TRAVEL TIP: Ukraine's spas have much to offer visitors (08/20/00)

TRAVEL TIP: Ukraine's spas have much to offer visitors

by Bohdan Nehaniv

Are you tired of conventional medical treatment? Of swallowing pills, chemicals, drinking bitter syrups, the high cost of medical treatment in the United States?

Then go to Morshyn, Truskavets or other spas in Ukraine where the basis of the healing treatment are natural mineral waters supplemented by diet, physical exercises, massages, jacuzzis, etc. The highest cost here will be your round-trip ticket to and from North America; the rest is a bargain.

Canadians and Americans are popular here. On an excursion into the mountains our tour guide had asked me where I am from and, upon hearing that I am from Detroit, announced proudly that we have a "Canadian visitor." At that instant I became a celebrity, other travelers promptly switched from their commonly used Russian into Ukrainian to be able to converse with me.

But back to the spa.

You don't have to be sick to come here. Do it as a preventive treatment, get pampered. Daily body massages, the jacuzzi, walks and numerous excursions into the country at bargain rates will bring you back to your best.

The language you hear in Morshyn is Ukrainian; however, mostly visitors speak Russian.

Truskavets, on the other hand, is more of an international spa; even President Leonid Kuchma is a visitor here. There is an impressive pavilion, Karpaty, where the flavor is international and so are the prices - about four times that at Morshyn.

So, let's us stick to Morshyn. In order to get here you will need an invitation from the spa, or from someone in Ukraine. This you need to get from the Ukraine's Consulates in Chicago and New York or its Embassy in Washington. The spa will be glad to invite you for a full course of 24 days or half of that (which is what I opted for).

After you arrive in Lviv, it is only an hour ride by train to Morshyn. The best is to be picked up by friends or relatives at the Lviv airport and be driven to Morshyn by car, (and in this was also get help with filling out admission papers, which are in Ukrainian).

A doctor or nurse will meet you and prescribe a particular treatment for you. It is advisable to bring some current medical documents to testify about your present state of health. Your doctor will assign you a special diet to follow and your daily routine such as massages, jacuzzi treatments and mud baths, or whatever is necessary in order to improve your health. If you like Ukrainian food, there is plenty of it. A common offering is apricot nectar, which is produced locally. The personnel/patient ratio is quite high, so you will get a lot of attention. (Don't forget to bring some personal gifts as thank-yous.)

Here is a word of caution: do not expect to get all the effectiveness and punctuality of the Western world here, time goes by slowly. The appearance of buildings could be shabby, floor tiles could be missing - the buildings have not been remodeled since the collapse of the Soviet Union, and the privatization process is slow and tedious. Resources are limited, but progress is being made slowly.

But there are magnificent exceptions as well. The people are sincere. The country is free and eager to learn what the West is willing to offer.

Better times are coming. Be part of it. Support Ukrainian tourism!

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