Is it possible to organize a perfect vacation without ever speaking to the staff? It turns out, yes. In ULIS.Dudky, instead of the usual reception, a Telegram bot works, food and firewood are ordered via QR codes, and the only legal stimulus instead of Slack noise is the view of the forest from a huge window. We tested this format of “digital detox with comfort” just 40 km from Kyiv.
Is it possible to organize a perfect vacation without ever speaking to the staff? It turns out, yes. In ULIS.Dudky, instead of the usual reception, a Telegram bot works, food and firewood are ordered via QR codes, and the only legal stimulus instead of Slack noise is the view of the forest from a huge window. We tested this format of “digital detox with comfort” just 40 km from Kyiv.
The road through the Vyshgorod district turned out to be pleasant and fast, and the complex itself greeted me with absolute silence and the absence of any fences, which immediately creates an unusual feeling of freedom and integration into nature for a city dweller.
The experience of staying at ULIS began with the most digitalized and contactless service, which is a huge plus for IT professionals: no receptions or unnecessary conversations, because all instructions and access codes come to the Telegram bot or email.
I stayed in a cabin — it's a compact thermos house that smells of fresh wood and heats up incredibly quickly, keeping you warm for hours. The main "trick" inside is a huge panoramic window right next to the bed, which replaces any TV, although for fans of evening movies there is a projector with access to Netflix and YouTube.
Special attention deserves the way everything is set up in terms of everyday life and orders, because the QR code system here is a real paradise for introverts and automation lovers. To order food, just scan the code, which instantly takes you to the website with the menu. For example, if you decide to have a barbecue, you choose a set for cooking burgers, pay for it online through the payment system, and in about an hour the order is brought directly to your cabin. If you don't want to wait or pay for delivery, you can always walk to the cottage area, where the dishes are prepared directly, and pick everything up yourself.
The process of obtaining additional household items is even more interesting and completely eliminates the need to talk to the staff. There is a special box with coal, a kindling and additional firewood near each cabin (although the first set of firewood is already included in the price). If you run out of supplies, you simply scan the QR code on this box, pay for the desired item online, and you immediately receive a code from the lock that opens the chest.
The same principle applies to the internal "shop" or "useful basket" of goodies from Ukrainian brands that stands in the room: you choose chips or sweets, scan the code and make the payment.
It is important to remember that all payments in ULIS are made exclusively in cashless form, and during payment the system redirects you to the payment service website, which guarantees data security. If there are technical difficulties or additional questions, the Telegram bot "care team" comes to the rescue, where they respond very promptly. You don't even need to ask for an umbrella or bowls for your dog - they are already prepared in advance in the house as part of the basic service.
Even the issue of energy stability, which is currently a concern for everyone, is professionally resolved here. During my stay, the power went out twice, but the powerful generators turned on almost instantly, ensuring the operation of all appliances and the Internet. At the same time, the administration cares about the comfort of the neighbors, so at night the generators are turned off so that nothing disturbs the magical silence of the forest.
By the way, if you don't plan to stay overnight but want to work in silence, they have a cabin rental service for the day, which is an ideal format for a remote office.
In addition to the comfort of the houses themselves, ULIS offers a whole range of activities that help you immerse yourself even deeper in a state of peace and exploration of nature. Walking around the territory, I noticed how successfully active recreation is integrated into the forest landscape. For those who are not used to sitting still even during a digital detox, there are bicycle rentals for trips through coniferous forests, as well as sports grounds with horizontal bars and swings.
A real discovery was the barefoot walking path - a circular path with different types of surfaces, from pebbles to wood, which gives new tactile sensations and is very beneficial for health.
For complete relaxation, ULIS has hot tubs and a sauna, which provide a special atmosphere of solitude in the middle of the boundless forest. In each cabin, I also found special cards for meditation and self-reflection, which help structure thoughts.
When evening comes, you can refer to the constellation map included in the guest guide and try to find familiar stars in the clear night sky, although for the best effect it is worth having your own telescope.
When it’s time to say goodbye to the forest, the eviction process will be just as technological: you’ll be sent departure instructions in the morning. But the journey doesn’t end there, as ULIS takes care of your experience even beyond the complex.
In the final message, you will find a list of interesting places in the Vyshhorod district that are worth visiting on the way back to Kyiv. This allows you to turn an ordinary trip home into a full-fledged excursion to new locations, expanding the boundaries of your weekend and helping you learn more about the community supported by this project.
