Perhaps Clifton or Ben Haines can answer our question. Are bed-&-breakfasts common in Romania? We've traveled quite a bit in Germany, enjoyed meeting people in zimmers-frei, and would like to wander by rental car around Transylvania and the Carpathians. What is your opinion?

USNR, try these websites, lots of good info:http://www.ruraltourism.ro
http://www.antrec.ro
http://www.ebran.ro
http://www.cazari.ro

USNR,
Well, from what I saw, (and I'm not an authority, this is just basic observations) I'd say that home-based lodging was common in certain areas. "Pensiune" is the sign you'd likely see posted. A cazare is usually referencing more of a "room to rent", even if overnight. Seems like there's a lot of overlap though in definitions.

There are certain areas of the country where tourism has caught on to a greater degree, sometimes with the assistance of outside help. The Antrec system website that A_G referenced for instance is a French program to assist areas of Romania in establishing a tourist infrastructure. The areas that I know are more likely to have readily available pensiunes are Bran, Bucovina, Maramures, the Marginimea Sibiului. I saw signs around better known towns such as Beirtan as well.

In addition to the sites A_G listed, also check out the site http://www.ruraltourism.ro/indexen.html

Scroll down to the map and click on the various areas. I liked this site as it had photos, amenities, prices (sometimes $5 per night, so likely not of the level you'd see in Germany yet) and listed languages spoken and contact info.

In bigger towns, such as Sibiu and Sighisoara, I'd watch closely where your planned accommodation is. I just say that generally in that these towns have fascinating medieval centers with some, but not a lot, of lodging. The center is ringed though with more gritty block-style areas.

We really Casa Legenda in Sighisoara, as an example. www.legenda.ro Just a little guesthouse, but with doors to the outside little pathway. Breakfast was no great shakes though.

i agree with what was said above
by clifton...you might try asking
this same question on the message boards at eurotrip.com ...there
are people who live in romania
that post there regularly that will
be able to give you more detailed
advice

i'm flying to romania on monday
to spend a couple of weeks...this
will be my second trip and i'm
pretty darn excited

I am afraid I have nothing to add to Clifton s good reply, as I tend to city centre three star hotels, and very nice too. I agree that using b and b would help you to meet people.

Ben Haines