Customer Reviews

The Rough Guide to Romania 4 (Rough Guide Travel Guides)

5 star:		(11)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

This book is the best general guide to Romania presently available. The book contains good background information and tips, as well as practical information that is invaluable. The book is many times better than the Lonely Planet guide for this country -- more deep and perceptive coverage, and more consistently accurate. This book was an invaluable companion during my stay in Bucharest last fall.

I used the "Rough Guide" for a visit to Romania in 2003. Traveling mostly by train, without any pre-arranged plans or reservations, we found this guide accurate and up-to-date. Few Romanians speak English or other world languages, so it's a bit more of an adventure traveling on the cheap than in most of Europe. You may need to resort to the 2 pages of Romanian words and phrases in the guide. Given the sorry state of the US dollar, Romania is also one of very few European countries which is still relatively inexpensive for Americans.

As a country Romania is scenic and pleasant, much sunnier and more open than the legend of Dracula portends. We visited most of the places associated with Dracula and enjoyed looking into the country's rich history and ethnic background: Romanian, Hungarian, Turk, and German. Other than complaints about unemployment and corrupt politicians, we didn't encounter much to suggest the country's well-publicized dark side.

The "Rough Guide" was a competent guide to most of what you would like to know about Romania. For example, among the interesting tidbits in the book, is the sidebar about the beginning of the Romanian revolution in 1989 in the city of Timisoara, a place worth visiting.

Smallchief

The Rough Guide to Romania is outstanding. It is intelligently written and comprehensive in its coverage. A few more maps would help, but I'm still glad to have chosen this book over the Lonely Planet book.

Having lived in Romania for six years, we hardly considered ourselves tourists. It wasn't until a couple years into our stay that we came across the Rough Guide to Romania. What a great tool for getting around the country AND finding out the history of the cities and regions we traveled through. Only one word of caution: with things changing in Romania so rapidly, you have to keep the most current edition handy.

I highly recommend this Rough Guide book and second the vote on previous review about this being the best travel guide to Roumania.

About Rough Guide style:

This is the first time I'm using a rough guide and really appreciate their engaging, thorough, informative and reliable style. Unlike other guides Rough Guides does not cater to any particular demographic age group or particular budget standards. Not to mention that the writers are experienced travel writers and have extensive experience in Romania and region.

About this being a travel book to Romania:

The organization of the book, the writing style makes you want to actually visit the country and experience it. Very informative historically and regionally, without being overbearing. Also very ecclective with regards to things to do and see: historical sights, cultural events, activities, culinary, nature wonders.

Having been born in Romania and having spent the first half of my life under the Ceaucescu regime, I find this book a refreshing reminder of all the wonderful sights that I have only seen or read in books and finally been able to see and experience in person. This country has a rich historical heritage, a complex mix of minorities, and a tumultous past. Everytime I visit Romania I discover something new, enigmatic, and idyllic. This guide has definitely been a helpful tool towards enjoying my re-discovery of Romania.

Finally a brand spanking new update to this excellent guide. The last edition was October 2004.

I have been to Romania 10 times and I still am discovering new places in this fascinating country.

Highly recommended !!!

I have traveled to Romania many times, and I have read all of the travel books and travel magazine articles that I have been able to find. This is THE book to take with you on your trip to Romania. Conde Nast Traveler magazine just came out (December 2006)with an article about Romania, and it described this book as "the best overall guidebook for Romania." I very much agree-- and it prompted me to write this review. The other travel books I found were a big disappointment.

Romania is so rapidly becoming a hip tourist destination that any guide over two years old is sure to be out of date. This guide is no exception. Use it for a crash course in Romania history, culture and geography, but plan to rely on more local sources for the best places to sleep and eat.

This book irritates the hell out of Romanians because it states some painful truths. First, Romania is a poor country. It's a place where "the dollar goes a long way," to quote the overused phrase. And while it's becoming less poor, Romania still lags behind other former Warsaw Pact countries in developing a healthy economy. Don't expect modern conveniences and a cheery service ethic... yet.

Second, quite a few places in Romania that you might think would attract your attention (such as Bucharest and the Black Sea coast) are really not worth your time. Bucharest has more in common with Minsk than Prague, so don't expect an undiscovered carbon-copy of that famous Bohemian city.

Third, forget about Dracula and all that related misery. Learn something about the local history before you visit stunning Transylvania. The mythological hype may leave you disappointed with the reality, so it's best for you to know something about the reality first. This guide will help you do that.

Finally, the lovely Transylvanian towns Romanians love to brag about were founded and built by Germans. Ouch! Of course, it's the Romanians who have maintained, and are now restoring, these beautiful far-flung outposts of the Holy Roman Empire, but the authors of any good travel guide (such as this one) will refer to places like Cluj, Brasov and Sibiu as "Saxon" towns.

One can infer from the text some important conclusions about your potential destinations.

Most over-rated destination: Bucharest - likely to be just your point of entry and exit.

Second most over-rated destination: Bran (Dracula's) Castle - without all the attending mythology, what do you really have? Interesting architecture, which Romania is blessed with.

Most under-rated destination: Iasi - Capital of Moldavia

Second most under-rated destination: Sibiu - medieval capital of the Saxon colonies

A new edition is forthcoming from Rough Guides that will help address stale information.

I constantly used this book throughout the 3 months I lived in Romania. I highly recommend it! The reviews were right on, and experience proved I could trust what the authors said.

The level of detail in this Rough Guide is even better than their many other fine books. Great sightseeing detail and the usual well-considered accommodation suggestions. Also included is a small language section with travel-useful words and phrases (there are not many such language items in print now elsewhere). A good map is needed for best use of the book (Amazon.com has several).