Kiev, Ukraine

Take the train from the UK to Ukraine...

It's easy to travel by train from London to Ukraine, an adventurous journey that's also safe, comfortable & affordable, far superior to any mere flight.  Eurostar and German Railways link London with Warsaw, then there is a daily sleeper train from Warsaw to Kiev.  Change in Kiev for Odessa or Simferopol and Sebastopol in the Crimea.  This page will tell you train times, approximate fares and how to buy tickets.

Train times, fares & information...

London to Kiev, Odessa & the Crimea - train times, fares & how to buy tickets.

London to Lviv - train times, fares & how to buy tickets.

Useful country information - visas, time zone, currency, dialling code

Hotels in Kiev, Lviv, Odessa & Ukraine

On other pages...

Train travel within Ukraine, a beginner's guide

How to buy Ukrainian train tickets online

Odessa-Istanbul by ferry

Train travel in Russia

Sponsored links...

Useful country information

London to Kyïv (Kiev), Odessa & the Crimea

It's safe & easy to travel from London to Kyïv (Kyïv in Ukrainian, Kiev in Russian) by train.  It takes just 2 nights, taking Eurostar to Brussels, a connecting train to Cologne, the Jan Kiepura sleeper train overnight to Warsaw, then the Kiev Express overnight from Warsaw to Kyïv.  The journey can be booked in the UK with one phone call, and is an adventure in itself.  Why not spend some time in Paris, Berlin or Warsaw on the way? 

UPDATE OCTOBER 2012: Ukrainian railways sadly cancelled the Berlin-Kiev Kashtan from 1 October onwards, citing 'economic reasons'.  All passengers now need to use the Warsaw-Kiev Kiev Express, as follows.

London to Ukraine using the Warsaw-Kiev Kiev Express...

This is usually the slightly cheaper option, depending on what prices you can find for London-Cologne and Cologne-Warsaw.  It runs daily all year round.  You get some time to see a bit of Warsaw, too!

London ► Kyïv, Odessa, Simferopol, Sebastopol

• Day 1:  Travel from London to Brussels by Eurostar, leaving London St Pancras daily except Saturdays at 15:04, arriving Brussels Midi at 18:05.  On Saturdays, depart London at 12:58 arriving Brussels Midi at 16:08.

• Day 1:  Travel from Brussels to Cologne by ICE high-speed train leaving Brussels Midi at 18:25 and arriving Cologne at 20:15.  On Saturdays you can also take the earlier 17:28 Thalys train arriving Cologne at 19:15.  You've time for dinner in Cologne.

• Day 1:  Travel from Cologne to Warsaw overnight on the excellent Jan Kiepura EuroNight sleeper train, leaving Cologne at 22:28 and arriving at Warsaw Centralna at 10:55 next morning.  The Jan Kiepura has one or two modern air-conditioned Polish sleeping-cars (1 & 2-bed deluxe compartments with private toilet & shower plus TV/DVD player, 1, 2 & 3-berth standard compartments with washbasin, hot shower at end of the corridor, CCTV security, highly recommended), couchettes (basic sleeping accommodation in 4-berth & 6-berth compartments) & reclining seats (not recommended).  The sleeper fare includes complimentary toiletries pack and morning tea or coffee & croissant.  There's no restaurant car in the evening, so take you own picnic and bottle of wine aboard, but an 'InterCity cafe car' is attached for breakfast - it even does an 'English' breakfast with eggs and bacon for a few euros!  More photos & information about the Jan Kiepura sleeper train.

• Day 2:  Spend some time exploring Warsaw, see the Warsaw Centralna station & city information.  A left luggage office and lockers are available.  Warsaw's historic old town is a 20 minute walk from Centralna station - if you fancy a modest splurge, the celebrated Ufukiera restaurant (www.ufukiera.pl) is excellent and right on the square in the heart of Warsaw's old town.  The Palace of Culture (a wedding cake style Soviet skyscraper and distinctive Warsaw landmark, www.pkin.pl) is right next to the station and has a viewing terrace on the 30th floor.

• Day 2:  Travel from Warsaw to Kyïv on the Kiev Express leaving Warsaw Centralna station daily at 16:05 and arriving in Kyïv at 09:42 next morning (day 3 from London).  The Kiev Express has Ukrainian sleeping-cars with 3-berth compartments, you can book all 3 places for single or double occupancy.  There may be a buffet car serving tea, coffee, beer and snacks, but it's always a good idea to take your own supplies of food, water and wine or beer.  Late at night, between 22:30 & 00:30, the train is shunted into the gauge-changing shed at Yagodin (the Ukrainian frontier point) and jacked up to have its wheels changed from standard European (4' 8½") gauge to Russian 5' gauge.  You remain on board while this is done.

• Onwards to Odessa:  A daily fast train (train 9) leaves Kiev at 14:40 and arrives in Odessa at 23:00.  Alternatively, a daily high-quality sleeper train (train 105) links Kiev and Odessa, with 1st class 2-berth and 2nd class 4-berth sleepers link. It leaves Kiev at 22:05 arriving Odessa at 06:55 next morning.  If you make a same-day connection in Kiev, you can leave London in the afternoon on day 1, arriving in Odessa in late evening on day 3.

• Onwards to Simferopol, Sebastopol, Yalta in the Crimea:  A high-quality sleeper train (train 36) with 1st class 2-berth and 2nd class 4-berth sleepers leaves Kiev every day at 15:50 arriving Simferopol at 09:33 and Sebastopol at 11:23 next morning.  A frequent trolleybus service links Simferopol with Yalta.  A frequent local train service links Simferopol with Sebastopol near Balaclava.  If you make a same-day connection in Kiev, you can leave London in the afternoon on day 1, arriving in the Crimea in the morning on day 4.

Kyïv, Odessa, Simferopol, Sebastopol ► London

• Coming from Sebastopol, Yalta or Simferopol:  A daily high-quality sleeper train leaves Sebastopol at 13:55, arriving Kiev at 09:22 next morning.  Another sleeper train (train 40) leaves Simferopol at 14:45 arriving Kiev at 07:31 next morning.  Coming from Yalta, frequent trolleybuses link Yalta with Simferopol, taking 2.5 hours.  The sleeper trains have 1st class 2-berth and 2nd class 4-berth sleepers.

• Coming from Odessa:  A daily high-quality sleeper train (train 106) links Odessa with Kiev, leaving Odessa at 22:59 arriving Kiev at 08:11.  It has 1st class 2-berth and 2nd class 4-berth sleepers.

• Day 1:  Travel from Kyïv to Warsaw on the Kiev Express leaving Kyïv daily at 16:25 and arriving at Warsaw Centralna at 09:00 next morning (day 2).  The Kiev Express has Ukrainian sleeping-cars with 3-berth compartments, you can book all three berths for single or double occupancy.  There may be a buffet car serving tea, coffee, beer and snacks, but it's a good idea to take your own supplies of food, water and wine or beer.  Around 2 or 3am, the train is shunted into the gauge-changing shed at Yagodin (the Ukrainian frontier point) and jacked up to have its wheels changed from standard European (4' 8½") gauge to Russian 5' gauge.  You remain in your sleeping-berth on board while this is done.  On arrival in Warsaw, transfer by taxi or 50 minute walk from Warsaw Gdanska to Warsaw Centralna station.

• Day 2:  Spend the day exploring Warsaw, see the Warsaw Centralna station & city information.  A left luggage office and lockers are available.  Warsaw's historic old town is a 20 minute walk from the station - if you fancy a modest splurge, the celebrated Ufukiera restaurant (www.ufukiera.pl) is excellent and right on the square in the heart of Warsaw's old town.  The Palace of Culture (a wedding cake style Soviet skyscraper and distinctive Warsaw landmark, www.pkin.pl) is right next to the station and has a viewing terrace on the 30th floor.

• Day 2:  Travel from Warsaw to Cologne on the EuroNight sleeper train Jan Kiepura, leaving Warsaw Centralna at 18:35 and arriving in Cologne at 06:14 next morning.  The Jan Kiepura has modern sleeping-cars (1, 2, & 3-bed standard rooms with washbasin, 1 & 2-bed deluxe rooms with private shower & toilet, highly recommended), couchettes (basic sleeping accommodation in 4-berth & 6-berth compartments) and reclining seats (not recommended).  There's a restaurant car in the evening for dinner, with waiter-served meals at affordable prices, alternatively feel free to take you own picnic and bottle of wine aboard!  More photos & information about the Jan Kiepura sleeper train.

• Day 3:  Travel from Cologne to Brussels by ICE high-speed train, leaving Cologne daily at 07:43, arriving Brussels Midi at 09:35.

• Day 3:  Travel from Brussels to London by Eurostar.  On Mondays to Saturdays, a Eurostar leaves Brussels Midi at 10:56 and arrives London St Pancras at 11:57.  On Sundays, a Eurostar leaves Brussels Midi at 11:56 and arrives London St Pancras at 12:57.

Take Eurostar to Brussels, then a German ICE high-speed train to Cologne...

ICE3 2nd class.  ICEs are perhaps the most comfortable daytime trains in Europe...		An ICE to Cologne at Brussels Midi.  More photos & information about ICE trains.

...then the EuroNight sleeper train Jan Kiepura from Cologne to Warsaw...

Dinner in Cologne before you board?  For a traditional German meal in Cologne before boarding the sleeper to Copenhagen, try the Brauhaus Sion (www.brauhaus-sion.de), 5 minutes walk from Cologne hauptbahnhof, or the Malzmuehle restaurant (www.muehlenkoelsch.de), 10-15 minutes walk from Cologne Hauptbahnhof, or there's a restaurant inside the Hauptbahnhof itself at the Schweinske, www.schweinske.de.  Feedback is always appreciated!

1, 2 or 3 bed sleepers:  The EuroNight  Jan Kiepura has modern air-conditioned Polish sleeping-cars, with 1, 2 & 3 bed compartments, either standard with washbasin or deluxe with shower & toilet...  More info about this train		A cosy standard sleeper shown with all 3 beds folded out & the  washbasin visible.		A standard sleeper with the beds folded away and seats folded out.  There's a socket for laptops & mobiles...

... and the Kiev Express from Warsaw to Kiev.

Ukrainian sleepers:  When these photos were taken, the Kiev Express had Ukrainian sleeping-cars with 4-berth compartments, pictured above, and a Polish sleeper with 1, 2 & 3 bed compartments.  It now has modernised Ukrainian sleeping-cars with 3-berth compartments, although you can book all three places to have single or double occupancy.  All bedding is supplied, and washrooms and toilets are at the end of the corridor.  Berths convert to seats for daytime use.  A smartly-uniformed Ukrainian railways sleeper attendant travels with each car.

How much does it cost?

Each train is ticketed separately, so add up the price for each leg of the journey:

How to buy train tickets from London to Kiev online...

• Step 1, buy tickets for the London to Warsaw part of the journey online, simply following the step-by-step instruction on the London to Poland page.  If you book online you can see all the cheap deals, and there are few or no booking fees.

• Step 2, buy a ticket for the Warsaw to Kiev Kiev Express.  This cannot be booked online, but it can be ordered online via reliable and highly recommended Polish train ticketing agency http://booking.polrail.com, which is the cheapest option.  Tickets can be collected in Warsaw or (at extra charge) shipped to any address worldwide.  Polrail are also pretty good at arranging the return reservation back from Kiev as they have close contacts with Ukrainian Railways. 

• Alternatively, you can buy a Warsaw to Kiev sleeper ticket by phone at the standard international fare from Deutsche Bahn's UK office on 08718 80 80 66, lines open 09:00-20:00 Mondays-Fridays, 09:00-13:00 at weekends.

• Step 3, you can buy train tickets for train journeys within Ukraine online in English at www.ukrainetrains.co.uk or now (with a few quirky translations) in English at the official Ukrainian Railways site http://booking.uz.gov.ua/en.  Remember that the Ukrainians spell Kiev 'Kyiv'.  'Suite / First-Class Sleeper' means beds in 2-berth Spalny Vagon sleepers.  'Coupe / Coach With Compartments' means beds in 4-berth kupé sleepers.  'Berth/Third-Class Sleeper' means Platskartny open-plan bunks.  You get a confirmation voucher which you need to exchange for a ticket at the special window at the station before departure, usually a quick and easy process.    At Kiev main station there's a specific internet collection counter at window 12, hall 4 in the old wing of the station, with a self-service collection machine installed there too.  A number of seat61 correspondents have successfully booked tickets this way, using UK or other foreign credit cards. 

How to buy train tickets from the UK to Kiev, the easy way...

You can't book trains to Ukraine online, so the easiest way to buy tickets is to click the button below (or click here).  A booking form will appear which lists all the specific trains you need to book.  Fill in the form & email it to sales@europeanrail.com.  European Rail will make the reservations and call you back to confirm the cost.  If you're okay with the cost, you can give them your credit card details & they'll send you the tickets.  European Rail is an experienced agency whose staff are used to making more exotic bookings like this.  They are equipped with the German Railways reservation & ticketing system, so have access to all the cheap Saver fares for travel via Germany.  They charge a £35 booking fee which includes postage to any UK address, or they can send to any address worldwide if you pay the courier fee.  Seat61 gets some commission if you buy tickets using this form.  You will have to book the first leg of your return journey when you get to Ukraine, because trains originating in Ukraine cannot be booked from the UK.  But you can still pre-book the remainder of the return journey, and benefit from a Saver return fare for the basic travel ticket.  Alternatively, you can book westbound train tickets from Ukraine back to western Europe using the Real Russia online system here.  Remember that you can't book until 60 days before departure.

How to buy tickets from the UK to Kiev by phone...

If you want to buy all your London-Kiev tickets together by phone, with booking opening 60 days before departure, the best agencies to call for this trip are:

• www.europeanrail.com on 020 7619 1083, lines open 08:30-18:00 Monday-Friday, 09:00-13:00 Saturday.  You can use this special booking form, just email it to sales@europeanrail.com (Seat61 gets some commission if you buy tickets using this form).  European Rail is an experienced London-based booking agency equipped with the German Railways reservation system and whose staff are familiar with bookings like this.  When they get your form, they will make all the reservations and call you back to confirm the price and take your credit card details.  There's a £35 booking fee per transaction.  From overseas call +44 20 7619 1083, tickets can be sent outside the UK if necessary.

• Deutsche Bahn's UK office on 08718 80 80 66, lines open 09:00-20:00 Monday-Friday, 09:00-13:00 Saturday & Sunday.  Prices are the same as those charged by European Rail, though an advantage is that DB don't charge a booking fee, just a 2% fee for credit cards.  However, their staff aren't always as familiar with more exotic bookings like this, so make sure you are clear about exactly which trains you want to book before calling.

• To buy train tickets for train journeys wholly within Ukraine, see www.ukrainetrains.co.uk (easy, with a small fee) or  http://booking.uz.gov.ua/en/.

A note about booking westbound trains from Kiev back to Warsaw:  All the outward reservations from London to Kiev can easily be booked from the UK.  However, for the return journey, the sleeper reservation from Kiev back to Warsaw is sometimes difficult to obtain from outside the Ukraine.  Deutsche Bahn can sometimes book your return train from Ukraine using a small allocation of berths for the return Kiev-Warsaw journey held on the German reservations system, but not always.  If they are unable to book this part of the return journey for you, simply ask them to book the section from Warsaw back to London.  You can easily book the return leg at the reservations office when you reach Kyïv.  Alternatively, you can pre-book westbound train tickets from Kiev to Warsaw either (1) using the Real Russia online system here and having tickets sent to you, or (2) by contacting reliable Polish train travel agency www.polrail.com in Warsaw who can easily book tickets back from Kiev to Warsaw or Berlin, and either send them to you for a fee or (if your outward journey arrangements permit) you can pick them up in Warsaw on your eastbound journey from the Polrail agency desk at Warsaw Centralna open 08:00-20:00 Mondays-Fridays, 08:00-14:00 Saturdays, closed Sundays & holidays.  Another possibility is to ask local travel agency www.arktur.ua to buy Kiev-Warsaw/Berlin tickets for you.

Buy a special add-on ticket from almost any station in Britain to London International (St Pancras)

How to buy onward tickets from Kiev to Odessa, Simferopol or Sebastopol...

Normal UK European rail agencies cannot book rail travel within Ukraine, so you'll need to buy a ticket when you get to Kiev, or buy tickets from one of these reliable ticketing agencies who can arrange Ukrainian train tickets:

• www.ukrainetrains.co.uk can book trains from Kiev to most destinations within Ukraine and allow you to collect them in Kiev or send them to any address worldwide.  They charge the Ukrainian Railways price (more or less), plus a £19 fee per booking if you collect tickets at Kiev station, £25 for delivery to a local address within Ukraine, or £59 for delivery by DHL to an international address (which must be the same as your PayPal or credit card registered address).

• You can now buy tickets in English at the Ukrainian Railways site www.uz.gov.ua although it has a few quirky translations. For Kiev, use 'Kyiv'.  'Suite / First-Class Sleeper' means beds in 2-berth Spalny Vagon sleepers.  'Coupe / Coach With Compartments' means beds in 4-berth kupé sleepers.  'Berth/Third-Class Sleeper' means Platskartny open-plan bunks.  The site accepts western credit cards, and you receive a voucher which you need to exchange for a ticket at the station before departure, usually a quick and easy process.  At Kiev main station there's a specific internet collection counter at window 12, in hall 4 in the old wing of the station, with a self-service collection machine installed there too.  A number of seat61 correspondents have successfully used this to book tickets, using UK or other non-Ukrainian credit cards. 

• Another excellent agency which can book train tickets within Ukraine for you is 'Unipress' - http://travel-2-ukraine.com/transportation/train-tickets.htm.  Unipress sells Ukrainian rail tickets for about US$15 (platskartny) or US$20 (kupé) for a typical long-distance journey including their booking fee, plus an additional US$46 if you want the tickets sent by DHL to the UK.  I can recommend their service as both helpful and efficient.

The opera house, Lviv...

If Krakow has become the new Prague, then Lviv is the new Krakow...  Lviv (spelt Lviv in Ukrainian, Lvov in Russian) is a beautiful city that escaped most of the ravages of world war 2.  For accommodation in Lviv, whether your budget is 1 star or 5 star, check out the faded grandeur of the excellent and historic George Hotel.  This is the place to stay in Lviv, £30-£68 per night.

The quickest and easiest route from the UK to Lviv is via Krakow, using a new daily Krakow-Lviv sleeper train.  Why not stop off in Krakow and see two great cities this way?  Train times via Prague are also shown below, although you arrive in Lviv late at night this way.  Why not go out one way and back the other?

London ► Lviv  (via Krakow)

This is probably the quickest and easiest route, with good connections from London.  Combining Krakow and Lviv, two of eastern Europe's most unspoilt cities, has to be a winner!

• Travel from London to Krakow as shown on the London to Poland page.  Why not stop off for a day or two in Krakow?

• Alternatively, why not combine Lviv, Krakow and Prague as well in one great trip, eastern Europe's 'Big Three'?  First travel from London to Prague as shown on the London to the Czech Republic page.  Spend a day or two in Prague, then take the overnight sleeper train from Prague to Krakow, leaving Prague Hlavni at 20:17 arriving Krakow at 07:10 next morning?  You can easily buy a ticket for the Prague-Krakow train at the station in Prague when you get there.

• The travel from Krakow to Lviv by sleeper train.  The Lviv Express leaves Krakow every day at 22:41 and arrives in Lviv at 06:03 next morning.  The train uses comfortable modernised Polish sleeping-cars with 1, 2 and 3 bed compartments with washbasin, and has special adjustable wheelsets to accommodate the change of gauge at the Ukrainian frontier.

Lviv ► London  (via Krakow)

• Travel from Lviv to Krakow by direct sleeper train, the Lviv Express, leaving Lviv at 23:59 every day and arriving Krakow at 05:17 next morning.  It has 1, 2 and 3 bed compartments.  The train uses comfortable modernised Polish sleeping-cars, and has special adjustable wheelsets to accommodate the change of gauge at the Ukrainian frontier.

• Travel from Krakow back to London using any of the options shown on the London to Poland page.

• Alternatively, why not combine Lviv, Krakow and Prague in one great trip?  You can take the overnight sleeper from Krakow to Prague, leaving Krakow at 21:50 and arriving at Prague Hlavni at 07:50?  Spend a day or two in Prague, then travel from Prague to London as shown on the London to the Czech Republic page.  You can easily buy a ticket for the Krakow-Prague sleeper train at the station in Krakow when you get there, or arrange it through recommended agency www.polrail.com.

How much does it cost?

• See the London to Poland page for fares from London to Krakow.

• Krakow to Lviv costs 204 zlotys (£42 or €50) with a bed in a 3-bed sleeper, 249 zlotys (£52 or €61) with bed in a 2-bed sleeper, or 399 zlotys (£83 or €98) with bed in a single sleeper (one-way per person booked through www.polrail.com)

How to buy tickets online...

• You can book trains from London to Krakow or Prague online, see the London to Poland page or London to the Czech Republic page for step-by-step instructions.

• However, you cannot book the sleeper from Krakow to Lviv (or for that matter, Prague to Krakow) online.  For departures from Krakow, you can book through recommended Polish train booking agency www.polrail.com - they can not only book the outward Krakow to Lviv or Krakow to Prague trains, they can usually arrange the return Lviv to Krakow journey as well, through their contacts with Ukrainian railways.  They charge a small fee, and either allow ticket pick up in Krakow or can send to any country worldwide.

• The Krakow to Lviv or Prague to Krakow trains can also be booked by phone with either Deutsche Bahn's UK telesales office on 08718 80 80 66 (lines open 09:00-20:00 Monday-Friday, 09:00-13:00 Saturday & Sunday), or www.europeanrail.com on 020 7619 1083 (lines open 08:30-18:00 Monday-Friday, £35 booking fee, but their staff are more familiar with booking more exotic journeys).

• You may not succeed in booking the inwards Lviv to Krakow sleeper outside of Ukraine, although by all means ask.  So for a return journey, simply book the whole outward journey from London to Lviv, plus the Krakow or Prague to London part of the return journey, and simply buy the Lviv to Krakow ticket at the station when you reach Lviv.  This really isn't difficult.

How to buy tickets by phone...

• You can book all the trains from London to Lviv by calling either Deutsche Bahn's UK telesales office on 08718 80 80 66 (lines open 09:00-20:00 Monday-Friday, 09:00-13:00 Saturday & Sunday), or www.europeanrail.com on 020 7619 1083 (lines open 08:30-18:00 Monday-Friday, 09:00-13:00 Saturday, £35 booking fee, but their staff are more familiar with booking more exotic journeys like this).  Before calling, I suggest writing a clear list of exactly which specific trains on which dates you want to book.

• You may not succeed in booking the inwards Lviv to Krakow sleeper outside of Ukraine, although by all means ask.  So for a return journey, simply book the whole outward journey from London to Lviv, plus the Krakow or Prague to London part of the return journey, and simply buy the Lviv to Krakow ticket at the station when you reach Lviv.  This really isn't difficult.

Definitely invest in a good guidebook. For the serious independent traveller the best guidebook is probably the Lonely Planet or Rough Guide.

Buy Lonely Planet Ukraine online at Amazon.co.uk

My own book, an essential handbook for train travel to Europe based on this website called "The Man in Seat 61", was published in June 2008 & revised April 2010, available from Amazon.co.uk with shipping worldwide.

The Thomas Cook European Timetable

The Thomas Cook European timetable has train & ferry times for every country in Europe plus currency & climate information.  Published since 1873, it costs £14.99.  It's essential for any serious traveller and an inspiration for armchair travellers.  Still not convinced you need one?  More information on what the Thomas Cook Timetable contains.  You can buy the latest monthly edition online at www.thomascookpublishing.com with worldwide delivery or buy it in person from selected UK branches of Thomas Cook (ask at the bureau de change), or from W H Smiths in Victoria station in London.  Or buy the twice-yearly independent traveller's edition with laminated cover from Amazon.co.uk:  Winter/Spring 2012/13 edition (Dec 2012 to June 2013) or (when available) Summer/Autumn 2013 edition (June to Dec 2013)

The Thomas Cook Rail Map of Europe is the best and most comprehensive map of train routes right across Europe, from Portugal in the west to Istanbul, Moscow & Ukraine in the east, from Finland in the north to Sicily & Crete in the south.  High speed & scenic routes are highlighted.  Highly recommended!  Buy online at www.amazon.co.uk (worldwide delivery).  See an extract from the map.

Find hotels in Kiev, the Crimea & Ukraine...

Personal recommendations...

In Lviv, look no further than the classic and excellently-located George Hotel.  Wonderful, and it's not even expensive, economy doubles from £27, standard doubles from £53.  If for any reason it's full, try Lviv's Grand Hotel, also classic and well located, around £60 a double.  In Sebastopol, easily the best place to stay if it's in your price bracket (maybe £46 single, £65 double) is the excellent Sebastopol Hotel, a classic building and now part of the Best Western chain.

Other hotel sites worth trying...

• www.tripadvisor.com is the place to find independent travellers' reviews of all the main hotels.

• www.booking.com is my own preferred hotel booking system (Hotels Combined being a search/comparison system).  It has a simple interface, a good selection in most countries worldwide, useful online customer reviews of each hotel, and decent prices, usually shown inclusive of unavoidable extras such as taxes (a pet hate of mine is systems that show one price, then charge you another!).

Backpacker hostels...

www.hostelbookers.com:  If you're on a tight budget, don't forget about backpacker hostels.  Hostelbookers offers online booking of cheap private rooms or dorm beds in backpacker hostels in Copenhagen and most other European cities at rock-bottom prices.

Travel insurance & health card...

Get travel insurance, it's essential...

Never travel without insurance from a reliable travel insurer with at least £1m or preferably £5m medical cover.  It should also cover loss of cash (up to a limit) & belongings, and cancellation. An annual multi-trip policy is usually cheapest even for just 2 or 3 trips a year (I have an annual policy myself).  Don't expect travel insurance to bail you out of every missed connection, though, see the advice on missed connections here.  Here are some suggested insurers, Seat61 gets a little commission if you buy through these links, and feedback from using insurance for rail & ferry travel is always welcome.

In the UK, use www.confused.com to compare prices & policy features across major insurance companies.

If you have a pre-existing medical condition or are over 65 (no age limit), see www.JustTravelCover.com.

        If you live in Australia, New Zealand, Ireland or the EU, try Columbus Direct's other websites.

   If you live in the USA or Canada, try Travel Guard USA.

Get an EU health card, it's free...

If you're a UK citizen travelling in Europe, you should apply for a free European Health Insurance Card, which entitles you to free or reduced rate health care if you become ill or get injured in many European countries, under a reciprocal arrangement with the NHS.  This replaced the old E111 forms as from January 2006.  The EHIC card is available from www.ehic.org.uk.  It doesn't remove the need for travel insurance, though.

Get a spare credit card, designed for foreign travel with no currency exchange loading & low/no ATM fees

Taking out an extra credit card costs nothing, but if you keep it in a different part of your luggage you won't be left stranded if your wallet gets stolen.  In addition, some credit cards are better for overseas travel than others.  Martin Lewis's www.moneysavingexpert.com/travel/cheap-travel-money explains which UK credit cards have the lowest currency exchange commission loadings when you buy something overseas, and the lowest cash withdrawal fees when you use an ATM abroad.

You can avoid ATM charges and expensive exchange rates with a Caxton FX euro currency Visa Card, or their multi-currency 'Global Traveller' Visa Card, see www.caxtonfx.com for info.

Get an international SIM card to save on mobile data and phone calls...

Mobile phones can cost a fortune to use abroad, and if you're not careful you can return home to find a huge bill.  Consider buying a global pre-paid SIM card for your mobile phone from www.Go-Sim.com, which can slash costs by up to 85%.  Go-Sim cuts call costs in 175 countries worldwide, and you can receive incoming calls and texts for free in 75 countries.  It's pay-as-you-go, so no nasty bills when you get home.  It also allows cheap data access for laptops & PDAs.  A Go-Sim account and any credit on it doesn't expire if it's not used between trips, unlike some others, so a Go-Sim phone number becomes your 'global phone number' for life.