Travel Tips
Credit cards
Ukraine is still most a cash economy. Traveler's checks and credit cards are gaining wider acceptance in larger cities. Use of credit cards is limited to the better hotels, Western-style restaurants, international airlines and select stores. American Express, MasterCard, and Visa are commonly accepted. A passport or diplomatic card may be required whenever a credit card is used. Customs regulations prohibit sending cash, traveler's checks, personal checks, credit cards or passports through the international mail system to Ukraine. These items are regularly confiscated as contraband by customs authorities.
Medical facilities
Medical care in Ukraine is limited. The availability of basic medical supplies, including disposable needles, anesthetics, and antibiotics has improved. Elderly travelers and those with existing health problems may be at risk due to inadequate medical facilities. Doctors and hospitals often expect immediate cash payment for health services. Foreign medical insurance is not always valid for Ukraine. Travelers have found that in some cases, supplemental medical insurance with specific overseas coverage, including air evacuation coverage, has proved to be useful.
Alcohol
Alcoholic drinks in Kharkov are cheap and easy to buy. Alcohol is available on sale l in gastronomes, kiosks, bars, restaurants, at the market, and in specialized shops. Don't be tempted to buy alcoholic drinks at cheap prices in kiosks. In the bottle with the label "French Champaign" there may not be exactly French Champaign. In gastronomes, you can buy Ukrainian alcoholic drinks, and this will not be a forgery. In bars and; restaurants the drinks cost much above retail price. And, please, do not forget that you must not drive a car in a state of intoxication. If you are stopped by a traffic militia, you will be subjected to a substantial fine or your driver's license will be withdrawn. Militia (Police) in Ukraine is rather intolerant towards drunk drivers, so it would be better for you if you take a taxi.
Public rest rooms
Free of charge toilets in Kharkov are practically not available. But id there are some, they are not at all pleasant site to see. Due to lack of detergents and servicing personnel, they look very unclean. It is better to use pay toilets, in which for 30 - 50 cop .it is possible bring itself in the order. Under all restaurants, bars, clubs there are free toilets, in which is supported shining purity and freshness.
Operation hours
Workday in state-opened and private companies usually begins at 9.00 and ends at 18.00, with dinner break at 14.00-15.00 or 15.00-14.00, the days off are Saturday and Sunday. Most of the banks are open for visitors from 9.00 till 13.00, days off - Saturday, Sunday. Don't be surprised, but restaurants and grocery stores can be locked for dinner at the lunchtime exactly. There also exists at a booking office box such a notion as "technical break" for 15 min., which can happen each 2-3 hours. What they need it for nobody knows. And if your queue has come exactly to the time the "technical break" begins, you will not be served. You will have either to wait till the break ends or occupy a queue in other pay-desk, but there is probability that your new queue will come to exactly the same technical break there.
Radiation
Many people remember the accident at Chernobyl atomic stations happened in 1986. You need not be afraid of radiation. In Kharkov it has never been a problem, and of course is not a question now. Kharkov products, coming on sale undergo a strict radiation control.
Ukrainian currency
Official state currency since 1996 is hrivna. We have money bills by nominal values 1,2, 5, 10, 20, 50, 100 hrivnas and small change coins by nominal values 1,2,5,10,25,50 kopecks. Payments on the territory of Ukraine are realized only in national currency (hrivnas). You may change hard currency for hrivnas at exchange posts scatterred all over the city and at the banks. In order to avoid fraud and troubles, do not use services of street changers. You can get cash for your travellers checks in hotels and some banks. Credit cards are taken for payment in large hotels, restaurants, shops.
Inflation and the economy
Transition to market economy has appeared highly painful for the average Ukrainian and the country as a whole. Average Ukrainian gets today $60-100 a month. State-owned enterprises quite often delay paying salary. Those retired on pension get $60. So, the Ukrainians have to do something to live on such small salary. In many places you may see people, selling newspapers, cigarettes, various trifles in order to earn some money. There are a lot of beggars on the streets. But this is sooner their work and not real necessity. Alongside with this, a lot of private, joint companies are being opened, giving additional working places, and you may observe more and more well - off people, especially in large cities, like Kiev or Kharkov. Ukrainian image as of a poor country is not a complete truth any more, first of all it refers to educated layers of society.