Bucharest Expat » Transportation

Otopeni Airport Duty Free Warning

Bucharest Expat — Mon, 17 Oct 2011 14:33:37 +0000

One of team traveled through the new look Henry Coanda airport at Otopeni recently. The international section of airport is transformed once you get past security and passport control, although getting to this point is still a challenge. The manager / supervisor that decided that two check in desks area adequate for a full flight, including one willing but inexperienced trainee should be made to stand in the same queue on a daily basis.

Once in, however, the experience is a revelation. Modern and tasteful décor, a choice of places to sit and drink coffee and snack, and finally a proper duty free section with a good selection of wines and spirits (the Bucharest Expat team are not enthusiastic about cosmetics or chocolate but we do know that these are particularly popular purchase items for members of the fairer sex).

Having tried to buy wine at the old store but been deterred by the adventurous prices, we were keen to see what was on offer. We were shocked to discover that prices were still significantly higher than you will find in any Romanian supermarket. As background to this we would like to point out that the underlying concept behind Duty Free is that you pay the price of the goods minus local sales tax, so they should be lower priced than you can find in local retail stores.

As time was short (boarding called) we focused on our favourite grape – Feteasca Neagra and threw in a Chardonnay as a control. We saw bottles that we have seen in stores and quickly took a couple of prices with a view to checking them again when we got back. We went online to check the prices, including the Halewood Winery Outlet, and the table below shows the comparison. We used an exchange rate of 4.25 Lei to the Euro, which is probably about as good as you will get after the bank takes its FOREX skim.

It is quite striking that in the Duty Free Store, the wines cost twice what they would cost you if you bought them in Romania. This makes it very likely that tourists are being gouged as they seek to buy last minute souvenirs. Maybe this is how they are financing the airport improvement but ripping customers off seems to be an odd approach.

In light of this extortionate pricing policy, if you want to take some good Romanian wine to friends outside Romania, buy before you go. If you are travelling light with only hand luggage, you have little choice other than to pay an excessive amount to do so…

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Bucharest Taxis React To The Crisis

Bucharest Expat — Sat, 11 Dec 2010 16:37:08 +0000

The taxi drivers of Bucharest have a mixed reputation. Some of them are honest, friendly and on some occasions polite to the point of being courteous. There are, however, a few of those famous bad apples that spoil it for everyone. These less honest taxi drivers can be found at major traffic areas such as airports and railway stations.

The standard rate per kilometre in a regular taxi (usually a Dacia Logan or a Renault) is currently RON 1,39, and this is usually clearly stated on the vehicle. If there is no visible rate on the side of the car then you should ask the rate, which can often be seen on the meter. If the taxi driver will not provide a rate or use a meter then our advice is to get out of the taxi or there is a strong risk of being over charged. If you are getting into a larger car such as a Mercedes then the rate per kilometre should still be displayed.

Bucharest’s more entrepreneurial taxi drivers are appearing with all sorts of new and inventive ways to fool people into thinking that their cars are in fact regular, good value Bucharest taxis. The most widely used trick is to adapt a logo that looks – at quick glance – much like the logo of an ordinary company. You can see from the two photos how easy it would be to make a mistake.

Here’s your test – which one’s the one that you would trust?

Look carefully: one is 1.3,5 RON, which is potentially a lot more than 1.39 RON. They switch round the comma and full stop in an attempt to trick you. The phrase ‘Buyer beware’ still carries a lot of relevance in this day and age.

These taxis are also notorious for having rigged meters (if they use one at all). They hit the horn or the lights and the rate mysteriously flicks up. Some drivers carry pepper spray as they know there will be trouble if the customer realizes. A member of the Bucharest Expat team learned this lesson the hard way. Bucharest is thankfully one of the safest cities in the world but that does not mean that there are not people ready to relieve you of your hard earned money.

Try and get into the habit, when you approach a taxi, that no matter what the weather, the pressure or stress, just STOP and take care to read the logo before entering any taxi. If in doubt, ask the driver. If you are not sure, look for another taxi. If you arrive at Otopeni airport, use the Fly Taxi cars that are lined up outside the arrivals area. The drivers parked in the car park that offer their services in the arrivals area are not approved and will very possibly try to rip you off. Again, we have learned this the hard way and 130 RON to Pipera was nearly three times the normal rate. The taxi drivers at Baneasa airport are no better – three different drivers all offered the unbeatable rate of 100 RON to Pipera (one was finally coaxed into making the trip for the bargain price of 50 RON).

If you are in most restaurants or hotels the staff will call a reliable company for you. There is the risk that the Concierge staff in some hotels will call their favorite taxi company which may not be the lowest cost so specify that you want to travel with a company that offer value for money (1.39 RON per km).

Be aware that the less honest drivers know what they are doing and are often prepared for trouble. Exercise caution, and you should be able to find one of the many good honest, low cost taxis in Bucharest!

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Ferrari Of Bucharest Sales Exploding?

Bucharest Expat — Thu, 09 Dec 2010 03:59:57 +0000

Ferrari of Bucharest is an “in your face” storefront highly visible to everyone going in and out of Bucharest, Romania. The large glass front Ferrari building on your way to Bucharest’s Otopeni airport is surely a proper display for Ferrari’s take on “automotive art”.

When this showroom first opened its doors a few years back, we thought they may have been a bit “looney”. Who in the World (in Bucharest) could afford, let alone justify (as if you can rationally justify purchasing a Ferrari) driving or owning such a vehicle in Romania?

Well eventually the streets of Bucharest became flooded with not just these new Ferraris, but Lamborghinis, Mercedes-McLarens, Porsche Carrera GT’s, Aston Martins, and many more exotic automobiles. Again, who would have thought.

As an avid fan of Ferrari (and a future owner of many) I was shocked to hear about a recently published article about Ferrari of Bucharest. This article stated that Ferrari of Bucharest has not only sold a record number of Ferraris since its opening in Bucharest, but they have surpassed their projections so far, that now demand is outweighing supply.

Milan must now ramp up deliveries to the Bucharest Ferrari showroom in order to meet this demand.

Why do you think this is? Where is the cash coming from for these (Bucharest) people to be buying cars? Did the marketing director for Ferrari of Bucharest maybe not place such an importance on the bribe/embezzlement source of income in Bucharest? Again, who knows.

Ferrari does indeed offer an affordable alternative now to those that can’t quite swing the 300,000-ish euro price of the ultra-premium 599 series with a thunderous front-mounted V-12 engine, a throwback to the Daytonas of days gone by. This new entry level model is dubbed the California, again reminiscent of prior legendary models. The California, a 0-60 mph rocket ship, features the first truly functional retractable hard top Ferrari has offered; not a bad deal for an entry level work of automotive art.

So again we ask, what is it that allows Bucharestians to afford such vehicles on such meager salaries? We have our thoughts… what are yours?

In the meantime, attention expats… head on up to Ferrari of Bucharest (and the Ferrari Store on Victoriei) and have a look!

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Female Safety on Public Transportation With New Video

Bucharest Expat — Mon, 24 May 2010 15:11:03 +0000

I have heard from my wife and many other people over and over the “horror” stories of what may and sometimes does transpire regarding males vs. females on public transportation in Bucharest. On a local news program (a subsidiary of PRO TV) there was a spot on the growing dangers of “attractive” females taking the bus. Why? Apparently some Romanian guys have been and are becoming more and more forceful on women whom they deem appropriate for their next “sexual” encounter. This works? Not likely. So here’s the deal… these Romanian males have every right to take public transportation as the next person, but where they are crossing the line is when they make lewd comments to women, and become “offended” when they don’t respond in a way the “pleases” them. Then the aggressiveness and the groping begins. In the US we would call this attempted rape, or at the very least, assault. These Romanian men have been quoted as calling it “quite normal”, “the girls love it”, and “they do it in the US”. Where on earth do they get that from….rap videos? Here are some links that may help you learn more about this, or at least shed some light on the subject:

http://forum.softpedia.com/lofiversion/index.php/t491534-0.html

http://forum.softpedia.com/lofiversion/index.php/t491534-25.html

http://life.hotnews.ro/stiri-prin_oras-4729173-mitocanul-care-simte-nevoia-pipaie-urle-fese.htm

So should you be concerned about your safety? Well, you should always be concerned about your safety! Carry pepper spray at the very least. I nor my wife have any real first hand experience with this issue, however she has had passing comments and whistles, but no touching or aggressiveness.

Before anyone sees this as an attack on Romanian guys it is most assuredly not. A friend of mine who is Romanian also is aware of this situation, and simply put “It is shameful that groups of people feel this is appropriate, and gives a bad impression about everyone else out there”. Point well put.

UPDATE:

Just recently the news programs around Bucharest have been airing many stories on this, as it has been getting worse. These incidents have spread like wildfires around busy local areas even during broad daylight. There have been reports of this even in high end areas and tourist hot spots… so although this isn’t strange stuff for cities in general (NYC and LA have their fair share too, dont get me wrong) but it can happen and does happen to anyone, anyplace, anytime here. That is what makes it so dangerous. I have included a video in here for the “proof” that we aren’t a little bit over the edge here. Don’t let it discourage you from going out, however keep in mind some simple tips:

If you have the opportunity to travel in a group or with some friends, then do so. You stand out when you are alone.

When alone, act is if you are “with” certain groups of people walking… keep pace with them.

Watch out for small groups of people that are just “staying” or “sitting” and watching people go by. With a keen eye one can spot the people who look suspicious. More often then not you can even see these same “people” whistling and making what are clearly lewd comments. Walk the other direction.

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Fly At Your Own Risk?

Bucharest Expat — Tue, 20 Apr 2010 16:10:30 +0000

Oh my gosh.. the ash cloud will kill us all!!!! Run for the hills!!! Just not the hills with holes in the top… Now that the ash cloud from Volcano Esldjkghskdjfbgkjh is looming above Europe, some 20,000 feet in the air and about 10,000 Km long this “ash” cloud supposedly has a planned course… as most clouds do… or not… of traveling a little bit north, widening a little, raising or lowering, possibly dispersing, but overall moving in a different direction. At a little over 200 million dollars per day for the major airlines to stay grounded, it is no wonder they have “resumed” flights. Due to the successful testing of empty planes we now know that passengers can fly as well. Okay. Feeewww. So let’s go into some “conversation” about volcanic ash and what it can do to an airplane.

Volcanic ash is basically small shards of “glass” suspended in the atmosphere. Not so bad unless you’re traveling through this at 400 miles per hour. You’ve just created your very own sand blaster. So sandblasters and airplanes have always gone well together. The amount of damage that can occur only to the STRUCTURE of the plane in 7 minutes is roughly equivalent to 100 hours of normal flight. (two of us from Bucharest Expat are licensed pilots… and we think this is insane to be flying right now. There will probably be no accidents, but wow…. look at the risks).

The interesting thing is that this ash is also magnetically charged. In the Indonesia incident where a plane almost crash landed as a result of this “unknown at the time” occurrence, the passengers reported “ball lightning” surrounding the airplane. Basically this is one huge Vandegraaff generator. Remember, the instruments on airplanes can be heavily influence by strong magnetic, and electronic fields. *** keep in mind here that the pilots will most likely have no visual indicators that they are flying through an ash cloud, especially at night, where you will assume you are simply flying through another cloud! If not for test equipment on board research planes, no one could pinpoint beyond a reasonable doubt when the plane actually flew through ash. The engines will simply “die” at the worst.

One might think that the ash (being small shards of glass) would simply be incinerated in the engines. This is not the case, as the extreme temperatures from a jet engine are from the exhaust exiting the engine. Inside, most parts are cool enough to touch. What you will have though, is extreme heat created through the friction of the “fan blades” through the high density of the “sand blaster” particles. In the attached PDF from NASA, pay very close attention to the damage this can cause.

Once the friction is created, that WILL create heat. Do you think jet engines and fresh lava mix well? I don’t. The temperature sensors in the engines become confused, the engine shuts down… hopefully no major damage has yet to occur other than this “flameout”. The plane must then descend below the ash cloud for a restart and emergency landing. All this occurs with little or no warning. This is just the problem with the engines. Don’t forget about the rest of the structural problems that could occur as well as instrument issues. (ash will also clog the Pitot tube, which is the protruding nub that looks like a pointy finger on the front of the plane. The pitot tube is simply a sensor that is tied to multiple cockpit instruments).

Those are the basics on this stuff. Couple that with the ever increasing emphasis on passenger safety (just kidding) and you could have a recipe for disaster. So if you wish to get aboard an airplane heading through the remnants and ash of the Iceland Volcano Eyjafjallajokull then you may wish to reconsider… or at least understand what you are getting in to. Spend some time and look through these attached links as well as the NASA pdf and you will be entertained and intrigued to say the least…

Here is the NASA pdf that is really interesting. It outlines the damage that can be caused from the ash cloud, as well as the risks associated with it. Of interesting note is the Volcano that erupted and served as the basis for this “test” was right next to Volcano Eyjafjallajokull. History is strange. Pay attention to the trajectories of the ash cloud at compare the current media coverage to this pdf.

Click Here To Download The NASA Report

Most of the news reporting agencies have their own “projected” timelines and travel paths… here’s an interesting one:

Telegraph Timeline

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Insane Dacia Duster Ad

Bucharest Expat — Tue, 20 Apr 2010 15:03:18 +0000

The new Dacia Duster seems to be “around” now in the local media. The funny thing is… the marketing campaigns make absolutely ZERO sense… or do they? We all noticed the new TV commercial for the Duster (a clear rip-off of Saturn Car commercials from some time ago) that seemed to us to be a bit contrary to “normal” marketing techniques. In the video below of the tv commercial (yeah we’ll use it here…they clearly don’t care about copyright infringement) you’ll want to pay attention to the ending of it. The “fitze” couple gets out of the car and asks the awaiting salesman about the cost of the vehicle. He states the price starting at 10,500 Euros. The immediate and negative response from the pitzi, fizte “princess” roughly translates to “only 10,000 euros …. at our value?” accompanied by a look of utter disgust on her face. THEN THEY WALK AWAY FROM THE SALE!!!!

Maybe this type of marketing works here, where they demean the vehicle and convince (through creative marketing) that not only is this vehicle not good enough for “you” but then by actually purchasing the vehicle you are acknowledging and accepting your low value and low image of yourself… someone please tell us how this marketing works and is effective here. Has “fitze”, superiority, and pure materialism in Bucharest gotten so bad that this ad will have a comical and inverse effect? Maybe… we are talking about it on here…

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Dacia Duster

Bucharest Expat — Wed, 17 Mar 2010 11:54:50 +0000

If you live here in Bucharest then you are very familiar with Dacia. If you don’t live here yet, then it is high time you get used to the “Dacia” in the automotive sense of the term. Often looked at as a rolling traffic blockade, the old. slow, lumbering Dacia sedans are almost as iconic for Romanian streets as the occasional East German Trabant. Often repaired by tilting the car on its side to gain access to the undercarriage, the Dacia is a definite “project car” throughout its contradictory long lived life. It’s cheap to buy and cheap to fix for a reason. So from communist transportation to “every other taxi cab” let’s take a brief look into the development of Dacia before we take a look at the new “World’s Cheapest SUV, the Dacia Duster”…

The Dacia car company was founded in 1966, near Pitesti in Romania. Dacia was your typically “re-tooling” and re badging of another car company. You may recognize the similarities (almost exact) to older Renault model line cars. In other countries (they were everywhere in Buenos Aires Argentina) you’ll see the 1100 and 1300 series on every side street labeled as their Renault counterpart. Sparing the boring details of model lineage, we’ll simply say that this was a successful attempt at introducing a “Romanian” line into the mainstream consumer market. Picking up in the 70′s and 80′s as a car obtainable for the average Romanian family, various renditions of the 1100 series sedan filled gaps throughout a wide range of demographics by featuring many “upgrades” and additional options.

After the revolution of 1989 Dacia went full force with introducing new and in some ways improved designs for the marketplace. This included the Dacia Nova, and SuperNova models that was toted as being built without the assistance of Renault… a purely Dacia design. Let’s forget about the oddly similar resemblance to a Chevrolet model carrying the same model name across the pond.

It wasn’t until September of 1999 that Dacia began turning out the majority of what you see on the Romanian roads today. This was due to Dacia’s buy out by the Renault group. From the Solenza to the Logan to the Sandero, Dacia is now a “force to be reckoned with” on Eastern European streets. Don’t miss the occasional quips about Dacia on famed automotive program “Top Gear”.

Introducing the new and “improved” Dacia, the Dacia Duster:

Quoted as being the “World’s Cheapest SUV” the Dacia Duster may indeed fit the bill. Starting at 10,500 Euros for the 4×2 version and 12,500 Euros for the 4×4, you won’t have to look far to see that this definitely is one of the more affordable sport utilities out there.

Scheduled for release this Spring, the Duster SUV (more of a cross-over) will feature a wide range of engine sizes, from an 85HP petrol engine all the way up to a 110HP diesel power plant. At 1280 kilos for the fully loaded 4×4 version, the 110 diesel ought to be more than adequate to get this vehicle up to speeds on Romanian streets. Surely performance mods will follow in the “tuner” marketplace.

Dacia Duster is easy to drive and not only aimed at all-terrain aficionados. The combination of its low unladen weight (1.180kg in 4X2 – 1,280kg in 4X4) and compact proportions ensure particularly agile handling. In the 4X4 version, thanks to the unique and intuitive control (sourced from Nissan) located in the cabin at the foot of the central column, Dacia Duster drivers can easily adapt the vehicle’s transmission configuration to meet their needs of the moment.

This control allows one of three modes to be selected:

When the AUTO mode is selected, the front/rear torque split is calculated automatically as a function of available grip. This system is aimed at providing optimal traction, however much grip is available, and gives Dacia Duster genuine 4×4 ability. In normal conditions, the torque is transmitted through the front wheels only. If traction is lost, or when grip is at a premium, some of the torque is transferred to the rear axle. In extreme conditions, the torque is split equally front and rear. This split is performed by an electromagnetic torque converter supplied by Nissan.

In LOCK mode, the driver electronically locks it into 4×4 mode, whereby 50 per cent of torque is consistently fed through the rear axle. This mode is recommended in low grip conditions (snow, mud, dirt, sand) at low speeds.

In 4×2 mode, the transmission is locked into two-wheel drive. This mode is suited to driving on good roads and reduces fuel consumption.

Sourced from Renault’s website at www.Renault.com

So how will this well equipped, “spacious” and affordable SUV fit in to the local marketplace? According to the Vice President of Dacia, Canstantin Stroe, this new model “will be very successful on the Romanian market, especially among the women”. We’ll see if Dacia Duster can deliver.

Duster 1.6 16V 105HP 4×2	10.500 EUR
Duster 1.6 16V 105HP 4×4	12.300 EUR
Ambiance 1.6 16V 105HP 4×2	11.000 EUR
Ambiance 1.5 dCi 85HP 4×2	12.150 EUR
Ambiance 1.6 16V 105HP 4X4	12.800 EUR
Ambiance 1.5 dCi 110HP 4X2	12.900 EUR
Ambiance 1.5 dCi 110HP 4X4	14.700 EUR
Laureate 1.6 16V 105HP 4X2	11.900 EUR
Laureate 1.5 dCi 85HP 4X2	13.050 EUR
Laureate 1.6 16V 105HP 4X4	13.700 EUR
Laureate 1.5 dCi 110HP 4X2	13.800 EUR
Laureate 1.5 dCi 110HP 4X4	15.600 EUR

Black door strips	75 EUR
Alloy wheels 16″	300 EUR
Metallic paint	255 EUR
ASR – ESP (available only for the 1.5 dCi 110 HP engine)	250 EUR
Fog lights	100 EUR
Electric rear windows	100 EUR
Air Conditioning	750 EUR
Radio CD MP3 4×15W with steering wheel controls	50 EUR
Modularity Pack: folding rear seat, adjustable driver seat, adjustable front belts on height, adjustable wheel on height	150 EUR
Leather Pack: leather upholstery, leather steering wheel and leather gear knob	400 EUR
Look Pack: door mirrors cover satin-chrome, side door strips satin-chrome, dark tinted windows, 16″ alloy wheels	140 EUR
12 months extended warranty but not more than 100.000 km	210 EUR
24 months extended warranty but not more than 100.000 km	600 EUR
Leather steering wheel	100 EUR

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Transportation Strike Rumors

Bucharest Expat — Tue, 16 Mar 2010 14:28:04 +0000

On March 18th there will supposedly be a Metro strike in Bucharest. This has happened quite often, a memorable one being in 1999 when drivers went on strike demanding the average $113 equivalent monthly salary be doubled. This time, after listening to the “rumor mill” saying everything from their will be 10,000 cars intentionally blocking the road while the public transportation lines are blocked, to the “everybody will miss school and work”, to “we wish to create another Greece”, we’ve searched various media sources to find out the “probable” scenario for this strike: It looks like what is going to happen, is that on the 18th of March, as announced by the president of the trade unions of the Metro, 4,600 employees will strike, halting the main metro line “indefinitely”. As a result of this Bucharest Public Transportation Strike, more people will be driving their cars to and from their destinations. As is already well known around Bucharest, the traffic can be miserable at times. Most of the time. So if you drive or will be planning to drive as a result of this be SURE to give yourself ample time to get to your destinations just in case. If you can take the tram or are within walking distance you may be better off. Let’s see what happens!

Click Here for a direct link to the best article on the Bucuresti Metro Stirke

Click Here to see an article on the 1999 Strike

The Most Congested Cities

Bucharest Expat — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 10:51:08 +0000

Well I did it again this morning. Drove in snow and traffic. Why? Because I said to myself “It can’t be as bad as I think”. Pfff… oops. Sitting in traffic for 2 hours this morning gave me ample time to reflect on the worst traffic I have ever been in before, from New York City, to Santo Domingo, to Buenos Aires, surely Bucharest would have made the list right? Nope. But here’s who did make the Forbes list lof the Worlds Most congested cities followed by some typical shots of Bucharest Traffic and other Major cities:

Manila, the Philippines

Cairo, Egypt

Lagos, Nigeria

Macau, off the Chinese coast

No picture available

Seoul, South Korea

Dhaka, Bangladesh

Buenos Aires, Argentina

Jakarta, Indonesia

Kaohsiung, Taiwan

No Picture Available

Santo Domingo, the Dominican Republic

Here Are some of the Web’s Greatest Bucharest Traffic photos:

After spending just one day in Bucharest traffic, one can easily assume that no country or no city could POSSIBLY be any worse than this… but don’t we say that ANYTIME we are stuck in traffic? Maybe it is the “chaos” that causes the added stress. When living in the Dominican Republic, the weekly trips from Punta Cana to Santo Domingo were extra-nerve racking simply due to the fact that it was hot, humid, and salty. Yuk. Public transportation was not a help here. Argentina? I lived in Buenos Aires long enough to decide that owning a car was for looks only. Walking to and from the store could be accomplished in 1/3 the time it would take to drive. Here are some more pics to calm your nerves about Bucharest Traffic:

New York City

Paris

Moscow

all photos courtesy of the web…

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Having a Car Rapidly Removed

Bucharest Expat — Fri, 29 Jan 2010 21:02:13 +0000

Here is a story that maybe some of you can relate to, especially if you’ve paid any attention whatsoever to the way people park around town. At my house very near the center, I have two large garage doors with highly visible “Garaj” markings displayed on the front of them. Although it is printed in white… it doesn’t blend into the Â snow. This morning now marks the SECOND time that someone has parked their car strategically in front of my garage without leaving as much as a note with their phone number on the dashboard. The first car to do this was an Audi A4 (a “beginner” luxury car in the States), the second car was a Toyota Prado… both fitze cars here. With this fitzeness comes the added dose of arrogance. “I don’t care about anyone but myself… so I can park where I want when I want…. and nobody can tell my Nike Jumpsuit ass anything else”. Well.. lets just say that on this morning they received a gift they’ll remember fr a long time:

There are two methods to getting a car towed here in Bucharest (three if you have a big truck and a chain). The first is to flip through the directories and call a private towing service. They’ll ask you for all your information, as well as the information of the car you wish to have towed. Why your information? So they can get paid of course… if they are “unable” to get an “acceptable” amount of money out of the actual violator! Yes indeed… you as the “victim” of double parking or blockage may actually have to pay the driver or service that removes the problem vehicle for you. So here it is.. if you call a private company, there is no promises that you may not have to come up with a few hundred ron to have them move a car for you!

The second option? The police actually have a line that rings to their governmental towing agency. This department has a unique way of dealing with problem vehicles that only costs the violator, not the person calling in (you may have seen these trucks recently surrounding Zara at Unirii, they have been removing a lot of cars there lately). When you call this, you give them your name, and a contact number for you, but then immediately they focus their concern on the violating vehicle. You’ll need the color, make, model, as well as tag number. Once you give this to them, expect everything to happen quickly (rapid response is how they make their money on this one)! Within ten minutes (the units are dispatched by sector and zone) you’ll see two dark sedans block in the violating car. Next, they will adjust the cameras on the front windscreen of their cars to photograph the car, it’s parking position, the time and date, and the tag number. It is at this point that the person has “passed the point of no return” for receiving a parking violation. Once this is done, the flatbed truck is right around the corner ready to lift the car out of the way if the driver has not shown up. (the police will call the phone number on file with the tag as well to “prompt” the driver to come pay up now). All in all it’s a great show. If we all pitch in and have some cars towed I think Bucharest will be a better place! Want the phone number to get started now? Here it is: 021 9544

Flying First Class

Bucharest Expat — Sun, 17 Jan 2010 13:20:26 +0000

As an expat, you’re probably going to also fall under the category as “frequent Flier”. All of us here at Bucharest Expat have multiple stamps overlaying other stamps on our passports as well as more frequent flier miles and bonus points than our “non-expat” counterparts (yes a bit of bragging). As these bonus points and mileage points add up, different “benefits” present themselves, one if which is flying first class. If you’re not flying first class yet… how come? Do you think everyone in the first class seating areas have paid a ludricous amount of money to have the privilege of sitting in a larger seat? Not likely.

I, as well as some of my business partners, have chosen to stick with Delta, at this point purely due to the fact of the “Skymiles” points we’ve racked up. They lose luggage, staff is particularly rude, overbooking and price screw-ups are common, and the list goes on of negatives, so don’t mis-understand this as a promo… it’s not, it’s just about the ability to freely fly first class.

As we fly Internationally now, we’ve noticed that we’ve been getting “bumped up” to first class almost every time. We depart the US via Delta’s partner Air France, with a connection typically in Paris, where we switch to Tarom to Bucharest. Only the last leg is not first class, but as Delta is affiliated with dozens of “Skyteam” partners now, the benefits usually work across the board. The easiest way to get your upgrade is to stick with one airline in particular, and sign up for the free “mile” program that they offer. As you fly on that airline or their affiliates you’ll accrue some bonus points that can be redeemed for upgrades, as well as moving through the “promotional levels” (in Delta’s case its called medallion status) in which benefits and upgrades will be provided by default.

So, prior to my medallion status defaulting me to First class, here are some tricks I (we) pulled in order to get that first class seat:

1. We would wait until the last minute to book the discounted tickets (the days of needing to book 2 weeks out or more for cheap fares seem to have disappeared). When we would call to book, we would inquire as to how full the plane was, or glance at the online seating charts. A lot of times you could actually book a ticket on a full flight, knowing the entire time you’ll “suffer” by being bumped to a later flight. This is of course okay to you, as you know the next flight is only an hour or so difference based on the research you’ve done before hand. You also know that if you act a little upset and disturbed that your now going to have to re-schedule your meeting unless you can get some work done on the plane, that your very likely to talk your way into a first class upgrade for your troubles.

2. If that sounds like to much work, try stirring up some pleasant conversation with the gate attendant. Talk about how they must be so stressed today, how it seems really busy, thank them for all the work they’re doing, basically your building rapport with them. If you’ve carried the conversation well enough, you’ll see them start to plug away at their computer (again make sure you’re here early enough to where you don’t hold up a line). They’re probably looking at seat selection at this point in time… thats a good sign, but never ask for an upgrade. If you focus on making a pleasant atmosphere for them, you’ll be the star of the day. We’ve been known to make “coffee runs” for them sometimes as we are “on our way to Starbucks” get the idea? You will know when the time is right to talk about “the flight being full” if there are any seats in open rows, or anything that may give you some “more legroom”. You’ll be offered a first class ticket. Act surprised.

3. Bribes. Worked once for me in the US. Worked 100% of the time in developing countries. I would say be careful in your technique with this.. however my “bribing” technique sucks, but everyone liked money. I paid $20 on average to the gate attendant to be bumped to first class every time while in the Dominican Republic for example. Argentina cost me 30 Euros, but still accomplished the goal.

4. Count on lost luggage. Carry a bag that is very, very heavy, right at the weight limit. Check in late. The bag will be lost, almost guaranteed. Airlines remove luggage when the plane is overweight. They remove in order of class and weight of bags. Make sure you’ve got a carryon of two days worth of items incase it takes a while for your bag to get to it’s destination or delivered to you. When you get your bags, keep all the documents. We have had a 50% success rate in gaining upgrades on our return leg when calling the customer service line 2-3 days later complaining about the lost luggage and how it has tarnished the airline’s reputation with you and your business associates, as you had important material in their and was assured at check in that it would arrive on time. WTF?

So.. judge us if you will, but we know you’ll try a few of these out for yourself.

Below are some great photos of the first class cabins of various airlines. Enjoy.

Cathay Pacific

Emirates

Japan Airlines

Jet Airways (India)

Lufthansa

Qantas

Quatar

Singapore Airlines

SwissAir

Thai Airlines

Virgin

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Icy Roads & Crowded Metros

Bucharest Expat — Wed, 16 Dec 2009 09:30:20 +0000

Well, it’s still snowing out there, and if you’ll take a look at the webcams on our site (click here) you can “judge” which driving routes look as though they’ll be less likely to have ice on them. Yesterday being the first day of snowfall in Bucharest, there was a time for “adjustment”. The roads were very slick… I actually followed one of the plow trucks with a “gritter” attachment, sprinkling the salt around on the roads, but the mechanism was clogged, so he was only salting the back of the truck. Wonder who’s paying for that.

Sitting in traffic was ofcourse a nightmare. an hour from Mihai Bravi to Unirii…lol. That evening I thought I would be “smart” and park the car and take the metro. Turns out everyone else in Bucharest wished to be “smart” as well, so the metro was like herding cattle and took a long time, and the roads had freed up. My solution? Stay at home. If you have to go somewhere, take your car, but search wisely for alternate routes and back roads. Don’t plan on taking the tram or the bus until you confirm they are running at proper schedule. If you are close to a metro station, pop your head down there first to gauge the crowds. Remember: riding in the Metro in close proximity to everyone puts you at risk of being pick pocketed during the holidays.

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Filling/Petrol/Gas Stations Closed for Shift Change….

Bucharest Expat — Wed, 09 Dec 2009 22:55:20 +0000

When driving around Bucharest “late” at night in search of a quick snack, or a fill up of your car’s tank at your nearest petrol station… beware. I found out tonight the hard way that not only the OMVs but the Agip and Mol stations all closed the doors and barricaded the entrances. It was very very irritating, and I ended up making circles around town just for a late night beer run.

As it turns out, roughly around 11:00 pm is “shift change” when all the POS registers close down, are counted out, and prepared for the deposit. Of course they can “not handle” any cash during this transition. That would be too difficult. Apparently even at places such as the 24hr Real over near AFI, if your shopping and have items in your hand during their shift change, you may as well continue shopping, as they won’t be able to cash you out. Just a tip.

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Banaesa Tunnel Finished… maybe

Bucharest Expat — Sun, 29 Nov 2009 00:14:13 +0000

So we drove to the Banaesa Mall tonight, for the sole purpose of getting a Chocolate Cinnabon (7ron, 4ron w/out chocolate) and surprisingly enough the tunnel was complete. Wow. Only 2 years ahead of expectations. Surely doesn’t have anything to do with elections. No way. So here’s the funny part. After researching this “early opening” (targeted for before December 1st) it turns out that the media was on site when the first of the cars traveled through the new tunnel. The unveiling I suppose. They [media] then stayed around all day curious as to what effect this would have on “easing” the flow of traffic and traffic jams. The result? A whopping 3% increase in efficiency. LOL. The reasoning? Well, for starters, you still have multiple lanes merging and converging in to 2 lanes, both of which immediately encounter a series of three traffic lights. While you are trying to merge, you are also trying to figure out which lane you should choose altogether to either be “in” the tunnel or “out.”

We opted out of the tunnel this time, to head to the left passing the Phoenecia Grand Hotel. It was after our swing to the right around the new piata, then are left turn, that we realized the vehicles turning left are indeed limited to one lane, as the secondary lane is “parking”. So again on the brakes and cutting in between unwilling vehicles, all the while sending the domino effect of brake lights all the way back to Otopeini and beyond. Nice try Bucharest transportation dept. better keep the road designs to the 10 year olds… it’ll work better. I guess widening the road the old fashioned way was not enough of a show!

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Tired of the Same Old Smart Car?

Bucharest Expat — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 16:31:58 +0000

This is not entirely relevent to the Bucharest Expat, however I must have laughed for a good five minutes on this one and thought everyone would get a laugh out of either a great joke, or a new business opportunity for Buch. I happened across some of these on the web and thought to myself…hmmm would the Romanians love the faux fanciness (and ultimately the economics and affordability) of this whole Smart conversion? Or would they simply laugh and continue the prank of throwing this redesigned city car into the canal? Well what do you think?

Smorvette

Smorsche

Smerrari

Smaudi

Smamborghini

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Seek Alternate Route From Baneasa

Bucharest Expat — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 14:12:52 +0000

Just an annoyance that you’ll have if you’re coming into town. Forget about turning left into town after the Baneasa Airport. The tunnel construction (due for end of year completion) for some reason beyond the scope of reality has prohibited a left turn at that specific intersection, as well as ANY U-turn from there all the way to Charles de Gaulle. You’re looking at a nice jaunt to the next piata or round about before you can come back in the other direction. If you’re headed towards the center, you’ll probably do just fine, however if you’re heading towards Pipera, (or even staying at the Pheonecia) it will be a pain in the butt. If you plan accordingly you could take the bypass prior to Baneasa Shopping city and cut through the residential areas, which will then inevitably spit you out in Pipera.

For those of you that enjoy some humor, you may actually wish to drive by the tunnel construction during mid-day just to see some of the Romanian workers down on there hands and knees brushing away the concrete overages with tiny toothbrush sized brushes. I wonder why it takes three times longer than average for construction. huh

Bucharest Train Schedule

Bucharest Expat — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 09:42:58 +0000

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Seeing Blue

Bucharest Expat — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 22:28:43 +0000

We’ve all seen the “important people” parades of three or four police cars sandwiching a dark Mercedes Benz or BMW, with blue strobe lights on the dashboard, tinted windows, and the unique ability to stop traffic and meander on through traffic signals no matter the color… or the “CD” light blue colored diplomatic plates that catch your eye as they sneak past you at an intersection… but here’s a new twist for you:

While driving down Victoriei on my way to the Regilor this evening, I was being severely tailgated by a car.. It irritated me more than ever before in this instance for some strange reason, so I progressively slowed down more and more (first in an effort to let them pass me, but then in a more enjoyable effort to tick them off). It was after a “sudden decline in acceleration” on my part that I saw it…. the now flashing blue dashboard strobe light. Ooops. Get the photo copied passport out and the “stupid American” accent… I just angered the wrong person. As they whipped around the side of my car and began to overtake me, it was then when I noticed (to my pleasant surprise) that the “important person” was actually a teenager joyriding in a Dacia Logan with a flashing blue light inside the car.

Moral of the story? Who the f*#k knows….

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Don’t Worry About Driving Style

Bucharest Expat — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 10:48:21 +0000

When driving you’ll be sure to notice the horn-honking and headlight-flashing that goes on almost on a regular basis. This is not something to really be overly concerned with, because like motorists in other countries, Romanians feel a great sense of security and almost invincibility behind the wheel (especially if it’s a fancy wheel). No matter what they do, they probably won’t run in to you, as when you have an accident (illegal) all parties involved must take the drive to the local police station, where they will be greeted with hours of paperwork and waiting around. Nobody really wants to do that. When your going straight at an intersection and the person in the left lane is trying to drive through you to turn right, just be aware, but don’t freak out… they probably won’t hit you, just intimidate you. The horn honking? They are either having a bad day, or the traffic light you can’t see just turned green 1/1,000 of a second ago….so you should be well under way by now. If you think you’re doing something wrong while driving, forget about it…. just laugh. Ignore all the other B.S. and just get where you need to go. As long as you don’t drink and drive, crash in to something, speed through the villages, and wear your seat belt, then you’ll be just fine.

Aggressive Driving

Bucharest Expat — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 12:58:33 +0000

Ok everyone, here is a chance to comment with your “driving stories”…

The ability for a foreigner to come to Bucharest and “get away with almost anything” while driving has virtually come and gone. New laws and traffic cams, and stricter Politia (rutiera, or road police) have drastically cut down your chances of “video game-esque” driving techniques. But that doesn’t mean that people still aren’t out there being crazy! Watch out for American plates, as they think they are super-human with Godly status enabled wherever they go. Keep a close eye out for the “new rich” in their BMW, Audi, or Mercedes, pseudo-luxury “look at me” vehicles, as their newly found, however short term wealth, obviously doesn’t include an education in the laws of physics. So what’s your story? You know you have one….

The Invincible Pedestrian