Hi everyone,

After spending 3 mothns in the Black Sea area of Romania, this is my feedback:

• Romania in general is not expensive, but in the Summer the prices in Constanta and Mamaia (the Black Sea areas) almost double. So we ended up spending way more that expected.

• Power cuts: I stayed in Mamaia, and in July-August almost every week there was a power blackout in the area.

• The food is not too diverse, is pretty much average Easter European food everywhere. Sushi is not really good, Thai and Indian food is impossible to find. The only highlight for me was the Greek restaurants.

• The Sea in Mamaia is not that nice, most of beach is FULL with sunbeds, loud music, and is almost impossible to find beach bars with food (a few offer basic pizzas). I would recommend only Café del Mar if you want to relax at the beach and eat something.

• Romanians are really nice people, but the couchsurfing community is almost not existent in Constanta-Mamai.

• Safety: Is really safe

I almost never regret going to a place, but I do regret a bit choosing Constanta for the whole summer. If you want to spend some time in Romania I think is better to forget about the beach area and stay in Brasov (my favorite city there) or Bucharest instead.

Saludos!
Mariana.

I moved to Varna a while back and right now I’m enjoying 90 Mbps on the balcony, or 150 Mbps with the cable plugged in. There are also 4g wireless wifi modems which works well in the bigger cities, Varna included, which you can buy or rent. There is good free wifi around too, but you might wanna do a speed test before you order in your drinks.

I’m also dealing with this decision for August. I’d like to settle in one place for about a month that has good wifi, easy access to nature (probably mountains over seaside for me this time, but staying as cool as possible is a priority). Bohemian feel with good art and cafes, maybe yoga. Safe, of course. Smaller cities or villages preferred over big cities, but as long as I can get out of the city easily that’s probably the most important. Cluj, Brasov, Sofia, Novi Sad?

Hi,

Although I’m Romanian I must say the beach and the water seem a bit nicer on the Bulgarian side. From Varna you can also quickly go to the Tyulenovo area or to Balcik, both really nice.

Constanta is quite active and Mamaia, near Constanta is a place to party, though you might enjoy more the vibe of Vama Veche in Romania. Constanta in itself is not expensive, but the surrounding touristic areas might be a bit more.

Go to Romania for the mountains and the Transylvania area. I recommend Sibiu, Sighisoara or Cluj and a visit to Brasov.

PS: My hunch is that you will love the Romanian culture more (more latin) and you will find more Spanish-speaking people there.

Hi Mari,
I vouch for Varna, since I have experience working there.
First, the Internet speed is lower than Romania, but it’s very stable and can get your job done;
Second, there are several co-working spaces that launched in past 2 years, which will let you meet fellow nomads or entrepreneurial minded people;
Next are the flats - AirBNB can grant you nice looking, centrally located flat on very good price, just book in advance!
Last, but not least - the whole coast below Varna is full of small and medium resorts, lots of places for party and chill.
Good luck!

Thank you for your feedback @whereartjuliet and @levelsio!
Even though Romania crazy-fast internet is tempting, I think am leaning more towards Varna, the beach and city just seems more beautiful.

Thank you for the frank input and picture too, Juliet. I spend the last 3 months living in the Mexican Riviera Maya, and I know the Caribbean Sea is hard to beat, so I’m trying to keep realistic expectations for the Black Sea and having “normal” pictures is really useful! Also, after your comment Turkey went up in my list for future destinations, I will surely ask you for more details (especially about safety for female travelers) when I decide to head there

Saludos,
Mariana

Hi @Mari_travels. I just joined the Nomad Forum community today but I did spend a few days last summer wandering through Varna. This isn’t my best photo, but you get the idea

My favorite part by far was the food and how affordable everything was. The wifi was extremely spotty, but I’m not sure if that was just the hotel I stayed at!

The weather was lovely; the beach was great. I went in July and it was pretty low key so I didn’t do much besides beach bum. I have never been to Romania, so I can’t speak to as which is better, but hope this helps!

I went to the Black Sea coast right before heading to the Turquoise Coast in Turkey (specifically Ölüdeniz) and to be honest I was glad I did it in that order, because while I enjoyed Bulgaria, the Turquoise Coast blew me out of the water with it’s breathtaking beauty. I recommend it if you get the chance.

Excited to have made my first post to this group!

Best,
Juliet

Hi Mariana!

Constanta, Romania has much faster internet @ 80mbps

Varna Bulgaria is @ 25mbps

Varna is cheaper though