[whoishe]

I plan to be here a few times more until next year (unless I will do terrble with local chicks) so don't worry .

[christpuncher]

What is the name of the hostel I can stay at with 16-18 girls and one short polish guy ? Haha

[20Nation]

So sounds if I wanted to choose between Odesa and Lviv to spend the summer. Odessa would be the obvious choice? I also want to be studying and learning russian

[whoishe]

(05-16-2014 08:52 AM)christpuncher Wrote:  

What is the name of the hostel I can stay at with 16-18 girls and one short polish guy ? Haha

Hostel Bazikalo at Virmanska (one of the most historical streets in Lviv) street. Actually today, I am the only person there so far

(05-16-2014 09:47 AM)20Nation Wrote:  

So sounds if I wanted to choose between Odesa and Lviv to spend the summer. Odessa would be the obvious choice? I also want to be studying and learning russian

Never been to Odessa, but for summer it sounds like a better choice.

[whoishe]

Post deleted.

[whoishe]

Few things from last night:

1) I have to thanks for advice here about securing phone numbers during the conversation and not when leaving. I was talking to one girl last night (tall, great body) and since she was with her friends (plus she was in dancing mode, kind of alone dancing mode) it was clear that it will be difficult to isolate. So I've got her number and what happens 10 minutes later? She competes in dancing contest for guests and wins it, so more guys is trying to game her and her shield went slightly up.

2) I am getting very positive reaction regarding my profession. Girls also don't have a problem with accepting me doing my work online from Lviv.

3) 4 beers, 2 vodka shots, one orange juice, all in very nice club in Lviv - cost 10 USD total (plus 9 USD entrance)

4) I know Roosh stated it in "Bang Ukraine", but ability of girls here to pose for some great looking and very sexy pictures is really amazing.

5) Today I plan to implement "dog beauty contest game"

[whoishe]

OKay, no interesting prospects at "Dogs beauty contest", at least not when you don't own a dog

But I saw a part of the city previously uknown for me and I fould cheap tennis courts, so I consider afternoon a positive,

One more thing - I've got a few free tickets to Rafinad club (top 3 club in Lviv) and it seems like a big DHV to girls when I mention it. Any advices when and how to use it (girls seem to value it at least equally to situation when you pay for entrance) and don't get burned by girl with her telling me "thanks for entrance, sucker. Now enjoy your evening alone"?

Or maybe I should just be happy that I can go for a few nights there without paying entrance fee for myself?

[Icarus]

This thread could use some photos: Ancient and beautiful Lviv (2011)

[Icarus]

Morning in Lviv (2012)

[EU Explorer]

(05-18-2014 10:33 AM)Icarus Wrote:  

Morning in Lviv (2012)

According to my Norton security software that page has a trojan horse attack

[whoishe]

If anyone would be in Lviv and would wonder what to do on Mondat night - club Sankoff and their students party is the place to be. Its quite far from the centre, so taxi one way can be up to 50 hrivnas, but there is a great crowd. Personally I found it difficult to speak English there (mostly because of very loud music), but someone with strong dance floor game or body language should do well.

Interesting note - in Sankoff (and I was told there that other clubs also try to implement it) you can't dance on dance floor with drink in your hand, if place has separate rooms. I actually like this rule, but had no idea originally about it when big security guy was telling me something .

Also, like I've mentioned before, I've got a bunch of free tickets to Rafinad Club and I keep being warned about high money guys and piranha girls visiting that place. Can't wait to check this out actually

[whoishe]

Some more notes:

1) Club full of Piranhas ("Rafinad") was so boring (and kind of weird)... that I almost lost my wallet there. Fortunately guy working there followed me and gave it back to me. I gave him 100 grn tip for it and he gave it to one women standing next to him, so I guess it was she who decided not to cash on my stuff.

I still have 6 free tickets for that place, not sure what to do with it now. Maybe I will try to use it as pick up on some girls? Not sure.

2) "Rafinad" and "Anturazh" have male strippers/dancers performing for Ladies Nights on Thursdays. I guess it's not good for pick up, but maybe I'm wrong.

Btw, "Rafinad" also have a standard strip room inside the club.

3) "Fashion" last night asked for 200grn entrance fee, which for Lviv standards is huge. They had a concert and I backed down, but now I am thinking it was maybe a mistake. Higher entrance fee=even less competition. Oh well.

4) I don't know how good (in looks department) it has to be in Kharkiv/Odessa/Kiev/etc... if girls there are considered to be 1-2 points higher on average. When I was walking around 10-11pm last night there was some serious quality here.

[Roosh]

(05-16-2014 09:47 AM)20Nation Wrote:  

So sounds if I wanted to choose between Odesa and Lviv to spend the summer. Odessa would be the obvious choice? I also want to be studying and learning russian

Yes, Odessa would be the obvious choice. I'm getting a little nostalgic about my summer there last year compared to the place I'm in right now, which is still coat weather.

[Eddie Morra]

(05-23-2014 09:35 AM)Roosh Wrote:  

(05-16-2014 09:47 AM)20Nation Wrote:  

So sounds if I wanted to choose between Odesa and Lviv to spend the summer. Odessa would be the obvious choice? I also want to be studying and learning russian

Yes, Odessa would be the obvious choice. I'm getting a little nostalgic about my summer there last year compared to the place I'm in right now, which is still coat weather.

Odessa is going to be quite expensive this summer if anyone is thinking of going. I know someone who was there last summer and called the same appartment where they had stayed last year and it's triple in price. Apparently, many are expecting hoards of Ukrainians and other foreign tourists to swarm the city because of the Crimean annexation, despite Odessa's own recent political turmoil. Just food for thought...

[Greek kamaki]

Maybe I will come this next weekend to Lviv to join forces with whoishe in his missionary mission.

[Roosh]

Quote:

and it's triple in price.

If demand really was that strong, he would already be booked (it's almost June). This landlord is just hoping for strong demand.

In that case the best strategy would be to go for last minute bookings.

[The Duke]

Eddie, I've heard people speculate Odessa will be expensive this year too, but that might just be speculation.

I just got to Odessa a few days ago, I currently have a private room in a hostel. I'm one of the only people here at the hostel. I was talking to the owner, apparently business is way down from last year, for this hostel.

I'm looking at apartments on slando and they seem lower here in Odessa than they were in Kharkiv last year.

Recent events present a sort of double whammy for Odessa -- first the whole Ukrainian-Russian conflict, second there was a tragedy in Odessa itself with a building catching fire. I think both these issues are contributing to a low season in Odessa this summer.

So the theory that the Crimea annexation would help Odessa seems to be false from what I can tell. It seems people are avoiding Odessa (and possibly Crimea too?). There are many cities on the black sea, perhaps they are going to the Bulgarian coast or elsewhere outside of Ukraine this year?

PS, I'm loving the 12 to 1 currency exchange.

[whoishe]

(05-23-2014 01:37 PM)The Duke Wrote:  

So the theory that the Crimea annexation would help Odessa seems to be false from what I can tell. It seems people are avoiding Odessa (and possibly Crimea too?). There are many cities on the black sea, perhaps they are going to the Bulgarian coast or elsewhere outside of Ukraine this year?

PS, I'm loving the 12 to 1 currency exchange.

Who doesn;t

Oh, maybe except for locals when they want to go for vacation to Bulgaria. But I was told that before hrivna crashed going to Bulgaria was much cheaper than Odessa/Crimea, so probably it's still an atractive proposition for some people here,

[Brian Boru]

Excellent report, I hope to be traveling to Lviv myself in the near future (likely the spring of 2015). I already speak Russian fairly well but given the current situation it would probably help to learn as much Ukrainian as possible.

My current understanding is that Odessa is still a majority Russian-speaking city but that Kiev is increasingly Ukrainian-speaking. Can anyone verify if this is true? Unless things drastically improve I'm assuming that the Donetsk and Lugansk Republics are off-limits for foreigners as well?

Any input would be appreciated

[Eddie Morra]

(05-23-2014 01:09 PM)Roosh Wrote:  

Quote:

and it's triple in price.

If demand really was that strong, he would already be booked (it's almost June). This landlord is just hoping for strong demand.

In that case the best strategy would be to go for last minute bookings.

I agree..It's possible to try a last minute booking if you are in a position to do so, why not?

Speculation and price gauging are tride and true practices along the coast especially in summer where people in those areas expect to make most of their incomes for the year. It will be interesting to see how it turns out this year, both in Odessa and Crimea...

[Eddie Morra]

(05-23-2014 01:37 PM)The Duke Wrote:  

Eddie, I've heard people speculate Odessa will be expensive this year too, but that might just be speculation.

I just got to Odessa a few days ago, I currently have a private room in a hostel. I'm one of the only people here at the hostel. I was talking to the owner, apparently business is way down from last year, for this hostel.

I'm looking at apartments on slando and they seem lower here in Odessa than they were in Kharkiv last year.

Recent events present a sort of double whammy for Odessa -- first the whole Ukrainian-Russian conflict, second there was a tragedy in Odessa itself with a building catching fire. I think both these issues are contributing to a low season in Odessa this summer.

So the theory that the Crimea annexation would help Odessa seems to be false from what I can tell. It seems people are avoiding Odessa (and possibly Crimea too?). There are many cities on the black sea, perhaps they are going to the Bulgarian coast or elsewhere outside of Ukraine this year?

PS, I'm loving the 12 to 1 currency exchange.

I personally agree and expected tourism to be much lower in these areas than in years past, especially with the current political situation. That's why I was a little surprised myself when I had heard about the tripling in price. However, that was about a month ago and those people decided to book their summer holidays in Georgia this year instead. The speculatory gamble in these areas may be a huge flop, we'll see.

As far as the 12-1 Hrivna rates. I remember the last time the currency lost over 40% of its value back in the fall of 2008, prices and I mean all prices went up accordingly. However, this time it's been different. Some prices have gone up, but many haven't or if they had, it's been only slightly. People are truly scared to lose business or the little market share they already have and aren't taking any chances. Some prices have gone up, but I haven't noticed that huge of a difference, even in some of the imported items I buy, which has been a little bit of a shocker. I guess some of these importers too want to keep their market shares and distibution channels as open as possible since it had been tough to break into and build their market shares to begin with. Maybe they just want to ride out the storm like many of the locals are trying to do for the moment.

Many people seem to forget that the mentality of a typical Ukrainian businessman is to make as much profit and money as possible while you can because of the inherent risks involved in doing business here, where you can lose your business at any moment, for any reason and in most cases without recourse. Normal western profit margins of 10-20% may be considered good by western standards, but laughably low and pitiful by Ukrainian standards. On the contrary, profit margins here are normally, ridiculously huge by western standards, 100% profit margins are not uncommon here at all. So I think that many enterprises are just taking in less profits at the moment so they can stay in business, but they are still making money.... Just a thought...

Again, I'm really liking the new rates for right now myself, especially when I think back and compare it to the previous devaluation. Since then, I have insisted on being paid in US dollars and closed my previous Ukrainian bank accounts. Glad I did too...

[jimukr104]

(05-23-2014 01:37 PM)The Duke Wrote:  

Eddie, I've heard people speculate Odessa will be expensive this year too, but that might just be speculation.

I just got to Odessa a few days ago, I currently have a private room in a hostel. I'm one of the only people here at the hostel. I was talking to the owner, apparently business is way down from last year, for this hostel.

I'm looking at apartments on slando and they seem lower here in Odessa than they were in Kharkiv last year.

Recent events present a sort of double whammy for Odessa -- first the whole Ukrainian-Russian conflict, second there was a tragedy in Odessa itself with a building catching fire. I think both these issues are contributing to a low season in Odessa this summer.

So the theory that the Crimea annexation would help Odessa seems to be false from what I can tell. It seems people are avoiding Odessa (and possibly Crimea too?). There are many cities on the black sea, perhaps they are going to the Bulgarian coast or elsewhere outside of Ukraine this year?

PS, I'm loving the 12 to 1 currency exchange.

The theory is SOUND...for the future. Until crisis is over very few are going to be vacationing there or in Ukraine.
The bigger problem would be the class of people that go there. The rich usually go to Odessa. More families go to Crimea(rich tend to converge on Yalta). Most families can't afford Odessa.So it is a wash.
As for the 12 to 1 exchange rate what DO YOU LOVE ABOUT IT?
You may not realize it but you probably will only benefit from it on phone service, public transportation, internet service and maybe(big maybe) club entrances. In other words services.More importantly services that don't depend on raw resources(restaurants for example).
When currency went from 5 to 1 to 8-1 only my internet bill went down..a service that is completely domestic.
In Odessa(most of Ukraine) prices adjust quickly to currency changes. Since the country imports everything you won't see a reduction in prices and might even see increases due to higher energy prices.
In ukraine they tend to adjust prices accordingly and then some.
Fact: higher gas prices will mean prices of services will get adjusted accordingly. It always does.
possibility: rentals might go down this year but that will be not only because of vacancies because of crisis.
Odessa rental market is completely a renters market due to the 45,000 flats for sale in the city.They built much more apts than they have demand for or the economy supports. It is a shame. It went from being the most expensive outside of Kiev to NOT being so.
But most of those newer apts are higher end(near Acadia).

Quote:

As far as the 12-1 Hrivna rates. I remember the last time the currency lost over 40% of its value back in the fall of 2008, prices and I mean all prices went up accordingly. However, this time it's been different. Some prices have gone up, but many haven't or if they had, it's been only slightly. People are truly scared to lose business or the little market share they already have and aren't taking any chances. Some prices have gone up, but I haven't noticed that huge of a difference, even in some of the imported items I buy, which has been a little bit of a shocker. I guess some of these importers too want to keep their market shares and distibution channels as open as possible since it had been tough to break into and build their market shares to begin with. Maybe they just want to ride out the storm like many of the locals are trying to do for the moment.

Yep..that's what I am saying. Currency devaluation rarely helps people in UA. But when they appreciated currency..we were all hurt.
The prices will go up..they have to. But because of decrease demand they probably have inventory they can give away at the lower price but that will change once they run out.
For you it will be the same since you are using dollars. The real unknown will be how they raise prices because of gas increases. That was always done in the pass.

Quote:

'm looking at apartments on slando and they seem lower here in Odessa than they were in Kharkiv last year.

Explained above...that might always be like that. Kharkov fewer available apts.Odessa too many apts. But it is 2 months away from tourist season anyway.

[Eddie Morra]

(05-23-2014 04:45 PM)jimukr104 Wrote:  

(05-23-2014 01:37 PM)The Duke Wrote:  

Eddie, I've heard people speculate Odessa will be expensive this year too, but that might just be speculation.

I just got to Odessa a few days ago, I currently have a private room in a hostel. I'm one of the only people here at the hostel. I was talking to the owner, apparently business is way down from last year, for this hostel.

I'm looking at apartments on slando and they seem lower here in Odessa than they were in Kharkiv last year.

Recent events present a sort of double whammy for Odessa -- first the whole Ukrainian-Russian conflict, second there was a tragedy in Odessa itself with a building catching fire. I think both these issues are contributing to a low season in Odessa this summer.

So the theory that the Crimea annexation would help Odessa seems to be false from what I can tell. It seems people are avoiding Odessa (and possibly Crimea too?). There are many cities on the black sea, perhaps they are going to the Bulgarian coast or elsewhere outside of Ukraine this year?

PS, I'm loving the 12 to 1 currency exchange.

The theory is SOUND...for the future. Until crisis is over very few are going to be vacationing there or in Ukraine.
The bigger problem would be the class of people that go there. The rich usually go to Odessa. More families go to Crimea(rich tend to converge on Yalta). Most families can't afford Odessa.So it is a wash.
As for the 12 to 1 exchange rate what DO YOU LOVE ABOUT IT?
You may not realize it but you probably will only benefit from it on phone service, public transportation, internet service and maybe(big maybe) club entrances. In other words services.More importantly services that don't depend on raw resources(restaurants for example).
When currency went from 5 to 1 to 8-1 only my internet bill went down..a service that is completely domestic.
In Odessa(most of Ukraine) prices adjust quickly to currency changes. Since the country imports everything you won't see a reduction in prices and might even see increases due to higher energy prices.
In ukraine they tend to adjust prices accordingly and then some.
Fact: higher gas prices will mean prices of services will get adjusted accordingly. It always does.
possibility: rentals might go down this year but that will be not only because of vacancies because of crisis.
Odessa rental market is completely a renters market due to the 45,000 flats for sale in the city.They built much more apts than they have demand for or the economy supports. It is a shame. It went from being the most expensive outside of Kiev to NOT being so.
But most of those newer apts are higher end(near Acadia).

Quote:

As far as the 12-1 Hrivna rates. I remember the last time the currency lost over 40% of its value back in the fall of 2008, prices and I mean all prices went up accordingly. However, this time it's been different. Some prices have gone up, but many haven't or if they had, it's been only slightly. People are truly scared to lose business or the little market share they already have and aren't taking any chances. Some prices have gone up, but I haven't noticed that huge of a difference, even in some of the imported items I buy, which has been a little bit of a shocker. I guess some of these importers too want to keep their market shares and distibution channels as open as possible since it had been tough to break into and build their market shares to begin with. Maybe they just want to ride out the storm like many of the locals are trying to do for the moment.

Yep..that's what I am saying. Currency devaluation rarely helps people in UA. But when they appreciated currency..we were all hurt.
The prices will go up..they have to. But because of decrease demand they probably have inventory they can give away at the lower price but that will change once they run out.
For you it will be the same since you are using dollars. The real unknown will be how they raise prices because of gas increases. That was always done in the pass.

I was comparing both times where there was a big devaluation and I do notice some big differences between the one in 2008 and 2014. I've lived through both of them and there are some undeniable differences..

Who knows when and how they will raise gas prices, that's always been a political hot potato because that really affects everyone, because of all the subsidies. Pensioners get one rate, some public sector employees get another and energy intensive businesses get massive subsidies especially in the east. However all these may end soon enough. Between the IMF conditions on the financial aid package and Russia's largess coming to an end, the politicians are losing a traditional tactic of playing the East off the West, tough times are ahead, no doubt about that...

[Moriarty]

Quote:

The theory is SOUND...for the future. Until crisis is over very few are going to be vacationing there or in Ukraine.
The bigger problem would be the class of people that go there. The rich usually go to Odessa. More families go to Crimea(rich tend to converge on Yalta). Most families can't afford Odessa.So it is a wash.
As for the 12 to 1 exchange rate what DO YOU LOVE ABOUT IT?
You may not realize it but you probably will only benefit from it on phone service, public transportation, internet service and maybe(big maybe) club entrances. In other words services.More importantly services that don't depend on raw resources(restaurants for example).
When currency went from 5 to 1 to 8-1 only my internet bill went down..a service that is completely domestic.
In Odessa(most of Ukraine) prices adjust quickly to currency changes. Since the country imports everything you won't see a reduction in prices and might even see increases due to higher energy prices.
In ukraine they tend to adjust prices accordingly and then some.
Fact: higher gas prices will mean prices of services will get adjusted accordingly. It always does.
possibility: rentals might go down this year but that will be not only because of vacancies because of crisis.
Odessa rental market is completely a renters market due to the 45,000 flats for sale in the city.They built much more apts than they have demand for or the economy supports. It is a shame. It went from being the most expensive outside of Kiev to NOT being so.
But most of those newer apts are higher end(near Acadia).

What does he love about a depreciated currency??

I would have thought that was pretty obvious, the Hryvnia has devalued 50% in the last few months, try and tell me inflation for most things has gone up 50%.

If you have foreign currency in Ukraine you are living like a King regardless of inflation.

Some of my expenses to give you an idea.

Gym membership, 250 UAH unlimited for a month
Cappuccino on main drag 16 UAH
Loaf of bread 6 UAH
Beer in a nice bar 18 UAH
Hot Grilled chicken sandwich 20 UAH
Shashlik 30 UAH
Vodka and Mixer in club 28 UAH

Many that get paid in UAH are really struggling

[Moriarty]

(05-23-2014 01:37 PM)The Duke Wrote:  

Eddie, I've heard people speculate Odessa will be expensive this year too, but that might just be speculation.

I just got to Odessa a few days ago, I currently have a private room in a hostel. I'm one of the only people here at the hostel. I was talking to the owner, apparently business is way down from last year, for this hostel.

I'm looking at apartments on slando and they seem lower here in Odessa than they were in Kharkiv last year.

Recent events present a sort of double whammy for Odessa -- first the whole Ukrainian-Russian conflict, second there was a tragedy in Odessa itself with a building catching fire. I think both these issues are contributing to a low season in Odessa this summer.

So the theory that the Crimea annexation would help Odessa seems to be false from what I can tell. It seems people are avoiding Odessa (and possibly Crimea too?). There are many cities on the black sea, perhaps they are going to the Bulgarian coast or elsewhere outside of Ukraine this year?

PS, I'm loving the 12 to 1 currency exchange.

Quote:

second there was a tragedy in Odessa itself with a building catching fire

You make it sounds like the building spontaneously combusted.

Almost 50 people were burnt, beaten and shot to death