Top Local Tips for Kiev

luggage is xrayed on entering ukraine! To my amazement, after getting off the plane and going through passport control and picking up the luggage, we then had to stand in a huge line to have our luggage xrayed before leaving the airport. I understand there are issues of contraband etc. but that just told me that the soviet days may be gone but not forgotten. When our group travelled through the city, we were accompanied by policemen. This was a photo shoot, and I have been on other photo shoots in cities (e.g. London in June 2006) and we didn't have a police escort. The whole atmosphere is of repression and control, never mind the Lexuses and Mercedes and Range Rovers all over the place -- in the center of the city, not in the depressing suburbs. This country has a long way to go.

Porto Maltese Restaurant Definitely not cheap, but one of the best restaurants in Kyiv, try the fish soup called "uha". An interesting chance to see the Ukrainian beau monde in their environment, and definitely the best seafood in a landlocked country.

airport departure Do not show up earlier than the two hours prescribed for departure from Kiev. The International airport is small and security limits the number of people checking in at at time. That means that if you show up too early your flight won't even show up as checking in, and you'll have to wait until you are let in to the ticket counter to check in. So if your flight leaves from Kiev at 8 am in the morning, just show up for 6am. Also make sure to use TSA safe locks as there have been rumors of airport baggage handlers helping themselves to stuff in your luggage although I did not experience that at all.

Other names for Radisson SAS Hotel Kiev

• radisson kiev
• kiev radisson
• Address: Yaroslavov Val Str 22-24 - Kiev - 1004 - Ukraine