I know it's out there, especially for this crowd, but I've become somewhat fixated on Yalata - due to a short story I read (Menorcca also), the few pixs I found on the web and my massage therapist who's Russian. Anybody been? Anybody have relevant websites or information?

Yalta is on the tip of the Crimean Penninsula (Ukraine) at the northern part of the Black Sea. Easiest is to fly into Simferopol (SIP) from Frankfurt, then taxi to Yalta. Flying into Kyiv (KBP) is also possible, and an intersting city to visit, but then you need another connecting flight or to take the train. After April, weather is usually moderate with July/August being the hot &amp; high season. Yalta and the area is fairly dead until spring.<BR><BR>For some links &amp; photos on Ukraine, see:<BR>http://home.att.net/~db-ukraine<BR><BR>For Ukraine info and visas, see:<BR>http://www.ukraineinfo.us<BR>click the &quot;Visa&quot; link.<BR>

A friend was there in August (and many of my Russian friends travel there on vacation). It is historic and a popular tourist destination amongst people of the former Soviet Union. The Lonely Planet Guide to Russia, Ukraine and Belarus has a good section on the area (although their transportation hints are dated).<BR><BR>The web sites<BR><BR>www.sevastopol.org/index1.htm<BR>www.tour.crimea.com/ENGLISH/<BR><BR>has some good pictures and background, as well as tourist information.<BR><BR>Understand that the tourist facilities (with two or three exceptions) are nowhere near as developed in most other European countries. <BR><BR>Be aware that many of the tourist companies that cover the area often are really marriage agencies.

We travelled to Ukrain last summer and it was a very nice experience.<BR>We first arrived in Kiev. After 3 days there we took a night train (1st class compartments for 2) to Simferopol and then, after 1.5 hours in taxi, we were in Yalta. It is indeed not as developed as some sea resorts in West Europe, for example, but it has its charm. My advice: choose for Hotel Oreanda (they have their own web-site). All imaginable facilities are there: indoor and outdoors swimming pools, fitness, sauna, breakfast with caviar and other delikatessen, nice rooms with airco, satellite TV. The hotel is located in a nicely restored 19-th century mansion 20 meters from the sea (it has its own private beach).<BR>And besides, there's so much to see around Yalta.

DB, you mentioned flying from Frankfurt to Simferopol. What airline did you use? I have checked the online air ticket sites and none have any listings going from FRA to SIP.<BR><BR>Can you give me some leads on how you were able to do this?