jetsetter

Anyone been to Romania? If so-planning a trip from Bucharest to Brasov (Transylvania) to spend Halloween there. Do you know how far it is by train. If any special events take place at that time? Planning to visit Dracula's castle...has anyone been there? Any advice at what are the must things to visit more so in Transylvania. I am looking for medieval villages and the feel of eerieness/influence of Dracula.

jetsetter

this is like the 3rd time I post this message--has anyone ever been there?<BR>

vlad

hey, lady, with an attitude like yours I hope no one answers you.

Ben Haines

I am afraid that in Europe few Fodors readers venture so far from Paris.<BR>There is a great deal more on the parallel Lonely Planet site. You might use http://www.lonelyplanet.com, then enter, one after the other, destinations and postcards, then Romania. Also you can enter Lonely Planet, Thorn Tree, then Romania.<BR><BR>The coverage in http://www.inyourpoicket.com is good, too.<BR><BR>After your reading in these sites, please write if I can help further. I go yearly.<BR><BR>Ben Haines

alan

Hi<BR>Just wanted to let you know that yours was a good question and I guess the responses just show the way this site has become. I'm planning to drive from Hungary to Romania this Sept. Don't think I'll get to Brasov but am hoping to get to Sighisoara, where by the way Vlad Draculs house has been turned into a restaurant. Sibiu is another townwe are planning to visit. According to my understanding from the guidebooks and others, these are two very nice sites to visit.<BR>Enjoy

Barbara

I just returned from a business visit to Romania. I didn't get to do much sightseeing because I was so busy with other matters, and all the travel arrangements were made for me, but I'll tell you what I know!<BR><BR>I spent one day in Bucharest: I would strongly recommend seeing the People's Palace and the Peasant's Museum, if you are interested in history and/or architecture. It was very sobering to walk around the square where Coucescu made his final speech in an attempt to stop the Revolution (I think the building where he stood was the former Communist party headquarters). In the square there we saw bullet holes in the buildings across the street--a sobering reminder of all that the Romanian people suffered for so many years.<BR><BR>In Sinaia, a resort town on the road between Bucharest and Brasov, I would strongly recommend a trip to the top of the mountains by cable car (at least, if the weather is clear) and a visit to Peles Castle, summer palace built by the Romanian King Karol in the 19th century. It was very ornate and beautiful. <BR><BR>I only drove through Brasov on the way to a restaurant up in the mountains; I think it was in a place called Poinia Brasov, or something like that. The restaurant was called the Outlaw Hut, and it very definitely had character!<BR><BR>I didn't see any Dracula sites, but I understand that the historical figure and the Stoker character are not related in any real way. <BR><BR>I don't know how far it is by train from Bucharest to Brasov, but I can't imagine it would take any more than three hours. I think we made it from the Bucharest airport to Sinaia in about 2 hours by bus, but the train is probably faster. Brasov was another hour or so beyond that, again by bus. <BR><BR>The Lonely Planet guide had really good information about traveling in Romania, as I recall. I would strongly advise reading it before leaving. It will help you deal with some potential difficulties in currency exchange, finding clean restrooms, mailing letters and making phone calls, dealing with pickpockets and scams, etc.<BR><BR>The Romanians I met were kind and friendly. Unfortunately, there are others who will take advantage of Western tourists, so be sure to secure your valuables.<BR><BR>Have a good trip.

Art

Choose Romania from the pull down menu and you will get some information. You will also find my trip report. I was in Poland and Romania last September. Bran Stoker had heard of Dracula and fictionalized him. Vlad is held in high esteem in Romania for defeating the Turk invasion 2 times. The third time he was defeated and beheaded. His form of handling his enemy’s was to impale them.<BR>We did day trip to Bucharest from Brasov (where we stayed for 3 days). It is IMO not a very pretty city, but there is an outdoor village that consists of medieval buildings. There is also the "Peoples Palace", the 2nd largest building in the world.<BR>Dracula was born in Sighisoara, a medium size Germanic village. The house where he was born is now a bar and restaurant and we had a very nice dinner there. There is a mural on the wall in one of the rooms showing both Vlad and his father. <BR>Sighisora is also the birthplace of Herman Obert, the farther of space travel.<BR>There is also a very nice castle south of Brasov (Bran Castle) that is very worth visiting. It is said that Dracula stayed there a couple of times. him. His castle is in ruins (most of it fell off of the mountain. He is held in fairly <BR>As Mr Haines wrote you can get more information on Lonely Planet.<BR>Feel free to email if you wish.<BR>Regards<BR>

Nick

I'm going there on August 24th and I've already went to Bucharest about 2 years ago. <BR>The Palace of Parliment is nice and there's a few other attractions, but there's also a lot of broken down buildings in this poor city. I also went to the mountain resort of Sinia, which seemed to be a little bit nicer than Bucharest. When I was there, I saw this old castle and rode on the cable car in the mountains.<BR>Food and public transportation seemed to be real cheap there. You should be able to get a Romanian guide book in the travel section at Barnes and Noble for further details. As long as you have a guide book, you should be able to have a good time.<BR><BR>

xxx

http://www.cnn.com/2002/WORLD/europe/08/14/floods.prague/index.html<BR><BR>Other countries badly hit include Romania, Austria and Germany. "We are very concerned about Romania," John Sparrow, of the International Red Cross, said. <BR><BR>"Fifteen thousand people, mainly in rural areas have been affected, and 5,000 hectares of cultivated land is covered. <BR><BR>"Tragically, people's livelihoods have been affected. The tragedy will not end with the retreat of the waters. It is a very difficult time ahead." <BR>

Ben Haines

I have just been chatting on the phone with a friend in Cluj Napoca, and of course asked her about floods. She says Romania is worried about floods in the south of the country and along the Danube, but Transylvania is unaffected. <BR><BR>Ben Haines, London<BR>

Robert

Make sure you visit the Marriott hotel opposite the Parliament Palace. It opened two years ago, and is probably one of the best hotels in Central Europe.

Corina

Hello Jet Setter,<BR>I am Romanian and i am very happy when foreiners are visiting my mother-country.<BR>I know better than anybody here how is the situation over there, first because I am born overthere, second, because I live abroad and I know or I can imagine what you expect from visiting Romania.<BR>It is true, you will find very beautiful scenery, countryside, old medieval villages and cities, museums.<BR>You will find a very european atmosphere, very latin manner of living and thinking. We are all like Italians, French, Portughese, Spanish, carrying Latin blood.<BR>Your trip to Brasov from Bucharest should be 3 hours by a fast train. You can take an early train from Bucharest and stop in Sinaia to visit Peles Castle and Pelisor Castle and from Brasov you can have an hour trip by car to Bran where you can visit Bran Castle which is not a ruin.<BR>I suggest you can go to Poiana Brasov, a resort over Brasov, 1/2 hour by bus and enjoy "Coliba Haiducilor" a good restaurant with a very warm welcome.<BR>You can visit also Sighisoara, Rasnov, Prejmer, Feldioara, Fagaras, all medieval cities with German influence in architecture.<BR>Close to Bucharest, in Snagov village is the Snagov lake, where is the Snagov Monastery and Dracula's tumb is in the church, not very easy access,but very rewarding if you find the way to it.<BR>When you go to visit Romania forget about the best story writen by Stoker, it is only a story. We as Romanians appreciated his attitude and his politics, no vampyrism was involved in his life.<BR>Keep in mind to take care of your money, don't let anybody to know how much you have and pay attention where you change them in local currency.<BR>Good luck and enjoy the visit!

Linda

If you're interested in Dracula, Intl Tours and Events has a Dracular Tour going for the week of 10/27/02 to 11/03/02, spending Halloween in Drac's Castle. Check their web site www.internationaltoursandevents.com. That's where I'm going

Alissa

Does anyone have suggestions on how I should get around in Romania? Has anyone ever traveled by carriage, and if so how expensive was it? I know very little Romanian however, I am trying to sharpen my skills. Is it better to jtire a tanslator while I'm there? Also, if anyone has hired a translator what were the costs and where can I find one?

Art

I spoke very little Romanian and had no problems while I was there. I'm not sure what you mean &quot;by Coach&quot;. There is supposed to be a new Dracula Land near Bucharest. I saw it in the news 1 1/2 years ago and it was supposed to be done by now.<BR><BR>

jimily

Thank you Corrina for your most informative explanation of things to see and places to go in Romania. I have a new niece in-law from their and we may be tempted to visit your country.<BR>thank you<BR>emily

julies

Post again if you want more detailed info. We spent 10 days in Romania 2 years go. We did not visit Bucharest. We rented a car in budapest and drove in to Romaina. Spent time in Transylvania, Maramures and Bucovina. It remains one of our favorite trips--like Europe must have been 60 years ago. A beautiful country with friendly people. However, if you are into looking for a lot of tourist amenities or good eating or luxury it is probably not for you as the country is still struggling with making the transition from communism to a free market economy.

Mariarosa

The current Travel Holiday (March/APril 2003) has an editorial on ROmania as a great inexpensive European destination. It sure intrigued me, although I just got back from France and probably will not be taking another trip to Europe until next year.