What the trip costs
Cost of vacation
Everything already paid or booked, plus an estimate of what we will spend day to day on food, fuel, tickets and the odd taxi. All figures in Romanian lei.
Total known expenses
20,678 lei
Booked lodging, van + rail
20,678 lei
Booked lodging, van + rail
Expected trip total
26,700–29,500 lei
Adds fuel, tickets, food, and contingency
26,700–29,500 lei
Adds fuel, tickets, food, and contingency
Already paid or booked
| Booked item | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Pitești · Apartament Carol Davila | 405 lei | 1 night |
| Sibiu · Flowers House | 744 lei | Deluxe King Studio + One-Bedroom Apartment, paid in full |
| Hunedoara · Corvin Guesthouse | 643.95 lei | 2 superior double rooms |
| Oradea · Andrada Holiday House | 1,000 lei | 2-night house stay |
| Ocna Șugatag · La Patru Daci | 4,800 lei | 3-night, 2-house split |
| Cluj · ZEN Garden Apartments | 616.41 lei | 1 night |
| Brașov · Apartament Prundului 31 | 2,820 lei | 3-night base |
| Galați · ibis Styles Dunărea | €211.70 ≈ 1,079 lei | 2 rooms for 2 nights, breakfast included |
| Otopeni · Ramada by Wyndham | 1,310 lei | 2 Superior King rooms, breakfast included |
| Van rental total | $1,178.98 ≈ 5,221 lei | Nine days with the van, including insurance |
| Rail chapter (3 CFR orders) | 2,039 lei | Days 13, 15 & 16 trains, 1st class — Brașov ⇄ Galați via București Nord plus the Aug 23 family onward hop back to Brașov |
| Total booked | 20,678 lei | Paid, or booked at a fixed price |
The Galați hotel is payable in euro and the van was paid in dollars; both are shown converted to lei.
What we’ll spend as we go
| Category | Estimate | What it covers |
|---|---|---|
| Fuel + road parking during van chapter | 1,000–1,400 lei | Long self-drive section through Brașov with mountain routing and city parking. |
| Core attraction tickets | 750–900 lei | Corvin, Bear Cave, Salina Turda and Peleș, plus the small Sibiu cathedral tickets. |
| Food + groceries | 4,000–5,500 lei | Mix of groceries, bakery stops, and one or two sit-down meals most days for six travelers. |
| Contingency | 250–1,000 lei | Weather pivots, extra taxis, train changes, or child-reset spending. |
| Expected variable subtotal | 6,000–8,800 lei | |
| Expected all-in trip total | 26,700–29,500 lei | Known + expected variable |
Attraction cost breakdown
| Day / stop | Estimate | Ticket prices |
|---|---|---|
| Day 2 · Sibiu old town | 20–30 lei | Lutheran Cathedral about 10 lei entry plus about 5 lei for the tower; the Orthodox Cathedral is free. If you choose ASTRA instead, budget about 100 lei — adult 40, pensioner 20, pupil/student 10. |
| Day 3 · Corvin Castle | 170 lei for all six | Adult 55 lei, pensioner 30 lei, student/pupil 15 lei; photo fee separate. |
| Day 5 · Peștera Urșilor | 240 lei | Official site currently shows 40 lei per person for both adults and children. |
| Day 10 · Salina Turda | 158 lei for all six | Adults 43 lei, students/children/seniors 23 lei on the online-ticket page. |
| Day 12 · Peleș | 150–280 lei | Worth rechecking close to the day. Children under 7 are free. |
| Core attraction subtotal | 738–878 lei | Before optional museums, photo fees or park extras |
Where the money goes
Where we could spend less
| What we could change | Saves | What we give up |
|---|---|---|
| Lean on groceries and bakery stops on the long driving days | 600–1,200 lei | Fewer relaxed sit-down meals, and less breathing room on a long day. |
| Skip one paid attraction if everyone is tired — most likely Bear Cave or Turda | 100–240 lei | That day loses its main stop, and we would need something to do instead. |
| Keep the Galați day to the park and promenade rather than paid museums | 0–150 lei | Fewer indoor options if the weather turns. |
| Cut back on café and dessert stops in Brașov and Galați | 200–500 lei | We lose some of the easiest ways to lift everyone’s mood. |
| Buy food, water and nappies at the big supermarkets rather than small shops | 150–350 lei | Less convenience, and more planning around when we shop. |