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Saturday, March 30, 2013

48 Hours of Fun on a Budget in Kharkov, Ukraine

In this blog series I show you how easy it is to budget travel anywhere and I also give you a quick overview of a new city each time in a brief 48-hour itinerary.

You may or may not have heard of Kharkov. It is new to me, though it is the second largest city in Ukraine. I generally do cities in this series that are well known, but sometimes you find yourself close to a place you may not know much about and then realize it would make a fun day or weekend trip away from your regular vacation.


Photos of Freedom Square, Kharkiv
This photo of Freedom Square is courtesy of TripAdvisor

Day 1
Get up early and visit Freedom Square – the 2nd largest city square in Europe – where you can view one of the surviving statues of Lenin still standing since the fall of the Soviet Union. This is a great place to people watch, but you can see it before it’s crowded and then head off to breakfast at Petit Paris, Kharkov’s only French patisserie. 


Photo credit: Виталий З.
Why not start off your day with some delicious, sugary carbs and caffeine?

After a lovely breakfast, a visit to the Kharkov Historical Museum is in order, where you can learn about the city's history all the way up to the Soviet Period, including cannons used by the Red Army. Though not as big as other war museums, tourists have said this is a plus, because it is easier to see all of it.


Across the street from the museum is a monastery, which is also worth a visit. Pokrovsky Monastery has spectacular domes that are visible from miles away. 




Stop by Gostinaya for a delicious dinner. The restaurant is open 24 hours, so you can eat European and Japanese entrees at any hour. If it's warm out, try to get a table on the patio, where you'll enjoy fresh air and good people watching.

Photos of IT Cafe, Kharkiv
This photo of IT Cafe is courtesy of TripAdvisor

Day 2
Sleep in a bit today and sit down for a yummy breakfast at IT Cafe. It has free Wifi and is a great place for working meals, but you'll find their food very good and the atmosphere cozy. This will be your dining splurge for your two days, as this restaurant is a little on the spendy side.


Photos of Shevchenko Park, Kharkiv
This photo of Shevchenko Park is courtesy of TripAdvisor

Want to see the city with a local? What about a 3-hour city tour that's free! Yeah, I thought you might like that. Free Tour Kharkov has been voted one of the best tours in Europe. The tour meets at 11am on Sundays, though you can book on other days for the free tour instead of just showing up. A local will take you to all the major sites in the city including Karazin University, Mirror Stream and the Lopansky Bridge. Free tours are conducted in English and have been highly praised by visitors. Pitch in what you deem a fair tip and you've had one of the most budget-friendly afternoons of travel.


Photos of Gorky Park, Kharkiv
This photo of Gorky Park is courtesy of TripAdvisor
Remember that old Scorpions song Winds of Change? There is a line in there about Gorky Park and I never knew what that was. Well, it’s actually in Moscow, but the park has been used as a template for parks across the former Soviet Union and you can spend half a day in the Gorky Park in Kharkov taking in the gorgeous scenery, riding theme park rides, playing tennis and letting the kids burn off steam in the playground. Grab a meal at one of the park’s restaurants or cafes if it’s cold out, or have a picnic while you take a break from exploring this huge outdoor space. Maybe next to a fancy fountain!


Photo credit: Kharkov For Rent
After two days of walking around sightseeing, go back to your accommodation and relax and pack up. If you aren't sure how to find a great place to stay on a budget, check out Kharkov For Rent where you can pick from a long list of lovely rental apartments. These are wonderful, because you feel more at home, plus you can save money on dining out. even though you'll only be staying for a few days, maybe you'd like to save on breakfasts by bringing along your own morning staples, like bagels and pastries. If nothing else, you will be able to stock your rental's fridge with beverages and to keep all the baked goods you found while out and about to take back home with you.

You'll find an apartment rental for any budget, so whether you're looking for something upscale or a place just comfortable enough for sleeping, it'll be listed at Kharkov for Rent. In fact, there are apartment rentals for as little as 25 euros. As I've said of other cities, an apartment in Kharkov is more cost-effective than a hotel, as it gives you more living space and is priced per night instead of how many travelers there are in your party. You can find comfortable options all over Kharkov, including the center of the city. With the money you save on convenient, privately-owned accommodations, you can splurge on fine dining or souvenirs.



Photo credit
Even though it's easy to walk all over the city center, you can get around Kharkov on the metro. With only three lines, it is simple to navigate and you can quickly get to any desired attractions in the city by using it.


If you've ever been to Ukraine, what was your favorite part of your trip?


Disclosure: This post was brought to you by Kharkov For Rent. You can also find them on Facebook and Twitter.

Friday, March 29, 2013

Super Useful Travel Links


Happy Friday! I hope you all are having a great week – or at least gearing up for a great weekend. Perhaps you’ll be hiding eggs for your little ones or kicking back by the pool in a sunny locale. Whatever you’re doing, let’s learn some fun and interesting stuff about travel this week.


FareCompare always brings us some of the best travel tips. If you missed their 7 unexpected travel problem fixes, then here it is again. It seems that wearing offensive words across your chest would be a given as something you shouldn’t do in a family-friendly space, but some people just don’t get it. I once witnessed a lady coming for her first day of work (in a retail environment) in a pair of ripped jeans and a beat up t-shirt with the phrase Paxil is for P***ies and photos of razor blades on them, so I am not all that shocked when people wear crazy inappropriate clothing anymore. Here’s why you should use your common sense regarding travel clothing, as well as 6 more problems.


I’ve been trying really hard to eat healthy lately and I’ve been making my own (mostly vegetarian) meals and freezing extra servings for later. Luckily, this makes dinner time so much easier and gives us a decent selection of ready-made meals. The “problem” with eating so well is that when you travel, it’s hard to find similar options, especially at the airport when you are faced with the likes of McDonald’s, Wendy’s and Chili’s Too. ABC brings you America’s healthiest airport food. If you are a vegetarian, take a look back at my post on what items you can order and where at most airports.


I love food, and I don’t like to offend anyone. If you’re the same, then you may want to check out Budget Travel’s international dining etiquette rules. I learned a lot that I will be taking with me on my trips.


Want to see your destination like a local? Then maybe book a tour a local suggests.  Peek.com pulls together some of the most interesting activities and tours that have been highly rated by other travelers. Don’t go in blind and just assume something is awesome just based on the company website. Learn more about Peek here on USA Today.


And I leave you with this super-impressive use of frequent flyer miles. I posted this on Facebook from my new favorite travel blogger, Vanessa from Turnip Seed Travel, but in case you missed it, it deserves another post. Vanessa and her husband are doing a mini round-the-world trip with seven stops and they paid just $700 and 80,000 frequent flyer miles to do it. So, if you think you can’t afford to travel anywhere her post can show you how it can be done, as long as you are willing to put in the effort to find great deals and use (and accumulate) your miles. This way beats my $5 tickets to L.A.

Have you found any interesting travel links lately?

Wednesday, March 27, 2013

Basics to Help You Blend In

Packing. It can be a four-letter word for some. What do you take? What do you leave at home? How big a suitcase do you need? While you want to be comfortable, unless you’re trekking around the Outback, you probably don’t want to be seen in zip-off pants and hiking boots. Dressing like a traveler will only put a big target on your back that screams “tourist”. It’s always nice not to be pegged as an easy mark the second you step off the plane. You can still be stylish while being relaxed. In fact, you can find things right in your closet to coordinate with other versatile items to pack in your carry-on. You can pack light and look great.



Bring your new favorite jeans. Look for denim with stretch that will be comfy to wear on the plane and walking around all day (and after you’ve eaten way too much five days in a row). This is not the time to skimp on a pair of jeans. Get a high-quality pair that will look amazing on you and last for a long time. James Jeans and Hudson make great stretch skinnies that hug your curves in the right way and pack easily without taking up as much room as your regular denim. You can wear them with anything and they can be dressed up with the right shoes and accessories. You’ll love them so much you’ll want to wear them all the time. And you will!

Basic black always works. Black pants are a fab travel staple. They don’t show dirt and you can find them in any fabric you like. Rayon is perfect, because it is lightweight and resists wrinkles. Linen is great option for tropical climates. You can even find your favorite khaki pants in black. These also can be dressed up or down, depending on what you wear with them. Pretty much everything matches a pair of black pants, which means you only need to bring one pair.



Blaze a trail. Sure, you could bring a fleece with you, but in some destinations the locals wouldn’t be caught dead in such a thing. Blazers work for jeans, trousers, skirts and dresses. You always look sharp and put-together when you throw a blazer on, even over a basic tank or t-shirt. Not only will you be trendy, but it also doubles as a jacket if it starts to get chilly.

Look to the trees. Everyone loves a t-shirt and they are always acceptable. Leave your cotton tees at home in favor of those made of bamboo or soy. They are softer, keep their shape, dry quickly and they don’t hold odor, so even when you don’t have time to do laundry, your clothes won’t smell like it.
It’s a classic. Just like you have your favorite LBD at home, you will want one on the road. Travel dresses come in all shapes and sizes and you’re going to want to find one you love, because it will go everywhere with you. While you may be tempted to pull a dress from your closet in this case, think about how wrinkle-resistant, moisture-wicking and breathable it will be. You can find a huge range of styles, prices and brands on sites like Backcountry.com and REI.com.

Layer it on. If you’re like me, a good number of pieces in your closet are cardigans and cover-ups of some kind. The ¾ sleeve cardi can be your best friend on travels. It guards against chills and can be thrown over t-shirts and tanks. Bring one or two in neutrals that will match the other items you’ve packed and you can make more outfits out of fewer pieces.


Step it up. Walking shoes are a must when you travel, but that doesn’t mean you have to wear trainers that make you stand out like a sore thumb. There are more walking shoes out there than ever now and many probably come from some of your favorite brands. A nice pair of sandals or ballet flats can go with everything from shorts to dresses and won’t get you kicked out a fancy restaurant like a clunky pair of sneakers will. Plus, this way you don’t have to choose between fashion and function.

When you have a handful of versatile pieces in your carry-on, it doesn’t take too many others to complete your packing list. Coordinating items enables you to pack less and still maximize your outfit options. You’ll be stylish and, as long as you’re not walking around with your nose stuck in a guide book or map, no one will ever think you’re a tourist. When you get asked for directions by other visitors, you’ll know you’ve really blended in with the locals.
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