Travelling with children by VIP minibus: discount, documents and tips
What a child’s ticket costs, which documents children need abroad, how to choose the trip and seats, and what to bring so the journey to Warsaw, Kraków, Chișinău or Turkey goes smoothly.
A VIP minibus is an easy way to travel with children: there are only 8 passengers on board, wide reclining seats, a socket for the tablet at every seat, and water, coffee and a blanket are already provided. But there are a few rules worth knowing before you book. Here’s what matters most.
Tickets and the child discount
- Every child travels in their own seat with their own ticket — it’s safer on any journey.
- Children under 14 get 20% off the adult fare. In the search form, choose “Child” in the “Passengers” field.
- Choose seats for the whole family at once so you can sit close together: the seats are arranged 1+1, so an adult and a child can take the same row across the aisle, or one behind the other.
- Once you’ve picked the trip and seats, our manager confirms the booking and takes payment on WhatsApp or Telegram — and can answer any questions about travelling with a child.
| Route | Adult | Child (under 14) |
|---|---|---|
| Kyiv — Chișinău | €170 (≈ UAH 8,670) | €136 (≈ UAH 6,936) |
| Kyiv — Warsaw, Kyiv — Kraków | €195 (≈ UAH 9,945) | €156 (≈ UAH 7,956) |
| Kyiv — Istanbul | €295 (≈ UAH 15,045) | €236 (≈ UAH 12,036) |
| Kyiv — Antalya | €310 (≈ UAH 15,810) | €248 (≈ UAH 12,648) |
Documents for travel abroad
- The child’s own biometric passport — required at any age. A child can’t be added to a parent’s passport for travel to the EU, Moldova or Turkey.
- Birth certificate — proves you are the child’s parents. Border guards may ask to see the original.
- Parental consent. If the child is travelling with a grandparent, a coach or another accompanying adult, a notarised consent from the parents is usually required. The rules on children leaving Ukraine have changed several times, so check the current requirements on the State Border Guard Service of Ukraine website before you travel.
When booking, enter the child’s details in Latin letters exactly as they appear in their passport. Keep the documents to hand rather than in the luggage hold: they’re checked both at boarding and at the border.
Can a child travel alone?
Children under 14 travel only with an adult. If a teenager is planning a trip without their parents, message our manager before booking and they’ll explain which documents are needed. You’ll find our details on the Contacts page.
Choosing the trip and seats
- Night services work well if your child sleeps easily on the move. For example, the 22:10 departure gets you to Chișinău at 07:10, and the 21:10 and 23:50 services reach Warsaw in the morning.
- Daytime services are better for toddlers and children who get travel sick: they can look out of the window and stretch their legs at the stops.
- Choose seats closer to the middle of the cabin, where there’s the least sway.
- For a first trip, the shorter routes work best: Chișinău takes about 9 hours, Kraków about 11. Istanbul and Antalya are 21–28 hours away, which is a lot for younger children.
What to bring
- water, snacks and your child’s favourite food in handy containers;
- a change of clothes, wet wipes and bags;
- a pillow and a favourite toy — the minibus provides a blanket;
- a tablet with downloaded cartoons and headphones: you can charge it from the socket by the seat;
- books, stickers and colouring books — anything that works without the internet;
- a first-aid kit: travel sickness remedy, fever medicine and plasters.
A folding pushchair travels in the luggage hold as one piece of luggage. Every passenger with a ticket, including a child’s ticket, can bring one piece of luggage up to 20 kg and hand luggage up to 5 kg.
On the road
The minibus has no toilet, so the driver stops every 3–4 hours for 15–30 minutes. Use these stops for a walk with your child, and bring a travel potty for toddlers. Keep seat belts fastened and don’t let children walk around the cabin while the minibus is moving. Finish any food containing meat or milk before the border: you can’t take it into the EU. Our minibus crosses the border without waiting in the general queue, so there’s no long wait at the checkpoint.
Looking for a family trip? Try Kyiv — Kraków or Kyiv — Chișinău, or head for the sea with Kyiv — Antalya. Read our border guide to see how the crossing works, and our long-trip checklist for more packing tips.
