Useful Information about Odesa.

Money

Currency: Hryvnya (UAH) ( sounds “gryvnya” or “grivna”) = 100 kopeks. Notes are in denominations of UAH 500, 200, 100, 50, 10, 5, 2, 1. Coins are in denominations of 50, 25, 10, 5 and 1 kopeeks.
Currency exchange: The Hryvnia is the only legal tender. According to the Ukrainian law foreign currency should only be exchanged at official bureaux (exchanges). Exchanges are numerous and easy to locate. Large shops offer their own exchange facilities.

Taxi

There are a lot of firms that provide radio-taxi services in Odesa. You can order a car calling for example following numbers:

Svoye taxi : +380 (048) 7-111-200

Service-taxi : 1570, +380(482) 345-077 15-70, +38(0482) 345-088

Taxi Yug +38 (0482) 333-334 ; +38 (0482) 333-788

Kapriz Taksi +38 (0482) 355-888

Also there are a lot of pirate taxi cars with much more cheaper prices. To hail such car (or regular taxi car) you need just to wave down on the street.

Credit cards

Major European and international credit cards, including American Express, Visa and MasterCard, are accepted in the larger hotels and at big shops and expensive restaurants. Hundreds of ATM'S in Odessa are now accepting EC cards together with your PIN number - if you want to get Hryvnya. Compared to most other possibilities of getting Hryvnia, this is a cheap (compared to credit cards) and time saving (compared to travellers cheques) method. Depending on the Ukrainian bank that maintains the cash machine, you may be charged a 1% - 3% commission fee, on top of what your credit card charges.

Computers / Internet

The State Customs Committee has stated that there are no restrictions on bringing laptop computers into the Ukraine for personal use.

Medical facilities

Medical care is usually below Western standards. Access to the few quality facilities that exist in major cities usually requires cash payment at Western rates upon admission. The U.S. Embassy and consulates maintain lists of such facilities and English-speaking doctors. Tap water is not to be drunk without first boiling.
Commercial medical company Into-Sana :
local tel. 10-62
tel +380 (482) 30-75-00

Ambulance : 103

Traffic

Lack of routine maintenance of roads and vehicles make road conditions throughout Ukraine highly variable. Drivers and pedestrians should exercise extreme caution to avoid accidents, which are common place.

Apartments in Odesa