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Why we don’t always choose the Romanian seaside



I have been to the Romanian seaside ten years ago. This year, I’ve decided to stay there for a few days. I’ve noticed that few things changed during all this time.      

 

The lack of any cars from Moldova surprised me the most. I have seen none, but absolutely none (!). I have compared the costs and the quality of transport, accommodation, entertainment services, arrangement of the place and have tried to find the answer to the question put in the title of this article. 

      

Transport


The easiest way to go to Romania is by car. But to do this, you need time and money. At least 5-6 hours from Chisinau to Cahul, about 30 minutes to get through customs, if you’re lucky, and 3-3,5 hours to get to one of the stations in Constanta County.  

           

Such a trip is usually tiring, so the first day will be compromised. Now, the costs: for the Green Card – 60 Euro, for transport - 132 Euro (100 litres of fuel multiplied by 1-1,5 Euro and 7 Euro for the Romanian Rovinieta).  

         

Accommodation


The quality and the diversity of Romanian stations have not changed essentially after the Revolution.       

 

Although all the hotels and pensions have gone through privatization, they have become two or three stars locations, as their new owners didn’t try to make serious investments and to enhance the comfort they offer. Particular villas and four stars hotels have opened, but they don’t cover the rising demand.    

            

I have booked a double room in a four stars hotel and paid 74 Euro per night. The hotel was a new one, but the services were average, having a restaurant with a limited menu and a swimming pool for children, while the personnel had no experience for a high-quality service.  


Food


Romanian food is diverse and tasty. But not at the seaside. Quantities are small, the taste is not the best. According to a Romanian saying, to make good food, one has to put a little bit of soul, but it seems that cooks forgot about it.       

          

The menu is a standard one, including: soups, sausages, liver, drumsticks or pork scruff with fried potatoes, beans or peas, salads with tomatoes, cucumbers and cabbage. The price of fruits and vegetables is double. So a lunch or a dinner for two, with wine or beer, costs almost 100 Romanian lei. You can also choose between self-service restaurants, which offer a richer menu.

  

Entertainment


Entertainment services have become diverse, especially those for children and young people. But you have to pay for everything, less for children (5-7 RON) and more for adults (you will have to pay 10 RON for one hour at the ping pong or billiard). I haven’t seen any football or volley playground in the whole station. A beer costs 3-4 RON, a small coffee – 4-5 RON.


Books cost less than in Moldova, but newspapers are more expensive. With 5-20 RON, you will be able to buy textbooks, a good history or literature book. In the evening, you can go to a concert or a night club. But the music is poor – there are playing party songs and manele.   

          

I haven’t seen any artists from Moldova (I guess they can’t compete with the artists making playback and aren’t ready for live performance). So, to have minimal entertainment services, you will have to pay daily 35-45 RON.  


Some infrastructure aspects 


The Romanian seaside, just like in Ukraine, is generally orderless. There are only few ways of access to the beaches. This becomes inconvenient at peak time. Over 80% of the beaches are natural. Dirt and garbage are everywhere and are humiliating. Appropriate beaches are rented by hotels with more stars and access to them is forbidden.       

     

The rest of them are overcrowded; even so, you will have to pay an entrance fee. Add 10 RON for a sunbed or 20 RON - for an umbrella, if you want to hide from heat. To take a shower and to use the toilette, you will have to pay 1,5 and 1 RON. So, for the beach, you will pay another 35 RON.


Conclusion: high costs and poor services 


Let’s make a total. For a ten days’ stay at the Romanian seaside (9 nights), we needed over 700  Euro per person, including 66 Euro for transport,  333 Euro for accommodation, 125 Euro for food,  100 Euro for entertainment services and 80 Euro for access to the beach.


Someone told me that for 10 days in a Turkish station, in a four stars all inclusive hotel, this year, he paid 530 Euro, 25% less than in Romania.  

            

The conclusion is clear: Romania loses tourists at regional level. On medium term, if the situation doesn’t change, tourists from Moldova will choose other destinations and so will their own citizens.   


Mihai Roscovan

12.08.13