Travel Information and Tips

For over a century, the official language was Russian. Since independence, Ukrainian is being promoted as the state language although Russian is still the most widespread, especially in the major cities. In villages people speak both Russian and Ukrainian. As a rule you can manage by speaking Russian, although you may receive a bit of resistance from public officials who are being pressed to use Ukrainian.

The easiest way around? Get a Ukranian-English interpreter from UaDreams!

You will be safe as long as you don't show around big amounts of money or walk alone at night along dark lonely streets. Murder is considered to be an extraordinary event in Ukraine that usually happens with people who are involved in organized crime. You can visit any place and peacefully walk on the streets. However, you can easily become a victim of pocket thefts; so take care of your wallet and do not keep big amounts with you.

Prostitution and Human Trafficking: any engagement, promotion, or facilitation of prostitution, human trafficking or sex trafficking is strictly prohibited on this platform.
Sex trafficking is a type of human trafficking. Human trafficking is the trading of men, women and children for the purpose of servitude and forced labor. It is one of the fastest growing criminal industries in the world. In sex trafficking, women (usually) are traded within and between countries for sex work. The women are usually deceived and lured into prostitution with a promise of a job or some other opportunity that sounds to good to be true.
Tips to stay away from Human Trafficking
· Instant Love
If he’s professing his undying love within a few days of knowing you, there’s more than one reason to think there might be something wrong here. The first step to trapping their potential victim is to get her
emotionally involved. Therefore, it is always advisable to take the time to get to know other members on the site as someone you have only known for a few days is more likely to be a fraud than someone you have been chatting with for a few months.

· Job Promises
This is the most common bait sex traffickers use. They will usually promise you a job, tell you to come to a different country where you can work (often as a waitress), promise you big money and the like. But when you reach the other country, there’s no job waiting for you and most often these sex traffickers use the promise of a job to trick and coerce women into prostitution.
· Willingness to Pay
There are a number of men out there who are genuinely willing to sponsor their girlfriend to be able to visit them. While most men are legitimate, there are some who use this as a ploy and girls are often
forced into prostitution and subsequently made to “pay off the debt”. Not everyone is trying to dupe you but if someone’s behavior is suspicious and they are over eager for you visit them, you should
think twice. For example, if you have only been chatting with them for a few days and they are offering to pay for everything already, it could be dodgy. However, if you have known the other member for a long time and they are willing to pay for you, it is more likely to be genuine. The best thing to do would be to ask the man to visit you instead of you visiting him, as this is infinitely safer. Only someone who is genuinely interested in you is likely to make the effort to come and meet you. Also, since you will be in familiar territory it will be harder to deceive you and since it is your home town, you can easily call for help if there is any trouble.

HOW TO STAY SAFE
Here are some quick tips to stay safe online:
· Always keep your guard up and take the time to get to know nanother member before you make plans to meet them.
· It is much safer if you ask him to visit you rather than you going to an unknown city or country.
· If someone is offering you illegal jobs in their country or making other tall promises to you, don’t take the bait and report the member to the dating site’s administrators instead.

Ukrainian currency is "Hryvnya". But if you have American dollars or Euro, you can change them in the bank in the city you travel to or at the airport. If you are from UK we recommend you to convert Pounds into Euros or Dollars in your country.

There are plenty of currency exchange offices (some of them working 24 hours) in every town so it won’t be a problem for you to exchange money. Take only bills with a series date of 1993 or later. Worn out or marked with a pen bills are not accepted.

Plan on spending approximately $80.00 - $150.00 per day average (depends on whether you’ll spend time alone or with your girl friend). Take your Visa or MasterCard.

We don’t recommend to take American Express neither Travelers cheques as it’s very problematic to cash them out.

Be sure your money are in a safe place!! Don't keep them just in your pocket! In cafés, restaurants and shops they accept local currency. In some restaurants and shops you are able to pay with your credit card.

Take an umbrella and warm clothing (jacket and sweaters)! Casual style of clothing would be the best for you for walking around the city alone. Take the clothes you'll feel comfortable to wear. If the purpose of your visit is matrimonial, put on jeans rather than shorts — shorts are not the best wear for important things such as courting.

Before packing your bags you may consult our support center staff and we’ll recommend you what clothes are better to take depending on the season and current weather.

Washing of your clothes in hotels may be expensive and in some of them may not be available at all. If you need to wash your clothes, ask the chambermaid — it will be done with utmost care. The easiest way? Take a small packet of washing powder and 'do-it-yourself'. Socks, underwear, and shirts all can be washed at night and hung up in the bathroom. In the morning, move half-dry clothes to the closet. They will be ready the same afternoon.

Take a converter with you for electrical items. Electricity throughout Ukraine is 220 volt. The plug is 2 pin thin European standard.

Don't forget to take your pictures with you! You'll be able to give them to the ladies with your personal info written on the back side for the lady to be able to get in touch with you in future. Take your camera with you to make the pictures of the lady(s). Such pictures taken in Ukraine may be useful for you both in visa preparation in future. Ask the lady you like to write her personal info in your notebook: her name, address, phone number in Ukranian and in English. Be sure the lady doesn't see the notes left by the ladies you have met before her.

Please, do not forget to take your camera with you to make some unforgettable photo shoots of your lady and the city.

If you are going to visit your Lady(s) and possibly her family, don’t forget to take some gifts or souvenirs to present on your meeting with her (them).They will surely appreciate it!

Restaurants and cafes offer a wide range of dishes, and you will find something according your tastes. We have many cafes and restaurants representing cuisines of different nationalities. Nowadays Japanese and Georgian cuisine is extremely popular in our country.

The only problem you can face is that they may not have a menu in English. Tipping is expected (usually 10%) but not mandatory. Check your bill before paying as it is likely to have counting mistakes.

Ukrainians are very fond of soups (which include meat, vegetables and broth), potatoes, vegetables and different kinds of meat. Ukrainian cuisine is not spicy.

Quality of tap water varies from city to city but normally is quite poor. It will be wise not to drink tap water. Be aware though, that some of Ukrainian mineral water may be salted and have a special taste. Buy imported water or ask a salesperson which one is not salted. You can get sparkling and non-sparkling water on your preference.

Ukrainians call their services "non-obtrusive". Be aware that public toilets are difficult to find, and usually you have to pay there. You can use one at a cafe or restaurant if you are a guest there otherwise they won’t let you use their toilet.

You can do international phone calls from your hotel. You may also use your mobile in Ukraine if you have Roaming but it’ll be expensive. If you want to make local mobile calls we recommend you to get a SIM card of local mobile net (Vodafone, Kyivstar, lifecell) and use it on your phone.

It’ll be much cheaper! Unfortunately, some of American cellphones are not working with local SIM cards in this case you can get another phone to use it here. You can get one for $ 30-40 US.

As a taxi we recommend not to use any car but only a specific one (they have taxi marks on) or use mobile application like Uber or its local analogue (Uklon or OnTaxi). Taxi fee must be discussed with a driver before a journey.

To send e-mail you can use Internet cafés or Wi-Fi in public place, you will easily find a place with access to the Internet. Most of hotels will also provide you with this facility.

In all cities you can rent a car for a reasonable price. Public transport in Ukraine is quite good, cheap and easy to use though sometimes overcrowded. If you take your lady on a date we recommend you to take a cab.

Photocopy all of your documents, and carry wallet separately from documents. Check your Visa (if one is needed) and make sure the entry date coincides with the actual date of your arrival. If you have any questions contact your travel agent immediately. You don’t have to carry your original documents around and can keep them in lock boxes at your hotel. But have all the copies on you when go out.