Fiancee Poland Trip

[Rickster]

Does anybody know what the requirements are for my fiancee to travel from Odessa to Warsaw?  Is she required to have a certain amount of money on-hand?  No visa requirement...right?  Any comments about taking the train?  I have read from past posts that it is about an 18 hour ride with no heat.  Is the train reliable?  Many thanks for your help...Rick

[Katya]

... in response to Fiancee Poland Trip, posted by Rickster on Oct 23, 2001

Your fiancee should check with the Polish embassy in Kiev. Visa requirements are likely to change very soon. Poland has applied for EU membership & has already once applied visa sancations to Ukrainians. After a big argument these were dropped, but again there will be pressure from the EU for Poland to bring their border controls in line with the other EU countries. Poland hopes to enter the EU in 2003 & will need to have it's affairs in order at least 1 year before entry date.

I once travelled by train from Odessa to Prague. The train is fine while you are in Ukraine but gets dangerous for single women when you leave the border. The guard told me to lock my door at night & not to open it for anyone.

Odessa to Kiev takes all night, I think Odessa to Warsaw (?) will take longer than 18 hours.

I recommend that you get a flight for your fiancee.

[Bill P]

... in response to Fiancee Poland Trip, posted by Rickster on Oct 23, 2001

Actually when my wife did it in April from Odessa to Warsaw, it was a 25 hour train ride.  There was no heat.  Also, they have to make everyone get off the train when they cross into Poland so that they can put new wheels on the train.  As odd as it sounds, the train tracks are a different width in Ukraine than in Poland.  It would be a good idea to have a couple hundred bucks so that they don't hassle her.  There is no visa requirement although the invitation letter from the embassy can be shown to anyone that asks.  The train is reliable but only goes to Warsaw every other day from Odessa.  It would be a much longer trip to go to Kiev and then Warsaw.  There are direct flights to Warsaw from Odessa now on LOT while there weren't in the spring. Try using the VIP service at the airport to avoid getting hassled at Odessa airport.  A friend of ours had to bribe the guards to let her leave because they knew she was leaving to go marry an American.  We'll see if the VIP service alleviates some headaches as my wife uses it on Thursday as she leaves Odessa for Warsaw.  Be aware that they don't want to let Ukrainians leave with gold or other valuable jewelry.  If she leaves with it, she is supposed to put it in a declaration and they will expect to see her with these items when she returns to Ukraine.  

-Bill

[Rickster]

... in response to Train from Odessa to Warsaw vs. Plane, posted by Bill P on Oct 23, 2001

Bill,

Thanks a million.  Great information and I really appreciate.  I get into Warsaw the morning of 24th and due to train service to Warsaw only on even days she can either be there the evening of the 23rd or the evening of the 25th.  I think best that I be there to pick her up so I suggested that she take the 24th train that will get her to Warsaw somewhere around 9 or 10 pm on the 25th.  I am glad to know train is reliable.  Interview is on 27th.  Maybe this works best because it will give me time to look around Warsaw a little and make sure I know where everything is at.  Thanks, Rick

[Oatmeal]

... in response to Train from Odessa to Warsaw vs. Plane, posted by Bill P on Oct 23, 2001

I also now have a fiancee in Odessa who will be going to Warsaw in the not to distant future.  I am thinking that I may want to have her and a companion (Probably her mother) to travel to Warsaw by plane because it sounds like a lot of trouble and hassle to travel by train.  So if the VIP service is an option and will alleviate some of the stress on her then I will want to do that for her.

Also if you could tell me how much the VIP service cost you per person.  

Thanks,  Jim

[Bill P]

... in response to Re: Please let me know how the VIP is in..., posted by Oatmeal on Oct 23, 2001

It is worth the money.  My wife just paid $40 for the service.  Here parents were able to sit with her in a nice lounge until close to time for the flight.  They still hassled her a little when they knew she was living abroad.  The didn't know what the advanced parole papers were supposed to be.  The guy told her that she couldn't travel anywhere and should just go back home.  She told him everyone else travels like this and she would too.  She said that if he wanted something from her he should just tell her.  The guy said he was offended.  If she wanted to give him something, he said she should just offer it to him.  Well anyway, she just said goodbye and went on to the next place.  A friend of my wife had the same problem in Odessa in the summer.  So expect that she may have to offer the guy $20-$40 to let her leave.  But the guy told her that if she had been in the regular departure place, she wouldn't have been allowed to leave.  But on a good note, the flight from Odessa to Warsaw on Lot was very nice she told me.  Now that there is a direct flight, I think that is the way to go.  

-Bill

[Charles]

... in response to Fiancee Poland Trip, posted by Rickster on Oct 23, 2001

No visa is required, but the train ride is a long one from Odessa -  probably have to go to Kiev and change trains.  It may cost you an additional $200 to fly her to Warsaw.  It's up to you.  No minimum money except for taxi and meals as you can arrange for hotels through the internet hotelspoland.com

[CinTexas]

... in response to Fiancee Poland Trip, posted by Rickster on Oct 23, 2001

I took the train from Kherson to Kiev once.  Amtrack it aint.  I believe you are correct that she won't need a Visa and I don't know of any money requirements.  I am flying my Lena and her son from Odessa to Warsaw.  The cost of a one-way adult ticket on Aerosvit was $231.90.  In my case a happy and rested 5 year old with an unfrazzled momma is well worth the money.

Best of luck to you.