First time in Ukraine

[H]

I would be really grateful if anyone can give me any advice for my first trip to Ukraine.

I am flying from England to take part in a voluntary project with the organisation 'FORUM' in L'viv. I will be one of a group of 12 people from around the world, helping to renovate a boarding school.

Does anyone know anything about the organisation or L'viv? I need to know what I should take with me and any ideas of what to do /not to do would be appreciated. My flight is a day early - so I am also looking for a hotel for the first night in L'viv that is not too expensive.

Please help!

[SweetNovember]

My favourite hotel in Lviv is Lion's castle. It's very small and cozy, a little pricy but it's well worth it. The prices vary from $40 for a discount room in an English basement (half-way below the ground, don't know what people call it in England, American basement? ) to $70 for a double, to even more for demi-suits and suits. They only have 14 rooms altogether and that's what makes it so special. They are also in an excellent location - quiet and green. Hurry up and check out on the availability of the discount room.
+380-322-971563
+380-322-351100
Fax: +380-322-351102
There is also Dniester, the old Soviet hotel. The prices are lower, I believe starting from $50-60 for a single, but the service is poor and staff is EXTREMELY UNFRIENDLY.
The rest of the hotels are either filthy or pricy.

FORUM? I heard about renovation project at a boarding school but not sure if it's the same one. What's the aim of this whole thing?

[forest]

Not to detract from S.N. Reccomendation, the George hotel is in the center of Lviv, I think maybe the same price . For more details and prices check out Bob Sopel Ukrainian travel 0161 6525050 very helpful thats Phoning from England .

[SweetNovember]

Hey Forest,

How did you find the George? I was advised against it on my last trip to Lviv when I wanted to downgrade from the Grant. I was told it's in the "filthy category" - that the furnuture is old and some of the rooms smell because the building is so old. True or not?

SN

[forest]

S.N. Sounds like home from home [joke] I could remember it from passing and knew it was central thats why I mentioned it for the location .I also had it in my mind that if I was ever stuck in lviv I could stop there, But thanks for the tip S.N. I will probably fork out and stop at the Grand now. On another point don,t you think hotels in Ukraine are expensive they are way over the odds to other countries I have stopped in.

[SweetNovember]

Oh, totally. The hotels are absolutely overpriced for the quality they offer. Even the Grand, at $100 per night, is just an old house that was given a face-lift.
I hate bad hotels because I'm on the road so much. They drain you out. That's way I liked the Lion's Castle - it's got a feel. The Grand to, but on the chique side.
The hotel I absolutely love in Moscow is Leningradskaya at the Leningrad train station. It's one of the Stalin's high-rises and when you enter it it feels like you enter into his era.
In Kiev I put my visitors either in the Premier Palace or in an apartment. You can find some really nice apartments downtown if you know the right realtor.

[Hannia]

Get in touch w/FORUM. They might be able to recommend a youth hostel or might consider putting you up for the extra day. Apparently, the live-in facilities are on rehab site.

Untitled
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