Train versus Plane

[Quick Fix]

I flew last year from Kiev to Odessa and then took the train back from Kherson to Kiev. Here was my experience on both.
Plane..... It is kinda like first come first serve as far as getting seats and getting on board. I had to take all my luggage up that long stairwalk into the plane which was no picnic. I thought I was about to have a heart attack. Then once you come aboard the plane there was a curtain at the back where everyone just literaly through their luggage behind.
The cabin was very narrow and it was packed. The "flight attendent" who looked like she could go 15 minutes with Hulk Hogan walked around with a tray full of old candies that I passed on, NYET.
All the pilots are ex military pilots and they fly like it. You take off like you are scrambling to intercept a plane, I mean on a severe angle, but once you are up there the flight was actually very smooth (save for all the coughing onboard) It took about 1 hour the whole flight.
Train....I bought 2 first class tickets for my trip from Kherson to Kiev, about 15 hours, so that I could have the compartment to myself. I had no worries about anyone trying to get into my cabin. It double locks and I didn't see any bad characters in first class.
The "problems" I encountered were fairly minor. The bathroom is nasty and the floors are sticky if you get my drift. As soon as the train starts to depart the lady attending first class comes by and offers you refreshments (which you have to pay for).
Sleeping is another story. I must have fallen asleep and woken up about 20 times. The train is not smooth at all and you stop a lot at all these small towns. When the train comes to a stop it really jerks so unless you sleep like Rip Van Winkle you will get woken up.
This was the end of May 2001 that I was on the train and during the night it got pretty cold. So I used the blanket that they give you. However that blanket has seen a lot of people and I don't believe it is cleaned as much as we would hope. I was feeling great up until that point of my trip and the next day started feeling really sick with a bad cold and sore throat. I have read about the same problems about airplane blankets and people getting sick.
If its feasable I would spend the money and fly if I was travelling myself. If I was with a woman and she wanted to experience a train ride together, I would buy a bottle of wine, some cheese, bread and say "why not"

[Ramblin]

... in response to Train versus Plane, posted by Quick Fix on Mar 26, 2002

How about a submarine?

[micha1]

... in response to Has anyone tried a boat?, posted by Ramblin on Mar 26, 2002

A yellow one at that, right

[amerikanka99]

... in response to Has anyone tried a boat?, posted by Ramblin on Mar 26, 2002

I have take the hydrofoil from Kyiv to Cherkassy.  It was great fun, but unbearably slow (6 hours), and not too comfortable.  The scenery is worth it though if you have tons of time.

There are cruise ships that make the trip from Kyiv to Odesa.  I've never been on one, but have had friends report that it was not great but OK.

[Ryan]

... in response to Has anyone tried a boat?, posted by Ramblin on Mar 26, 2002

n/t

[Ryan]

... in response to Has anyone tried a boat?, posted by Ramblin on Mar 26, 2002

n/t

[Ryan]

... in response to Train versus Plane, posted by Quick Fix on Mar 26, 2002

I have a friend in Kiev and she tells me that the bus is much better for traveling from Kiev to Luganks. I was just wondering if anyone has tried it?

[KenC]

... in response to Has anyone tried the BUS?, posted by Ryan on Mar 26, 2002

Ryan,
My interpreter was late and we missed the morning train from Tver to Moscow.  Her excuse was thet the train was never on time before.  She told me that the bus was better anyway.  B. S. Our bus was no Greyhound for sure.  More like a school bus for children painted red.  It was packed with people and many extra bags, packages and such.  There even was a man that brought a German Shepard along.  The only thing missing was farm animals.  The heater was either too hot or too cold.  The roads were bad, so it took 3 hours instead of two.  All in all a miserable experience at best.  
I found the trains to be much better.  There are two quality levels of trains running from Moscow to St Pete.  The fast train should be called the "good" train.  This one had a very nice dining car with fresh homemade type dinners and soups.  The other train had a dining car, but it was sandwiches and snaks.
KenC

[BrianN]

... in response to My bus trip to Moscow, posted by KenC on Mar 27, 2002

[europete]

... in response to Has anyone tried the BUS?, posted by Ryan on Mar 26, 2002

I tried the bus from Kiev to Odessa. I wanted to see what the country looked like from the ground, and don't really trust the planes in Ukraine.
The trip was cheap: 52 hrivna/$10.00. And it took 8 hours to get to Odessa from Kiev. There are quite a few busses making the trip, maybe 8 per day, so a person could leave early in the morning and be in Odessa in time for dinner.
About 5 stops are made in different towns for passengers and baggage, some for refreshments. The toilets at one of these stops was a real disaster; enough to scare Frankenstein! Certainly only for true emergencies. I would rather take a trip out into the bushes.
The seats in the bus are too close for comfort, and I ended up with the seat in front of me tilted back to within about 8" of me, and the lady in the seat was quite obnoxious when aked to move up a little.
But the highlight of the trip was being able to watch 2 Jackie Chan movies dubbed in Russian. What a riot! And the bus has a hostess who serves some drinks or cookies.
Overall not a bad trip. Certainly lets you see how the locals live.

[Ramblin]

... in response to Has anyone tried the BUS?, posted by Ryan on Mar 26, 2002

I was walking in Kiev with my former lady and she pointed out the Kiev to Odesa bus.  It looked like a new delux bus better than a Greyhound.  But you can't walk around or get horizontal on a bus and after 25 hours in that same position on a plane from California, I would hate to go another 18 hours in that position.  For a short trip it would be great.

[Ryan]

... in response to Has anyone tried the BUS?, posted by Ryan on Mar 26, 2002

Might save some people $50 for a taxi...

[DJD]

... in response to Has anyone tried the BUS from the Airpor..., posted by Ryan on Mar 26, 2002

I've used the red bus and it has worked out fine.  If I recall correctly, it does not quite get to the train station, so it has been less than convenient for me and my family.  It is an economical way to get to downtown Kiev, I think it cost 10 hrvnia.

Dan

[DE]

... in response to Re: Has anyone tried the BUS from the Ai..., posted by DJD on Mar 26, 2002

to the train station.  If I recall correctly, the train station was the second stop and the bus approached it from the back street.  There was a very nice entrance and a walk way over the train platforms to the main station area.  It wasn't any problem and very cheap.

[Ryan]

... in response to Re: Has anyone tried the BUS from the Ai..., posted by DJD on Mar 26, 2002

Does it run like every hour or something?  Were there signs at the airport I can't remember seeing any and I was sort of looking even thou I had a ride...