F.A.Q.

Is Your On-Line Payment System Safe?

Yes. We use PayPal, owned by eBay, the world’s most trusted on-line payment system, with over 130 million members covering a network of more than 190 countries. PayPal automatically encrypts your credit card information (using 128 bits encryption key, the highest level commercially available) as it is sent between your computer and their server. So OdessaRentaFlat never sees your credit card information. Signing up to PayPal is free. All you need is an email address and credit card. You pay no fee to send the deposit. Once you have completed the reservation and submitted the deposit PayPal automatically sends you an email confirming the transaction.

How do I pay for the rental apartment?

An advance payment of $50/$100 is required. This can be done with your credit card. The balance should be paid on arrival for the duration of your stay. Payments in US Dollars,Euros,Sterling or local currency. Please see Apartment Reservation page for details.

How much deposit should I pay?

Studio and 1-bedroom apartments require a $50 deposit. Larger apartments require a $100 deposit. For stays of ten days or longer (in any apartment) a $100 deposit is required.

Can you confirm my reservation without payment of a deposit?

No. A deposit is required in order to receive a booking confirmation.

When do I pay the balance?

This should be paid on arrival in cash. We accept Dollars, Euros or Sterling at current exchange rates.

Can I pay the full amount in advance?

Yes you can. To do this just click on the “Send Money” tab on PayPal. Please note that the PayPal service charge of 4.5% must also be paid.

What is included in the cost of the accomodation and are there any extra charges?

The apartment is cleaned; bed linen/towels changed on a weekly basis. Additional cleaning is available on request. There are no other charges.

What is your cancellation policy if I cancel my accommodation?

If you don’t show up the deposit is retained. If you change your reservation dates your deposit will be valid for the new dates provided four weeks notice is given. Otherwise the deposit will be retained.

Can you collect me from the airport?

Yes, in fact we strongly advise this. It is fair to say that a foreigner arriving in Odessa, Ukraine for the first time may be taken advantage of. This could involve being considerably overcharged by your taxi driver or perhaps even worse. Just advise us of your exact arrival details,ie the airline you are traveling with and the flight number and we will have an English-speaking driver there to meet you to take you to your Odessa accommodation. This is a free courtesy service provided by OdessaRentaFlat. (Please note that this free service is provided between the hours of 08.00 and 18.00 Monday-Saturday for stays of five days or more and also applies to Bus and Train stations. Transfers outside of these hours and rental periods are available for a fee of $30.).

What are the check in/out times?

Check in:14.00. Check out:12.00

What if I don`t like the apartment?

In the unlikely event of this being so we will offer you an alternative the next day.

I have a return flight that departs in the evening. Is late check out available?

ORF will endeavor to assist you in any way we can. Late check in and check out is available if the rental apartment is not reserved for another guest, for either the proceeding or the following day.

Can I make a reservation to rent a particular apartment?

Yes provided your stay is for more than two nights and of course a request is dependent on availability of an apartment. Please see Apartment Reservation page for details.

I usually stay in one of the Odessa hotels when I travel. Why should I consider an apartment?

When you stay with ORF, you stay in a modern rental apartment in the very center of town, where your privacy is assured and all at a fraction of the cost of staying in an Odessa hotel. ORF also offers you the option of having your refrigerator stocked with groceries prior to arrival. In addition we offer computers with free high-speed internet, free dvds,romance tours etc etc. Ask yourself does your Odessa hotel supply these services?

This is my first trip to Ukraine. Is Odessa safe and are your rental apartments in safe areas?

All ODESSA RENT A FLAT apartments are located in safe and secure locations in the center of town. In many cases entry to the apartment building is by coded combination. Entry doors are steel plated. For your added security each ORF apartment has it’s own safe that you can set to your own personal combination (It should be noted that Odessa is a safe town. In all my time in Ukraine I have never had a problem with personal security. Just exercise caution late at night, use your common sense and you’ll be fine).

Can you advise me on how I will pay for goods and services during my stay in Odessa?

Paying for your Odessa apartment: You may pay the full amount in advance by credit card. Alternatively, you can pay in cash on arrival in US Dollars, Euros or Sterling at current exchange rates, or in Hrivnas. Everyday expenses should be paid for in Hrivnas, Ukraine`s National Currency. The current exchange rate is approx 5 Hrivnas to 1 US Dollar. It is not advisable to offer Foreign Currency, such as Dollars or Euros in shops and restaurants, as either this will not be accepted, or if it is then you are likely to be offered an unfavorable exchange rate. Increasingly now in Odessa, many shops and restaurants accept credit cards. The best option is to use one of the many ATM`s in town. These are a reliable, safe and convenient way of obtaining cash night or day. The majority dispenses Hrivnas with a small few giving out US Dollars.

I have heard of Odessa’s famous Opera House. Can you purchase Opera tickets for me in advance of my arrival?

Yes we can purchase tickets for the Opera House and have them waiting for you at your apartment when you arrive. Simply advise us of your preferred dates and we can email you the current program. There is a $20 charge for this which should be paid in advance together with the cost of the Opera tickets.

I wish to rent a car in Odessa. Can you arrange this for me?

Yes we can make arrangements to have a rental car available for you for you for your stay in Odessa. You should specify the type of car you require and the duration for which you wish to rent the car. Upon arrival all you will need to do is sign the relevant car rental forms. An advance booking deposit of payment of $100 is required.

Do I need a Visa to enter Ukraine?

Citizens of the US, Canada, the EU, Switzerland and Norway may enter Ukraine without a Visa and stay for up to 90 days.

I am Australian and need Visa support. Can you assist with this?

Yes we can and have assisted many clients with this in the past. Details available on request.

Which countries can I telephone for free?

You may call to Europe, the US and Canada for free. You may call to other countries for a modest tariff.

Can I call direct from the apartment or must I phone from your office?

You may make direct dial telephone calls from your apartment. It is not necessary to do so from the office.

Can I make local calls for free from the apartment?

Yes you can.

Can I personally receive local and international telephone calls at my apartment?

Yes you can. Calls are not routed thru our office but instead come direct to you. These calls are also free of charge.

How do I make reservation?

How much deposit should I pay?

For stays of 10 days or less, Studio and 1 Bedroom apartments require a $50 deposit. Larger apartments require a $100 deposit. For stays of more than 10 days the deposit is $100 and $200 respectively.

When do I pay the balance?

This should be paid on arrival in cash. We accept Dollars, Euros or Sterling at current exchange rates.

Can I pay the full amount in advance?

Yes you can.Please note that any bank charges/commissions must also be paid.

How do I make a payment to you?

You may make payments using any of the following options.

CREDIT CARD
You may pay the deposit with either Visa,Mastercard, American Express or Discovery using PayPal`s secure online payment facility.If you are not a member it is fast and easy to join.PayPal,an eBay company, with over 100 million members, is one of the safest, most secure and popular ways of sending money to anyone with an e-mail address and making online payments for goods and services.It is worth noting that when you make a reservation that we NEVER see your financial information such as credit or bank account numbers as PayPal automatically encrypts your confidential information in transit from your computer to PayPal`s.
Learn more about Paypal:
http://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=p/gen/about-outside

BANK TELEGRAPHIC TRANSFER (TT)
You may wire the amount from your bank account.Transfer details will be given to you on receipt of your reservation.

WESTERN UNION TRANSFER
This can be done online http://www.westernunion.com/info/selectCountry.asp or at any Western union office. Transfer details will be given to you on receipt of your reservation.

WHAT IS YOUR CANCELLATION POLICY ?
Where one month or more cancellation notice is given the full deposit will be returned.
If new dates are requested,the deposit will be valid for those dates subject to 21 days notice being received and availability. Deposits will be retained where less than 21 days notce is given.

Please note that any bank charges/comissions must be paid by the client.

CURRENCY EXCHANGE/ATM`S IN ODESSA
Changing money and withdrawing cash in Odessa is very easy.Apart from the banks there are many Foreign Exchange kiosks (Obmen Valut) in the town where you can easily exchange Dollars,Euros and Sterling to local currency at reasonable rates.There are just as many ATM`s where you can obtain Hrivnas.These are a reliable,safe and convenient way of obtaining cash night or day.In addition it is worth noting that many retail outlets in Odessa now accept credit cards.

Currency exchange / ATM\\\'s in Odessa

Changing money and withdrawing cash in Odessa is very easy.Apart from the banks there are many Foreign Exchange kiosks (Obmen Valut) in the town where you can easily exchange Dollars,Euros and Sterling to local currency at reasonable rates.There are just as many ATM`s where you can obtain Hrivnas.These are a reliable,safe and convenient way of obtaining cash night or day.In addition it is worth noting that many retail outlets in Odessa now accept credit cards.