After clearing customs, I walked down a short chute, into the terminal proper. I retrieved my bag, and since it was close to midnight, and I knew I wouldn’t be getting anywhere else I could exchange money, I broke my own rule, and exchanged some at the airport. And I remembered vividly why I made that rule for myself. I walked down into the main section of the terminal, it looked more like a bus terminal in San Jose California than an airport terminal,

but I was greeted by a friendly gentleman, speaking broken, but understandable  english, asking if I had a cab, pushing his card into my hand, and helping lift my bag as he ushered me out of the door. He was GOOD!!! Before I could speak to another soul, he had me to a fairly new Mercedes, my bag in the trunk and squeezing me in the front seat. He introduced me to the driver, and asked my hotel name. I told him, and he translated it to the driver. Then he informed me it would be 200 US Dollars for the ride in from the airport. That’s when I got out of the car. We dickered and haggled for a while, and settled on 75 dollars. At the time I was there, that was around 2000 Hryvnia.  Thats the local currency. I thought I had dickered well, and off I went. I found out when I got my ride back to the airport that it should have been about 15 Dollars. Like I said, He was GOOD!!!! So, if Oleg offers you a ride at the Odessa airport, in a 3 or 4 year old black Mercedes sedan, my advice is to PASS!!! Find another car, offer 10, and settle for 15. They love american money….