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2 of us did an amazing 5 day private tour with Book Tours Romania last month (Sept. '24), as I was celebrating my 50th birthday and wanted to see Dracula's Castle!!! I lined up everything through Bogdan, who planned exactly the trip that we wanted - cultural experiences and interactions, historical sites, and scenic beauty! We had his colleague, Serban, as our guide for the 5 days and the trip was spectacular! This trip included pick-up and drop-off at the airport in Bucharest, even though we flew in 3 days ahead of our private tour and left a day after our private tour ended, as well . . . Bodgan really made sure we were well taken care of and needed to navigate nothing on our own!!! Also, as a note, everywhere we visited, Serban acted as our tour guide, so we didn't have to have any "group tours" at sights! Day 1: Serban picked us up from the Marmorosch Hotel at 9am. We were off - headed to Horezu, Romania. Our first stop was for a tour at the Horezu Monastery - beautiful and so idyllic in the countryside amongst the hills! Then we went into the town to have a pottery making class with a local potter (which is what the town is famous for!) . . . it was very leisurely and fantastic . . . and we got to take home what we made! Then Serban took us for lunch at a lovely spot in town, before we checked into our night's accomodation - the 350 year of Maldar Manor. We felt like we stepped back in time - in all the right ways! Period furnishings everywhere - and immaculate grounds that made you feel like you were at a resort! We enjoyed dinner with Serban at the Manor that night . . . what an overnight experience and accomodation! Day 2: We headed into Transylvania today. However, before we jumped on the Transfagarasan Road to go up over the Carpathian Mountains into Transylvania, Serban surprised us with a stop at the Curtea de Arges Monastery. It is where the Royals were buried and is quite beautiful. After touring it, we went to a local bakery and experience some Romanian delicacies! Then onto the Transfagarasan Road and into the mountains. We saw several bears along the way, both on the way up by the Vidraru Dam and on the way down - at each bear, Serban stopped as long as we wanted so that we could get photos and enjoy watching him/her! When we go to the peak of the mountain, we stopped at the Glacial Lake and had a nice late lunch/early dinner at a restaurant on the lake - a beautiful spot! Eventually, we arrived in Sibiu for our first night in Transylvania! We checked into the hotel (Art Hotel - it was very modern and in a fabulous location) and then we went out for a leisurely evening stroll on our own though the town and the Main Square. Day 3: Serban took us out for a walking tour of Sibiu this morning, which was wonderful. Then we headed to a Gypsy village, where we had an incredible experience visiting their home - we had palinka, tea, coffee etc. and a sweet treat with them while we learned about their culture and toured their home. Then we were treated to a demonstration of Victor making a copper pot, as coppersmithing and silversmithing are their traditional trade for many generations. Of course, being women, we didn't pass up the opportunity to shop and bought lots of the copper and silver jewelry that they had made and were happy to sell! This was an incredible and unique experience with Victor and his family (his wife, daughter-in-law, and their grandbaby). After leaving the gypsy village, we headed to the Fortified Church in Biertan, which Serban took us to explore after we all enjoyed lunch in town. After enjoying Beirtan, we headed to Sighisoara, where we went out to dinner on our own and meandered the charming town after check-in at the beautiful Fronius Residences. Later, after dark, Serban met us to give me an evening tour of the town, as well. As a note, the Fronius Residence was another step back in time and we loved it! Day 4: We started the day with a lovely morning tour of Sighisoara with Serban. He and I ascended the 176 covered steps to the top section of the town. Sighisoara is one of the most charming towns I've ever been in - I see why it often the setting for our Hallmark movies back home, where they need a charming and picturesque European town setting! As we left Sighisoara for our next destination, Serban did an impromptu stop at a fortified church being restored in Saschiz, where he and I climbed the bell tower. It was a nice stop to see this site as a "work in progress"! We then continued on to Viscri, for a delightful lunch hosted by Gerta and her husband in their home. She made turkey soup, cabbage rolls and polenta, and we imbibed in their homemade wine and palinka. What a lovely couple - we truly enjoyed seeing their home and farm, learning about them, and generally, interacting with them! After lunch, Serban took us on a tour of the Viscri Fortified Church - it was a great site! We then headed to Brasov, to check into our hotel for the night - the Schuster Boarding House - a beautiful blend of old and modern! Originally, we had planned to visit Bran Castle ("Dracula's Castle") the next day, but Serban offered to take us tonight if I wanted to see the castle in the dark. YES YES YES!!!! So we checked into our hotel and then headed right off to the town of Bran, where the castle is. We arrived and were able to enjoy the Castle . . . then, after the grounds closed, we strolled into the town and had an amazing dinner at a restuarant where my view throughout the entire meal was Dracula's Castle, as the sun set! Then voila . . . it lit up, just as Serban said it would! This was the "highlight moment" of the trip for me . . . I can't thank Serban enough for pivoting so that I could see Dracula's Castle lit up at night! Day 5: Since we went to Dracula's Castle the night before, we were able to enjoy a leisurely morning in Brasov this morning. Serban took us on a tour of the town, and then we all enjoyed some leisurely lattes at a coffeeshop on the main square. Once caffeinated, off we headed to Sinaia and Peles Castle! However, on the way, knowing how much I love Netflix's series "Wednesday", Serban took a slight detour and surprised me with a visit to Cantacuzino Castle, which is "Nevermore Academy" in Wednesday! I was able to tour the grounds and get lots of photos of the castle - such a surprise treat for me! After "Nevermore", we continued to the town of Sinaia, where Peles Castle is located. Touring that castle with Serban was like being a VIP - the lines there were outrageously lengthy on a Saturday and he whisked us right past them all and into the castle. We didn't have to do a "group tour", as Serban was our guide - and we brought us through all of the tourable floors and areas of the castle - it was an incredible experience! The woodwork in this castle is spectacular! After our tour, we had lunch on the terrace of a restaurant on property . . . it was a beautiful spot and lovely way to end our tour . . . or so I thought! On our drive back to Bucharest, Serban surprised us once again, with a detour to Snagov Monastery, which is set on an island in a lake. It's the resting place of Vlad the Impaler - so I got to see not only his birthplace in Sighisoara, but also his tomb in Snagov Monastery! After Snagov, Serban dropped us off to The Marmorosch Hotel in Budapest . . . we were sad to see our tour end! The experience that Bogdan and Book Tours Romania put together for us was INCREDIBLE. We came for Dracula's castle, but left with such a love and appreciation for Romania, its culture and its people. The countryside is beautiful and the medieval towns dotting it are breathtaking and charming. The people . . . lovely! Serban was an incredible guide . . . he learned quickly what we liked and was happy to pivot plans so that we could see extra things that he knew we'd enjoy . . . we so appreciated how he went "above and beyond" for us. Both he and Bogdan truly wanted us to enjoy our tour and their country . . . and it showed in how cared for we felt! Bogdan checked in with me along the way, to ensure that everything was to our liking, as well. I am so glad that I booked with Book Tours Romania - an A+ trip!!!! Thank you Bogdan and Serban!
Read MoreWe booked (2 couples) a private 5-day tour of Romania after our Viking River cruise and it was an amazing adventure. Our tour guide, Nick Zavada, was not available for our day tour of Bucharest so his brother, Gelu, picked us up at the JW Marriott for a wonderful tour of the city. Viking had given us a tour the day before and this tour was so much more thorough and delightful. The 6 passenger van was very roomy for us and very comfortable. The next day, Nick picked us up and took us to a market where the locals shop and we were the only tourists there. We could have spent hours there but it was off to Sinaia for a Peles Castle tour and lunch. Nick walked us through the castle for a private tour and we had an amazing time. Then it was off to Brasov for a walking tour of this medieval city and we settled into a charming hotel for the night. None of us are early risers so our departure times for the entire trip was no earlier than 09:30 which we all appreciated. Today we are off to Bran Castle, also known as Dracula's castle. We ran into our Viking River cruise fellow passengers today and we are so glad to have a private guide through the castle. It was a memorable day. Afterwards we stopped at Viscri Village for lunch at a private residence; it was so nice to be able to speak to local Romanians. We were off to Sighisoara, the best preserved Medieval city in Romania. Nick took us for a walk through the old town and we saw the house where Vlad the Impaler (Dracula) was born. Another charming hotel for the night. It kept getting better, we departed for Biertan, a UNESCO city, and toured a fortified church. Nick suggested a wine tour for the afternoon, so we had a tour and a tasting in their castle and we felt like royalty. Then it was off to Sibiu, another medieval town, and a small charming hotel. The next morning Nick gave us a walking tour of his favorite city and it was delightful. We reluctantly left Sibiu but Nick checked to see if the Transfagarasan highway had opened and we were lucky to take this beautiful road back to Bucharest through the Carpathian Mountains. It was a gorgeous drive, along the way, we took the gondola to the top of the mountain and Nick picked us up at the top. We stopped at a beautiful waterfall, saw 13 bears during out drive down, had a terrific lunch and arrived at our airport hotel in Bucharest in time for dinner. Romania Tours booked 4 star hotels for us, chose a terrific itinerary and a great tour guide in Nick Zavada, we could have not asked for a better tour.
Read MoreWe booked (2 couples) a private 5-day tour of Romania after our Viking River cruise and it was an amazing adventure. Our tour guide, Nick Zavada, was not available for our day tour of Bucharest so his brother, Gelu, picked us up at the JW Marriott for a wonderful tour of the city. Viking had given us a tour the day before and this tour was so much more thorough and delightful. The 6 passenger van was very roomy for us and very comfortable. The next day, Nick picked us up and took us to a market where the locals shop and we were the only tourists there. We could have spent hours there but it was off to Sinaia for a Peles Castle tour and lunch. Nick walked us through the castle for a private tour and we had an amazing time. Then it was off to Brasov for a walking tour of this medieval city and we settled into a charming hotel for the night. None of us are early risers so our departure times for the entire trip was no earlier than 09:30 which we all appreciated. Today we are off to Bran Castle, also known as Dracula's castle. We ran into our Viking River cruise fellow passengers today and we are so glad to have a private guide through the castle. It was a memorable day. Afterwards we stopped at Viscri Village for lunch at a private residence; it was so nice to be able to speak to local Romanians. We were off to Sighisoara, the best preserved Medieval city in Romania. Nick took us for a walk through the old town and we saw the house where Vlad the Impaler (Dracula) was born. Another charming hotel for the night. It kept getting better, we departed for Biertan, a UNESCO city, and toured a fortified church. Nick suggested a wine tour for the afternoon, so we had a tour and a tasting in their castle and we felt like royalty. Then it was off to Sibiu, another medieval town, and a small charming hotel. The next morning Nick gave us a walking tour of his favorite city and it was delightful. We reluctantly left Sibiu but Nick checked to see if the Transfagarasan highway had opened and we were lucky to take this beautiful road back to Bucharest through the Carpathian Mountains. It was a gorgeous drive, along the way, we took the gondola to the top of the mountain and Nick picked us up at the top. We stopped at a beautiful waterfall, saw 13 bears during out drive down, had a terrific lunch and arrived at our airport hotel in Bucharest in time for dinner. Romania Tours booked 4 star hotels for us, chose a terrific itinerary and a great tour guide in Nick Zavada, we could have not asked for a better tour.
Read MoreMy husband and I were very pleased to be able to book a tour on the unlikely day of New Year's Eve! Nick took excellent care of us, providing a most fascinating overview of the history, and answering our endless questions. We very much enjoyed our visit to the beautiful Peles Castle, although for us, Bran Castle was far too touristic, with some forced exhibits to tie in with Dracula and the occult. Yet it still seemed a must to visit that castle just the same, and the area around Bran Castle was fascinating, with many stands selling delicious traditional Romanian snacks such as Sorici. We had a wonderful lunch in lovely Brasov where we discovered the Romanian desert Papanasi. Many thanks again to Nick for his excellent driving, his dedication and enthusiasm, and all of his tips, including his favourite writers!
Read MoreWe just returned from a 3 1/2 week tour of Eastern Europe, covering 5 countries by River Boat and private car. By far, the highlight of the trip were the 4 days, 3 nights we spent with Bogdan Savulescu in Transylvania. We had read reviews raving about his tours and requested him specifically. He even exceeded our high expectations. He put together a comprehensive itinerary and we were able to see and learn so much more than our fellow river cruisers experienced on their Transylvania pre-trip. The accommodations he selected were unique and outstanding, the best of our trip. We covered multiple UNESCO sites, both famous castles and charming cities and tiny villages. His knowledge of Romanian history is extensive and he could easily lead a European tour of all places related to Dracula and Vlad the Impaler. His car was spacious and immaculate and easily accommodated our large luggage for our upcoming river cruise. We usually packed a backpack for overnight, leaving the big luggage in the car (although he was willing to help us carry them into our historic and elevatorless accommodations). He always knew the best place to take photos and we now have a wonderful archive of photos of us together. We were amazed that he was able to include a home hosted dinner with a charming couple in a small village outside Sibiu. He had offered to arrange for us to visit a gypsy home, but we declined anticipating something similar with the ship. We should have taken up his offer. He was generous with bottled water and his bag of snacks was unbelievable. His choices for meals were good, giving us a nice variety and introduction to Romanian specialties. We have traveled independently all over the world but traveling with Bogdan opened up a whole new realm of travel experience. We now hope we will be lucky enough to find other private tours in the future.
Read MoreWe booked 3 day tour with this agency and Bogdan was extremely helpful and courteous since the very basic planning for our whole tour. On our 2 day we were visiting pales and bran castle with Brasov town. He surprised us from the very beginning and he brought lot of snacks and chocolates for us and our kids. He very well explained us in details about the castle and gave us the clear vision about bran castle also misknown as Dracula castle. He knows perfectly where to get good photos and was very caring towards kids. He again surprised us in bran castle where he brought vegeterian cinnamon transalvian dessert. We suggest everybody to book tours with him as we had one of best experiences and we are seasoned travellers.
Read MorePlease consider Romania for your next vacation, it is STUNNING in beauty! I highly recommend the guided car trip we took through Transylvania. In seven days we saw numerous castles, villages, medieval towns and churches. Bogdan planned the trip, handled all details, and made sure we were comfortable and enjoying our trip. It was lovely to sit back and relax during this trip, trusting our itinerary to a competent guide. Our "Dracula Tour" of Transylvania centered on Vlad Dracul (Vlad the Impaler) and his times, but it was much much more. We received an enjoyable education in Romanian culture--its history, foods, and customs in rural and city places. There is so MUCH to see that is interesting! Romania is off the beaten path in Europe, but it should not be. Prices are inexpensive when compared to traditional European destinations. Much of Romania's culture lies in rural areas, and Romanian food reflects that where farm-to-table is common, it is not the trendy construct it is here in the U.S. Romanians are masters of food, and their local wines are lovely. I highly recommend this mode of travel. Our guide was able to take us several places each day; we would not see so much if we were trying to find our own way around. He was flexible in showing us things of particular interest to us personally. For example, he deviated from the travel schedule to take us to a botanical garden. He knows the best ways to get into castles, the best spots for good photos, and how to efficiently navigate in cities. He took us to charming out-of-the-way places such as a legendary burial spot for Vlad, a home tour and home-prepared dinner in a Transylvanian village, and a rural village miles from a paved road. Of course, Romania's famous medieval cities of Sighisoura and Sibiu were included in the trip as well many other well known historical places. Throughout our trip Bogdan was courteous, professional, and very very knowledgeable. His hard work and conscientious attitude allowed us to enjoy a full itinerary in this beautiful country.
Read MoreMy friend and I had an awesome day with Bogdan and Chip. They were both lively guides who are passionate about Romanian history and the outdoors. On our ride out to the countryside from Bucharest, they talked to us about the history of Bucharest, Transylvania, and Romania as a whole. It was a long ride out to the Peles Castle, but they entertained us the entire time, so it felt like a nice fast ride. After Bogdan's private tour of the castle, we were able to drive by the Dracula castle and learn about the inspiration for Dracula! Finally, the best part of our day was the amazing hike we took in Transylvania. We had an authentic Romanian homecooked meal in a quaint village, and then hiked up to a small ridge that overlooked the mountains all around us. What spectacular views and an amazing day! I wish we could have stayed longer in Romania!
Read MoreMy friend referred me to BookToursRomania and I was thrilled when Bogdan responded that he was available during the dates we wanted to travel. A few emails back and forth, numerous suggestions by Bogdan on what to see, and we had our itinerary planned. I knew very little about Romania prior to our arrival but Bogdan quickly changed that by sharing his vast knowledge. Bogdan went out of his way to ensure we were enjoying our trip. He surprised my boyfriend with a steam engine train ride (we had to cut a longer ride due to scheduling restraints), found a home cook meal when we arrived at a castle when it was closed for lunch and the only option was a bar with no food and ensured my boyfriend got his fix on all things Dracula. I often use private guides when I travel overseas and Bogdan by far has been the best. Jenn - USA
Read MoreI have been deployed for 5 months and my girlfriend, Jenn, and I decided to visit Romania. A friend of hers spent her honeymoon here with Bogdan Savulescu as their guide. We decided to do the same and I can't say enough about our experience! Bogdan is above all else a professional, with a passion for his trade and for his amazing country. At every site we visited (and often along the road between), he told us great stories and related facts of history without notes! I was curious about the Dracula legend (of course!) and he explained how the actual historical figure, Vlad Dracul, became the icon of Bran Stoker's horror classic. I found his depth of knowledge to be fascinating and entertaining. Seriously, all of you who read this, if you plan to visit this exceptional country, hire this equally exceptional person to guide you! You will not regret it. Romania is rich in heritage and, for the moment, is an incredible bargain. Four- and five-star hotels are affordable to most travelers, along with elegant dining. Jenn and I had several three-course dinners with wine and desert for around $100 total. That's the norm - sometimes they were less. And the regional food is an adventure. Try it all!
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