Romanian economy

For many centuries Romania's economy was based on agriculture. In the 1930s Romania was one of the main European producers of wheat, corn and meats and it used to be called "the bread basket of Europe." In the 1950s the communist leader of Romania, Gheorghe Gheorghiu Dej, began developing heavy industry.There has been a shift towards heavy industries since the 1970s but the agriculture is still economically important and employs about one-third of the workforce.Romania produces coal, natural gas, iron ore and petroleum but most raw material for the country's large industrial capacity potential are imported. Prominent industries include chemical (petrochemical, paints and varnishes), metal processing, machine manufacturing, industrial and transport equipment, textiles, manufactured consumer goods, lumbering and furniture.39.2% of Romania's territory is arable land, 28% forests, 21% pastures, hayfields and orchards and 2.5% vineyards. Corn, wheat, vegetable oil seeds, vegetables, apples and grapes for wine are the main crops and sheep and pigs the main livestock. Forestry and fisheries are being developed under long-term programs. Since 1990, successive governments have concentrated on turning Romania into a market economy.

Traffic fines

Most visitors who encounter Romanian Traffic Police officers believe that they are nice and friendly. In case that you will have to deal with Traffic Police please remember the following:
Traffic officers cannot collect fines on the spot. All fine payments must be made at a bank or local tax administration office. The officer will only write the ticket and will give instructions on how to pay/ dispute the fine.
Traffic laws indicate a minimum and a maximum fine for each traffic violation. The police officer has the authority to decide the fine amount, based on circumstances.

Fines are not differentiated based on income or citizenship.
Officers and judges have leeway in determining/ canceling traffic fines.

Romanian customs & etiquette

Romanians are friendly and open and foreigners are usually made very welcome. Chatting with visitors is very common for Romanians and they will find a way to communicate with you even if they cannot speak your language.

Foreign visitors consider Romanians among the friendliest and most hospitable people on earth. Romanians are by nature fun loving, warm, hospitable, playful, with an innate sense of humor.
Older people particularly appreciate old-fashioned politeness. It is respectful to use Mrs. or Mr. when using the name of a person that you just meet.
Handshaking is the most common form of greeting. When a Romanian man is introduced to a woman, he will probably kiss her hand, strictly avoiding her eyes.
If one refuses what a host offers to eat or drink, this will often be taken as a polite refusal by guest who really means to say "yes." If you want to refuse the offer find a polite excuse and say it firmly or ask for a replacement.
It is common to linger once the meal (luch or dinner) is over.
When visiting someone at home bring a small gift. Most common gifts include flowers or chocolate (for women only), a bottle of wine or liquor. The number of flowers that one offers must always be odd. Other well-appreciate gifts include cosmetics and clothing.
All gifts should be wrapped, but many Romanians might not unwrap their gifts in your presence.
In Romania as in many Latin countries life is lived at a more relaxed pace. Normal European courtesies should be followed on social occasions. Although casual dress is fine in most occasions, wearing a suit and tie, or the women's equivalent, is important at business meetings. Appointments are necessary and punctuality is expected.
It is not considered impolite to ask a person's age, politics, income or religion, so don't take such questions amiss.

Sales tax for goods and services

A sales tax (VAT) of 19 % is added to all retail sales, hotel stays and meals served in restaurants. It is usually included in the prices posted in stores, hotels and restaurants. Like in many countries hotels charge an additional tax (0.5% to 5% depending on the class of hotel). AT Refund VAT refund offices can be found at any Romanian border crossing point.
To claim you Sales Tax Refund please make sure that:
1. Your purchases were made at a store which can issue a legal invoice/ receipt as well as a tax refund form,
2. The total value of your purchases is higher than 250 Lei (approx. $100 US),
3. Your purchases were made 90 days or less before your date of departure from Romania,
4. You have the original receipts and store identified VAT Refund forms validated by the Customs Office.All refunds will be made in Romanian currency.

Rural tourism, the best way to discover Romania

People started to be more thoughtful of their vacation, the turisment becoming one of the frecvent hobby in world. Once with the first tendintions of relaxation of the vacations in the middle of mother nature, the tourists number starting to grow that wanted to have the vacation party in a rural enviroment.

The countryside and mountains have preserved their landscapes and their traditions. But although green tourism represents a very real opportunity for Romania, its growth threatens the authenticity of unique regions.
The Romanian rural space is renamed carpatho-danubiano-pontic because it is carpatic in relief, the Danube threw the hydrografic and pontic network with the opening in the Black Sea. Intalkable, this "geographic personality" must be doublet in time with turistic vocation.

The Romanian Territory prezents a big variety of cultural historic values - popular arts, etnographics, folklore, traditions, historic vestiges, a natural harmonious background combined with a variated and picturesque fond view. All of this are the valents of the romanian rural tourisment in a special mode.

Our accommodation providers give you the chance to stay in comfortable and welcoming small-scale guesthouses. Some of the guesthouses have been eco-certified as they attempt to operate to the highest green standards.
Transylvania

This is a guide to hotels, inns, pensions, accommodation, travel attractions in Romania. Being more than just a simple blog, we offer the possibility to any hotel or pension to present a complete offer for free so that visitors can have a large selection of alternatives. More than this, to help our visitors to choose the best alternative by our ratings!

Rural tourism allows you to discover the wonderful countryside and people of Romania, with its array of cultural treasures and diversified wildlife. Whether you come to Romania to visit its monasteries, to climb its mountains or to discover its history, we shall be able to provide information, the best guides and accommodation to meet your needs.

Now is the time to travel to Romania with prices for food and drink still much cheaper than most other European destination and still relatively un-touched by mass tourism.

The country people of Romania, have turned to rural tourism. Some of them, those who work abroad, have even put up new buildings to welcome the visitors in greater comfort than the traditional wooden houses. The development of these sanitized gueshauses is, however, a threat to the very thing that attracts the tourist to Romania: its authenticity. It could even risk disappearing altogether.
Yet despite all this, green tourism remains an asset for Romania. No other country in Europe has more variety to offer the tourist, but it is a potential that must be used intelligently.

All this and much more gives many reasons to visit Romania. For further information, please contact us!

Gambling in Romania

Bucharest provide one of the highest number of casinos in Europe. There are now approximately ten major casinos, offering varied standards of quality.

The only legal form of gambling in Romania is in casinos, so it doesn't look like Romania's casinos have much competition for the gambling dollar. Certainly nothing as liberal and open as allowing people to do as they wished with their own money would have been allowed. This meant that while there was indeed gambling (as of course there is everywhere), it was underground, in the black economy. When there was an uprising and the dictator, alongside his wife, was shot, then the country started to move back into the more normal state of affairs. Legalizing gambling, allowing Romania's casinos to start up, was an obvious part of this process.

A list of Romania's casinos includes: Astoria Casino, Casino Blindo Hotel Sofitel, Casino Bucharest Hotel Inter-Continental , Casino Bucur, Casino Kings, Casino Palace, Casino Victoria, Casino Vox,
Grand Casino, Lido Casino & Lido Hotel, Marriott Grand Hotel & Casino, Mirage Casino Hotel Ambasador, Planet Princess Slot Casino, Plaza Casino Club, Princess Casino Havana.

Bucharest Casino, Grand Casino and Havana Princess Casino are known to be the most reputed casinos in the city.

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