Currency may be exchanged in lei upon arrival at the airport, at banks, hotels and exchange offices. Many will not accept damaged, ripped soiled or crumpled notes! The latter usually offer better rates for Euros but city banks, particularly some of the international names such as Volksbank, Raiffeisien or Skandiabank often offer the best rates for Sterling or US Dollars. It is advisable to avoid making currency exchanges in the street. Credit Cards: Most credit cards, including American Express, Master Card, Diners Club and Visa are accepted in the hotels and restaurants in the big cities and the major resorts. Most banks also have ATMs (even in larger villages) though you may find that they will only dispense a relatively small amount per transaction. If you intend to use ATMs advise your bank in advance of your visit to ensure transactions are not blocked.

OPENING HOURS:
Shops are generally open between 9 A.M. and 6 P.M., and banks between 9 A.M. and 2 P.M.

USEFL TELEPHONE NUMBERS:
962 - Emergency Hospital; 961 - Ambulance; 955 - Police; 981 - Fire Department; 971 - International phone calls; 9361 - TAROM flight booking; 9521 - railway information. To place a call to Romania from abroad, one has to dial Romania’s international dialling code 0040, followed by the dialling code of the locality (21 for Bucharest, a three-digit code for other localities), and then the number proper. Beside the national telephone company services, mobile telephone services are also provided. Partnerships with major world operators allow for “roaming” calls.

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Most visits to Romania are trouble-free. The following is adaptd from FCO advice and expanded.

SAFETY AND SECURITY
Visitors should be alert to the risk of petty theft in large towns, especially in Bucharest, and for pickpockets and bag snatchers in crowded areas, particularly near exchange shops, on buses (especially to the airport), main railway stations and inside airport areas. There have been reports of policemen stopping foreign cars and demanding payment of fines in hard currency for spurious offences though thses seem to have disappeared since EU entry. Another scam, that oif bogus policemen approaching pedestrians and asking to check their documents as a way of stealing cash also appears to have disappeared though petty opportunist crime is on the increase. IBritish visitors have reported thefts of valuables including passports from hotel rooms. Items of value, including passports and credit cards should be deposited in hotel safes. You may also be approached in bus stations, or on some local stopping trains by gypsies or children begging. These are best avoided by taking secure intercity services rather than local expresses where possible.

ROAD TRAVEL
Drivers need to be alert for horse drawn carts and livestock especially at night when they are not always clearly marked. Distances are often great and due to many villages being ribbon settlements with people and livestock journey times can be lengthy. As there are numerous checks carried out by the police it is essential that drivers observe the speed limit, ensure that their vehicles are roadworthy and have with them all their car documents including evidence of insurance that is valid in Romania. Cars should be securely locked and baggage placed in the boot. Most main arterial roads have been upgraded to western standards over recent years but some such as Bucharest - Brasov, Bucharest - Buzau - Bacau - Ukraine, and Bucharest - Pitesti - Sibiu - Deva - Arad carry heavy commercial traffic and care needs to be taken at all times. Towns such as Bucharest, Brasov, Cluj and Timisoara are also becoming congested during the day. Smaller roads may be uneven but driving here can be a pleasure on account of the lack of traffic in rural areas.

LOCAL LAWS AND CUSTOMS
It is illegal to change money on the streets. Money should be changed in recognised exchange shops, banks and hotels. The Romanian authorities treat all drug related or sex offences very seriously. Custodial sentences can be expected for any foreigners convicted of such offences.

ENTRY REQUIREMENTS
UK, EU and USpassport holders do not require a visa to enter Romania. However, anyone who intends to take up temporary residence in Romania (eg work contract, business, teaching, press activities, church or humanitarian aid projects etc) is requested to present themselves to the nearest Romanian Passport Office within 15 days of their arrival in the country. The Passport Office will register your status and issue a residency permit, valid for a maximum of one year. This can be extended at the end of this period. Spouses and children of those applying to regularise their status in Romania must also apply at the Passport Office in person. Heavy fines have been introduced for foreigners who do not have the correct visa or whose visa has expired. In addition to fines, an exclusion order may be imposed preventing a foreigner from returning to Romania for a specific period of time.

HEALTH
There have been a number of Hepatitis A cases in Romania. Visitors are advised to seek medical advice about inoculations before travelling. All visitors to Romania are advised to drink only bottled water. Mineral water is available everywhere and is inexpensive. Rabies is endemic in Romania. It has largely been confined to the rural mountain areas. Visitors should be wary of, and try to avoid contact with stray dogs and sheepdogs guarding flocks in the mountains. If bitten visitors should seek medical assistance as soon as possible. Should a visitor plan to spend a lengthy time in remote rural areas of Romania, it would be a wise precaution to have a course of rabies inoculations.

GENERAL
Travellers are advised to take out full, comprehensive insurance cover to cover eventualities. We recommend that visitors to Romania carry some Euros in cash. Euro notes should be in pristine condition. Sterling is not always easy to exchange for the local currency especially outside of main towns, though rates in banks can be favourable. Euros are exchangeable anywhere in Romania. Travel cheques are also not always accepted and often attract high commission rates.

BRITISH EMBASSY BUCHAREST
British Embassy, 24 Jules Michelet Street, 70154 Bucharest;
(tel: +40 1 210 7300; fax: +40 1 201 7317).
E-mail: Consular@bucharest-mail.fco.gov.uk
Office hours: Mon-Thur: 0830-1700; Fri: 0830-1330.