General Information

Climate - The climate is mild continental, so during summer, it tends to get somewhat hot, winters, normally around -10 degrees centigrade (Celsius) in Bucharest, in some areas only temperatures drop below that. People do not dress conservatively, so you would not have any trouble in having comfortable clothes, including shorts and mini skirts for ladies (you shall see much of that, without having any meaning, except exceedingly warm weather).

Service - After the downturn of Communism in December 1989, increasingly more hotels and restaurants did a great lot of improvement in their service. Generally speaking, I would say, service is fairly good now, though you shall find both excellent service, to Western standards, good service, and bad service. My recommendation is to have a tour operator make the excursion for you. However, should you choose to travel on your own, please have the necessary patience not to spoil your holiday.

Tips - If it is not catered for (normally not), the usual tip at a restaurant is 10% of the bill. For tour guides and other persons in service, there is no rule, it depends on you.

Cuisine - You shall soon find out, that the Romanian cuisine is not necessarily the most complex and elaborate one. Despite having many vegetarian dishes, Romanians are definitely fans of meet - especially pork meat. As the saying goes in Romania, "the best poultry is still pork".