What to pack for a long VIP minibus trip: a checklist for 9–28 hours on the road

From Kyiv it takes about 9 hours to Chișinău, about 11 to Kraków, about 12 to Warsaw, about 21 to Istanbul and about 28 hours to Antalya. Some of what you need is already on board: our VIP minibuses provide water, coffee, a blanket, Wi-Fi and a socket at every seat. We’ve gathered everything else — the things passengers most often wish they’d brought, plus a few tips for arriving without feeling worn out.

First, luggage

One piece of luggage up to 20 kg in the hold and hand luggage up to 5 kg in the cabin are included in the fare. There’s no access to the hold during the journey: the driver opens it only at the border and at your destination. So anything you might need on the way should go in your hand luggage.

Documents and money

a biometric passport — required on all our routes;
your booking confirmation saved on your phone for offline use;
a bank card and some cash: złoty for Poland, lei for Moldova, and euros as an all-round option on the way to Turkey;
a travel insurance policy;
copies of your documents in the cloud or in an email to yourself.

Clothes

With the air conditioning on, the cabin can feel cool at night, while daytime in the south can be hot. Dress in layers: a T-shirt, a jumper or hoodie and a light jacket. Comfortable trousers without a tight waistband, spare socks and light shoes you don’t mind slipping off make a long journey easier. If your feet tend to swell, compression socks help.

Sleep and comfort

an inflatable neck pillow — it takes up little space and is a lifesaver on night services;
a sleep mask and earplugs;
headphones, ideally noise-cancelling;
a scarf or wrap — the minibus provides a blanket, but your own scarf is handy at the stops.

Food and water

Water and coffee are provided on board, and the driver stops every 3–4 hours for 15–30 minutes. But petrol-station cafés aren’t always open, especially at night, so bring snacks that won’t spoil and don’t have a strong smell: nuts, dried fruit, cereal bars, crackers, apples, vegetable sandwiches. On all our routes except Chișinău you enter the EU, so leave meat, salo and dairy products at home: they can’t be taken in, and you’d have to throw them away at customs.

Gadgets

a charger and cable — there’s a socket at every seat;
a 10,000 mAh power bank for the stops and your first hours after arrival;
films, series, podcasts and offline maps downloaded in advance.

The on-board Wi-Fi is fine for messaging and email, but coverage can be patchy at the border and abroad, so don’t count on it for video calls.

Hygiene and first aid

wet wipes, hand sanitiser and tissues;
toothbrush and toothpaste, deodorant, lip balm;
small change: toilets at petrol stations abroad often charge a fee;
travel sickness tablets, painkillers and any medication you take regularly — in your hand luggage.

How to choose your seat

You choose your seat on the seating plan when you book. Our minibus has a 1+1 layout: every seat is both a window seat and an aisle seat; travelling as a couple, take two seats in the same row across the aisle, or one behind the other. If you get travel sick, sit closer to the middle of the cabin, where you’ll feel the sway least. The front seats have a better view, but at night the headlights of oncoming traffic can be distracting. There are only 8 seats, so book early while the ones you like are still free.

Quick checklist

passport, offline booking confirmation, bank card, cash;
jumper, spare socks, comfortable shoes;
neck pillow, sleep mask, earplugs, headphones;
snacks with no meat or dairy;
charger, cable, power bank, downloaded content;
wet wipes, sanitiser, medication, small change.

Ready to go? Choose your trip: Kyiv — Warsaw, Kyiv — Kraków, Kyiv — Chișinău, Kyiv — Istanbul or Kyiv — Antalya. Heading to Turkey? Read how to prepare for 21–28 hours on the road.