Russia & Ukraine Master Thread

[Saver]

Oops..I see there is a Poland thread but don't see a Belarus thread

[hvaces42]

Order dinner to go from Mendys or Taki Da - spend the night in Kiev (like the Kosher Hotel by the litvish community)

Traffic in kiev on friday mornings can be a nightmare but you can check out Babi Yar etc take some lunch to go from the above mentioned places and hit the road to Medzhybush before midday. The way should take less than 5 hours with a decent driver (shkia is around 9pm)

Motzash or sunday morning you can head out to berdichev, breslov, uman - KBP is 2 hours from uman (you can stop in kiev for dinner on the way out, but again getting in and out of kiev can take an extra hour)

Let me know if you need any contact info for Medzhbuzh/Kiev/Uman drivers, hotels etc.

They can stop in Fastov and Skvir as well on the way back from Uman to KBP.

[nafnaf12]

They can stop in Fastov and Skvir as well on the way back from Uman to KBP.

Order dinner to go from Mendys or Taki Da - spend the night in Kiev (like the Kosher Hotel by the litvish community)

Traffic in kiev on friday mornings can be a nightmare but you can check out Babi Yar etc take some lunch to go from the above mentioned places and hit the road to Medzhybush before midday. The way should take less than 5 hours with a decent driver (shkia is around 9pm)

Motzash or sunday morning you can head out to berdichev, breslov, uman - KBP is 2 hours from uman (you can stop in kiev for dinner on the way out, but again getting in and out of kiev can take an extra hour)

Let me know if you need any contact info for Medzhbuzh/Kiev/Uman drivers, hotels etc.

thanks!
Tickets went up to $400
Looks like will have to push it off.

[shapsam]

Order dinner to go from Mendys or Taki Da - spend the night in Kiev (like the Kosher Hotel by the litvish community)

Traffic in kiev on friday mornings can be a nightmare but you can check out Babi Yar etc take some lunch to go from the above mentioned places and hit the road to Medzhybush before midday. The way should take less than 5 hours with a decent driver (shkia is around 9pm)

Motzash or sunday morning you can head out to berdichev, breslov, uman - KBP is 2 hours from uman (you can stop in kiev for dinner on the way out, but again getting in and out of kiev can take an extra hour)

Let me know if you need any contact info for Medzhbuzh/Kiev/Uman drivers, hotels etc.

I hear that the restaurant at the Jewish center in Podol is far better and cheaper than Mendy's.
Barditchiv is right on the way from Kiev to Medzibush and it's about 2 hours out of the way from Medzibush to Uman especially with the bad roads nowadays.

[hvaces42]

I hear that the restaurant at the Jewish center in Podol is far better and cheaper than Mendy's.
Barditchiv is right on the way from Kiev to Medzibush and it's about 2 hours out of the way from Medzibush to Uman especially with the bad roads nowadays.

AFAIK you must pass through Berditchev when going back from Medzibuzh to Uman. Kiev, BErditchev and Uman are a triangle and Medzibuzh is a tangent off the berditchev point of the triangle, further west.

[shapsam]

AFAIK you must pass through Berditchev when going back from Medzibuzh to Uman. Kiev, BErditchev and Uman are a triangle and Medzibuzh is a tangent off the berditchev point of the triangle, further west.

Nope, you must pass through Barditchiv when going from Kiev to Medzibush.

https://www.google.com/maps/dir/Kyiv,+Ukraine,+02000/Berdychiv,+Zhytomyrs'ka+oblast,+Ukraine/%D7%9E%D7%96'%D7%99%D7%91%D7%95%D7%96',+Khmel'nyts'ka+oblast,+Ukraine%E2%80%AD/Uman',+Cherkas'ka+oblast,+Ukraine/Kiev,+Kyiv+city,+Ukraine/@49.5911294,27.8534228,8z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m32!4m31!1m5!1m1!1s0x40d4cf4ee15a4505:0x764931d2170146fe!2m2!1d30.5234!2d50.4501!1m5!1m1!1s0x472cf987459e4d1f:0xfed4d70ca7c66999!2m2!1d28.5900313!2d49.9106591!1m5!1m1!1s0x472d8b6ae57c8f1b:0xca6bc8e80fa9778!2m2!1d27.4042153!2d49.4389042!1m5!1m1!1s0x40d20dbb89bbb1d7:0x48312c80d42f9951!2m2!1d30.2154406!2d48.7699292!1m5!1m1!1s0x40d4cf4ee15a4505:0x764931d2170146fe!2m2!1d30.5234!2d50.4501!3e0

[Suave]

AFAIK you must pass through Berditchev when going back from Medzibuzh to Uman. Kiev, BErditchev and Uman are a triangle and Medzibuzh is a tangent off the berditchev point of the triangle, further west.

[hvaces42]

Seems that my Berditchiv based drivers were biased to their hometown and always took me back there before Uman. Thanks for the map.

[nafnaf12]

Just to update.
Booked flight this morning
Flight was diverted to KBP (original destination was IEV)
As suave suggested i called Podol (Taki Da)and had them prepare Sandwichs (3 for $24)which we picked up on way.
It's pouring here and the roads are terrible, just arrived at R' YDB Vilenick, heading to Tronnabil and then Uman

[US]

Just to update.
Booked flight this morning
Flight was diverted to KBP (original destination was IEV)
As suave suggested i called Podol (Taki Da)and had them prepare Sandwichs (3 for $24)which we picked up on way.
It's pouring here and the roads are terrible, just arrived at R' YDB Vilenick, heading to Tronnabil and then Uman

Poil ales gits!

[shapsam]

Why is Russia and Ukraine in the same thread?

[moish]

It used to be the USSR thread

Also, it would get very confusing when asking questions regarding Crimea

[nafnaf12]

Ordering ahead from Mendy's.
Anything not to be missed?

[damaxer91]

What is the better option for Shabbos? Moscow or St. Petersburg?

[PlatinumGuy]

Both have shuls within walking distance to the prime hotels. Moscow has a larger local community but St Petersburg has beautiful Paris style gardens and etc to visit on Shabbos afternoon

[damaxer91]

Safe to bring food into Russia? Pom meals/frozen meat?

[Saver]

What is the best way to bring money to spend in Russia, Belarus or Kazakstan?  What is safe? Any suggestions?

[Suave]

What is the best way to bring money to spend in Russia, Belarus or Kazakstan?  What is safe? Any suggestions?

I always bring in $500 - $1000 cash & exchange some of it somewhere in the city (not the airport) after checking the official rates, just google "1USD to RUB" for instance.

For everything else I use my Paypal debit card (many ATM's worldwide do not charge fees, Paypal takes $1.50 per transaction, but I found their exchange rates to be reasonable)

AmEx is not commonly accepted, but Visa & Mastercard should be fine.

I always have 100 ILS, 50 EUR, 50 GBP, 200 UAH etc - all in smaller bills & coins in a small wallet that I keep in my backpack. It has saved me several times already.

[Saver]

Any recommendations of what to do in Moscow? We are here for a day? Also what to order at a restaurant in marina roscha?

[Saver]

Hi! Our plans fell through the last minute. Any recommendations on where to stay and where to eat in Kiev?