Travelling with kids

[Eppu2010]

We are planning a trip to Ukraine this summer with our 2 teenage kids. We are planning to take train from Helsinki to Odessa via Moscow, Kiev to Odessa and possible to take a ferry to Istanbull or fly from Odessa back home to Helsinki. I would appricate all kind of travel tips, but would appricate comments and advice on following:
1) Trains: Is it neccassary to book trains in advance (travelling in July)? I couldn't fond the prices in internet, but no prices. How much are the train tickets from Moscow- Kiev and Kiev-Odessa in 2nd class cabin? What is the food like in the train? Is it advised to bring own snacks?
2) Any other nice places to stop between these big cities? Or near Odessa and Kiev?
3) Can you recommend any nice hotels in Odessa and Kiev? What should we expected to pay? Are there any family rooms available?
4) We don't speak Russian, can we get by in english?
5) Eating out: How much meal and drinks cost in restaurants?
6) Activities with kids? Waterparks? Any suggestions?

Thanks for everyone advance
Eppu

[Serhii]

Hi Eppu,

Some general suggestion first. You are planning wonderful but very long journey . I hope you understand what distances you are going to afford. July could be extremely hot month in our area ( up to + 40 C and higher ). The cities you plan to visit are very overcrowded with people, transportation, noises… , etc. For sure your idea is wonderful , but everything won’t be like in Finland for sure.

Everything will be nice if you are well prepared , so get working in detail !

Tickets – is it possible to buy them in Helsinki to all cities and back ? Try to learn. They won’t be very expensive compared to those in Europe. There will be four of you, and there is special coach /cabin - cupe ( = купе ). It is for 4 people. You’ll feel very comfortable in it.

Meal and drinks/ living are not very expensive as well , but you have to know where to eat /buy/rent … , etc. For sure it’s better to have a good guide/assistant . English isn’t widespread here much so it will be a problem too.

Kiev/Odessa and Ukraine in general are wonderful to visit and see. Hello from Dnipropetrovsk ( south to Kiev )

[Caterina]

Hello Eppu!

unfortunately in Ukraine you can book ticken only 30 days before your trip. Train from Kiev to Odessa costs nearly 20 USD per person.
There is a ferry from Odessa to Istanbul it goes once a week.
Actually there are a lot of nice hotels in Odessa, it is just depends on how much are you going to spend for it.
There is an aquapark not far from Odessa - юЙБЮОЮПЙ ╚йНАКЕБН╩

If you have any questions feel free to contact me.

[Dr Nick]

Hello,

Some advice from a British person.

1 - Yes definitely book all train tickets in advance if you can. They get fully booked particularly in the summer. Food on the train is generally snacks though most bigger trains will have a dining car doing something more substantial. Snacks not necessary unless you want something specific. But take lots of water. Unless your train is better than any I have been on the airconditioning (if there is any) does not work too well. It could be very hot indeed on the train!

2 - Sorry I don't know any of the places around the two cities you are visiting but I know Kiev quite well and there is plenty to do there. The boat trip on the river is nice on a hot day. You can take your own food on the boat.

3 - I have stayed at the Lybid in Kiev. It is not too expensive and of an acceptable Western standard.

4 - You will find things a bit difficult if you speak no Russian. Only a few Ukrainians speak English compared to countries you may have been to in the EU. I know a guy who would be happy to ferry you around Kiev who speaks good English and has a minibus but this is his business and he will charge more than the local taxi's. The metro is the best way to get around in Kiev centre. Note that at stations with lines that intersect, the station has two names depending what line you are on. Station names are in Cyrillic at the station but in the trains there is the english equivalent underneath on the line map. Metro is very cheap.

5. Compared to Finland and UK eating out is cheap. If you know where to go you can eat for less than 2 Euros but I would expect to pay more for this if you go to a restaurant - there are also less restaruants around in Kiev than you might expect for a capital city.

6 - Ukraine isnt actually very well developed yet as a tourist destinaiton. Not so much stuff for teenagers that I can think of. Dont misunderstand there will be plenty of things to do and see but not stuff specifically engineeered as a tourist attraction.

Costs in general are quite a bit cheaper than EU so it should not cost you too much to explore Ukraine. Have a great trip.