Luhansk Travel Forum

Hi, I hope to travel to Lugansk very soon to meet a young lady in person that I have met over the internet. Please could you help with a few questions;

1. What is best air route from Manchester, and which airline ?
2. Where is Uzhniy (an appartment block) located in Lugansk, nearest two cross streets would be a great help ?
3. What is train schedule and fares for a Moscow trip ?

Thanks very much if anyone is able to help. This is a fantastic site !

Edward Long

For train schedules:
www.poezda.net

To Moscow:
Count on between 50 euros per person one way in kupe (4 bed compartnet) to 100 euro pp in 2 bed compartment. Roughly. The trip takes almost 24 hours.

Note that you'll need a visa for Russia. No visa required for Ukraine though.

Flying: you'll most probably will have to fly to Kiev. From there to take a train to Lugansk. Anyway, that's what I would advise. Check all the airlines such as BA, AF, KL, LH, Swiss etc.

You may want to have a look at my Ukraine and Kiev transportation pages.
I will be in Kiev 29/30 sept and 6-8 october.

It seems like the only scheduled flights to Luhansk are from Kyiv: daily at 6:50 and mon-fri at 16:50. You can fly back at 19:40 daily or at 14:10 mon-fri. The tickets' price will vary depending on when you go and how long in advance you buy tickets. Generally the price will be between $150 and $300 for a roudtrip Kyiv-Luhansk, but if you book all the way from Manchester, then the extra cost of this flight segment would be at the lower price end.

The train Luhansk-Moscow runs daily leaving Luhansk at 17.09 and arriving in Moscow at 15.17 (14.17 Luhansk time). The train back leaves at 18.47 (17.47 Luhansk time) and arrives in Luhansk at 14.15.

Lufthansa operates daily flights from Munich to Donetsk. You could fly from Manchester to Donetsk via Munich and take a taxi to Lugansk (about 1,5 - 2 hours, 250 - 300 UAH per ride). It is probably the most convenient and safest way. Lugansk Airlines operates 2 very old An-24 machines and does not guarantee connecting fligths.

Hello:
If you are visting a female internet friend, I would first contact HunterV here at VT. Make certain the person actually exists, is not married, does not have a live in BF, etc. Luhansk is regarded as a "hot bed" of internet scamminng. Have you checked the anti-scam sites also? If you have not I srongly suggest you check first. Never send money to them. Best to find out some info before you waste the time and money traveling.
HunterV can check for apartments there for you etc.. Also help you with finding a reasonable cost apartment. I understand the hotels are not much and you will have a much better time staying in the apartment.
Travel info given was right on and good. Takes awhile but search the sites they gave you and you will find your connections at a reasonable price.

Edward

I have to agree with the previous post regarding scams.
I was in touch with a guy who went to Ukraine to meet a lady and she utterly ignored him.She was rather suprised he made the trip.To her it was a fantasy thing,a game.She like many had a "sick mother" and wanted money sent.He didn't and found out the truuth when he arrived.
However there are good sides to everything and I am happily married to a lovely Ukrainian lady.
However my first intention was to get to know her in her home town,without too much travelling off anywhere.
Get to know her in natural surroundings.Romantic trips can cloud a situation,as all holidays can.
I know somebody who is getting a fiancee visa after two romantic meets and for me this spells failure.
However good luck,I hope its genuine,but be aware of what could be a scam!!

Hi,
I can only underline that HunterV should be contacted before going to Lugansk. He is very kind and reliable. Though Lugansk (formerly) was known as one of the major scam cities, this may be out-dated info. HunterV will know better and certainly give some advice. Anyway, you are lucky to stay there for a while. Do not worry too much.

Best regards and good luck

Bobek

I just returned from a trip to Lugansk in mid October. I did meet with HunterV (yes, he is a nice, honest and helpful as everyone says) as well as a lady with whom I have been corresponding. If you care for my 2 cents' worth, feel free to ask me any questions. I may be able to give you a read on the agency with whom your lady is registered as well. I don't believe in warning everyone about the dangers of scammers. If you want to believe your lady is honest, etc. anything I said to the contrary would only tick you off! Besides, I don't know her, how could I tell you anything about her?! I would be happy to help in any way I can... as long as we're not visiting the same lady!!! :):):)

Does HunterV check do investigations for a fee?

Why not ask him?

hi edward
you should be aware of scammers
believe me there are thousands of them around
i know one guy who ha sben fleeced out of £32,000 over 3 yrs
i have been to the ukraine twice and its a very different experince than back hom ein manchester
do you your home work first before you travel and have a contingency plan sorted in case you get tripped up
also always copy all your travel documents and keep them on you incase your asked for paper
never travel 2nd class by rain you will be robbed for sure if its an over night trip and dont think trains are fast because there so slow
flights again beware and taxis watch for the mafia they will also want to take your money
trains to moscow will take all day so plan again
also use www.tripadvisor.com
thats a good site as well
the grivena is now around 8.5 for the pound and the u.s dollar 4.5
pay for your accomodation in dollars its cheaper at the rates we get for the dollar now
your only allowed a small amount of dollars in to the ukraine
cash points are good and easy like here in the uk
watch for pick pockets
and night time bewares as in any city
dont accpet drinks from stangers they may be drugged and stay away from streey girls aids is rife
you wnat to know any more ask
phil from preston uk