SAFETY ADVICE
• We strongly recommend that you only withdrew money from banks, or from cash machines within banks or hotels. There are plenty of banks in the city center and around the conference venue as well as around the recommended hotels.
• Do not change money in the street. Don’t even think of doing that. Really. You are at high risk of being tricked.
• If you decide to change money at the airport or at the reception of a hotel, you should expect a much worse exchange rate.
• If you decide to change money at an exchange bureau, you are at risk of being charged a fee. Also, an exchange bureau is a less secured place than a bank.
• You can pay with your card in most places, but never let it go; do not lose sight of your credit card. The waiter/seller is obliged to bring the card machine to you, if you request it.
• Pay attention to street dogs which may become quite aggressive. We do not recommend that you do jogging, biking or other activities that might provoke the street dogs. Do not get friendly to street dogs. Street dogs are a serious problem. More than 10 thousands persons were bitten by street dogs in Bucharest in 2010. If you get bitten by a dog you must go immediately to Institutul Matei Bals (Str. Dr. Calistrat Grozovici, nr. 1, pavilion 4; tel: 021/2080980 interior 4880).
• Do not use overcrowded public transportation. If you do, you are at risk from pickpockets.
• Do not wear the EIBA badge outside the EIBA Conference facilities. If you do, you may become a target for pickpockets, as a foreigner.
• Do not keep your wallet in your back pocket. If you do, you are at risk from pickpockets.
• If you go to pubs or dance clubs, do not go alone. Also, keep a low profile if possible.
• When you leave a club late in the night, it is better that you ask the personnel to call you a cab, or use the cab companies we recommend.
• Drivers of private, unregistered or fake cabs may charge you a small fortune and become violent if you refuse to pay.
• The Old Town is a unique place, but in a mixed neighborhood.
• Call 112 if you face an emergency situation. Explain the problem and your whereabouts.
HEALTH ISSUES
• It is safe to drink tap water.
• Drug stores (pharmacies) are usually open late, and they sell many drugs without a prescription. If you have a minor health problem, you can go to the closest drug store and ask for advice or help. In Romanian their name is “Farmacie”. Look after this name and/or the green cross sign.
• If you face a serious health-related problem while being in your hotel, ask the hotel reception to call you an ambulance. If you face a health-related problem while attending the conference, please inform the organizers immediately and they will call you an ambulance.
SHOPPING
• Most shops in the streets are open from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Very few shops are closed on Saturdays or Sundays.
• Shopping malls are open from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m., also on Saturdays and Sundays. The best and largest shopping malls are AFI Palace Cotroceni, Baneasa Shopping Mall, Vitan Mall and Sun Plaza. Ask your taxi driver or travel agency to take you there.
• Calea Victoriei, the street on which most recommended hotels are placed (Radisson, Hilton, Novotel, Golden Tulip) is famous for shopping; it is quite expensive, though.
EATING AND DRINKING
• If you eat by yourself in the town, pay attention to prices. Some restaurants show the prices per 100 grams (but a steak or fish may have 300-400 grams).
• Wines, even the local ones, are overpriced in all pubs, bars and restaurants. Local beer, instead, is very cheap. Ursus, Silva, Timisoreana, Ciuc are some of the strong local brands.
• When you are in a restaurant, ask the waiter/waitress what he/she recommends, especially if you order meat. They know better which meat is fresh.
• Tip is not included in the bill. A 10% tip is customary.