Culture and Traditions
Old tradition of verifying time by cannon shooting has been renewed in Sevastopol
History News
Ukrainian students of history department discovered ruins of a XIV-th century castle in Zakarpattya
Using ATM and Currency exchange
Exchanging money in Ukraine
Because of the amount of US dollars and euros in circulation in Ukraine, exchange booths can be found all over any busy section of town. Rates are generally as good or better than in banks, and the service is quicker. Take note of the different exchange rates offered; beware of things like a faded "0" slipped between digits on exchange rate signs in touristy areas. No documents are necessary to exchange money at exchange booths, but passports are required in many banks, where the procedure can take a bit longer. Count the money at the window in plain sight of the money changer before walking away. More central areas tend to have better exchange rates unless their main clients are tourists. If you enter Ukraine through Kyiv's Boryspil airport, bring some smaller dollar or euro bills if you will need to pay for a taxi; the exchange point in the airport has poor exchange rates.
ATM cards are highly practical since there are now ATM machines in every town that work around the clock and you can get local cash immediately. Credit cards are accepted in expensive restaurants, hotels, and boutiques, and increasingly in large cash&carry stores. We have heard stories of credit card fraud in Ukraine. Be discreet with your cash. Foreigners often attract undesired attention to their money by clumsily leafing through wads of cash in search of the right bill. Notice how discreet Ukrainians are with their cash.
Travelers should bring foreign currency, either US dollars (more widely accepted) or Euros. Exchange kiosks also accept Russian Rubles.
The number of currency exchange kiosks is immense. The exchange rate is suspiciously the same throughout the city. If traveling through Kiev to get to Odessa, it is advised to exchange money in Kiev, as the exchange rate is usually much lower in Odessa.
Exchanging kiosks at bus stations, airports and train stations often offer a worse exchange rate.
Exchange kiosks often give a receipt for money exchanged. Exchange kiosks that do not automatically give a receipt will give a receipt if asked. Exchange rates by law are always posted above the kiosk window with an official Ukrainian stamp (Ukrainians have a passionate infatuation with "official" stamps) There is never any extra commission charge for exchanging money.
Getting a better exchange rate:
Currency exchange kiosks / Ob-man Val-yat (Обман Валот) that do not have a post board on the street or simply say "Работа"(working), or that do not have a post board, have better exchange rates.
Many of the shops on Sadovaya (Садовая) sometimes have non-posted better rates than the rest of Odessa. Refan, a small store at Preobrazhenskaya 46 (Преображенская) near to Centralnaya (центральная) hotel also sometimes has a better exchange rate. Refan is open 10am - 7 pm Monday - Saturday and 11 am - 6 pm on Sunday.
Vendors in the bazaar explain the reason why money exchangers with higher rates do not post those rates is to try and avoid taxes, if the aggressive Ukrainian tax police see the higher rate posted, they will demand more money.
Warning: NEVER exchange money with someone on the street, the number of scams with these transactions are huge. Counterfeit money is very common problem in Ukraine.
Grecheskaya Ploshat (Square) (Греческая Площадь) Book Bazaar:
The book and CD bazaar on Grecheskaya Ploshat (Square) (Греческая Площадь) has many vendors with huge fistfuls of rubber banded Hryvna. These vendors exchange money at a much more favorable rate (around 10 kopecks better on the dollar). Though technically illegal, like many things in Ukraine, it is not enforced. The police turn a blind eye because the moneychangers pay regular bribes.
Unless you are able to spot counterfeit money or are with a native Ukrainian who knows how to spot counterfeit money, do not risk exchanging money at the bazaar.
If you do decide to exchange money at the bazaar, Valery, at stall 28 is an honest money exchanger.
Banks:
Bank hours tend to be from 10 am to 3 pm, often with a one hour lunch. Banks are closed on Saturday and Sunday.
ATMs:
There are dozens of ATMs located around the center of Odessa. Many are located in hotels and restaurants.
Many ATMs give both Dollars and Hryvna.
The average service charge for using an ATM is between $6-$12, in addition to your home bank service charge.
Strangely, service charges vary widely at different ATMs owned by the same company.
The cheapest ATM we have found is the Prevat Bank (Приват Ванк) ATM, inside the Galeria Vop-on-tsov Restaurant/Bar (Бар-Галерея Воронцов) Deribasovskaya 24 (Дерибасовская), for $6 service charge.
Travelers Checks
Western Union
800-325-6000
www.westernunion.com
The number of Ukrainians that live abroad has skyrocketed since the fall of the Soviet Union. This can be seen in the number of Western Union offices throughout Ukraine, because many family members abroad have family that have stayed behind in Ukraine.
Cash may be directly transferred to or from Western Union to an office outside of Ukraine. Most US and major European cities have a Western Union office.
The commission charge for using Western Union, paid for by the sender, is often very expensive. See examples of some of the prices below.
Within Ukraine (from a Ukraine location to another Ukraine location) a customer may transfer Hryvna, which is significantly cheaper, than transferring dollars.
Locations are listed below.
Post Office money transfers in Ukraine:
Post office money transfers within Ukraine are available at all post offices. Fill out a special form, listing recipient's name, address, and telephone. The service charge in nominal. Transfers are in Hryvna only. Money transfers take less than a week to arrive.
Exchanging money in Ukraine
Because of the amount of US dollars and euros in circulation in Ukraine, exchange booths can be found all over any busy section of town. Rates are generally as good or better than in banks, and the service is quicker. Take note of the different exchange rates offered; beware of things like a faded "0" slipped between digits on exchange rate signs in touristy areas. No documents are necessary to exchange money at exchange booths, but passports are required in many banks, where the procedure can take a bit longer. Count the money at the window in plain sight of the money changer before walking away. More central areas tend to have better exchange rates unless their main clients are tourists. If you enter Ukraine through Kyiv's Boryspil airport, bring some smaller dollar or euro bills if you will need to pay for a taxi; the exchange point in the airport has poor exchange rates.
ATM cards are highly practical since there are now ATM machines in every town that work around the clock and you can get local cash immediately. Credit cards are accepted in expensive restaurants, hotels, and boutiques, and increasingly in large cash&carry stores. We have heard stories of credit card fraud in Ukraine. Be discreet with your cash. Foreigners often attract undesired attention to their money by clumsily leafing through wads of cash in search of the right bill. Notice how discreet Ukrainians are with their cash.
Travelers should bring foreign currency, either US dollars (more widely accepted) or Euros. Exchange kiosks also accept Russian Rubles.
The number of currency exchange kiosks is immense. The exchange rate is suspiciously the same throughout the city. If traveling through Kiev to get to Odessa, it is advised to exchange money in Kiev, as the exchange rate is usually much lower in Odessa.
Exchanging kiosks at bus stations, airports and train stations often offer a worse exchange rate.
Exchange kiosks often give a receipt for money exchanged. Exchange kiosks that do not automatically give a receipt will give a receipt if asked. Exchange rates by law are always posted above the kiosk window with an official Ukrainian stamp (Ukrainians have a passionate infatuation with "official" stamps) There is never any extra commission charge for exchanging money.
Getting a better exchange rate:
Currency exchange kiosks / Ob-man Val-yat (Обман Валот) that do not have a post board on the street or simply say "Работа"(working), or that do not have a post board, have better exchange rates.
Many of the shops on Sadovaya (Садовая) sometimes have non-posted better rates than the rest of Odessa. Refan, a small store at Preobrazhenskaya 46 (Преображенская) near to Centralnaya (центральная) hotel also sometimes has a better exchange rate. Refan is open 10am - 7 pm Monday - Saturday and 11 am - 6 pm on Sunday.
Vendors in the bazaar explain the reason why money exchangers with higher rates do not post those rates is to try and avoid taxes, if the aggressive Ukrainian tax police see the higher rate posted, they will demand more money.
Warning: NEVER exchange money with someone on the street, the number of scams with these transactions are huge. Counterfeit money is very common problem in Ukraine.
Grecheskaya Ploshat (Square) (Греческая Площадь) Book Bazaar:
The book and CD bazaar on Grecheskaya Ploshat (Square) (Греческая Площадь) has many vendors with huge fistfuls of rubber banded Hryvna. These vendors exchange money at a much more favorable rate (around 10 kopecks better on the dollar). Though technically illegal, like many things in Ukraine, it is not enforced. The police turn a blind eye because the moneychangers pay regular bribes.
Unless you are able to spot counterfeit money or are with a native Ukrainian who knows how to spot counterfeit money, do not risk exchanging money at the bazaar.
If you do decide to exchange money at the bazaar, Valery, at stall 28 is an honest money exchanger.
Banks:
Bank hours tend to be from 10 am to 3 pm, often with a one hour lunch. Banks are closed on Saturday and Sunday.
ATMs:
There are dozens of ATMs located around the center of Odessa. Many are located in hotels and restaurants.
Many ATMs give both Dollars and Hryvna.
The average service charge for using an ATM is between $6-$12, in addition to your home bank service charge.
Strangely, service charges vary widely at different ATMs owned by the same company.
The cheapest ATM we have found is the Prevat Bank (Приват Ванк) ATM, inside the Galeria Vop-on-tsov Restaurant/Bar (Бар-Галерея Воронцов) Deribasovskaya 24 (Дерибасовская), for $6 service charge.
Travelers Checks
Western Union
800-325-6000
www.westernunion.com
The number of Ukrainians that live abroad has skyrocketed since the fall of the Soviet Union. This can be seen in the number of Western Union offices throughout Ukraine, because many family members abroad have family that have stayed behind in Ukraine.
Cash may be directly transferred to or from Western Union to an office outside of Ukraine. Most US and major European cities have a Western Union office.
The commission charge for using Western Union, paid for by the sender, is often very expensive. See examples of some of the prices below.
Within Ukraine (from a Ukraine location to another Ukraine location) a customer may transfer Hryvna, which is significantly cheaper, than transferring dollars.
Locations are listed below.
Post Office money transfers in Ukraine:
Post office money transfers within Ukraine are available at all post offices. Fill out a special form, listing recipient's name, address, and telephone. The service charge in nominal. Transfers are in Hryvna only. Money transfers take less than a week to arrive.