Dear Stephen:
With this wonderful list group you will find all kinds of excellent
recommendations and solutions for travel to Chernivtsi, but very few apply
to US citizens originating here in the States. I am in Los Angeles, which
complicates matters even worse.
First, we don't need a visa to visit the Ukraine. Puppy shots, yes, but
official papers no. Just a valid US passport and lots of cash. Credit cards
and travelers checks are usually not accepted once inside the Ukraine, and
the Ukrainian banking system is literally broke, let alone broken.
AIR TRAVEL:
It is true you can fly all the way to Kiev via American Airlines/British
Airways LAX or JFK to London (LHR) / Kiev (KBP) --- assuming one can
tolerate the grueling 25-48 hour endeavor --- but what safe aerial options
can be had Kiev-Chernivtsi (CWC) is unclear. Many Ukrainian airlines now use
Boeing 737 or similar Western aircraft and sometimes American crews,
although rumor has it that the An-24 is a reliable Russian transport when it
isn't on fire. Flight time from Kiev is about 90 minutes; Chernivtsi airport
has reportedly been updated, but just how remains a mystery. Recent posts on
the list say services are nil and sometimes passengers must wait until a
worker arrives with a key to open up the terminal.
In my opinion, the easiest way would be to get to Vienna however you wish,
then fly Austrian Airlines (OS) from Vienna (VIE) to Lviv (LWO), stay
overnight or longer, then take the day train described below.
http://www.austrian.com/?sc_lang=en
<http://www.austrian.com/?sc_lang=en&cc=US> &cc=US
The return trip is virtually identical because you might need to stay
overnight again in Lviv to catch the early morning flight to Vienna.
Another possibility is to fly directly to Chernivtsi (CWO) via Carpatair
hubbed in Timisoara, Romania (TSR), which has several daily connecting
flights to/from several European cities on Fokker and Saab aircraft -
http://www.carpatair.com/EN/
http://www.carpatair.com/Flight_Info/Chernivtsi_A/EN/
A very nice airline, according to international standards.
By the way, AA (and other US airlines) still considers travel all the way to
Kiev as part of its definition of European Peak/Off-Peak awards. It is
therefore possible to acquire freebie tickets with award points equal to the
rest of Europe, depending on class of travel, of course (or rack up a heck
of a gain if just adding mileage).
TRAIN:
I say travel to Vienna and take Austrian Airlines to L'viv, stay overnight
or longer, then take the popular 5-hour daytime train to Chernivtsi. I hear
the ride through the countryside is pleasant and you will definitely have
the opportunity to mix with the indigenous population.
Order the latest Thomas Cooke European Rail Guide from Amazon --- it has
listings for all Ukrainian lines as well as those of neighboring countries.
Important: The train from Kiev to Chernivtsi isn't direct; it first goes to
L'viv (Lvov) and connects with the aforementioned 5-hour train --- 20-hours
plus from Kiev, assuming no rail strike. What you don't want to do is travel
via Moldova or be on any transport which brushes it, even for 5-minutes,
because you will need to obtain a visa prior --- and they are bastards to
anyone trying to skirt their wacky border antics.
CAR:
Mimi Taylor once suggested "a relatively easy and safe way to travel" by
flying into Lviv and then having a taxi hired from Chernivtsi pick you up at
the Lviv airport and drive you back. She added the prospect of combining a
visit to CZ with vacationing in Romania, and advised you to get a driver
from Suceava to drive you to CZ.
Other list members can provide you with recommendations and/or personal
contacts for various kinds of ground transport, whether private driver or
otherwise.
I have no information regarding bus service.
CELLULAR SERVICE:
You will need an unlocked GSM 900 / 1800 phone so you can add a local SIM
card. One company to pre-order from is:
http://www.telestial.com/view_product.php?PRODUCT_ID=LSIM-UA01
but I don't believe AT&T's International service covers the Ukraine.
A handheld satellite phone is another option if you are a lottery winner or
don't care about USD $1-3.00 / min. charges. (Incoming calls are free,
however)
WORDS TO THE WISE:
For Americans, here are the best references I have found regarding "issues"
in this region:
US State Department - Travel Registration
<https://travelregistration.state.gov/ibrs/ui/>
https://travelregistration.state.gov/ibrs/ui/
US Embassy - Kiev
http://ukraine.usembassy.gov/
Ukraine Travel
<http://www.tryukraine.com/info.shtml> http://www.tryukraine.com/info.shtml
More on Ukraine Travel
<http://www.traveltoukraine.org/> http://www.traveltoukraine.org/
For medical problems or emergency services planning:
US State Department - Medical Insurance
<http://travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw/cis/cis_1470.html>
http://travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw/cis/cis_1470.html
US CDC - Ukrainian Health Risks
<http://wwwn.cdc.gov/travel/destinationUkraine.aspx>
http://wwwn.cdc.gov/travel/destinationUkraine.aspx
IN CASE OF MEDICAL EMERGENCY -
<http://www.amcenters.com/> http://www.amcenters.com/
IN CASE OF LEGAL TROUBLE, call PriceCooperWaterhouse in Kiev -
http://www.pwc.com/ua/en/about/contacts.jhtml
even if only for a referral for any matter of any kind. And they are fluent
in English - guaranteed.
Lastly:
In 2008, I corresponded with the CDC regarding my concern over short-term
exposure to the Chernobyl fallout, most notably Cesium 137, which remains
mainly in the soil throughout the country (and much of Europe), including
Bukovina. I was unable to find anything on the web at that time that really
addressed short-term issues. Their team specifically concluded that there is
scant risk of being contaminated by anything, even if swimming in the local
water, but nonetheless there is a risk. They do recommend the usual: drink
only bottle water, do not ingest large amounts of bath water, do not consume
any foodstuff grown in the regions around Kiev --- but anything produced
locally, including dairy, meats and produce, should be just fine.
While there are many hospitals in and around Chernivtsi with qualified
practitioners, to date none is up to American standards and some might
actually prove hazardous to your health. Of course, if you have a fall or
something academic, they should be able to help. But, none reportedly accept
Western insurance and therefore prepare to fork over cash before they
provide treatment. If you have active major medical issues now, it would be
prudent to pre-arrange medical evacuation / treatment options via someone in
Kiev. I have included one such entity above, which seems to be run by
American doctors. This prearrangement may not be cheap, however, but I don't
know.
I hope this information proves helpful.
JB
[Jordan - Please post in Plain Text -- see the footer at the end of this message]
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Received on 2011-02-21 18:23:44
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