Bus from Istanbul to Bucharest

Hi everyone

We're planning the final leg of our RTW surface travels and need to get from Istanbul to Bucharest. We won't fly, as the whole point of our trip is to travel surface. We've looked into getting a train between these two cities, but at the moment there is a bus replacement on the Turkish side of the border, which kind of negates the point of the train, so we are thinking about getting a bus. We've done the usual google search, but haven't been able to find out much. Has anyone done this bus journey? The key things we would like to find out are:

Which companies do this route?
When do the buses leave?
Where do they leave from? Is it the main Otogar?
How long do they take?
Is it possible to book tickets in advance? How?
How much does it cost?

Any help or information would be much appreciated.

Mountain huts

Hi there,

I'm looking at doing some hiking in Romania in June, likely the Fagaras, and am wondering if I will need a sleeping bag for huts in the area? The only other hut to hut hiking I have done was in Nepal and it was required, though I have heard other huts in europe provide bedding.. it is the only hut hiking I plan to do so will not bring it if not necessary! Thank you!

Kandice

Camping + bear watching

Hello everyone

I am going to Romania in July/August and am very keen to camp.

Can anyone recommend any good campsites anywhere in Romania?
What are the conditions like?

I am horrendously arachnophobic so I need places that are clean! Spiders indoors are something I can't handle!

Also, I am keen to go bear watching in a bear hide with a guide, what are the hides like?

Thanks everyone!

Romania in July (backpacking, hiking, camping): too hot? too many tourists?

Hallo everyone :-)

I and my girlfriend a planning to do a trip to easten Europe this summer in July.
We are both struggeling with our university studies, so we want a real break from everyday routine and thought about a real basic trip: we want to travel by foot or hitch hiking, sleep in our tent (either wild camping in forests/on the beach or friendly asking people, if we can put up our tent in their garden) and use as little money as possible.

Do you think it's possible to realize this kind of travels in Romania?
And do you have any advice/tips where to go?

I worry most about the time of travel. July can be fairly hot in July and so maybe not very suitable for walking long distances with a heavy backpack on your shoulders. Do you think we will "die" in the heat?
Furthermore, July is main travel time, so there will be many tourists, I guess. But we are looking for some tr... more »

Varna Buzau Suceava Lviv

Hi you fellow Easternes and Westernes

I'm trying to make my schedule for "Varna Buzau Suceava Lviv" trip, but I cannot get the full information from Romanian websites:

http://www.infoturism.ro/transport/varna/

It's said that there are several buses from Varna to Romania even "Suceava - Varna cu Autocar"
http://www.infoturism.ro/detalii/transport/suceava-varna_14955.html
but I can't find the schedules.

Does it make sense to go cross the border first at Silistra and find a bus (or train) to Buzau from there?

There should be a train from Bucuresti to Buzau
http://www.lonelyplanet.com/thorntree/thread.jspa?threadID=2268239
, but the official site sais: "Nu exista rute"
http://www.cfrcalatori.ro/

Thank you! more »

Is car rental a good option for Transylvania, Romania?

Hello,

I am heading to Romania in about a week time and will stay for 11 days, mostly for the castles and fortresses in the Transylvania region.

I have just got the latest version of the LP Romania and Bulgaria e-guide (the book won't come out until after I start my trip) and have been reading it. It seems some places can only be reached by private transportation because there are no buses from the nearest town. However on the other hand, it says the fatality from the car accidents in Romania is one of the highest in Europe and the road condition could be treacherous in some areas.

So I am very torn. My questions are:
1. Is car rental really a viable option in Romania? Could it be done without, for example, hiring taxis etc. with the overall cost comparable or at least not prohibitive than car rental?
2. If I have to rent a car for reaching the remote castles etc., do I hav... more »

flights from Germany to Romania and Ukraine

Hello travel friends,
i would like to go from Germany (Cologne, Frankfurt, Dusseldorf) to Suceacva (Romania) and to Kiew (Ukraine) during 2nd half of June/beginning July 2013.
I could find only expensive flights. Can anybody recommend cheap flights - or (nice) train journeys? Myself have travelled a lot, but never in Eastern Europe. Would you go through Bukarest or Kiew to Suceava ? Have to leave from Kiew back to Germany.
Thanks for ideas or advices !