Travel Guides: All Countries / Europe / Romania
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| | | | Review by geoff maxted from eastleigh
A good holiday destination for familys who love independant travel, lots to see and do at very resonable prices.
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| | Destination Guide : Romania |
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| | | A Gothic past |  | Why go on holiday to Romania?
Romania is slowly but surely casting aside its past and becoming a modern European nation. Despite the desperate poverty of some, Romanians are a friendly and honest people.
Their country has stunning scenery and wildlife which has been driven out of most other regions, and medieval towns and imposing gothic castles.
How much does it cost?
A flight-only return from Gatwick to Bucharest starts at around £200. A three-star hotel room will start at about £40.
Many tourists come to Romania for good-value ski holidays; packages from the UK start at £300 for seven nights' half-board accommodation. All prices may vary so shop around.
When should I go?
The Black Sea resorts get very busy from June-August, when temperatures peak in the high 80s (30C). Winters can be harsh, from 20-42F (-6 to 7C), but December-March is great for skiers, with lots of snow in the Carpathian mountains.
Late spring, May-June, is lovely. The wildflowers are blooming, mountain streams in full flow and highs are in the 70Fs. However, remember to pack your waterproofs - it can rain at any time.
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| | | Outdoor adventures | | What should I do when I'm there?
Most visitors start their travels in the capital of Bucharest. Former dictator Ceaucescu's great white elephant, the gigantic House of the People, dominates the southern part of the city.
The second-biggest building in the world, guided tours are available through some of the 1,000 rooms.
Central Bucharest gives a better idea why the city was once called the Paris of the East, with grand architecture, good restaurants and the best nightlife in Romania.
Where can I step back in time?
There are medieval castles, monasteries and tiny peasant villages dotted all over the rugged mountains and rich green valleys of Romania.
Sighisoara is a perfectly-preserved walled town; 11 towers guard cobblestone streets lined with 16th-century burgher houses and churches.
Brasov is another popular destination, a pleasant Saxon town in Transylvania with an impressive Gothic church that looms over the baroque facades of the city square.
Cut off from the rest of the country by mountains, the valleys and villages of Maramures remain largely untouched by the 20th century and are well worth the effort it takes to get there.
Where can I get away from it all?
The traditional Romanian spot for rest and recreation is the Black Sea coast, but these days you'll have to look hard to find a beach that's not crowded.
Neptune-Olimp are twin resorts and perhaps the nicest and most chic; Neptune is quieter, set back along a lake. To really get some peace, head for the Fagaras mountains, for great hiking along isolated trails.
Where are areas of special interest?
Don't miss the painted monasteries of Southern Bucovina, perhaps the greatest artistic monuments in the country. The Danube Delta is home to a rich variety of bird life and is a must for bird-watchers.
Skiers and snowboarders will find great value-for-money in the small but well-run resorts of Sinaia and Poiana Brasov.
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| | | Count Dracula's castle | | Where's good for nightlife?
Local festivals and cultural events are common all over the country, with gypsy and classical music, opera and long, loud evenings filled with folklore and plum brandy.
Most towns have at least one cinema; films are usually shown with Romanian subtitles. However, you're unlikely to find good clubs and bars outside Bucharest, although ski resorts have the usual selection of tourist bars and discos.
What's the food like?
Big soups are the Romanian thing - they do them with meatballs, giblets, fish, beans, beef, cream and eggs.
Romanian cuisine is hearty, try tocana (a mighty meaty stew), parjoale (fiercely- spiced meat patties), sarmale (pork balls in cabbage leaves) and mamaliga (mashed cornmeal).
Local wine is excellent and beer is cheap. Coffee and tea is served black unless milk is specifically requested.
What should I buy?
Romata shops sell glassware, textiles and beautifully-embroidered women's blouses, but traditional Romanian plum brandy is perhaps the most appreciated gift.
There are great open-air food markets in almost every town, selling Romanian cheese, meats and pastries like placinte cu poale in briu (rolled cheese pies), Moldavian cozonac (brioche) and pasca (a sweet cheesecake).
What is there for children to do?
Kids can't fail to be impressed by a trip to the very real Transylvania. Bram Castle is rumoured to be the home of Dracula, historically known not as a vampire but as 15th-century Romanian resistance fighter Vlad "The Impaler" Tepes.
Though it's unlikely that Vlad ever stayed at Bram, it's fun to run through the medieval castle's 57 rooms; the nearby hilltop ruins of Rasnov Castle are also impressively scary.
Tourist office
Romanian National Tourist Office, 22 New Cavendish Street, London W1G 8TT. Tel. 020 7224 3692.
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| | Fact File : Romania |
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| | | Romania | | Did you know?
60% of Europe's bears live in Romania's Carpathian Mountains.
Language
Romanian
Visas
You will need a visa and a return ticket. Visas are usually stamped in your passport free of charge upon entering, but check with the embassy or your tour operator before travelling.
Getting there
Most flights from the UK land at Otopeni airport in the capital Bucharest, though it's possible to fly to Constanta and Timisoara. Rail links to western Europe and Russia are cheap and easy.
Flying time from London
Three and a half hours.
Getting around
TAROM, the state-owned airline, has an extensive network of internal flights, but foreigners pay much higher fares than Romanians. Buses are less reliable and unbelievably slow. Trains are cheap and the best way to get around. Arrive early to buy tickets and avoid the 'personae' - local - trains if you're in a hurry, as they're not.
Currency
The Romanian leu, plural lei.
Costs
All prices vary but expect to pay roughly: litre of petrol 30p; can of beer 60p; moderate restaurant meal £8-£10; roll of camera film £1; four-mile taxi ride £2-£4.
Weather
Romanian winters can be cold and foggy with lots of snow and temperatures from -7C to 6C (20F-42F). It can rain any time of year, though it's heavier in the spring months from March-May. Summers are usually hot, particularly on the coast; temperatures range between 12C (53F) in the mountains to 29C (89F) by the sea.
Time difference
Two hours ahead of GMT. Daylight saving time is observed from the end of March to the end of September.
International dialling code from the UK
00 40
Voltage
220V, 50Hz AC. Plugs are of the 2-pin type, so UK appliances will need an adapter.
Opening hours
All museums are closed on Monday, and many theatres shut during the summer. Shops maintain fairly conservative hours and most close on Sunday.
Health - Before you go
No vaccinations are necessary though tetanus, typhoid, hepatitis A and polio are recommended. See your doctor two months prior to travel. Romania has a reciprocal health agreement with the UK, and UK passport holders are entitled to free hospital care. However, other treatment may be charged for and medicines certainly will be. As medical facilities tend to be limited, it's wise to take out sufficient travel insurance to cover any extra costs or emergency repatriation in case of serious injury or illness.
Health - When you are there
Call 961 for an ambulance. Ask your hotel or the embassy for recommendations of English-speaking doctors. Allergy-sufferers should be prepared for heavy pollen in the spring.
Warnings
Watch out for packs of stray dogs - rabies is present. Petty crime is on the increase, particularly in Bucharest and along the Black Sea coast, so be diligent.
Emergency
Ambulance - 961; Police - 955; Fire - 981. British Embassy, Strada Jules Michelet 24, 70154 Bucharest, Romania. Tel: (1) 312 0303.
Customs
Though generally warm and welcoming towards visitors, Romanians have a strong Latin heritage and temperament; do not be surprised to be jostled out of the way in queues.
Pets
Animals returning from Romania will be subject to six months quarantine.
Tipping
Not expected, but round bills up to the nearest 500 lei. Be prepared to haggle with taxi drivers.
Tourist office
Romanian National Tourist Office, 22 New Cavendish Street, London W1G 8TT. Tel. 020 7224 3692.
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The Location
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The Building
Located in the commercial area of Baneasa in the north of Bucharest, in the heart of the economic area.
This Business Center is erected on 6 floors, entirely glazed to
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Holiday Rentals in Romania |
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 |  | Culture and history (3) | | | Lively nightlife (1) | | | Good value (1) | | | Good dining (1) | | | Activity holiday (1) |
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