What to say without making it a book. Main thing is Romania was great and both wife and I would go back again tomorrow.
Accommodation
We never book as we don't like fixing a schedule and mix camping and hotels as the mood (and money) takes us. Hotels are so cheap in Romania that it was hardly worth taking the tent.
Four star room for two inc. breakfast in good hotels cost around £20 - £25. The most we paid was £36 in a new hotel in Bran - a very big tourist area.
We camped in Sighisoara on a site which was basically a huge "lido" i.e. swimming pool, sunbathing, bar, etc. with a small camping area, hotel and chalets. Camping inc. use of facilities was about £7.00 night. The chalets cost £24.00 per night. Site is secure. Camping Aquarius which features on Archies Camping POIs.
Camping also very cheap in Czech Republic and worth going for a visit to Cesky Krumlov. Camping Paradis is a few K outside on the banks of a river. Nice site, English speaking staff and has bar and food. Popular stop for people on the river as well.
Safety
We had heard lot of dire warnings about thieving Romanians. Maybe we were lucky but it was no different to anywhere else. The warnings to be careful with credit/debit cards is probably valid. Ie. draw cash from bank machines and pay cash for meals, fuel, etc. We had to use machines for fuel sometime because outside the bigger towns cash machines can be VERY hard to find. Made sure to only use cards when we retained contact, i.e. we could use chip and pin machine.
After some close calls on the roads a Romanian told us that they have no history of big bikes so when a driver sees a single headlight he assumes it is a moped or little scooter pottering along towards him so is happy to overtake and let the bike go in the gutter. They don't expect a 300kg missile doing 90 coming towards them. Whenever traffic is coming towards you beware the dick head pulling out to overtake.
Also watch out for level crossings (watch for the vertical barrier pole). Even on fast good roads the surface over the crossings can be diabolical and can catch you out as either it too fast or the car in front suddenly brakes hard to about 15 mph for no obvious reason.
Fuel
After some previous experiences of having trouble finding fuel in Slovakia we expected Romania to be similar. In fact there are more 24 hour filling stations than you can use. Fuel is pretty cheap as well. Hungary is expensive for fuel which explains the big queues at fuel stops in Austria near border.
Vignette
Austria requires the purchase of a vignette which costs 4.50 Euros for 10 days. Hungary operates a system like the London congestion charge. You pay and get a receipt with your bike number on it and it is policed by ANPR cameras. Cost is a few £ for thee days and we found it cheaper to buy separate ones for outward and return trips.
In Romania and Czech Republic bikes are exempt.
Places
In Romania the obvious area is probably Transylvania with Sighisoara worth a visit plus Brasov which has Castle Bran and the hill top remains of Rasnov nearby. More obvious is a ride over the Transfagarasan. We stayed in the Bulevade Hotel in the centre of Fagaras the night before. Good room, good food, usual cheap and the Fagaras Citadel which is also worth visiting is nearby.
On the way there a good overnight is on Lake Balaton in Hungary. Very popular holiday area with good hotels, camping, etc. We stayed on a site with everything from bars, restaurants, shops, water skiing, paragliding, etc. etc. for £15.00.
The trip to Cesky Krumlov was suggested by a Spanish GSer we met in Brasov. Well worth the diversion. Going via Budapest, then on to Vienna and a marvellous ride along rivers and across mountains into Austria.
Tried to add track log as gpx but file is too big for site.
