Marshc46

Hi it looks likely I will be working in Bucharest for almost two years from late March and I could do with some advice on accommodation please. My family will not be travelling with me so I expect I will be looking for a one bedroom apartment but with enough space for a sofa bed for when my wife and 2 boys visit. I need modern, comfortable (but not luxurious) and safe.

Any general advice and tips on best locations (I will be working in central Bucharest), prices, best agents, anything else would be very welcome. I've noted the comments about Baneasa being a good option for Ex Pats so will have a look online at what is available. I'd like easy and regular access to a good gym and opportunities to socialise - not a big drinker but like to watch the football! I won't have a car so good public transport links important.

Hope you can help me out..I have to move quickly!

Regards

Chris

Azarel

Hi Chris,

Baneasa might be a little tricky with regards to transport if you're only using public transport but towards that end of town would probably be good. Which area exactly will you be working in?

If you look at this subway map, http://people.reed.edu/~reyn/bucuresti.gif, and look at the blue line running north-south, I would suggest you take a look at properties in close proximity to either Aviatorilor (neighbourhoods of Dorobanti and Primaverii) or further up around Aurel Vlaicu (Aviatiei neighbourhood). Both areas have plenty of apartment blocks (some good, some bad - you have to visit to work out if it's one you like the look of) and are close enough to town for social purposes. Anyway, taxis are pretty cheap until you get the hang of public transport. There's also a large park (Herastrau) close by where you can jog or cycle (they rent out bikes in summer) or even row. There are shops, cafes, and restaurants in the Dorobanti area, and a short trip on the metro takes you to Unirii and the old town where you'll find plenty of pubs and bars, many of which will show important football matches.

People don't use specific agents much here, they just look for something in the small ads and ring up; sometimes you get the owner, sometimes you get an agent. Ask your company if they have someone who can help you call up and set up a few places to visit when you first arrive. In the meantime, you could start browsing through Mercador and Tocmai (links in an above post) to get a few of prices for various areas, and use StreetView to 'walk the streets' to see if you like the feel of an area.

Marshc46

Azarel, thanks a lot for the reply - from your previous helpful posts I was hoping you would come to my aid!

I will be working near the Parliament buildings, and so I was wondering if there is a choice I need to make here about city centre living and living in a suburb?I will be alone so I am concerned that I will really need plenty to occupy me at evenings and weekends and I hope I will be able to have contact with a network of ex pats without living in their pockets.

I mentioned a decent gym is important to me, so any advice on that is welcome.

Can you offer a guide price for what my budget should be for a comfortable modern 1 bed apartment? I have to speak to my future employer about this later so I want to be sure I don't underestimate. From looking online I was thinking somewhere between 750 and 1000 Euro might be needed to get something bright and modern and close to amenities. Maybe there is a premium to pay if you live in the centre?

On a broader note, I want to take the opportunity to keep myself busy by visiting other parts of Romania and countries close by and across Europe, and this will also be a nice value adding experience for me and my family - any advice you have on that is welcome, like good places or travel advice.

Thanks again,

Regards

Chris

Azarel

Bone-idle salad dodger that I am, I have no idea about gym prices and locations. They are rumoured to be pretty plentiful though. There are a few big names and also a lot of small neighbourhood gyms. I've heard there are even those where you only pay for the session rather than for a year in advance. The only major gym I've heard of is 'World Class Fitness' and here's their website: http://www.worldclass.ro/en/ (English version). They have one branch just behind the Parliament building on Calea 13 Septembrie that could be handy for a pre-/post-work.

Regarding where to live, you could go for something in the Unirii area instead of the places I mention in my previous post. From those two areas I mentioned, you could be in Unirii in about 10 minutes by metro, plus however long it takes to walk to/from the metro stations. You should probably allow about 30-40 minus commute assuming both your work and home are relatively close to stations on the blue line. However, if you wanted the option to walk to work, you could opt for something in the Unirii area. There are plenty of reasonably fancy flats close to Piata Unirii and you'd be very close to the downtown area where all the night life is. Naturally you'll be paying more for those, but there's a good chance of finding something with a modern furnished interior.

Here are a couple of links so you can see what your money gets you:

One-bedroom apartments in and around Unirii:
http://mercador.ro/imobiliare/aparta...esti/?q=unirii

One-bedroom apartments around Aviatorilor:
http://mercador.ro/imobiliare/aparta...?q=aviatorilor

As you can see, not a huge difference in price, both areas coming in around the 500 Euro/month mark, so it's more a case of which area you like the look of more.

Most of these will be renovated apartments in regular blocks. If you want something a bit more upmarket, you can find flats in newly-built blocks where you have security guards on the doors, underground parking, and maybe some other facilities. These are perhaps more common a little further out of the centre as they are new builds, but you do occasionally find a few in more central locations.

Romania is great for activities. The countryside, especially in Transylvania, is lovely are there are opportunities for hiking, climbing. cycling, rafting and even horse riding, so if you like outdoor pursuits, I'm sure you an find some groups to join. There's a plenty of cultural and historical sights worth seeing too, and of course, you can jump on a train/plane to places like Budapest, Istanbul, Vienna and Bulgaria pretty easily.

Marshc46

This is a fantastic help, thanks very much - I think this area looks better for me to start my search in - and the apartments looks like what I was after - a bit more modern and comfortable looking than some I've seen on line.

Many thanks again, and I hope you don't mind me pestering with a few more questions along the way!

Regards

Chris

Azarel

No worries, ask away. Better to be prepared and have a clearer idea of what it's going to be like here.

RRS803

Hi just to let you know I have not forgotten about this thread. Our trip to Bucharest was delayed for a couple weeks due to my hubbie travelling. Finally we will be there on Wednesday for 48 hours and have been lined up with quite a few properties to view and looks like they will be in the areas mentioned above.

Lots of great advice Azarel, thanks.

Will post back on my quick two day visit.

Azarel

Hi RRS803,

Good to hear things are moving forward. I think your impressions on those areas would be very useful, especially as they're likely to be popular areas for many people coming to town on work assignments. Also any info on agents you've used. I've had my own place here for 8 years now so my knowledge of agents isn't quite up-to-date.

RRS803

Well that was a hectic 2 days in Bucharest!!!

Loved the Herastrau park and can imagine how beautiful it will look when everything starts grown again. We walked all the way round the lake and ended up for a pitstop at the Hard Rock Cafe.

We looked at apartments in Dorobanti, Herastrau, Primaverii and Floreasca and nearer Baneasa. Final decision still to be made.

Looks like there are some good shopping areas, plenty gyms and lots to do to keep me happy.

Did see a few stray dogs but rather than being scared like I thought I ended up feeling sorry for them.

The driving what can I say

All in all I think we will be fine living in Bucharest and looking forward to the move in a couple weeks.

Azarel

Yeah, the driving...sadly has the worst record for accidents in Europe at the moment. I don't bother driving in Buch - it's easier to take public transport, which is frequent and cheap, especially if you can use the metro.

Herastrau is a great place for exercising. In the summer you can rent a bike there for next to nothing, and also row on the lake, which I enjoy. I used to walk through there early in the mornings and it's worth experiencing when it's empty apart from the birds and squirrels, especially in spring/early summer.

It's also worth going to Cismigiu park just west of the centre. It's a smaller park and busier, but has a lot of trees and flowers and looks lovely in the spring. It also has a lake for rowing (and ice skating in winter) and is very close to the old town so good for a walk/lunch combination.

RRS803

Hi Azarel

I will be sure to check out the Cismigui park.

Another few questions if you don't mind answering them Will I be able to buy a pay as you go sim card for my mobile when I arrive or do I have to sign up for a contract with phone? We arrive Saturday and would like to get set up as quick as possible. Which are the best companies to use for good coverage and rates? I presume I will find their shops in the malls? Will be staying at the Pullman hotel so somewhere near there would be good but don't mind having to venture further.

Thanks

Azarel

Hi there,

No problem picking up a pre-paid sim card. No need to go to the mall - lots of little shops dotting around the place sell them. The main two are Vodafone and Orange and both give good coverage. There's also Cosmote, which has grown a lot in recent years. Hard to say which is best on price these days as they have such a plethora of tariffs and plans and so on, comparison is tricky. I have Vodafone, but for no particular reason except that it's the same number I've had for about 8 years. Even with pre-pay you get lots of options for free minutes and stuff like that.

Charging them up is simple too - there are all the shops around, lots of the little kiosks you see also sell credit, you can set up an account online and pay there, and there are even some vending machines.

Vodafone shops: https://www.vodafone.ro/magazine-vodafone/

Orange shops (type 'bucuresti' in the search box):
http://www.orange.ro/shop-locator/#

Those are the official shops, but don't forget you can get charge cards in many many more locations. There are also lots of general phone stores around where you can charge up or probably even by the sim.

Later on, when you're settled, if you'd like to change to a contract you can keep the pre-paid number you've already been using.

All the best.

RRS803

Thanks much appreciated Azarel.

Will start off with a prepay then get onto a contract once I get settled.

Marshc46

Hi Azarel - I've now arrived in Bucharest - first day and I have to say I'm impressed so far - a city of contrasts but lots to like - I think I'll enjoy it here!

Its early days but I think now I have got a feel for it my initial view that I might like to stay in the Unirii area was wrong. I am sure that staying close to downtown and the Lipscani/old town area will suit me best - its got a very nice feel about it. Maybe somewhere directly in Lipscani above shops or bars would be ok - or around the cismigiu park area. Any tips on this are welcome, though I will look at the links you sent now I am a bit clearer. Also, now I'm here, any advice on how to connect with the ex pat community from time to time would be good - just knowing how this works and what is on would be helpful for me I think...if there is such organisation..

Thanks again for your help so far..

Regards

Chris

Marshc46

Hi - I have another issue I would like advice on please! I think I will need to employ an accountant for filing tax returns here - being paid by a British employer...any advice on reliable, English speaking and good accountants?

Many thanks in anticipation...

Regards