You may find some web sites offering apartments for rent. They provide you with precise information about their apartments: location, detailed description and photos. But you still can't actually be a hundred percent sure that you'll get that very apartment you've booked online, because it might be busy and then you'll be offered something 'similar' on arrival.
If you decided to rent an apartment in the center of Odessa, you need to know that most of the buildings there are quite old. It means that you might face certain difficulties with water supply, heating, electricity and next-door neighbors. 

Ten things to check before you move in
1. Area. Try to choose somewhere situated in a busy and well-lit area, avoid deserted and dark side-streets. Imagine coming back home alone in the middle of the night. Odessa's city centre is pretty safe, but there are risks like everywhere.
2. Entrance door. Take a proper look at the lock - does it look safe? Can you lock your door from the inside with a bolt or a safety chain? Try the entrance lock a couple of times, to make sure it works properly.
3. Electricity. Check switches in all rooms, including bathroom and kitchen, make sure they work. Please note that power cuts in the city center are common, so keep a torch at hand, buy some candles in advance and don't panic if the light suddenly shuts down. The power cut may last from one minute to ten hours, and there's nothing you can do about it. Take the time to contemplate how pleasant life was before we needed computers.
4. Water supply. Open a tap in the bathroom and evaluate the water pressure. In old houses it's sometimes so low that taking a shower becomes quite a tricky procedure. Ask an owner if there's is a boiler in the place. If yes, it's a big advantage, otherwise you have a good chance to take a cold shower each morning (which is healthy, but not very pleasant). Make sure you understood how to deal with the boiler; some of them are quite old and require a special touch.
5. Heating. If you're coming in winter, try to choose a place with an in-house gas central heating, this will guarantee you stay warm in your flat. If there's central heating in the flat, touch the radiators to make sure they're hot, and evaluate the general temperature in the rooms.
6. Air conditioning. Summer days in Odessa are really hot, as nights are not much better. Some of the old houses in the center of the city are made of a special thick bricks of natural stone, which keeps the house cool in the hottest months. You might notice this when entering the porch of your house - in houses like that the air in a staircase feels almost cold. Still, if you're not tolerant to heat, look for an air-conditioned flat. Check the conditioner in the place to make sure it really works, doesn't leak and doesn't make too much noise which will keep you awake at night.
7. Windows. It's always better to have a place with new plastic windows, instead of traditional old wooden ones. Odessa courtyards can be really loud, and if you windows don't close properly you'll have to listen to old ladies' conversations from early morning till late night.
8. Bed. Check the bed you're supposed to sleep on. Don't feel embarrassed to lie on it for a few seconds to try if it's really comfortable. A bad bed can spoil the whole vacation!
9. Check-out time. The traditional check-out time is noon. If you need to stay longer than that, discuss it beforehand. You might be asked to pay some additional fee for additional hours.
10. The last but not least - the landlord, the person you're dealing with. Be sure they are friendly, reasonable and reliable. Giving apartments for rent is often illegal in Ukraine, and even if you sign a contract it doesn't mean you have proper rights to stay there according to local legislation. So if your landlord is unreasonable and unreliable, they can easily make your stay a total nightmare.
If you need help choosing a private apartment in Odessa, email us at info@ukraine.odessa.ua