These
few tips will help you keep your smile during your travel in
Romania.
GETTING
HERE
• by air
Bucharest
is connected with the world's major airports by regular and
charter flights of Romanian air carriers (notably Tarom, the
national carrier) or by the foreign airlines with offices in
Bucharest (KLM, Air France, Lufthansa, Swiss, Turkish Airlines,
Malev, Alitalia, British Airways, Australian Airlines...).
Actually, there are low cost companies operating in Bucharest,
Timisoara, Sibiu, Targu Mures, Cluj Napoca.
Romania's international airports are in Bucharest - Henri Coanda
and Baneasa, Constanta - Mihail Kogalniceanu, Timisoara, Targu
Mures and Cluj-Napoca.
Henri Coanda International Airport is located in Otopeni, 18
km from Bucharest city center. Transfers can be made by airport
shuttle bus (line 783) or by taxi. It is wise to agree the price
with the taxi driver before the transfer. Check this with your
travel agent. Tour operators provide transfers at very competitive
rates.
• by rail
International
express trains connect the main central European capitals with
Bucharest city, the main cities and the Black Sea coast.
For timetable see www.cfr.ro
or the Austrian one www.oebb.at
• by road
The
principal access routes into Romania are: Berlin, Warsaw, Budapest-Petea
E81; Wien, Prague, Budapest-Bors E60 or Nadlac E64 or Varsand
E671; Trieste, Belgrade-Moravita E70 or Portile de Fier E70; Athens,
Tirana, Sofia-Giurgiu E85; Istanbul, Sofia-Vama Veche E87; Moscow,
Kiev, Chernovitz-Siret E85. All roads are marked in accordance
with the international regulations.
When
crossing the border, don't forget to purchase the ROVIGNETA -
the compulsory road tax for the use of all national roads and
the motorways !!!.
WEATHER
During the last years, general
climate has changed.
In summer time, you may expect temperatures up to 40°C in
the South, and up to 30 in the other regions. Sometimes, you may
have rather hard storms, but not tornadoes.
In winter, snow of about 15-25 cm, but not lasting more than two
weeks, and temperatures up to 15°C below zero.
DRIVING
Driving
is like in Continental Europe (on the right side of the road and
overtaking on the left). When driving on international roads,
cross lights should be on in day time too.
• Driving licence
An
international driving permit (IDP) could be useful. If you don't
have one, your national licence should suffice (all European national
driving licenses, the American and Canadian ones are recognised
too). The British driving licence holders should note that licences
not bearing a photo of the holder have been known to upset traffic
police; try to get an IDP before you arrive.
• Speed limits in Romania
-
50 km/h inside localities
- 90 km/h on normal roads
- 100 km/h on national roads
- 130 km/h on highways
There are fix and mobile speed
cameras (speedometers) inside localities, as well as outside.
• Road tax
A
road tax vignette (ROVINIETA in Romanian) should be bought after
crossing the border from petrol stations. It allows you driving
on national roads. For the moment, there are no highway taxes.
• Alcoholemy
The
accepted alcoholemy is O !!!
•
Fuel
You
may buy all sorts of of fuel, including GPL, in all major petrol
stations.
• Be careful
Take
care especially when driving across villages!
You can meet on the road hen, geese, different animals (cows,
dogs, sheep etc.), bicyclists, carts etc. Frequently in the afternoon
and in the evening, sometimes even by night, the main roads in
the villages are quite populated. Driving slow in villages is
also a matter of respect to local people...
LANGUAGES
Besides Romanian (the official
language), most of young people speak English, French or Italian.
In Transylvania, many people speak Hungarian or German too.
PASSPORTS/VISAS
EU and American citizens don't
need any visa for entering Romania. They may use only their ID
card.
All those having valid passports recognized by the Romanian State
might obtain entry or transit visa from the Romanian diplomatic
and consular offices abroad. Applicants must prove they have the
means to support themselves financially for the period of their
stay in Romania.
Full updated information about visas can be found on the web site
of the Ministry
of Foreign Affairs of Romania
CURRENCY
National currency is LEU (plural
LEI).
All major currencies are accepted in exchanges and banks. US$
notes issued before 1992 are accepted with difficulty.
Marked, torn or very used bank notes are often refused at the
exchanges. Please ensure that every currency you bring is in good
condition.
Avoid changing currency in the street!!! You risk being crooked.
TRAVELLER
CHEQUES
You may cash them especially in
banks (the exchange is open currently till 4pm).
Many merchants, including hotels and restaurants, do not accept
travellers cheques.
CARDS
Visa and Mastercard/Eurocard,
are accepted in most hotels, restaurants and some important shops.
You usually have to show your passport. It is however advisable
to check in advance.
ATM-s (cash
distributors)
The ATM network is in extension.
Depending on bank owning the ATM or the bank which issued your
card, there could be a daily sum limit.
MEDICAMENTS
Actually, you may find in Romania
most of medicaments for common use. As brand names differ, please
ensure to bring your own medication.
VACCINATION
No special vaccination required.
PHONE CALLS
The country code is 40.
Direct dial national and international calls are available in
most places. Use phonecards for public phones. For cell phones,
you may buy Prepaid cards (Vodaphone, Orange, Cosmote). VOIP phone
cards (low cost communication via internet) are available in Post
Offices or newspapers kiosks too.
For special services numbers of 3 or 4 figures (only in Bucharest)
are used: 931 - telephone directory center, 952 - train timetable.
The national emergency
number (Police, Ambulance, Firebrigade etc.) is 112.
INTERNET
In most of the towns you may find
Internet cafés. Prices are reasonable - about 1 EUR/hour.
Some hotels have local internet networks (cable or wireless).
ELECTRICITY
220V/ 50 Hz AC, European
plugs with grounding (SHUKO).
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