Knowing  Romania in style

There are many possibilities for traveling in Romania with style (Btw: What is actually traveling in style? I understand hereby traveling in luxury, to be clear from the beginning! In order to refine this definition, what is luxury, we might have different approaches!).

Visiting The Medieval Fortress of Sighisoara is really stylish and chic

You won't find luxury exquisite hotels in every corner of Romania, but you can bet to find in the big cities. For Bucharest is even difficult to make the right selection from the wide offer. But I can still manage giving you the best advice with some insider tips, resulting from my long experience.

Traveling in style means for the men for sure wine tasting, while the women have a soft spot for spa.

1. A good solution for the both would be ***Hotel Continental Targu Mures, offering since short time a special wine tasting in a salt mine. The atmosphere while the wine tasting in that salt mine is special, yet really fabulous. It is actually one of The Europe's biggest salt mines, nowadays not working any more. Even if the hotel doesn't have a spa center, the ladies can enjoy a special package, known as Women Muz Capriccio, when they will be really spoiled.

2.Not far, in Sighisoara, at Binder Bubi ****, you can find a spa, and even a good one. Besides, Sighisoara is one of the best destination for traveling in style, with its amazing Medieval fortress, being the unique in all Europe still populated. Visiting the fortress is in my opinion really chic and stylish.Service and kitchen in Binder Bubi are convincing and alluring, enjoy them both! Wine tasting in restaurant or in the neighborhood, at Butoiul Sasului!

The exquisite hotel Athenee Palace Hilton Bucharest has a long tradition behind, but also a glorious present!

3. Bucharest is a totally separate discussion, and I would like to recommend a traditional hotel, namely Ahenee Palace Hilton, located in the center of Bucharest, showing style in all details. Make your shopping in the exquisite boutiques from Calea Victoriei, which are anything else than cheap, and meet the Romanian Capital through long walking tours. Observe its stylish parks and fountains, visit Bucharest Museum. You can fill your time with most exciting activities and events, this city could draw your attention weeks and months.

4. In the Romanian mountains is totally in to ski in Poiana Brasov/Schulerau, as the renowned winter festival EYOWF is over. Consequently, you can find excellent offers. On Prahova Valley other exquisite targets would be in Predeal the hotels Orizont **** or Piemonte****

Hotel Malibu in Mamaia is one of the newest and best on the Romanian shore

5.For the coming summer there are a few luxury destinations on the Romanian Black See Coast, directly on the beach, but not far from the beloved clubs from Mamaia. The Hotels Malibu and Yaki are the best choices for that matter!

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The best Romanian destinations for the Spring 2013

What is in and what is out in Romania this year? What is on the beaten path and what off? The travel business and environment is very changing and versatile, but I hope to be able making the best recommendations.

Many of these recommendations are based on my experience from 2012 and before, you have the opportunity to take a profit on it, and you are pleased not to miss it. I won't list priced tours at the moment, it shall come  sooner or later, according your specific interests.

1. Urban life in Romania. Even if nowadays only one half  the Romanian population  lives in towns and cities, you can find here wonderful settlements, older or newer. Discover in Bucharest its old downtown with its fantastic entertainment, but don't neglect the cultural life with amazing museums. Please note that Bucharest has been known as the little Paris, and one  lost tradition was the Battle flower on the main avenue. It was very romantic, could be maybe the best idea for Valentine's day. Besides, you are going to have the unique opportunity to visit within this 7 days tour other important Romanian cities like Iassy, Constanta, Craiova,Timisoara, Oradea, Cluj Napoca. My secret insider tip would be to compare all these cities, paying attention to the foreign influences exerted on them!

Casa Bazna is a good place to discover the fortified churches of Transilvania  on a budget, but at excellent quality standards. And is recommended by Karpaten, one of the best travel agencies in the today Romania.

2.Rural life in Romania. The other half of the Romanian population lives to the countryside. It is much more genuine, and the society is clean, unspoiled, yet the people very honest and hard working. The meals taste totally different comparing with what you eat regularly at home, or even in the best Romanian hotels and restaurants. During one unbelievable week we are going to visit amazing Romanian regions like Maramures or Bucovina, Vrancea and Rucar. I will strive personally to stay to the people, and by the people, these cultural exchanges are the most important things for a traveler in my opinion.

You can find in Romania not exclusively orthodox churches and monasteries!

3. Natural life in Romania. We still have a huge potential on this side. Remember Danube Delta, mountains hiking, hunting and fishing. Fantastic possibilities to enjoy life under all its forms. We will hide deep in the nature, escaping the modern civilizations, with a complete detoxification of Internet addiction. If you are a photography freak, this week could be your good one, I can promise fantastic shots, but you can make from this unforgettable trip also a romantic one, maybe for your engagement or honeymoon. I still have some other ideas!

Wine tasting is a normal event during any Romania trip, I won't forget and neglect!

4. Winter sports in Romania are still on, maybe another month. Within 2 weeks will take place in Poiana Brasov an important youth sports  festival, almost comparable to a Winter Olympic Games. But I discovered  since a few weeks another excellent location in Predeal. The snow was perfect, and my hotel, namely Piemonte, a top one, with an excellent report quality/price.

Biertan, in the middle of transilvania, is the best kept fortified church from the  Medium Age.

5.Historic Romania. Discover first, or rediscover, the Romanian orthodoxe churches and monasteries from Bucovina, Oltenia or around Bucharest. And I suggest to try to see also the fortified churches from Transilvania, around Sighisoara and Medias. With the necessary lodging in Hotel Binder Bubi in Sighisoara, with an important mention by the way: if on a budget, stay to Casa Bazna in the village Bazna.

Need your positions and comments about, I can't wait for them!

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Middle Age mysteries in the Medieval fortress  Biertan

If it comes again about the fortified churches from Transilvania ( also known as peasant' fortresses) the first and most important name coming in my mind is for sure Biertan, ant the other hundreds come only on the second place!

Discover Biertan and the other fortresses starting from Sighisoara and Medias, which are little charming towns, themselves worth to be discovered in details, staying in hotel Binder Bubi. Another recommended lodging camp is also Sibiu, which is bigger, but not necessary much more interesting (my first proposal is hotel Continental, former Bulevard!). Anyway, once in the area, don't dare to miss the fortresses.

All these fortresses have been build by German Saxons ( Siebenbuerger Sachsen), which came in number in the XIIth century for defence purposes, brought by the Hungarian King Geza, which ruled the area. For these purposes and due to the many fight against invading barbarians, they build a lot of fortresses, and the one from Biertan (Bierthalm) is the biggest and best preserved.

No chance to dislike the fortified church of Biertan, I am sure!

Driving from Medias in the picturesque hilly region, once covered with vineyards, discover Biertan, nowadays a charming village which was in Middle Age the Residence of Catholic Archbishops. The village has been also an important craftsmen centre. Access in the church St. Mary is only possible after stopping in the Central Market and climbing a long covered stairs. Observe the three successive fortifications, and try to figure the way of life from the Middle Age!

Panoramic view of Biertan, with the church (view from the hill)

The church has been build within 30 years, starting from 1490, on the place of an older church. Admire to the Western entrance the coat of arms from the District Medias, called " The swearing hand". The St. Mary church is Gothic and has no less than three ships! Discover the Clock tower (the clock works starting from 1880) and enter the Lapidarium Tower, hosting the funeral stones of a few archbishops. I propose you to watch very carefully these tombs, observing and discovering the pelican feeding its cubs with blood, which is a symbol of the Templars! This symbols reminds the sacrifice of the big master Jacques de Molay.

May be is a good idea to discover Biertan by bike, it is in a picturesque hilly area

An amazing place, not exclusively for the married couples, is the eastern Tower. Here used to be send the couple wishing to divorce (a capital sin, for the Church) for a few months, sharing the same spoon, same glass (and the same bed btw) until they came back to more positive thoughts!

Inside the church observe the guilds' flags, the chairs, the superb painted altar (consisting of 28 paintings made by the Vienna school). If you ask the guardian to lock you inside, wou'll be totally amazed by the complicated locking mechanism. Inside, a bigger surprise. Notice the huge painting of one saint hanging there. watch it carefully, and observe a simple unbelievable fact: whereever you stay, or sit, the eyes of the saint are watching you, and his left foot is pointed also to you. No one can explain this illusion.

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Visiting Sighisoara, in the heart of Transilvania

Nowadays Sighisoara only counts 30 000 inhabitants, a small town also. But professionally speaking, is the uncrowned capital of the touristic Romania.

On the narow Medieval streets of Sighisoara fortress. You may see the Clock Tower.

Reaching Sighisoara from any direction, you will be mesmerized by its clean Medieval aspect. A masterpiece indeed, so nice, that many people ask : " How was Sighisoara spared by the destroy of the Communism?" If you are familiar with the German Gothic and Baroque architecture, you will be at home in Sighisoara! Which had been for centuries a Saxon city and fortress in Transilvania.

During the Carnivals of Sighisoara, the Medieval toilets are a must

The Fortress of Sighisoara (German Schassburg) is very well preserved and probably once again unique, as it is still populated today. Some of the local German Saxons come back in pension, due to the low costs of life in Romania. Within a short walk you can reach the Clock Tower (requires reparations), History Museum, Dracula House, and the wonderful Fortress Square. A little bit further, after a short ascension over 200 stairs you can reach the Church Hill and have a wonderful panorama of the city. The Church is worth a visit ( a small fee to be paid) as hosts some interesting artefacts from other fortresses of Transilvania, and has a centuries long history behind. The neighboring cemetery is very interesting and again historically significant, with the graves of many German rulers and archbishops. After all these efforts you will be rewarded in one of the town's many restaurants, maybe even in Dracula House! Is not the only one in Sighisoara, of course, but has excellent service and  good King's meal. About the price, don't forget the Historical charge.

Eating in Dracula House is still an event, and fortunately not a dangerous anymore

If you are tired, and it is summer, forget any hope to get a room, the town is overcrowded. You need reservation and booking, of course. Even at Binder Bubi, the best hotel in the town, with 5 stars, everything is booked. Also important, in summer there is a medieval festival on the last Sunday of July, with camp fires and fancy toilets. Keep in mind, is important, maybe you want to take part, or you want to avoid.

Restaurant of the Hotel Binder Bubi Sighisoara proudly holds its *****

So many things to do in Sighisoara. It is surely a mistake coming to Romania and neglecting Sighisoara!

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The leading travel agency in the today Romania

As I have a good experience in presenting Romania to the foreigners, I wanna share with you, as you must take a profit from this experience of mine.

Karpaten (German for Carpathians) made a good choice of the best Romanian  hotels. 

Before 1989, in the Ceausescu time, the Romanian tourism reached some peaks, which seemed long time to be untouchable. The centralized economy facilitate low prices, and in the early 70ties Romania was really booming. After the dissolution of the communist power , on one hand the prices rose, and on the other hand  the centralized structure perished. As an immediate result, the foreign tourists fled away, there are many good  destinations in the world, and the travel industry is very competitive. I personally have been working as a travel guide and travel director in the communist times and a few years after. Since 1998 it was such a deep crisis in this branch, that I had only a few groups.

Going on the Romanian Blackseacoast is an event, booking through Karpaten  is even very cheap.

But meanwhile Romania made excellent progresses in the field, and the real professionals started to emerge. Despite the very insignificant state promotion, private owned companies, hotels,travel  agencies appeared, and many of them already vanished. During all these long and difficult years one agency managed to keep and even enlarge its portfolio of clients. Karpaten Turism is in my opinion the most reliable private travel agency in the today Romania, judging based on more factors, but before all the personal experience. Being a tour guide in Romania at Karpaten is a big pleasure and a deep honor, and even an impulse for better work. I always felt an excellent support from the incoming department (Catalina Halauca and Madalina Leu) and the programs I made for this company were simply fantastic at very reasonable prices. The tourists (a group fromNorwa y, a froup from Swiss) have been mesmerized by the program (don't forget my personal contribution, please!) and pledged me to come again.

But in the mountains too Karpaten offers dream packages

I am very happy having found this company, which is Romania's best for incoming, as I can serve better the interests of the tourists. They have good contracts, after days of negotiations, and excellent prices. They managed to set up a good structure for incoming tourism who proudly stays next to the achievements of the Ceausescu regime, but in a very different manner, due to high level and quality of the people working in this company.

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The fortresses from the heart of Transilvania

Transilvania is an important consisting part of Romania, a little bigger than the third of the country.Very nice, very civilised and western oriented, a proud of all Romanians.

The Carnival in Sighisoara is probably the best place for starting the discovery of Medieval  Transilvania

It has a trembled history, and in Middle Age has been ruled by Hungarians, who brought German Saxons for help in organizing and defending the country. The German Saxons (Franken actually) build every settlement on the same blueprint: a central citadell consisting of a fortified church, where all the people should withdraw and fight against the invaders during long sieges.

Eating in Dracula house is nowadays a peaceful event, who doesn't scare anyone. But all the meals are garlic based, in order to keep the bad spirits away.

In the middle of the Romanian Transilvania there are 700 very well preserved medieval sites, forming an amazing UNESCO inheritage . With a group of Norwegian tourists lead by Kjell and F1 driver Oivind from PR Norge and on behalf of Karpaten Turism  we drove four days long to discover the forgotten Paradise from Middle Age.

The man in this photo is Serge Gunnar ( a sultan with Asian and African ancestor.  A fine friendly man, whose friendship I am honored to have became)

Sighisoara is doubtless the peak of all Medieval fortresses from Transilvania. Because the town only counts 20000 inhabitants, the life even today is organized around the citadell. There are many Medieval Festivals to the delight of  the tourists and locals. It is normally in Sighisoara walking on the streets in the complicated evening gowns from Middle Age. In the Dracula house there is today an excellent restaurant, making sensational dinners with lots of garlic, specially for avoiding the bad spirits. From the town very many hotels and restaurants we made the best possible choice: Binder Bubi *****, which was an excellent host and we regretted very much when we had to leave.

Norwegian tourists in the citadell of Sighisoara; you can see the  clock tower

But only with the consolation to stay three days long in Binder Bubi Medias ****! Still try to understand this difference of one star, and did not succeed, as this hotel has the same high quality standards from Sighisoara, and even a swimming-pool, which is not available in Sighisoara. Medias is twice so big than Sighisoara, but has not such a tourist circulation. Or, maybe, being so big, the touristic circulation is not so obvious! Every little streed from Medias was in reparation, the town very dusty and dirty, but worths a long stay! From Medias we visited also Sibiu, gone to a winetasting in Ganesti/Seuca. It is to mention in Binder Bubi, both Medias and Sighisoara, the house wine, which is very good and only costs 18 RON ( no matter if the Red Cabernet or the White Sauvignon! With your permission Serge Gunar, and of all ladies around you)

A good friend and a good driver was always Oivind; here working in the yard of Binder Bubi Sighisoara.

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