phandtf

We may be going to Lvov in May. Which is best, fly to (from Las Vegas) Kiev, then train to Lvov? Warsaw is closer, or even Budapest is an option I suppose. Any suggestions on the best way to Lvov from the U.S.?

captbuzz

hi
You might want to check Delta and
Ukraine International Airline.
They fly out of JFK -Frankfurt-Lvov.
About 13-16 hrs.

Good luck

LoriS

phandtf-please post on your trip if you go. My mother's family emigrated from an area not far from Lvov and I'll be most interested to hear how your trip goes. Bon voyage!

ben_haines_london

I do not know what fares you can find from the US to Europe. I see that many Americans fly to Frankfurt and Munich, and imagine that those are cheap destinations, but they are far from Lviv. If you can fly straight from the US to Vienna that will bring down the total journey time. The reference library of a city near you may have the Thomas Cook European Timetable. This shows onward connections by train. Frankfurt airport 2352, train with sleepers and refreshments, Vienna West 0900 to 1415, restaurant car train, Budapest Keleti 1658 to 1805, train with restaurant car for dinner, Debrecen 2045 to 2116, sleeper, Lviv 0857.

If you can find a cheap flight from the US to London, no-frills flights from London may help. You start with the complication of a two hour bus trip from Heathrow to Stansted, where you must check in an hour before departure. Then Air Polonia, http://www.airpolonia.com.pl/, fly for 25 euros plus about 20 euros taxes to Katowice or Warsaw. In Krakow Glowny station pickpockets work in gangs of three, so there you should carry only your rail tickets and a little money, and all other valuables, including passport, should be deep inside a large piece of luggage until your train leaves.

Stansted Monday, Wednesday and Friday 1225, Katowice airport 1540, Katowice station 1931, restaurant car train, Krakow 2051 to 2105, train with sleepers, Lviv 0500. The train fare with sleeper might be 50 euros. To enjoy Krakow a little leave Katowice 1734, reach Krakow 1855. Drop bags in left luggage, walk by the underpass to the old town, reach the main square in 15 minutes. Sup, and take your sleeper at 2105.

Stansted Monday to Friday 1845, Warsaw 2205 (and Sundays Stansted 1735 to Warsaw 2050). Rush to Warsaw Central, leave 2310, train with sleepers, Krakow 0405 to 0605, Przemysl 0930, over to bus station, bus in 5 hours to Lviv. The train fare with sleeper might be 40 euros. The Warsaw connection is safe on Sundays, but doubtful on weekdays: you could be stuck in a hotel beside Warsaw Central till the daily 0602 train with change at Rava Ruska to Lviv at 1848.

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DB

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The airport in Lviv is an international airport, use airport code LWO when searching for flights (LAS - LWO). Chicago or JFK to Warsaw is common, and Frankfurt and Asterdam are other common change-overs (not to mention the possibility of going through London or Paris).

captbuzz

With all respect to Ben Hines.
Your idea of traveling to Lvov is
way too involved.
Tix from JFK directly to Lvov
through Frankurt run abour $800-1100.
Check Travelocity or Orbitz for a fast look.

Good luck.

ben_haines_london

captbuzz: Many thanks. I was going on what I see here on the forum as common destinations of flights from the US, so likely to be cheap. I am glad that the connection USA, Frankfurt, Kyiv is competitive, since three night trains and a day train run from Kyiv to Lviv. If it were not, you see that Warsaw makes a good base for an overnight journey three times a week via Krakow to Lviv.

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Carolred

I don't know about from the US, but from Canada, flights are cheapest to London, Amsterdam, and Frankfurt, in that order. Half the price as to Vienna or Warsaw. I have been told that Kiev is the better airport for international visitors, but it is a long train trip to Lviw if you were not planning to go to Kyiv also.

benhaines, I understand that Stansted is a great starting point for mediterranean holidays.

hopscotch

Lvov is out on the prairie. I drove there from Poland. You could fly into Warsaw, Budapest, or Vienna, rent a car, and drive over. I bought my visa at the frontier which may or may not be possible now. I stayed at the Hotel Sputnik in Lvov. It was better than most of the other hotels I used in eastern Europe.

Marc_David_Miller

For Americans at least you need to obtain the Ukrainian visa in advance; here are the requirements:

http://www.ukrconsul.org/visa/index.htm

Also, you will be hard pressed to find a car rental company that will allow you to bring their vehicle into Ukraine.

dutyfree

I would like to remind everyone that this is Phandtf's first trip overseas(see the previous messages from last June through February).I still believe that this will be a difficult trip for someone who has never gone overseas AND you had stressed in previous responses that you wanted to see more of "Europe".Are you now going to buy a ticket as you had stated before you were not? I am confused?