Kiev is hard to lodge. For hotels you have 2 options:
- old soviet block-style hotel, with hopefully renovated rooms around $100
- 5 stars hotels around $500

Our company did not pay for the $500 so we were staying in Hotel Bratislava.

Actually it wasn't that bad that I expected and as bad as it looks like from outside.

Rooms were redecorated nicely, it was clean, airy, with view to the city (well, to the grey blocks around, the nice part of Kiev is on the other side of the river).
Bathrooms were tiny, but still okay.
Corridor is with new deep carpet, lobby is quite lively, nice to have a drink there before sleep.

As I've seen it from the elevator stops redecoration of the corridors are still under construction on some levels (I was staying on 12th).

Getting around town is very easy as metro is 3 minutes away. I felt safe even late at night between the station and hotel walking. Metro takes 15 minutes to the very heart of Kiev (which is a beautiful city that took me by suprise). Don't take taxi - they will rip you off for sure.

Stuff is somehow still a bit soviet: not really flexible, they can be veeery serious - but if you try a little spaseeba they turn nicer.

One more: it is still a bit wild-east, so don't be surprised if the hotel-phone rings around 10 PM and you are asked if you need a 'Very good sex massage?'. Just say no and won't call you again.