Ireland to Romania advice sought

Hi Guys Dont know whether I'm in the right section or not, somebody will put me right, I'm looking for a bit of advice on this trip I'm thinking of doing on the 9th of August to the 22th, My daughter is going to Arad in Romania to play in the European basketball championships, I was to fly with the rest of the family and stay there for the two weeks but now I'm trying to see if it is possible to incorporate it into a little trip for myself aswel. What is the best route to take, which do you think camping or hotel, I was thinking 5days to get there 4days there with the family and 5days back, what do ye think, nice roads, places of interest, I'm open to all ideas, Thanks

Wheelo check out the travel section under Eastern Europe, Baltic & Russia, there are loads of threads about Romania.

Hotels and hostels are cheap enough and staff all very friendly and helpful.
For me, the whole Transylvania experience has made me a bit obsessed -

Sighisoara is an absolute must - a charming citadel where Vlad Dracul spent his first 4 years, with medieval higgledy piggledy buildings in different colours.

Go to Brasov, it's very pretty and quite cosmopolitan now. Accomodation is easily found via the tourist info centre in the middle of the square. Get a coach from there to Bran Castle, supposedly but not actually Dracula's castle - he visited it once in 1472 I think it was. Loads of Dracula tourist tat for sale round the bottom of the castle but beautiful inside, with photos of how it was when it was lived in by the royal family. I wanted to move in.

The ski-resport of Sinaia is lovely, with plenty of hotels and restaurants - visit Peles castle which took 33 years to build (you'll see why when you go in - it's unbelievable) , and Pelisor, built for the King's son and his new wife, very charming full of Mucha, Klimt, Mackintosh, Tiffany. The monastery at the top of the hill is also very beautiful but watch out for bears! (only a few weeks ago a bear wandered in during a service). The town is full of houses Gomez and Morticia would be proud of. A pass to the top of the mountain on the cable car is expensive, the view on the way up is fantastic but if it's foggy at the top you won't see a thing. The soup's good in the restaurant though. Watch out for the pissed bloke hanging round outside the hotels offering you free accomodation - it's over 100 euros if he manages to lure you up to the house (we didn't fall for it, can I just point out!)

I loved Romania and am very jealous.

Good luck to your daughter!
Have fun

thanks for that advise kirst

wheelo said:

thanks for that advise kirst

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yeah, as Kirst says, Transylvania is great, full of interesting sights and towns, Brasov, Sighosoara as he said, Sibiu too, many others. I didn't think much of Danube valley tho. It's a long and boring haul to Romania from here, and maybe you should allow more time for Romania itself, the more interesting places are further east from Arad.

SHORTLEGS said:

yeah, as Kirst says, Transylvania is great, full of interesting sights and towns, Brasov, Sighosoara as he said, Sibiu too, many others. I didn't think much of Danube valley tho. It's a long and boring haul to Romania from here, and maybe you should allow more time for Romania itself, the more interesting places are further east from Arad.

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Don't eat the cucumbers in Brasov.

Lamble said:

Don't eat the cucumbers in Brasov.

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pray tell

Nothing deep and meaningful, just don't eat the cucumbers in Brasov, the fertiliser compounds used can cause illness. Don't eat them!!!!

See

http://www.ukgser.com/forums/showthread.php?t=209194

and then feel free to PM me for any additional advice as you think fit.

I travelled to Romania again around a year later, this time taking a more "scenic' route via Basel and Lake Ballaton, and back through Austria, with a couple of days based at Fiss. Some superb roads and very bike-friendly accommodation.

Good luck with trip.

Dave

wheelo said:

Hi Guys Dont know whether I'm in the right section or not, somebody will put me right, I'm looking for a bit of advice on this trip I'm thinking of doing on the 9th of August to the 22th, My daughter is going to Arad in Romania to play in the European basketball championships, I was to fly with the rest of the family and stay there for the two weeks but now I'm trying to see if it is possible to incorporate it into a little trip for myself aswel. What is the best route to take, which do you think camping or hotel, I was thinking 5days to get there 4days there with the family and 5days back, what do ye think, nice roads, places of interest, I'm open to all ideas, Thanks

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Don't pause to check your map in a Gyppo village. It can be scary...

wheelo said:

Hi Guys Dont know whether I'm in the right section or not, somebody will put me right, I'm looking for a bit of advice on this trip I'm thinking of doing on the 9th of August to the 22th, My daughter is going to Arad in Romania to play in the European basketball championships, I was to fly with the rest of the family and stay there for the two weeks but now I'm trying to see if it is possible to incorporate it into a little trip for myself aswel. What is the best route to take, which do you think camping or hotel, I was thinking 5days to get there 4days there with the family and 5days back, what do ye think, nice roads, places of interest, I'm open to all ideas, Thanks

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Ha, my home town , will be there for 3 days in July and stay in the Kalypso ( 25 euro for a double). If you want , I can give you the phone number of my friend in Arad . Bit of a big cheese in the Town Hall and he speaks good English .