The official currency used in Romania is the Romanian New Leu. This is symbolised by the three letters, RON, which denotes Romanian New Leu.
Each leu is made up of 100 bani. The singular of bani is the ban.
The word 'leu' is used because in the 17th and 18th Century, Dutch coins were in wide circulation, which all displayed a lion on them. They came to be known, in common language as 'lei' which means lions. The name then transferred to money as a whole and so when a standard currency was devised for Romania, it made sense to name it the leu.
The coins in circulation are issued as 1,5,10 and 50 bani. Usually the 1 bani coin is not in circulation, although it is actually legal tender.
Notes in circulation are issued in the following denominations:1,5,10,50, 100 and 200 lei.
The leu was originally introduced in 1880, by the National Bank of Romania. The bank's official title is 'Banca Nationala a Romaniei, identified as BNR on the international money markets.
Since 1880, the leu has taken different forms, appearing as the first, second, third and now the fourth leu.
The leu which is in current circulation was introduced in 2005. This followed on from a major overhaul of the Romanian currency, where all the old 'leus' were withdrawn from circulation and the New Leu was launched.
The new leu was brought in as a way of revaluing the currency. It had a rate of 10,00 to 1, which means that 10,000 old leu were worth one new leu. This must have taken a while to get used to, for people doing the weekly shop! Prices were displayed in both, but people still used to mentally think in terms of the old money.
Indeed when it was brought in it was chaos for a while and the whole ATM circuit in Romania, simply ground to a halt. In addition, there were problems with shops being able to add up the new sums of money and it was extremely cumbersome for some time.
As if things were not complicated enough, the old money was also still in circulation until December of the following year!
Leu are relatively easy to get hold of there is a comprehensive system of ATM machines throughout Romania. However, if you are travelling into the more remote areas it is advisable to make sure that you take some cash with you, although the ATM machines are plentiful in the Romanian cities and there are quite a lot in Romanian towns, in the rural villages they can be few and far between.
Before you travel to Romania, you do need to check whether your card can be used there. You may find that you simply need to tell your bank or credit card provider that your card is going to be used in Romania, so that they know that when you use it in Romania, it is being used by you and that it is not being used by someone who has stolen your card.
Sometimes, you may be approached by someone who asks you if you want to exchange some money. These people usually operate on the black market and so you are very likely to be ripped off. Most of these exchangers are in effect con men and you really should not trust them.
In any case no matter how persuasive the money exchanger is, you will get a pretty good exchange rate using an ATM machine, which will not rip you off and so is the best means of getting money.
You can take travellers cheques to Romania and these can easily be changed at a bank. The only problem with travellers cheques is that you will either have to go to the bank on an almost daily basis, or when you cash your cheques you will have to carry round a large sum of money.
Romania is actually a very safe country to visit. There is some petty crime, but very little risk of any serious crime being committed against you. Nevertheless, like many other countries Romania does have its fair share of petty criminals who will attempt to relieve you of your wallet or your handbag. This means that you need to exercise care when in crowded places, such as the markets or in train stations.
Whilst not all gypsies are alike, as a rule, you should try to avoid contact with gypsies. Sometimes, they may become a little agitated and rude if you do not wish to purchase something from them, or give them money. Although not all gypsies are like this, you should just be aware.
One thing that you also need to be mindful of, is the fact that corruption is quite widespread throughout Romania.
It is a much bigger problem here than in any other European country and can be quite an eye-opener for people who are not used to seeing corruption or corrupt officials. It is thought that corruption is a widespread within the police force and also customs officials. However, it should not be assumed that all police officers or customs officers are corrupt, but it is something that you should be mindful of when dealing with any officials.
When you are in Romania, you will find that in most of the larger towns and the cities that English is widely spoken and understood, however, if you venture out into the countryside then you will find that most people can only speak Romanian. So if you are going to stay in the cities, such as Bucharest, then you will find that you can get by in English without any problem. But if you are going to explore Romania as a country, then you should definitely try to learn at least a few words of Romanian.
Romania is a relatively cheap country. It used to be exceptionally cheap to visit and travel around Romania, however, due to the serious problems that Romania has experienced with regard to inflation, this is no longer the case.
Nevertheless when compared to other destinations in Europe it certainly does offer tremendously good value for money.
One of the best things about Romania is the fact that it has so much to offer its visitors in terms of variety and places to go, which are just that little bit different. In Romania you can go to Transylvania, Bucharest or to some fantastic little villages or even seaside resorts, where you can just laze on the beach.
This makes Romania a very good place to come for a holiday. Since it also offers tremendously good value for money, it is surprising that more people do not travel to Romania on a regular basis.
Eating and drinking is relatively cheap across Romania, but in Bucharest as the well as some of the tourist areas, you will find it a little bit more expensive to eat and drink. But on the other hand, if you go into some of the more remote villages deep in the heart of the countryside, then you will find that eating and drinking really is remarkably cheap.
Transylvania is an area that is world renowned as being of outstanding natural beauty. Although it is also a famous destination for those who are looking for vampires, it actually has a lot more to offer. There are a whole variety of medieval towns, fortresses, monasteries as well as cities that have adapted to modern life. These offer at all the standard tourist facilities for that you would expect to find in any modern European city, but they are available for a fraction of the cost and so offer very good value for money.
Banat it is a relatively prosperous area that is quite developed and has some amazing German villages, built in traditional German style, due to the fact of that this is the most westerly area in Romania. The architecture gives it a really unique atmosphere and is almost like you are not in Romania, more like another country.
Or you could travel to Dobruja, which is a famous coastal resort located on the Black Sea. This is very much a way of enjoying some fun, sun and sea and is a very relaxing way to spend some time, although it is not really indicative of Romania as a country. But if you just want somewhere that you can chill and rest for a week or two, then this could be an ideal location. It is also relatively good value for money, though it tends to be a seasonal destination.
But if you prefer city life or just like to have a short break, then Bucharest may be the ideal location for you. Bucharest has around 2 million residents, which makes it one of the biggest cities in the whole of Eastern Europe.
It is very much a modern city, with an up-to-date metro system, some excellent trams, as well as a comprehensive bus service. You will also find that public transport is this relatively cheap to use.
Due to the number of museums and facilities in Bucharest, you will need to get around the city to see the best that it has to offer, which is why it is so handy to have a reliable and cheap public transport system. There are so many landmarks, as well as the museums, that you may find it quite a tiring holiday, simply trying to pack everything in, without leaving out too much.
Romania is a country that has many contrasts. You can experience the seaside or have a really modern type holiday in Bucharest. Or you can venture into Transylvania and feel as if you have stepped back in time, to a place where maybe vampires really could exist.
Because Romania is still a destination that will not break the bank, but still has an awful lot to offer, it is a country where there really is something for everyone. The only difficulty you will have is actually choosing which parts of Romania to visit and which you will have to leave for when you come again.