At the author suggests, one can of course fly to Constanta (in Romania) with a view to continuing to Moldova. But the distances are quite large. There is an overnight bus from Constanta to Chisinau (which runs nightly in summer, though less often in winter), but it’s not a bundle of fun. For greater comfort there’s a good once-a-day train option, but the journey takes just under 19 hours.

Using Lapeenranta as a gateway for St Petersburg is indeed a good idea, but again it ain’t quick or cheap. There is no direct train from Lapeenranta to StP, but there’s a useful connection via Kouvola, for example leaving Lap at 8.38 am, arriving StP at 2.36 pm. You need to book in advance, and the one-way fare is about €70. Or, for a faster option, taxi from Lappeenranta Airport to Vainikkala station (about €35) from where there are express trains four times each day to StP (again book in advance, one-way fare €47). There are also direct buses from Lappeenranta to StP, one to three times daily, one-way for €31.

In a similar vein, it can make perfect sense to fly to Lublin or Rzeszow as a gateway to L’viv in western Ukraine. But bear in mind that the once-daily train connection from Lublin to L’viv takes over 11 hours. Rzeszow is hardly better and the timings on the return from L’viv to Rzeszow are gruelling. The once-daily direct train gets into Rzeszow at 3.40 in the morning. Buses are however better. For example, you can leave Lublin by bus at 4.30 pm and be in L`viv before midnight.

All in all, we’d say it’s worth checking onward ground transportation options thoroughly before committing to a flight to an airport that is far distant from your destination. It could be that any savings in plane fare are gobbled up in train, bus and taxi fares.