Airport Warning

[Joyce]

For all who are passing through Borispol (Kiev) airport, be warned that if officials can hassel you, they will. Upon leaving, you will be asked to declare all money you are taking out with you. Unfortunately, this form is not presented to you until the last minute, and a crowded airport is not the place any seasoned traveler is willing to take out his money and count it.
Two weeks ago this happened to us. My husband was made to take out his wallet and hand it over. Then he was marched down a long corridor and out of sight, leaving me standing alone with no explanation of where he had gone or for how long. I gave them 5 minutes, then called down all the wrath of the Red-Headed American Women, causing me to be marched to the same little office where they were holding my husband. Our "crime" was having $200 more than we thought we had. They couldn't have been less interested in the fact that our American passports state that we are to be allowed to "pass without hindrance or delay", but were obviously angling for a $200 bribe. Finally after using all the intimidation tactics they could, they gave up and "allowed" us to change our declaration. We boarded out Air France flight to Paris crying "Vive la France! Get us out of here!" The cabin steward laughed and said he hears that reaction regularly.
Make no mistake: the Ukrainian economy desperately needs the money tourism would bring, but until they learn to treat tourists so that they leave with good memories, those who do show up will leave saying, "Never again!".

[JoseyWales1]

Hello,

Well Joyce I'm sure that was a bad gig you had but remember there's always one worse and I have a half dozen or so that would place yours in the Disneyland category.


"outlaw" JoseyWales

[Joyce]

Half a dozen, Josey? Do tell! (really.)
Those poor Ukrainians really need to get their act together regarding tourism. I wasn't joking when I said they need the money. The city (Kiev) may look fine on the outside, but have you seen how they live? The apartments are apalling, the job situation is desperate, and almost all of the young people I met (in their 20's) dream only of getting out.

[demir]

Originally posted by Joyce
For all who are passing through Borispol (Kiev) airport, be warned that if officials can hassel you, they will. Upon leaving, you will be asked to declare all money you are taking out with you. Unfortunately, this form is not presented to you until the last minute, and a crowded airport is not the place any seasoned traveler is willing to take out his money and count it.
Two weeks ago this happened to us. My husband was made to take out his wallet and hand it over. Then he was marched down a long corridor and out of sight, leaving me standing alone with no explanation of where he had gone or for how long. I gave them 5 minutes, then called down all the wrath of the Red-Headed American Women, causing me to be marched to the same little office where they were holding my husband. Our "crime" was having $200 more than we thought we had. They couldn't have been less interested in the fact that our American passports state that we are to be allowed to "pass without hindrance or delay", but were obviously angling for a $200 bribe. Finally after using all the intimidation tactics they could, they gave up and "allowed" us to change our declaration. We boarded out Air France flight to Paris crying "Vive la France! Get us out of here!" The cabin steward laughed and said he hears that reaction regularly.
Make no mistake: the Ukrainian economy desperately needs the money tourism would bring, but until they learn to treat tourists so that they leave with good memories, those who do show up will leave saying, "Never again!".

[Yorky999]

Just returned from Kyiv (24th) - no hassles - if you fill the forms in correctly when you ARRIVE/ENTER Kyiv - no problems!!

[Joyce]

How nice. I was talking about exiting. All forms were filled out in excruciating exactitude upon entering. No civilized country that I've ever passed through has ever demanded to know the exact amount of money on my person upon EXIT, then subjected me to a search. I hope to alert people to the possibility so that they will be prepared. And it wouldn't be bad if the Ukrainian officials took a good look at themselves as others see them, and make themselves a little more welcoming to tourists.

[Yorky999]

The penny obviously hasn't dropped - the forms you complete when entering are also applicable when exiting.

You mention "civilized" country - the very people that you are rebuking receive far worse treatment when trying to enter your civilized part of the world.