Here's the list of prices quoted at
http://intersvit.hypermart.net/services.htm

N E W Y E A R P R I C E S !!! (disocunts)

>>>disocunts means discounts, I guess

A nice apartment for you to stay, laundry services are included - $50/day. (Half Board +$10) (pictures of apartments are here)

>>>>>go to the pictures of the apartments, and you will see that the one is on Kozachuka Street, another is on Komarova, the actual cost on those is $25/day including meals


Guide and Translator will escort you - $7/hr or $40 for the whole day

>>>>>the translators are usually getting paid with $15/day or even less, depending on the quality

Our agent will meet you at Borispol (Boryspil') airport and escort you to the places you need and then escort you by the train or by car from Kiev (Kyiv) to Chernovtsy (Chernivtsi) and after from railway station to your apartment - $150 (by train, tickets included,

>>>>>if you buy your own ticket to Kiev, the first class will cost you around $35, I think


taxi Borispol - Kiev - train station) and $200 (by car, all expences included). The price incl. meals during the trip.

>>>>>The commercial taxi will cost you around $120

If you arrive to other international airport, please, contact with us by e-mail about the price.
Champagne and box of fine chocolates delivery - $30. (price of basket included)

>>> not sure on the price of those


Basket with flowers delivery (price for the 15 beautiful long roses and basket included) - $50.

>>>15 beautiful long roses would cost you $15, that's about it, basket - another $5

Romance Trip (which includes all what you need during the trip, VISA, apartment and meals, dates with ladies, transfer Kiev airport-Chernivtsi-Kiev airport, translators services, professional city guide and so on) - from $1.100 to $1.200 (7 days). For details, please look at Romance Trips Section.

>>>>>>>that's their main ripoff

I wondered about the prices of the apartments there but only in the context that they seem very cheap. I was told as far as hotels in Ukraine--anything less than 150$ is dangerous and horrible. I am dealing with that agency right now, only as an e-mail forwarder, they are telling me it is free right now to send her e-mail (probably costs 200$ to receive her answer!). I just went and sent her a postal letter instead and I'll wait the extra 2 weeks for her to get it. I thought the apartments would be around 100$ a day, especially when they hear you speak English! The roses--most services gouge you on that, I think 50$ is cheap, most are 60-70.

Speaking of gouging, I was told that if you are dealing with a cop for some reason and you notice that one of his pocket flaps is unbuttoned, that means he's on the take, and you should stuff some "mail" in his "little mail box", unless you want to go to jail.

Can anyone tell me if they have any problems with any other agencies there? I could not find the list that was mentioned of bad places. Also, is there an apartment rental agency there that is cheap and reliable (I know, an oxymoron!)? I woould like something not as fancy as the pictures, but something livable and clean.

Thanks, and Bud'te zdorovi!

A common international trick to grafting a police officer is to provide him with your papers w/ the graft inserted behind the papers.putting "mail in his mailbox" could be an uncomfortable situation for you and the officer as it makes the transfer visible to everyone around you including other officers.This could lead to either an arrest or having to make multiple grafts.Also this protects you from being charged w/ a bribe as your excuse could be that you simply keep emergency money w/ your papers.Don't worry the officer will take the money if that is the solution to the "misunderstanding" that landed you the attention of the police in the first place.I would suggest a fresh $20 American bill.Have fun.Also if you plan on carrying a firearm"illeagal" make it a $100.You could still wind up losing the firearm but at least he'll sell it instead of use it against you as evidence.