Romania-several questions

If you traveling just between major cities in Romania it's easier and cheaper to travel by train than by car.

However, if you want to see some of the more isolated tourist sites, it's a good idea to have a car.

For accommodations of the type you want check the site of ANTREC (the national organization for rural tourism), the have lists of reputable inns, pensions, guesthouses throughout the country.

Hi Lynn,

If you plan to stay in the main cities, the train is the logical option. However if you want to travel in the countryside, a car is a must.

Regarding the accommodation, everywhere you go in the countryside, you can find some pensions on the spot.

You should expect around 30-40 EUR per room per night, breakfast included.

If you need car rental from Bucharest, I recommend the largest rent a car company in Romania - Autonom Rent a Car - www.autonom.ro (Disclosure - I work for them :) ) We have offices all around the country.

Enjoy your trip,

Marius

Hi,

Train in Romania is best, be sure you take the fastest trains, even they are slow and can be dirty. The bus system from most small cities is pretty reliable as well. I'd get out of Bucharest ASAP after flying in. It's awful.

Usually every train that arrives in any town/city is met with room hawkers. I haven't done this just to be on the safe side. In Greece it's totally normal and safe. Let's Go has some good accomodations. I used it exclusively for Romania and it was great.

As far as frugality, it shouldn't be difficult. Romania has gotten more expensive these past few years, but you can easily get by on $30-40 a day for sure, if not cheaper. I went in 2000, stayed in nice hotels, sights, ate in cafe's, and spent about $20 a day and that was an "expensive" day.

Southern Romania has little to see or do. Try fly in/out of Budapest or Wizz Air has cheap budget flights to/from Cluj Napoca for Transylvania sights. Nice little city too.

Good luck, have fun!!!

Some things have changed since 2000.

1)It's still better to use the top of the range Rapid and Intercity trains; they are slow, but they're not dirty.

2)The bus system to small cities is relatively reliable but the main problem is that (small, crowded, unsafe) mini-buses are frequently used instead of real buses.

3)Bucharest isn't awful.

4)That stuff with people waiting tourists in train stations to rent them rooms doesn't happen very often nowadays (and even back in 2000, it didn't happen in "every" city, it did just in tourist areas).

5)In urban areas you can get get by with $30-$40 only if you're able to find very cheap accommodations (for instance, even a common room in a hostel starts around $18); a meal in an average restaurant is about $7- $8.

6)There are plenty of places to see in southern Romania (just because lame guidebooks say nothing about them doesn't mean they don't exist).

Thanks to each of you who have shared information with me, I appreciate the help.

Will it be difficult for me to buy reserved seat tickets for the trains if I am unable to speak any Romanian? I don't speak German or Hungarian either.

In major trainstations you should be able to find at least one teller that speaks some English. In smaller ones it might be a bit of a problem - make sure you at least know the (correct) name of the city you're buying tickets for.

But you can also book tickets in advance for any route from the CFR's (Romanian railways operator) booking agencies, which can be found in most cities in the country and that usually have English-speaking staff.

Don't worry about not knowing German or Hungarian. Only 5% - 10% of Romania's population speaks some German and Hungarian is spoken only by the 7% - 8% of the population that happen to be ethnic Hungarians.

Lynn,
I sent a private reply, however I will post one here as well.
Romania is a country with much history, lovely people, and more hardship than many could bare.

The Melody Hotel in Cluj Napoca is a great place to stay. This may not be on your way to Sata Mura. It may be on your way to Budapest. Cluj is a city rich in history with a great University. Churches, and lovely sites. The river has a host of visions to see including homeless people, street kids and many musicians. All are quite welcoming.

Romania is my second home. I visited and fell in love with the people in 1992. Each year I spend time in the Transylvania area.

Beclean is a main railway transfer although a fairly small town. If you make a transfer there and must wait there are some shops, places to eat and a little park just down the street from the train station. Beclean has one of the old orphanages that will become an example of a recovery center. Three orphanages are there, and a good hospital for those in with developmental delays.

If you do not have a train schedule here is a site.
http://www.wasteelstravel.ro/trains/tickets.php?id_cat=6

I think you may be going through Bistrita. This is a beautiful town to visit (or to live in).http://www.all-hotels.com/xbook/servlet/hotel-details?hotl_id=456373&bbcam=adwds&bbkid=456373+codrisor+bistrita&x&gclid=CPr-4IWC0pMCFREUiQodngIzjA Lots of history. Many modern hotels. Good taxi service. Just beyond Bistrita is Sarata, a small Roma Village is there with beautiful churches.

Enjoy the beautiful country.
Drum Bun (Good Travel)

I am traveling to Romania in October 2008 as well with JCM, following pretty much the same travel plan as you have described. Are you by any chance traveling with them? Just curious.

Lynn,

Last year I drove through Romania from Bucharest to Brasov over to Timisoara. The ride was beautiful, the people were incredibly nice, but the drive took FOREVER! What we thought would only be a four to six hour drive took about twelve.

Just a note when you are planning your trip, but I really enjoyed the drive! Have fun and great travels!

Lynn,

Last year I drove through Romania from Bucharest to Brasov over to Timisoara. The ride was beautiful, the people were incredibly nice, but the drive took FOREVER! What we thought would only be a four to six hour drive took about twelve.

Just a note when you are planning your trip, but I really enjoyed the drive! Have fun and great travels!