Donetsk & Ukraine Travel Tips

Safety
Crime rates are low in Ukraine, however avoid walking alone late at night. Try not to show that you are a tourist. Tourists tend to carry lots of money with them, this means that you could become a target of theft. Downtown areas are usually safer than the outskirts. If confronted by armed attackers, give up your possessions. Don't carry items you are not prepared to lose. If you do happen to lose anything or become a victim of theft. Report your loss to the police immediately.

Be sure to report any loss of travelers checks to the nearest office of the issuing company or its agent. Report airline ticket loss to the airline company or travel agent. If you lose your passport, best place to report it is to the police or if you are an American citizen, to the nearest U.S. Embassy or Consulate. People often lose their credit cards, if this happens to you report it to your credit card company. It can be a good idea to take photocopies of your documents (passport, driving license etc.) just in case your valuables are lost misplaced or stolen.

It is good practice to boil tap water before drinking it, during summer months in particular this is important. Bottled or purified water fine to drink and is recommended for convenience. The general water supply is unpredictable, especially hot water can be irregular at times. The radiation levels in Kyiv and most of Ukraine are to be considered safe as stated by the U.S. Embassy and other official bodies.

Customs
Any travelers crossing the Ukrainian border must first complete a customs declaration check only if they are carrying more than $1,000 and/or 10,000 hr (or the equivalent in any other currency) and/or declarable goods. Those carrying more than the above amount must have an Al bank reference form. If you have less than $1,000 and don't have any declarable goods, you only need to inform a customs officer verbally. Officers do have the right to inspect your bags at any time they choose.

Driving
Make sure you carry your license and registration details at all times to fully comply and enjoy the Ukrainian driving experience. The official speed limit in the Ukraine is 60 km/h in the cities, 90 km/h on secondary roads and 130 km/h on the highways. Be warned there is a zero tolerance drink driving policy applied in Ukraine.

Money
The national currency in Ukraine today is the hryvnia (hr), which replaced the transitional karbovanets on September 2, 1996. Paper bills carry the following denominations: 1, 2, 5,10, 50, 100 and 200 hryvnias. A word to the wise, two versions exist of the 1, 2, 5,10, and 20 hryvnia bills, and both are accepted every where. There are 100 kopecks in 1 hryvnia, with 1, 2, 5,10, 25 and 50 kopeck coins. Are you confused yet?

You will not have any problems finding currency exchange points, but rates are far better from central street kiosks. If it is traveler's checks you need to cashed, look for a big somewhat respectable looking bank. ATMs have become very plentiful in Ukraine and many hotels and restaurants are now taking Visa and Master Cards. American Express is not very popular in Ukraine.

Time
The time in Ukraine is set two hours ahead of the Universal time in Greenwich. To save electric power, it is altered twice a year. The watches are set one hour forward in the last week of March and one hour backward in the last week of October.

Electricity
Ukraine supplies its residents and its visitors with the electrical current of 220 volts AC, 50Hz. All sockets require the round double pins. Many smaller (thinner) Russian sockets are being replaced by their European cousins. Those with Russian power sockets can buy a fairly cheap adapter for their European appliances. Adapters for the more foreign electrical societies are not as easy to find in Ukraine, so be sure to bring your own.

Language
The country's official language is Ukrainian, however the situation is much more complex. In the 2001 census more than 85% of ethnic Ukrainians declared that Ukrainian was their mother tongue, but the average foreigner on the streets of Kyiv won't be hearing the Ukrainian tongue anywhere near that often. Severe restrictions of the use of the Ukrainian language were imposed by Imperial Russia and then later the Soviet Union, almost turning it into a foreign language in its native land. Since independence in 1991, it has become more popular and more widespread. Still, Russian is heavily spoken in Crimea and Eastern Ukraine, and only in Western regions is Ukrainian truly a predominant language.

Tipping
Restaurants in general don't include a service charge with their bill and it is customary to tip the waiter an average of 10 % of the final cost. Give tips at the hotel to the staff. For other services, tip at your own discretion as you feel necessary.

Business Hours
8 hour days are normal working days in Ukraine, Monday through Friday. A lunch break is taken between the hours of 1:00pm and 2:00pm generally. Most banks are open without breaks, Monday through Friday from 9:00am to 5:00pm.

When visiting Ukraine, there are some simple customary rules of etiquette one should follow:

It is customary to bring a gift when entering a house hold. A bottle of wine, a cake or even a bouquet of flowers is a good idea. If there is children or a child in the house, it is appropriate to provide them with a small gift also. If you bring flowers, make sure there is an uneven number of them, this may sound strange but is considered bad luck otherwise.

Be prepared to remove your shoes when entering the home. Keep apartments clean when entering, most hosts will provide you with a pair of slippers to wear. On public transportation be ready to give up your seat to mothers with children, also the elderly or the infirm.

Entrances of upscale restaurants, will often check your coat, briefcase or baggage upon entering. When eating a dinner at someone's home, casual dress is generally accepted. Be ready to give toasts at dinner time, guests are often asked to do this. Offer to share your snack food with those around you. Ukrainians are a people well known for their generosity when it comes to treating and taking care of others. Turning down a meal may be considered rude, it is better not to do this. For business, dress should be conservative. Men should not take off their jackets unless asked. In Orthodox churches women wear scarves or hats, and men take off their hats.

Do not shake hands across the threshold of a doorway.

When shaking hands, take off your gloves.

Be prepared to accept all food and drink offered to you when visiting friends.

Don't put your thumb in between your first two fingers this is a rude gesture.