The Rough Guide to Romania (Paperback)

~ (Author), Dan Richardson (Author) "Deciding how to get to Romania is in large part a question of choosing between package and independent travel arrangements..." (more)
Key Phrases: homestay schemes, charged for the cheapest, systematization programme, Baia Mare, World War, Piala Unirii (more...)

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

A trip to Romania may be made with confidence using either of these reliable, up-to-date guides. Though Williams's volume is more detailed overall, Burford and Richardson's covers pop culture especially well. Lonely Planet helpfully lists regional highlights at the beginning of each chapter and includes coverage of neighboring Moldova.
Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product Description

INTRODUCTION

Travel in Romania is as rewarding as it is challenging. The country’s mountain scenery and great diversity of wildlife, its cultures and people, and a way of life that at times seems out of the last century, leave few who visit unaffected. However, although not as impoverished as Albania and most of the countries of the former Soviet Union, it is still one of the hardest countries of Eastern and Central Europe to travel in. The regime of Nicolae Ceausescu drove the country to the brink of bankruptcy, and Ion Iliescu’s efforts to provide tangible fruit of 1989’s revolution further disrupted the economy; as a consequence Emil Constantinescu’s government had to embark on a savage austerity programme which has led to big cuts in real earnings. Coming here on a package deal – to the Black Sea or Poiana Brasov, or on a "Dracula Tour" – will effectively shield you from such realities. Travelling independently will have its frustrating moments, balancing inclinations and plans against practicalities. However, it would be a shame to let such factors deter you from at least a brief independent foray. Much of Romania’s charm lies in the remoter, less-visited regions, and it’s the experience of getting there that really gives you an insight into the country. Rather than expecting an easy ride, try to accept whatever happens as an adventure – encounters with Gypsies, wild bears, oafish officials and assorted odd characters are likely to be far more interesting than anything purveyed by the tourist board.

Romanians (the country’s largest ethnic group) trace their ancestry back to the Romans, and have a noticeable Latin character. They are generally warm, spontaneous, anarchic, and appreciative of style and life’s pleasures – sadly, in contrast to the austerity with which they’re saddled. In addition to ethnic Romanians, one and a half million Magyars pursue a traditional lifestyle long since vanished in Hungary, while dwindling numbers of Transylvanian Germans (Saxons) reside around the fortified towns and churches their ancestors built in the Middle Ages to guard the mountain passes. Along the coast, in the Delta and in the Banat there’s a rich mixture of Russians, Ukrainians, Serbs, Slovaks, Bulgars, Gypsies, Turks and Tatars.

Bucharest has lost much of its charm – its wide nineteenth-century Parisian-style boulevards are choked with traffic, once-grand fin-de-siecle buildings are crumbling and the suburbs are dominated by grim apartment blocks – but it remains the centre of the country’s commercial and cultural life. Many of Romania’s other cities are blighted by industry and best avoided, but Brasov, Sibiu, Cluj, Oradea and other historic towns still show glimpses of past glories. To the north and west of the country, Transylvania and Banat are the provinces that are most western in feel and allow the easiest travelling, with private hotels, buses and taxis, and information more readily available. Coming from the capital, Brasov is the gateway to Transylvania; just twelve kilometres from the ski resort of Poiana Brasov, its medieval old town is a good introduction to the Saxon architecture of the region, which reaches its peak in the fortified town of Sibiu and the jagged skyline of Sighi7oara. Further north and west, the great Magyar cities of Targu Mures, Cluj and Oradea have retained a wealth of medieval churches and streets, as well as impressive Baroque and Secession edifices. All these cities are served by international trains from Budapest, and any could be your first taste of Romania if you’re arriving overland.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 409 pages
• Publisher: Rough Guides; 3rd edition (July 5, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1858287022
• ISBN-13: 978-1858287027
• Product Dimensions: 7.8 x 5.1 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (20 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #1,363,656 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

32 of 33 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Best Guide to Romania Currently Available, March 2, 2000

By	Kelli - See all my reviews

This review is from: Romania: A Rough Guide, Second Edition (Rough Guides) (Paperback)

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.

20 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A good guide to an interesting country, January 12, 2005

By	Smallchief - See all my reviews (TOP 500 REVIEWER)

This review is from: The Rough Guide to Romania 4 (Rough Guide Travel Guides) (Paperback)

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

13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent Book, December 5, 1999

By	Matt Ebiner (Covina, CA USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This review is from: Romania: A Rough Guide, Second Edition (Rough Guides) (Paperback)

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.