I would appreciate information about the Hotel Kiev in Chernovtsy. Is it a decent place to stay for two weeks? Is it safe, clean, have shower and toilet in each suite? What is bad about it? Is it in a good or bad downtown area of the city?
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Being a native of the city, I have not stayed in any of the hotels, however, when my friends would arrive to Chernivtsi, I would come over and visit them sometimes.
Kiev struck me as old and not renovated. It's clean, but I think the hot water problem with it is the same as anywhere else in the city, unless you got the autonomous water heating system.
I don't the prices, but check them out, it might be more worthwhile to stay at a private apartment, although Kiev's location is quite advantageous - right in downtown. Not so recently a member of this message board, some guy, posted a message leading to the Epinions server. Here's what he wrote on hotels http://www.epinions.com/./trvl-review-5762-3FE7E85-388F87BE-prod1>, maybe that would help.
I was there in July and paid about $25 for a room. It was actually a dining room plus bed room with a refrigerator in the entry way. While there was no central hot water, there was an electrical water heater in the bath room which worked quiet well. As I recall there were no roaches and things were clean. The beds were singles and about as uncomfortable as any other beds I experienced in Ukraine. Location is good with a grocery store just up the street and a market about 5 or 10 minutes away. I didn't notice hookers, but then I wasn't looking for them.
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I spent many years at this town and can assure you that this is not a first and even the second class hotel. It was used during the USSR times mostly for domestic consumtion.
For folks from abroad at the city of Chernivtsi was only offered two hotels: Bukovina and Cheremosh (supervised by an agency "Inturist" (frontstore of the former KGB).
For turists with limited income or spendings habits and traveling by own or rented cars, was in use a ,so-called, "Camping" or a base with small bungalos or sleeping overhight at your own place by errecting your own tents.
From my point of view, the best choice to travel over the former USSR, including Ukraine, is to stay at people's houses or appartments with room-and-board services.
You'll spend less money and will learn much more about the country, their people and culture.
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I posted the original message asking about this hotel. Based on the responses, I did not stay there. I have just returned from Chernovtsy. While there, I visited the Hotel Kiev out of curiousity. Compared with the other available hotels, it is probably the preferable place to stay. It is located in the center of the city on one of the two main streets. It was clean and had security guards on duty in the lobby. Although not up to American or Canadian standards, it was not bad for Ukraine (I have also been to Kiev and Lvov). It is located near good resturants, parks and tourist shops. I was near it late one Saturday evening and did not see any prostitutes (I did see some in other parts of the central city). I stayed in a private apartment within three city blocks of the city center (city hall and town square). My apartment was comfortable, but I was uncomfortable walking to it after dark. Except for the main streets in the city center, there is virtually no street lighting. The streets and sidewalks are in very bad repair. Walking is dangerous because one cannot see well enough to avoid potholes and uneven pavement. I was not particularly concerned about my personal safety. Most everyone walks in Chernovtsy and the streets have many people on them until midnight and later. Overall, I think I would have preferred staying at the Hotel Kiev, primarily because of its location. Even private apartments do not meet Western standards. The one we rented did not have laundry facilities and there are no landromats in Chernovtsy. We washed clothes by hand and hanged them up to dry. All things aside, we had a great time. Weather in the late fall is beautiful. Sunshine for 15 days out of 17.
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We paid $100 USD for 2 weeks use of a second floor apartment which consisted of a large bedroom, large living room, kitchen with all utilities, bathroom with an automatice hot water heater and a seperate toilet. The aparment overlooked the street and had a balcony. My wife is from Chernovtsy. She has a friend (who lives in Chernovtsy) find the apartment for us. I do not know if it is an apartment that is regularly rented. The owners now live in Germany. The price was certainly satisfactory.
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Tony,
Yes there is train service from Lvov to chernovtsy but it does not coincide with the air schedule and you will spend a great deal of time waiting. The best way is to arrange for a car to pick you up at the airport and take the 4 hour car ride. You could also hire a taxi for about 125 dollars approx. I have made the trip many times and it is best to fly into frankfurt from montreal and then take Ukraine international airlines to Lvov. Not all american travel agents have access to the Ukraine flights so shop around. When are you traveling and if you need an agent I can put you intouch with a good one.
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