The Transylvania Christmas Markets Experience

Although Romania is a member of the European Union, it does not use the Euro but has its own currency - the RON / Leu. The official currency is most commonly referred to as the plural 'lei' although some banks and exchange offices list it as the RON. One leu divides into 100 bani with banknotes coming in various denominations normally 1 leu, 5 lei, 10 lei and 100 lei and less commonly, 200 and 500 lei notes. Coins come in 50 bani and 10 bani pieces, which can be useful for small tips or donations.

Lei can be difficult to get hold of outside Romania but fear not there are a few options available. 

1. Get it locally: the easiest option is to head to a cash machine once you've checked into your hotel in Bucharest to withdraw funds. It should be quick and convenient to get hold of your holiday cash just take note of the advice below. 
2. Get it at home: If you're set on getting your money organised before you travel, the Bureau de Change in M&S is, strangely, one of the only places that dispense the local currency.
3. Get it online: You can also purchase currency online and collect it from your local post office or even have it delivered straight to your door. Ordering currency online with the Post Office is commission-free and available for next-day delivery. Obviously the more you buy the better rate you'll receive.

Most major credit and debit cards (Visa and Mastercard) are accepted throughout Romania's main towns and cities. While you should have no problem using your card to pay for drinks or dinner in major towns and cities using your PIN number, some establishments accept cash only so it's worth checking before you get settled in. It is also a good idea to carry some cash with you for smaller purchases and activities. It is always advisable to inform your bank that you're travelling abroad in order to avoid the frustration of having your card blocked.

Tipping is not obligatory in Romania although rounding up taxi fares and adding 10% in restaurants is polite and common practice. If the service has been poor please don't feel obligated to leave a tip. When it comes to tipping your guide and driver(s), and you'd like to offer a token of your appreciation, we believe 25 RON (approx. £4) per person represents a good tip for a job well done. Please let us stress that this is by no means expected so you needn't feel obliged or pressured to do so!

In order to give you some direction on how much spending money to budget for your trip to Romania, we thought it would be a good idea to offer some guidelines in terms of costs. As a general rule, you'll be able to have a good lunch for around £10 a head and will pay around £15 a head for a nice evening meal. Naturally, the type of establishment you choose to eat in and what you order will dictate the cost of your meals. Be aware that ordering imported wines can cause your bill to sky-rocket so drinking local wines is advisable. We reckon around £70 for lunch, dinner and drinks for two people is plenty per day. Please note that these are rough estimates and you can always choose to spend more or less depending on your budget and preferences. Please note that dinner at Inn on Balaban and your village accommodation are included. 

With increasingly long summers and winters, the climate in Romania is rather extreme and plays host to some scorching months as well as a period of severe cold and snow. June, July and August are the hottest months of the year sometimes hitting up to 40 degrees. Average temperatures, however, range from a very pleasant 24 to 30 degrees in the summer but don't forget the sun cream. That said, it's not unusual for the weather to change quite drastically, particularly in the mountains so it's a good idea to pack layers just in case.

As with its multi-cultural history, Romania's cuisine has been heavily influenced by its Balkan neighbours and previous occupiers featuring a fusion of Hungarian, Germanic, Turkish and Slavic dishes including cabbage rolls (sarmale), stews (tochitura), and moonshine (tuica) that'll put hairs on your chest! Food tends to be heavy but comforting with a strong emphasis on meat (mainly pork, chicken and lamb), and polenta (mamaliga) or potatoes (cartofi) but with the welcome addition of an abundance of vegetables either in salad form or soaked in vinegar for a sharp kick. Smoked meats and sausages are a national favourite, and Romanian meals typically kick off with a bowl of ciorba, soup soured with lemon juice or vinegar that comes in plenty of varieties including ciorba de burta (tripe soup) served with a hot pepper to nibble on. 

In the unlikely event you experience any problems whilst travelling in Romania with Untravelled Paths please contact Cristina Brebenel on +40732 673 853. She is an absolute super-woman so don't hesitate to contact her should there be a problem no matter how big or small. On arrival, you will be provided with a business card containing all the relevant contact details for both Cristina and your bi-lingual guide, should you need them. Alternatively, you can call Untravelled Paths office on +44207 101 4061. 

Tap water is safe to drink practically everywhere, but most people stick to bottled water to be on the safe side. We would highly recommend drinking bottled or filtered water during your stay in Transylvania.