I didn't see another thread about visiting Odessa Ukraine in our current situation, so here goes.

A buddy and I bought tickets to fly there for 3 weeks in July. We're thinking this could either be the best time as there will be even less competition or the worst time if no one is traveling there/people not in the partying mood.

I read that Odessa is declaring it's independence and may start to block traffic into the area. We're not scared about the militia, but if its a warzone how many girls will be on the beach drinking champagne?

Any players with recent insight want to chime in?

I was in Odessa last July before all the problems happened. It was an unbelievable place though slightly dangerous even then as far as walking around drunk and having to watch out for local gopnik's. The women were spectacular but not as easy to "seduce" as the Kiev princesses due to some decent competition from other westerners.

Ibiza club in Arcadia was unbelievable, I frequented that DURING THE DAY and would always get a private cabana and then just make the rounds by the pool talking to girls and asking where they were from. I encountered many tourist girls from Russia and Belarus last year. I'm pretty sure that will no longer hold true. There might still be a lot of local's on vacation who end up in Odessa since they will have some difficulty with travel to Crimea and thus will have to resort to the dirty beaches of Odessa. Your exotic factor will shoot up a bit since you won't have to compete with the thousands of foreign "sex tourists" who flood the city in the summer, BUT with the civil war still brewing and the memories of the horrific fire in Odessan's minds I think you have to temper your expectations.

If I were you I would split the 3 weeks and instead fly for 2 weeks to Kiev and only 1 week to Odessa.

Quote: (06-04-2014 05:42 PM)hun73r Wrote:  

I didn't see another thread about visiting Odessa Ukraine in our current situation, so here goes.

Just made a booking on Airbnb for a very nice apartment in Odessa, right on Deribasovskaya, with a huge balcony overlooking the Opera. Got a 60% discount for a one month stay (from 115€/day to 50€/day), mid July to mid August. Yeah, 60% discount at the peak of the high season. Owners are desesperate. It's a buyer market. As in Kiev for that matter.

Should be a lot of fun with much fewer European tourists coming, and as Crimea will be a no-go area for many Ukrainians, much more local tourists. That said, TripleG is right, Russians will not come also.

As for prices, was in Kiev and Dnipro in May, and at 16 gryvnas to one €, everything is a steal - except medicine. Dnipropetrovsk is definitely the most enjoyable city in Ukraine by the way.

So yes, going to Ukraine currently does make sense.

Thanks for the intel. We're still planning on going currently. And also looking for a big place on Deribasovskaya. They have some funny, over-the-top Dr. Seuss decorated apartments there.

Too bad about the loss of Russians though.

Ibiza club is definitely on the agenda. My buddy said it's a prime spot for hanging out during the day and meet champagne-swilling locals.

Quote: (06-04-2014 07:41 PM)TripleG Wrote:  

I encountered many tourist girls from Russia and Belarus last year. I'm pretty sure that will no longer hold true.

Not to go too off topic, but any intel as to where said would-be-Russian-tourist-girls might be this summer?
Do the Turkey beaches draw the same kind of numbers?

50 euro a day? jesus you got taken. 3 bedroom, with good amenities on deribasovskaya is $800 a month, two-three tram stops away and its $500

dollars

Quote: (06-05-2014 11:50 AM)calihunter Wrote:  

50 euro a day? jesus you got taken. 3 bedroom, with good amenities on deribasovskaya is $800 a month, two-three tram stops away and its $500

dollars

Exactly..seems he is paying tourist rates.


But I suspect many Russians will be in Odessa, same as usual. Many Moscovites (other cities as well) have homes/flats in Arcadisa area. Often they hold dual passports or/and have resident permits. Problem is this will be the top talent that has money and/or relationships. But certainly many will come if nothing else but to check on their flat and maybe sell them .

That being said the Odessa region might certainly get more local tourists but they most likely will be going to the better beaches...NOT in Odessa.

The average Ukrainian who can't afford Arcadia will end up in Luzanovka. This is a beach( cleanest in Odessa) in the north part of city. This is the poorer arcadia. The beach has night clubs and cafes.

The rich might be at Riviera beach which is southern part of city. Not to be confused with Riviera beach that is outside of Odessa in the north.

Quote: (06-05-2014 11:50 AM)calihunter Wrote:  

50 euro a day? jesus you got taken. 3 bedroom, with good amenities on deribasovskaya is $800 a month, two-three tram stops away and its $500

dollars

A nice three bedrooms apartment on Deribasovskaya for 600 €/month in peak season ?? ....this is maybe findable in June or September, and for an average place. But impossible to find a decent apartment (I don't even talk about luxury apartments like the one I booked) at a prime location in Odessa and for short-term rent in peak season at this price.

In Dnepropetrovsk I pay about 600 €/month for a nice one bedroom apartment, and in Zaporojie about 450 €/month. And it's definitely not touristic cities.

Я Вам не скажу за ВСЮ Одессу, но я браток Одессит, >>Я<< из Одессы. Здрасте! Ты мне будеш говорить..
И дядка у меня в Киеве. А бузина, извиняюсь у Вас. В огороде

Quote: (06-05-2014 01:18 PM)pechorin Wrote:  

Quote: (06-05-2014 11:50 AM)calihunter Wrote:  

50 euro a day? jesus you got taken. 3 bedroom, with good amenities on deribasovskaya is $800 a month, two-three tram stops away and its $500

dollars

A nice three bedrooms apartment on Deribasovskaya for 600 €/month in peak season ?? ....this is maybe findable in June or September, and for an average place. But impossible to find a decent apartment (I don't even talk about luxury apartments like the one I booked) at a prime location in Odessa and for short-term rent in peak season at this price.

In Dnepropetrovsk I pay about 600 €/month for a nice one bedroom apartment, and in Zaporojie about 450 €/month. And it's definitely not touristic cities.

Hi Prosal.

http://www.048.ua/estate/no/type/0?opera...t_broker=0

Quote: (06-05-2014 01:53 PM)calihunter Wrote:  

http://www.048.ua/estate/no/type/0?opera...t_broker=0

Long-term rents.

Haha. No more walking your Babushka?

Quote: (06-05-2014 01:56 PM)pechorin Wrote:  

Quote: (06-05-2014 01:53 PM)calihunter Wrote:  

http://www.048.ua/estate/no/type/0?opera...t_broker=0

Long-term rents.

One month rents

Quote: (06-05-2014 01:57 PM)calihunter Wrote:  

Quote: (06-05-2014 01:56 PM)pechorin Wrote:  

Quote: (06-05-2014 01:53 PM)calihunter Wrote:  

http://www.048.ua/estate/no/type/0?opera...t_broker=0

Long-term rents.

One month rents

Операция: Аренда долгосрочная

I'm looking at Odessa on airbnb and the prices are crazy low, 1/3 to 1/4 of what I'm seeing in Moscow. Jesus, this is tempting.

Quote: (06-05-2014 02:01 PM)pechorin Wrote:  

Операция: Аренда долгосрочная

You're not much for negotiating? Or do you just have a stockholm syndrome to your price?

Quote: (06-05-2014 02:17 PM)Roosh Wrote:  

I'm looking at Odessa on airbnb and the prices are crazy low, 1/3 to 1/4 of what I'm seeing in Moscow. Jesus, this is tempting.

It's a buyer market. Same in Kiev. I paid for this apartment some 75 €/day in January. Now it's at 49 €. Asking price.

https://www.airbnb.fr/rooms/52676

Same apartment with sauna and jacuzzi in Moscow would cost 3 times more.

slando is not bad. Here's the direct from owner link. Unlike airbnb, I needed a Russian speaker help me make arrangements.

As to the OP's question, I'm new to Odessa and haven't gone out much, but I'd say attitudes seem fine here. It doesn't seem like people are too worried about the political situation, perhaps those people decided not to come this year? I have yet to bump into any tourists from Russia.

Quote: (06-05-2014 03:55 PM)William Windsor Wrote:  

slando is not bad. Here's the direct from owner link. Unlike airbnb, I needed a Russian speaker help me make arrangements.

Doba isn't bad also, direct contact with owner. Few quality apartments however.

http://doba.ua/cities/Odessa

As a side note calihunter, you'll notice that the best apartments are all at about 1000 gryvnas/day and more. Like this studio in Arkadia:

http://doba.ua/cities/Odessa/336957349/flatinfo.html

Quote: (06-05-2014 02:17 PM)Roosh Wrote:  

I'm looking at Odessa on airbnb and the prices are crazy low, 1/3 to 1/4 of what I'm seeing in Moscow. Jesus, this is tempting.

You're not kidding.

I basically have all Summer to hang out somewhere in Ukraine or Russia...this is certainly tempting..but Jimukr's horror stories about Odessa girls scares me...I just want to meet a nice hot sexy old fashioned Ukrainian 8!))

Quote: (06-05-2014 11:50 AM)calihunter Wrote:  

50 euro a day? jesus you got taken. 3 bedroom, with good amenities on deribasovskaya is $800 a month

Quote: (06-05-2014 02:21 PM)calihunter Wrote:  

You're not much for negotiating? Or do you just have a stockholm syndrome to your price?

Quote: (06-05-2014 04:15 PM)pechorin Wrote:  

As a side note calihunter, you'll notice that the best apartments are all at about 1000 gryvnas/day and more. Like this studio in Arkadia:

http://doba.ua/cities/Odessa/336957349/flatinfo.html

Thought about it last night: the apartment that I booked near the Opera on Airbnb is bigger and nicer, but I could cancel my reservation if you succeed to negociate for me this apartment for 800 us$/month (something like 10 July-10 August), or let's say even 1000 us$. And I swear on Steven Seagal's life that I will send you by W.U 400 € as a fee (edit - well, let's say 200€ as the task is surely super easy for you) as soon as you have the owner's agreement.

Deal ?

Quote: (06-06-2014 12:15 AM)Akula Wrote:  

but Jimukr's horror stories about Odessa girls scares me...I just want to meet a nice hot sexy old fashioned Ukrainian 8!))

Not sure to what you are referring to, but I get the sense you can find all kinds of Ukrainian girls in Odessa. Compared to other places in Ukraine, there is perhaps a bit more sleaze here, but that's typical of any touristic place.

I also have had a different experience than Jim. I did pretty well there, and didn't have to make huge adjustments besides studying Russian.

Deb in Odessa right now. This could get interesting.