the main square where the Orange Revolution happened. We did not like the Hotel Ukrainia that much, unless you want a taste of retro-Soviet hospitality. The location is great, the breakfast was sick, and the service is inconsistent. We toured the city and enjoyed it: from St.Anne's basilica to the monuments of the heroes of the Soviet era we loved this beautiful tree-lined city. My daughter was envious of all the women wearing elegant gorgeous boots and we bought her some for $100 that would have cost at least double or triple that in the U.S. Back at home people kept asking her where she had bought her boots. From the market we bought the traditional Easter eggs. The food was delicious and we even went to McDonald's where the burger meat looked fresher than here. We also visited Piragova, the historic village. The only drawbacks: 95% people smoke and not many speak English, or if they do it's very broken. We used lots of gestures and it worked. Since I am French I also found quite a bit of people who spoke French. Would I go back? In a heartbeat.