MoldovAnn

A rather random collection of places I’ve found during my travels and my personal impressions of them. The last time I checked, the information was still correct, but I take no responsibility if things have changed. Please let me know, though, if numbers have changed or sites are no longer available.

If you’re traveling to Ukraine, I also highly recommend reading through this great collection of news articles of interest to Americans traveling or residing abroad, compiled by the US Embassy in Ukraine.

USA
New York
Marriott Marquis on Times Square
If you want to be in the heart of tourist mania, this is the place, with insane prices to match. Do real people actually stay here, or just for conferences? Lots of things ticked me off here. Cable internet in the room, no wireless. How lame is it that I have to sit at the desk to do my email and can’t be comfortable in bed? Also, it’s just insulting that for over $300 a night, not only is internet access an additional $17 a day (oh, excuse me, $16.95), it is per computer and not per room! Two conference goers in your room with work to do? You both have to anty up – and take turns since there’s only one DSL cable! Ridiculous. No mini-fridge in my room. I was stuck (oh, sorry, lucky) to get a Times Square-side room, which wouldn’t be so bad if the curtains could actually be closed completely. Bring a hair clip or a safety pin to hold them together, unless you like sleeping with neon lights brighter than a nuclear blast flashing in your eyes all night. Cool perk: this is the only hotel ever that I thought had good shampoo and conditioner- Bath and Body Works. And I like the bottles, too. (But I would MUCH rather have wireless internet and curtains that close properly.)
The noise was also annoying. The alarm and telephone in the next room was very audible in my room, as was the karoake party on the 7th or 8th floor (I was on the 16th). Best of all was the couple making mad passionate (and loud) love in the middle of the night next door. I debated calling or knocking on the wall to ask them to keep it down, but who wants to be the party-pooper when people are having that much fun?
As far as conferences, the one I attended was of relatively modest size and was really lost in the cavernous space of this facility.
You are better off staying two blocks over at the Hampton Inn for $170/night and internet is included, breakfast is included, and they give you a snack pack before you head out in the morning for your day of siteseeing.

MOLDOVA
Hotel CODRU
e-mail: codru@codru.md, reception@codru.md
phone: +373 22 208104
fax: +373 22 237948
Considered one of the nicer hotels in Chisinau. It’s not cheap, but there is a distinct lack of mid-quality and mid-priced hotels in Moldova. With a choice of the fleabag cheap (and fleabag not-so-cheap) hotels or the over priced but clean and safe hotels, I’d go with Codru as long as my budget could handle it. Cool perk: a full-size quality toothbrush for each guest and a full tube of toothpaste! Breakfast is included, and it’s not bad – there were actually non-fried options on the buffet, nice cheeses, yogurts, fruits.

UKRAINE

CRIMEA

Bakhchisarai
“Meraba” Guest House, 200 meters from the Khan’s Palace. Really nice, clean, hot water 24/7. Private rooms each with own toilet/shower. Communal kitchen. Wi-fi internet. Owners speak English.
email: villameraba@mail.ru
Tel: 38-067-731-5235, 38-050-647-7188

USTA Handmade Crafts Shop, www.usta.rcf.crimea.ua, ustashop@mail.ru
125 Rechnaya, tel: 38-06554-47-343

Uglovoye (Bakhchisarai raion)
“Tavrida” – the hotel is still rather Soviet, food not so great, but the beach and sea is great in this bay. Family-oriented, so no discos or casinos; quiet and peaceful in the evenings.
Tel: 38-06554-51-6-81

Peschanoye (Bakhchisarai raion)
Sanatorium “Chernomorets”, tel: 38-06554-4-35-02; 9-24-96

WESTERN UKRAINE

Bukovel’ (Ivano-Frankivsk oblast)
“Gutsulia” Guest House. Privately-owned bed-and-breakfast, owners speak English. The house is beautiful, and full of fascinating little details. 5-minute drive from the Bukovel ski resort.
www.gutsulia.karpaty.info, www.ukarpaty.com.ua
Tel: 38-067-372-1921 (Andriy); 38-097-572-2825 (Nadiya)

Ivano-Frankivsk
Hotel “Nadia” – on the expensive side, but breakfast buffet is fabulous (and included).
www.nadia.if.ua, hotel@nadia.if.ua
40 Hezalezhnosti str., tel: 38-0342-53-7077, fax: 38-0342-53-7076

Kosiv (Ivano-Frankivsk oblast)
Hotel “Baika”. Hotel and cottages; sauna and swimming pool; tennis court, billiards. Great hiking, mountain biking, skiing in the area. 150 Nad Hukom str., tel/fax: 38-03478-23-658, 23-633

Strilki (Lviv oblast, Peremyshlyansky raion))
Uzlissya hotel complex. Beautiful location, on a small lake, nice modern hotel.
www.baza.lviv.ua, uzlissja@ukr.net, tel: 38-03263-41-658

Yaremche (Ivano-Frankivsk oblast)
Vodograi, www.vodograj.com, tel/fax: 38-03434-21-203

Yarson, yarson@list.ru, tel/fax: 38-03434-23-022, mobile: 38-050-373-7987

SOUTHERN UKRAINE

Odesa
Let’s Go Odessa – short-term apartment rentals, English-speaking staff
www.LetsGoOdessa.com, info@letsgoodessa.com
Tel: 38-067-484-4302

GEORGIA

Tbilisi
“Vedzisi” Hotel. Nice hotel, not close to the center but much more reasonably priced.
www.hotelvedzisi.ge, hotelvedzisi@yahoo.com
32 Zovreti str, tel: 995-32-38-8647, fax: 995-32-38-8636