Romania – home of  the wonderful Carpathians and Dracula himself. It’s an odd country for the first-time visitor, with bustling city streets chock full of cars bustling for a position alongside horse drawn carts, but this mixture of old and new is something that keeps people interested in the country. The Northern region of the country is split in two by the Carpathians, with Transylvania home to Alpine forestry and other wonderful scenic delights, whereas Southern regions of the country towards the Black Sea become flat plains, full of old towns to explore and delightfully quirky locals to meet. The country has seen a fair bit of popularity over the last decade or so, with the availability of budget skiing in particular attracting a great deal of tourism. Romania has set itself on a course for Euro-integration, and obtained membership to NATO in 2004, with EU accession – though not certain – looking to be achieved in 2007. Things are certainly on the right track for this country.

Romania is another Eastern Bloc country that has seen some of its worst oppression in the last century. From the end of the First World War, when the country sided with the allies, there was a growth in the number of fascist support – though King Carol II put this to an end by declaring an absolute monarchy, 1940 and the Second World War saw him forced from his throne when the Nazis invaded the country. Siding with the axis, Romania was involved in the fruitless invasion of the USSR. When it looked as if the Red Army was about to invade in the latter half of 1944, the government was overthrown again and a new rule of Communists, Liberals and Social Democrats was formed. From the end of the Second World War Soviet influence pushed the country into pure Communism, and the appointment of Nicolae Ceausescu as First Secretary in 1965 saw Romania endure nearly 25 years of Communist Dictatorship. The government forced the country to be insular, even more so than a lot of other Soviet countries, basic rights of citizens were denied and the reforms of the Eastern Bloc drawn out by Gorbachev were denounced by the Romanian leadership. When 1989 came around the tempers of the people were frayed, and an unexpected and bloody revolution broke out resulting in thousands of deaths – including the execution of Ceausescu and his wife. Since then Romania has been home to ever-changing governments and slow economic reforms. Whilst things are certainly on the right track, corruption and government in-fighting is holding back development of the nation as a whole, but things are looking up with each passing year.

Romania is an enticing country, with traits that are bound to amuse, confuse and enthral. The people are friendly and open despite their recent history, and the nation is home to some wonderful natural beauties. Economically Romania has not had the best of times, but as the country has settled into a pluralistic democracy things have been pushed back on track and slow, but sure changes are being made each and every day. The budding off plan investor could do a lot worse than investing in such a delightful country as this, and NATO membership coupled with potential EU accession shows that it would be a pretty sound investment.

Healthcare in Romania is poor. A reciprocal healthcare agreement is in place, meaning British citizens receive free medical treatment on production of a valid passport. There is a shortage of equipment and staff nationwide, and prescription drugs can prove very hard to get a hold of. Medical insurance is highly recommended and serious ailments are best treated elsewhere.

Mobile phone coverage is good, especially in larger towns and cities – obviously signal strength cannot be guaranteed in rural areas. Landlines are of a good standard and most towns are well equipped. Internet cafes are available throughout Bucharest and in some other towns.

General banking hours in most areas are from 0900 to 1200 for business matters and from 0900 to 1500 for currency exchange, Mondays to Fridays. Usual office hours are from 0700 to 1530, Mondays to Fridays. Shopping hours in smaller stores are normally from 0600 to 2100 Mondays to Saturdays, whereas larger department stores often open longer. Some shops also open from 0600 to 1200 on Sundays.

Suits are a must for business meetings, along with a punctual appearance with an appointment made in advance. A handshake is a customary greeting, though it is quite normal for a man to kiss a woman’s hand on first meeting them. Also, a batch of business cards and a pack of Western cigarettes to give as a gift wouldn’t hurt much.

Tips are customary in restaurants – usually from five to ten percent. Porters, chambermaids and taxi drivers all expect tips.