Romania – What to Expect (Private Tour)

ROMANIA

Ruth and Richard Kinler
September 21st – October 2nd, 2024

It’s time to get excited!

Your exciting trip to Romania is just around the corner, promising to be a truly memorable experience! Please read this document carefully as it contains important information to help you get ready for the journey ahead.


Entry Requirements

Passport Information

You will need a passport to travel to Romania. Your passport should be valid until at least May 2025 and it should have 2 full empty pages.

If you don’t have empty pages, please contact us and we will send you instructions for getting a new passport in time for the tour.

Visa Information

Arrival / Departure Airport

Please note that both the arrival and departure airport for this tour is the Henri Coandă International Airport (OTP) in Bucharest.

Immunizations

Romania doesn’t require any immunizations to enter the country. However, as is the case when traveling to any country, it is always good to speak with a medical professional about what immunizations might be right for you and to ensure you are up-to-date with standard immunizations such as Hepatitis A, Typhoid and Tetanus.


Country Information

What Should You Expect?

Facts About Romania

  • Population: 19.12 million people
  • Religion: The predominant religion is Eastern Orthodox Christianity, practiced by 87% of the population. There are also smaller communities of Roman Catholics, Protestants, and a small percentage of Muslims and other faiths.
  • Languages: Romanian is the only official language, with Hungarian, Romani, Ukrainian, and German also spoken by minorities. English is widely understood and spoken, especially among younger generations, in urban areas, and within the tourism sector.
  • History: Romania’s history is a tapestry of influences, including Roman and Ottoman rule, and its existence as a principality under the Habsburg Empire. It achieved full independence in the 19th century, went through a period of communism post World War II, and saw a significant political shift after the Romanian Revolution of 1989.
  • Politics: Romania is a unitary semi-presidential republic. The President, Klaus Iohannis, is the head of state, while the Prime Minister, Marcel Ciolacu, is the head of government. The political structure combines democratic principles with parliamentary processes.

Tour Aspects

Accommodation

From 4* hotels in the cities to wonderful guesthouses in the countryside, you can always expect comfortable accommodation throughout the tour.

Guides

You will have two main guides during your experience. While in Bucharest, your guide will be Stefan. He has been a guide with us for almost 10 years and Bucharest is his home. He will also drive you to Brasov. Once in Brasov, you will meet your second guide, Alin. Alin will be with you for the rest of the trip as your driver/guide throughout Transylvania. You will also meet local guides in certain areas as well.

A few weeks before the tour starts, we will send another document that contains all of the contact details for your guides.

Transportation

During the trip, you’ll travel in comfort in your private vehicle alongside your driver-guide.

Food and Water

Money

The local currency in Romania is the Romanian Leu (RON). The current exchange rate is $1 USD = 4.60 LEU.

In terms of spending money, you should estimate an average of $30 – $40 USD per day for all of your needs. This would be for meals that are not included in the tour, basic purchases (laundry service, snacks, etc) as well as any activities you choose to do on your own.

As for exchanging money, the best method is via ATM machines which are located throughout the country. However, check with your bank at home as many banks charge high foreign transaction fees every time you withdraw money overseas.

If using an ATM is not an option, or the fees are too high, simply bring USD to exchange at money exchange offices in the cities.

Tipping

Safety

Watch your stuff – Always keep an eye on your stuff and avoid putting a wallet or phone in your back pocket. Keep your purse or shoulder bag on your front hip and make sure the zippers are zipped on your backpack. Simple as that! You can also leave valuables in your room while out and about each day as the hotels we use are all very safe.

ScamsRomania does not have many scams at all and there is nothing specific to watch out for. As with any travel, if something doesn’t seem right, it’s best to say ‘no thank you’ and walk away.

Weather

You can expect moderate temperatures throughout the tour. September and October in Romania offer comfortable weather during the day and cooler evenings. This time of the year is a great time to visit, as it usually features less rain and the landscapes, particularly the mountains, are stunning. Outdoor activities are still very enjoyable thanks to the pleasant weather. Here are the average temperatures for each destination we will visit:

  • Bucharest: 77F/25C high – 55F/13C low
  • Brasov: 64F/18C high – 50F/10C low
  • Corund: 72F/22C high – 48F/9C low
  • Sibiu: 70F/21C high – 48F/9C low

Clothing and Packing

Laundry Laundry service will be available in most major urban areas. When available, it costs approximately $20 USD per load.

We recommend packing the following items:

  • Pants (3-4 pairs – comfortable, lightweight)
  • Shirts (4-6 short-sleeve shirts, 3-4 long-sleeve shirts – loose fit, comfortable)
  • Shorts (2-3 pairs)
  • Underwear/Socks
  • Swimsuit
  • Comfortable shoes & pair of sturdy walking shoes
  • Sandals
  • Warm Clothing (2 sweaters and 1 warm jacket for cool nights)
  • Winter hat and gloves (only if you get really cold!)
  • Toiletries
  • Medicines (bring sufficient amounts of any medication you take)
  • Small daypack
  • Gadgets & chargers (camera, laptop, mobile phone, etc)
  • Sunglasses
  • Hat

The most important thing is that you don’t overpack as moving around the country with your luggage can be tiresome and the less stuff you have, the more thankful you’ll be once the tour begins.

If you have any questions about other items you were thinking about bringing or not bringing, just send us an email and we’ll be happy to let you know if such an item is necessary for this trip.


Additional Information

Cameras/Drones

You may bring your camera bodies and lenses into Romania as a tourist.

Although highly regulated, you may also bring a drone into Romania. However, to do so, you must first register with the Romanian Civil Aeronautical Authority (AACR), as well as have every planned flight pre-approved by the Ministry of National Defense. For more information on Romania’s drone laws, please visit this page of the RCAA website.

Outlet Adapters

As for electricity, check your chargers to see if they say 110 – 230V If they do, you will not have any problems charging your device while on the tour.

Staying Connected


That’s it for now and we hope you are continuing to get more and more excited about this incredible adventure, just as we are!

If you have any questions about anything, please reach out to earl@wanderingearl.com

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