From the airport
Otopeni
Arriving at Otopeni, after getting off the plane and easing your way through passport control, you'll find yourself in the baggage reclaim area. Ignore all of the services on offer here, be it currency exchange or limousines to the city centre. Instead, grab your luggage, which usually arrives promptly (if it fails to arrive head for the small office on the left hand of side of the exit, where staff will help you find out where it might have gone), and then it's off through customs to the arrivals area, where there are a couple of ATMs, a press shop and a small cafe, as well as car hire desks. You will see signs pointing you towards trains to Gara de Nord: ignore them. You first have to take a bus to the airport's train station, and the trains themselves run irregularly. Bus or taxi remains your best bet.
When the flights arrive, there will be a demand for the taxis. 3 or 4 sharing a taxi should work out about 5 GBP not too expensive providing you use one of the more reputable services. 100 lei to get to the Hilton (City Centre) is not uncommon, that works out at about a 5to 6 GBP a head if there are 4. keep in mind that there are road works so depending on the time of the day please allow up to 1 ½ hours to reach the city centre in rush hour, the Baneasa road works and junction being the main problem here. The working schedule is similar to the UK, so if you land at local rush our times , your journey will be longer.
By Bus
Tickets costing 7 lei (valid for two trips) need to be purchased before boarding from the little booth which you'll find on your right hand side as you exit the airport building. Bus N° 780 runs direct from Otopeni to Gara de Nord via Baneasa.
There is a bus stance on the lower level under the exit at arrivals hall. This is my recommended method as to how to get direct the to the city centre. It is a 15 minute service during the day(ish).
The 783 Departs from the airport to the City centre, once it gets to the Bucharest. It main stops that are important for the bears is Victoria Square, Romana square, the Intercontinental Hotel and finally Unirii Square.
The 780 departs from the airport and goes to Gara De Nord on a similar service. (Hello Hello Hotel Guests take note!!!) I would imagine the 780 runs a similar service but I cannot confirm this.
By Taxi
NEVER as a foreigner try to trade in Euros with Taxi drivers, you're asking to get ripped off. Should you land in the country without Romanian RON, I suggest that once you get off the plane at Otopeni, you should change MAX about 40 GBP (200 RON) at one of the rip off exchange places located at the airport. This should be plenty to get you into Bucharest and sort you out until you can find a better exchange house. Do bear in mind that a taxi will cost between 70 and 100 RON with the emphasis nearer the 70.
Baneasa
By Taxi
Same deal with the taxi's from Otopeni, don't pay in euros and if you can agree your fair in advance do so. 35 lei to the city centre is more than enough, the taxi drivers here are professional rip off merchants, legal criminals even.
Changing Money.
Oddly enough the best exchange rate I have seen on the forum boards is from the Royal Bank of Scotland In Romania which was 4.654 lei to the pound, 25th Oct, in comparison with the mid market rates of 4.66316 RON on 27th October (buying and selling average, see http://www.xe.com/faq/rates_buyorsellrates.php for more information )
The idea is that if you can find the rate closest to the mid market rate, then that day you get the best value for money and you make your holiday somewhat cheaper.
Now even odder, I asked someone to pop into a branch of the RBS in Scotland and he gave feed back to me the exchange rate in Scotland on the 27th October was 4.28, I'm somewhat lost for words as to why.
To top it all you are in Romania , I wouldn't even be surprised if they reject Scottish money (even if it's the Lord Islay 1 pound note). This is because RBS over here is nothing more than a rebranded ABN-AMRO bank and it's full of Romanian staff and managers. You need to get here to see what its like. Customer service apparently exists somewhere, but I guess I have been here too long.
Bottom line , find a RBS in Bucharest , and change your money there. It has to date been the best rate from the foot soldier.
You are advised to shop around, bring English money and your passport as identification to change money.
Hotels
Below is a list of hotels that fans have been known to book.
JW Marriot Grand Hotel
Calea 13 Septembrie 90
Bucharest, 050726 Romania
Map directions : http://www.marriott.com/search/findHotels.mi (In this page perform a Bucharest search for the map)
Golden Tulip Victoria Bucharest
166 Calea Victoriei,
1st District, Bucharest, 010096
021 212 5558
Map directions : http://www.venere.com/golden-tulip/bucharest/hotel-bucharest/#location
Phoenicia
Avenue Alexandru Serbanescu 87
District 1, 14268
021 300 0888
031.42.55.106
Map directions : http://www.venere.com/hotels/bucharest/phoenicia-grand-hotel/?ref=34989#location
Traian Hotel
55A Traian Street, Sector 3,
Bucharest, Romania
Map directions : http://www.expedia.com/pub/agent.dll/qscr=dspv/htid=1304207/crti=1/hotel-location-map
Hotel Opera
37 Brezoianu str Sector 1, 010132
021 312 4855
Map directions : http://www.thhotels.ro/hotel-opera/Directions
Novotel
37B Calei Victoriei.,010061
021 308 8888
Map directions : http://www.novotel.com/gb/hotel-5558-novotel-bucharest-city-centre/location.shtml#
CITY HOTEL
Timisoara blvd46 sector 1
031.42.55.106
Map directions : http://www.viaromania.eu/cazare.cfm/Bucuresti/cazare-6128-City_Hotel_Bucuresti.html
Hello (Hello) Hotel
http://www.hotelnet.ro/hotels/bucharest/hello.htm
Calea Grivitei 143
sector 1 - 10708
Map directions : http://www.hostelbookers.com/hostels/romania/bucharest/48688/map/
Suggested pubs.
I would like to propose 3 (maybe 4) places where the bears should meet.. All of them have promotions on offer and a total space for approximately 690 people (between all the pub choices), According to estimates we have 2000 - 2500 people coming for the game.
CLICK HERE FOR MAP - http://i34.tinypic.com/14cuog4.jpg
Bordellos, (9 - 11 Selari Street).
This is a great pub, complete with excellent bar food, extensive spirits selection which are served in large measures (40ml), cocktails and Guinness on draft.. There also is Sky Sports on 4 large screens so you can watch all the Champions League action.
"You can't miss it: just look for the 'tarts' in their underwear beckoning you in."
Bordellos Happy hour will run from 4pm - 8pm (for the duration of the bears stay)
Bottled Tuborg, Carlsberg, Corona, Desperados 6 for the price of 4 they come in ice buckets
Long Drinks - 10 lei / pint glasses (see menu)
Draft beers - 1 lei off the regular price
Tuborg 5.90 lei (Regular 6.90lei)
Carlsberg 6.90 lei (Regular 7.90 lei)
Also, free shots on the house - periodically through the day served by fantastic looking girls.....
Whispers (Str. Brezoianu, Nr. 4 )
Whispers bar is seriously the place to watch the football. It promises to be a good sporting show for the Tuesday evening (detailed below). Your head will be spinning with football there.
Whispers will show 3 games simultaneously and highlights of the other games on Tuesday (3rd November).
Man United v CSKA Moskow
Atletico v Chelsea
Milan v Real Madrid (TBC)
This is the expats watering hole of choice who charitably donates a percentage of their profits to a Romanian orphanage, totally a good cause. Promotions on offer are 20% off the following products.
On the Tuesday and the Wednesday there will be Heineken's Champions League promotions girls giving away surprise prizes. While on Thursday evening they have the European league games on Sport.ro TV with huge prizes on offer. (Nike football boots, football equipment, goalkeepers gloves etc).
Promotions are valid from MONDAY (2nd) to THURSDAY (5th) during the hours of 9pm to 12pm.
Draughts
Heineken draught (400ml) - 5.5 RON
Ciuc draught (400ml) - 5 RON
Guinness draught (568ml) - 12 RON
Spirits
Absolut (50ml) - 8.5RON
Bacardi (50ml) - 9.5RON
Jack D (50ml) - 15RON
Mojos music club (Str. Gabroveni 14).
Mojos music club is the only Scottish owned bar/club in Bucharest. With a capacity of 500 people, they are slashing the beer prices for the duration of the match. A 3 level club/bar and lounge with the best sound system around. The club promises to display their 6 plasmas to watch all the highlights after the game, and promises to give you a great Bucharest experience, they also offer a well priced selection of some of your familiar brands of Scottish whiskey. These promos are applicable throughout the duration of your stay.
Pint (568ml) Tuborg 5 RON
Bottle(500ml) Tuborg 6 RON
Pint (568ml) Carlsberg 6 RON
Bottle(500ml) Carlsberg 7 RON
Pint (568ml) of Holstein Wheat 6 RON
Vodka/Whisky(40ml) + mixer 10 RON
Vodka/Whisky(40ml) + red bull 13 RON
About Town
Taxis
The important thing to remember when getting into a taxi in this city is that there are two kinds: those which are operated by a tried and trusted taxi company (good) and independents (bad). The problem is spotting the difference. By and large, trustworthy taxis are easy to spot as they are emblazoned with the name and phone with taxi number located behind each passenger door on the chassis.
If you are in a hotel or restaurant, ask your concierge or waiter/waitress to call a taxi for you.
Trusted taxi companies:
Cobalcescu 021 9451
Confort 021 9455
Cristaxi 021 9461
Domino 021 9414
Meridian 021 9444
Mondial 021 9423
National 021 9888
Occident 021 9413
Perozzi 021 9641
Prof Taxi 021 9422
Rodell 021 9415
Speed 021 9477
Buses and trams
The tram and bus service is manky (but the airport buses are clean). The only way I could imagine bears on a tram would be using it getting to the game.
Local laws & Police
If you are driving, or are out late at night, it is a good idea
to carry at least a photocopy of your passport and driving
license. Drinking in public (except in designated areas) leaves
you open to a fine, and note that despite appearances to the
contrary, prostitution remains illegal. If you are arrested ask
to speak to your embassy for advice.
Restaurants
Dinner in reasonable restaurants varies from 10 - 20 GBP per person.
MacDonald's
If you go there then what's the point on going on holiday, there are several locations in the city centre as well as KFC.
Trattoria Il Calcio (italian)
I C-4, Str. Mendeleev 14, MP-ta
Romana, tel. (+4) 0722 13 42 99,
Karishma (Indian)
D-5, Str. Iancu Capitanu 36, tel.
(+4) 021 252 51 57,
The list is pretty much endless, but these 2 are places that I have tasted and recommend. Though should you want to look further, a fully comprehensive list is available from the Bucharest in your pocket link.
Cigarettes and Customs
Cigarettes are around 1.68 GBP (8 lei), Brands common with the UK are Benson and hedges and Marlboro. 200 is your limit that you can bring back to the UK.
Stray Dogs
In Bucharest there are lots of them, all of them carrying rabies. I'm suggesting that no one should approach them as 99% are friendly with the 1% being aggressive. Now that 1% will bark aggressively sparking attention from the other dogs. The next thing you will find is that you may find about 10 of them ganging up against you.
Try to be as friendly to the aggression as possible, in order to convince the dog you mean no harm , however if that does not seem to work, I advise to act as if you are picking a stone and attempting to throw it at them. Dogs fear this and that is how locals defend themselves against them. Not what I would call a failsafe defence strategy, but I would consider it your best chance. If in doubt, throw what ever is to hand at the dog and it will run.
Girlies and adult entertainment.
It is said that the Phoenicia Hotel has a rather welcoming Night Club.
Down Town, dance bar with podium girls.
Terminus, dance bar with podium girls.
Moulin Rouge (spelling) expensive titty bar.
Online links
http://www.inyourpocket.com/data/download/bucharest.pdf