The Ukraine is wonderful and cheap! Clean, friendly, honest, great food. Kiev hotels are expensive, stay in rented apartments, even for a few days renting an apartment is fine. Call Sasha, 67-505-2472. From Canada: 380-67-505-2472, he will find an apartment for you, pick you up at the airport (he will wait if your plane is late - he's used to that), take you back to the airport even if your flight is really early. Can't remember what his English is like, but presumably good (I spoke Russian with him, sorry). His service is actually not cheap as compared with other Ukrainian services, but reasonable as compared with Western services, and very good and reliable. We've been recommending him for years. Tip him well, he's worth it.
Best time to go: April - end of June. Gets really hot in July and August. Air conditioning is sparse, but there are tons of churches and they tend to be cool. If you intend to go to churches (and it's hard to go to Kiev and not do so) - dress modestly - ladies don't forget a headscarf, skirts below the knee are better, and menfolk - no shorts. Not all churches are stict about that, but it's more comfortable not to stand out. Make sure you visit Pecherskaya Lavra - the caves are amazing! Don't chat when you are going down there, or the monk watching for idle tourists will guide you through to the shortened version, you won't even notice that your being pushed out of the interesting part. Tourist buses get the shortened version. Also families with noisy kids.
Rent a car - drive out into the countryside - excellent 4 star hotels can be had for a song (I paid $20/night in Rovno). Roads are rough but paved and wide, just watch for agressive drivers. Very strict about drinking and driving, so no fooling around with that. Police are checking everywhere especially in the evening. Contrary to Russia, police are generally honest here and will not try to shake down tourists.

Kiev, Ukraine

Darya