How to Find Cheap Hotels in Bucharest, Romania

In the 1920s and '30s, Bucharest was known as the "Paris of the East." Although decades of communist rule in Romania (and damage from war and earthquakes) have made the nickname out of date, there is much to see in the Romanian capital, and cheap accommodations are not hard to find.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Map of Bucharest
• Passport
• Computer with Internet access for making reservations

Know Your Destination

1. Visit the Parliament Palace, built by Nicolae Ceauescu, which now houses Romania's representative government. A tour of this monument to arrogance is well worth the price of about $6 U.S., but taking pictures costs extra.

2. Snag a copy of the weekly English-language "Sapte Seare in Bucharesti" at your hotel for current information about nightlife in Bucharest.

3. Introduce yourself to Romanian culture by visiting the Romanian Peasant Museum. It was the first Eastern European museum to receive the Museum of the Year award.

Book Your Accommodations

4. Investigate the savings potential in purchasing a combined accommodations and airfare package. To book accommodations, contact The Romanian Tourist Office at [phone] or visit their Web site (see Resources, below).

5. Consult with a Romanian tour provider or a domestic travel agent who knows Romania well to get the latest information on attractions and accommodations in the city.

6. Study a Bucharest map to locate the areas you want to visit. Make sure that the cheap rate from a bargain hotel isn't outweighed by local travel costs, or frustration with heavy surface-street traffic and Bucharest's often confusing buses and trolleys.

7. If you plan to use public transportation, choose accommodations within walking distance of a metro station to save the expense of taxi service.

8. Search the Internet for Bucharest apartments. You can rent a pleasant apartment on a per-night basis at considerable savings over business hotel rates, and you can save even more by preparing some of your own meals.

9. Gather recommendations and warnings about hostels in Bucharest. They can be very inexpensive, but the desirability of accommodations and locations can vary widely.

10. Offer to pay for your accommodations in cash. Even if the rate is already cheap, this can often get you a discount.

11. Choose the accommodations that are right for you, and book online, through a travel agent, or over the phone.

Tips & Warnings

• Avoid taxis that do not display reputable company names. Taxis from Apolodor, Cobalcescu, CrisTaxi, Dixie, Leone, Meridian and Rodell are okay. Always make sure that the driver engages the meter at the start of your ride.
• Keep a careful eye on your valuables while in public, as pickpockets are very skillful and numerous in Bucharest. They target foreign tourists in particular.
• Beware of criminals who impersonate plainclothes policemen and demand to see your identification. Only surrender your documents to a uniformed officer with a badge.