I wasn’t expecting much from Kiev, so I was pleasantly surprised at just how much I enjoyed the city and the people. Although I knew it had been 22 years since Ukrainian independence was declared after the fall of the Soviet Union, I still imagined quite a bit of gray buildings and communist architecture. However, modern Kiev is a mix of the old and the new, with tons of color, life, and extremely friendly people.
This is part eleven of a twelve part trip report from my travels to Kiev, Vienna, Tel Aviv, and Kraków. This picture trip report covers my travels in Kiev.
- Lufthansa Senator / Business Lounge @ JFK
- Austrian Airlines – JFK-Vienna (VIE) in New Business
- Austrian Lounge Vienna & Austrian Airlines – Vienna (VIE) to Kiev (KBP) F70 – Business
- Premier Palace Hotel Kiev
- I Survived KLM TransAtlantic Economy…and dare I say it was pretty nice! Trip Report KLM Economy
- Kiev, Unexpectedly Awesome
- Ukraine International Airlines – Kiev (KBP) to Tel Aviv (TLV) – Economy
- New Sheraton Towers Tel Aviv
- Le Méridien Vienna
- Sheraton Kraków Hotel
- LOT Polish 787 Dreamliner! Warsaw (WAW) – Chicago (ORD) in Business
- LOT Warsaw Lounges & LOT Polish Kiev (KBP) – Warsaw (WAW)
The train cars might be a bit old, but they are a really cheap ($.025 regardless of destination or transfers) and efficient way to see some of the sites outside the city center. The stops are announced in Ukrainian, though some cars have TVs that display the English names as well (these aren’t displayed at the station so count your stops or keep your eyes on the monitor)!
Beaches along the Dnieper river…crazy crowded and the water seemed a little brown for my taste. That didn’t stop the locals from going in though (I went in up to my knees).
The younger and less crowded beaches…
If you can’t find any room on the sand or want something a little more private, there’s always the ritzy Olmeca beach club. With your entrance fee is included an amazing pool, private beach, cabanas, waitress service, water sports, and lots of beautiful people. Attire for the ladies was bikinis and high-heels, no joke!
A little dancing after a day at the beach…
or perhaps some training at the free Soviet era beach gym…
Let me not forget, as we were reminded several times by the locals as well as via a billboard at the airport (yes), Ukraine is also home to the prettiest women in the world!
If you need any recommendations on restaurants, sites, a cheap tour guide, side-trips, etc., feel free to email me. Also, another city with great free walking tours.
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2 comments
how competitive were the whore prices?
Going to Kiev tomorrow. Glad you enjoyed!