TravCouple:
My personal choice would be Kiev(Kyiv). Just there in 2008...it is striving hard to become "world class"..just may make it someday. Have been as far east as Uzbekistan (then was Uzbek SSR) and was several times in the old SSR...on this most recent visit, we took a Viking river trip Mosc-St.P. and then went on our own into Belarus to find wife's mother's birth village (wiped out in '41)and on to Ukraine and Kiev. We stayed at The Rus Hotel...convenient location, pleasing restaurant and breakfast. There is much to see and do in Kiev and we got around by Metro and taxi, very easily. (Pays to know some cyrillic..)

Here are some pics to give you a feel for the city You can scroll through the Belarus pics and into the Kiev segment if you wish.

http://picasaweb.google.com/stuarttower/BelarusUkraineKiev2008#

Stu Tower (are you guys in the east? I'm originally from Boston area, now in L.A.) Any other help I can be please ask.

I was in Kiev in August. I recommend staying in an apartment and not a hotel. Apartments are much cheaper ($50/day for a nice one)and a bit more secure. There are many places to find apartments online. When I was there I used http://www.olga-apartments.kiev.ua/en/. I was very happy with the apartment. It is best to find one near a Metro station. The trains and buses are a great way to get around, and inexpensive, too (but no A/C!). Taxis are not too bad either, but remember that the fare is negotiated before you go. English speakers usually pay more. I did not use them much. I recommend just using the Metro system, if possible. There is much to see there. Do stay in Kiev if you can, you will not regret it.

After reading my response, it kind of looks like an advert for Olga Apartments. It is not,I was just very happy with them. They made it easy for me. There are many places to rent apartments. Certainly pick the one that is best for you.

travelingcouple, we've been looking at the same cruise I think--Viking? I concluded that the cruise itself seems to have enough time to see Odessa quite adequately but very little time in Kiev (Viking itself offers a 2 day add on at a pretty reasonable rate there) so I've been thinking to add on a douple of days in Kiev if we decide to go. We're also thinking to fly to Moscow after and spend 4 days there. Easier to find flights back to states from Moscow as well.

Thanks for the apt info.The apts do look cheaper than the hotels
Kiev [before the cruise]does look like tthe place to stay.
Julie,
It is with Viking.We booked the June 27th cruise.
Maybe see you onboard if you decide on the same one.

As a Ukrainian, I think you must visit two this cities, but Kiev is rather bigger that Odessa. You can visit Kiev for a week and I think you visit only part of the monuments we have here.
For more information about Kiev visit my blog: http://tripkiev.blogspot.com/

I would recommend you to travel to Kiev, first of all. I agree that Odessa is a charming city too. But Kiev is much bigger, has lots of attractions and ancient history.

I can agree that it’s cheaper to rent an apartment. But I know one hotel, Hotel Rus, which is not so expensive as others and many foreigners prefer it. http://www.hotelrus.kiev.ua/en/rooms.html. One single room costs from 110$ per night.

Some useful links for top city tours, sights and museums, hotels and events:
1. Trip Advisor – different topics about Kiev (Kyiv) and Ukraine http://www.tripadvisor.com/Search?q=kiev&sub-search=SEARCH&geo=&returnTo=__2F__CityGuide#ssrc=a,o=0,c=global
2. Mytrip.in.ua - mp3 audio tours (guides) around Kiev on English http://mytrip.in.ua/cgi-bin/ag_view.pl?id=4
3. Lonely Planet – practical information from history to hotels http://www.lonelyplanet.com/ukraine/kyiv
4. Parter – all cultural events, concerts and exhibitions http://www.parter.ua/en.html

I would highly recommend you to visit one of cultural events, for example the ballet in Kiev Opera House (You can buy tickets only some days before the event, prices are from 80 to 350 UAH, or from 10 to 45$).

Enjoy your trip in Ukraine!
Tanya

Concerning Olga apartments (comment of Scott1): I've already met this advice in another topic:http://www.fodors.com/community/europe/rental-apartments-in-kiev.cfm - the same replics - looks like ads.
Rus Hotel - strange, it seems to me that we don't have any other hotels in Kiev - I read reviews on them very often in different topics - either they have a good marketing team or other hotels don't advertise in tourist forums or other websources.
Note: Rus stands atop of a hill, so it's a kind of physical training to go up after sightseeing.

Odessa or Kiev:
If in summer, then Odessa. In Kiev it's hot and the number of tourists grows radically from the beginning of May. You will not receive pleasure from Kiev Pechersk Lavra if arrive after 10.00 (or even 9.00 sometimes). Queues and stuffiness in underground caves. The same everywhere.

Odessa will please you with fresh breeze, beautiful architecture - there you feel both the spirit of Italy and Austria - and lots of cozy restaurants and pubs with open terraces, delicious food in big portions and often with a good choice of beer. Very close to European level, I would say. In Kiev you will not find this quality-price ratio, only single places can bring joy in this understanding. The capital costs more.

If in spring or early autumn - Kiev is in all its beauty.
Late autumn - do not recommend - rainy and windy, and bare trees worsen the picture - it's a crime to visit "the city of parks" without green leaves.
Winter differs all the time. This year it's snowy and Kiev is sparkling in the sun.

I would rather recommend appartments than hotels. Hotels are really extremely expensive. What to see in Kiev and what to do you can find on many sites, for example here http://www.smartclever.com.ua/eng/excursions.html - it's Kiev tours