| Every town in Ukraine where over 20, 000 residents live has, at least, one hotel. In small towns, this one hotel is usually of the Soviet time and can be inexpensive - around $10 USD for a double room. Bigger towns (50-200 thousand residents) commonly have several hotels: some are privately owned, others are state-run.
Service in Ukrainian hotels
Needless to say, there is commonly no English-speaking staff employed in state-run hotels in small towns, and they offer customers Soviet standards of service. If you're an intrepid young backpacker who is short of cash, you do not probably care that there is no phone, the beds are somewhat short, the closet door is broken, there's no hot water, and the temperature in your room hovers approximately 16°C. Still, other categories of foreign travellers are commonly dissatisfied with the service in such hotels.
Private hotels are frequently — but not always — both more expensive and have higher standards of service. Some private hotels Ukrainian towns and cities are very good, but English-speaking staff is still a rarity. In the Carpathians, there are lots of marvellous family-run private inns with hospitable hosts and very good living conditions. Yet, outside the Carpathians family-run hotels and guesthouses are practically nonexistent.
Modern hotels following the western standards service and living conditions are located in all large Ukrainian cities and in resorts of Crimea and the Carpathians. These hotels often have higher rates than the same ones abroad. This is because the country lacks three, four, and five-star hotels, and thus tourists would rather pay more for better living conditions.
Booking a hotel in Ukraine
In towns and cities, you can nearly always walk up to the reception area and book a room, provided that you have a passport. Nonetheless, in large cities like Kiev and Odessa you should make a reservation in advance. Also, keep in mind that there aren't any tourist information agencies that can help you book a room (except for an agency placed at Lviv airport).
Booking procedures may differ from hotel to hotel. You can book a room over the telephone by providing your name and the time you expect to arrive. If you are late, your room may be given to someone else.
Rooms in modern hotels usually need to be reserved through a travel agency or online - either the hotel's website or the website of a travel agency.
For detailed information on Ukrainian hotels, visit www.accord-hotels.com.ua/en/hotels.html. |
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