Romania - Eastern Europe - page 483

records and DVDs, slides, and other photographic materials, so long as these are
for your personal use. In addition, you may freely carry other goods to the value of
100

€

($125).
MONEY
At press time, Romania had only just entered into the European Union (exact date:
Jan 1, 2007); consequently, it is still common to hear price quotes in three different
currencies, namely Romanian leu (plural lei ), New Romanian leu (RON), and euros.
For the most part, however, it is the new leu that is important, bearing in mind that
1 new leu is the equivalent of the outdated 10,000 old lei; four zeros were simply
dropped from the currency on July 1, 2005.
Since January 1, 2007, the new lei has officially been the only official currency.
Where prices are quoted in lei, the symbol “L” is used throughout this chapter (note
that some establishments prefer euros). However, old habits persist, and many Roma-
nians will still quote in the old currency, but will tell you the cost in thousands; thus,
“40” will refer to “40,000 old lei,” which is actually only 4 new lei, at press time $1.44.
It pays to be on your toes. Until December 2006, both old and new coins and notes
remained in circulation and were accepted; starting in January 2007, old currency was
withdrawn. Romanian New Lei notes come in denominations of 1, 5, 10, 50, 100,
and 500. One leu is divided into 100 bani, and these come in coin denominations of
1, 5, 10, and 50 bani .
Although Romania is not expected to adopt the euro until after 2010, many hotels
prefer to give a straight euro quote; all such establishments accept credit cards. Mas-
terCard and Visa are accepted at just about all city hotels, restaurants, and shops, while
American Express and Diners Club are less useful. Many outlets can only accept cards
(credit cards, included) for which you have a PIN, which you'll be asked to punch in
at the cash register; you'll then sign for the transaction as you would for a standard
credit card purchase. Keep an eye on your credit card while it is being used for pay-
ment; there are frequent reports of illegal imprints being made by restaurant and store
employees.
WHEN TO GO
Season, more than anything, is likely to influence the timing of your visit to Romania.
Here, temperatures can be extreme; winters get nasty, with closure of certain attractions
during the most bitterly cold times of the year, while ski destinations kick into gear
from December to mid-March. If you fancy a white Christmas, December is a great
time to experience a host of traditional celebrations, particularly in rural communities
such as those found in Maramure @ and Moldavia, as well as Transylvania. At the other
extreme, mid-summer can be grueling, with global warming taking its toll here (July
2006 saw temperatures in some cities hit a stupefying 104°F/40°C). May and October
are possibly the most beautiful months, unencumbered by extreme heat.
HOLIDAYS
New Year ( Revelion ) is celebrated on January 1 and 2, while National Day—
commemorating Transylvania's inclusion into greater Romania in 1918—is celebrated
on December 1. Christmas ( Cr â ciun ) is officially observed on December 25 and 26,
and both days are public holidays. Labor Day is celebrated on May 1, but businesses
may shut down for more than just the 1 day. Determined according to the Julian cal-
endar, Orthodox Easter is closely observed and while not an official public holiday,