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Testimonials
Many times I’ve been told I’m the best guide of Romania.
I’ve replied, trying to be modest, that it is not for me to judge this but I’ve seen all the guides and yes, I’m the best one. *
*originally used by Queen Mary of Romania when asked if she is the most beautiful queen of Europe.
Please contact us if you want the emails or the phone numbers of these clients.
Steve Korn & Gladys Korn
Takoma Park, MD and Boynton Beach, FL, USA
I just wanted to say a heart-felt thank you for everything you did for my mom and me to make this 'back to our roots' vacation in Romania so memorable and special. The program you put together was wonderful - from the first night in Maramures. All the way through Transylvania to Bucharest we saw things I know we would have never seen on our own or with a traditional tour. Also your deep knowledge of Romania’s history and culture really helped us to put into context all of the places we visited. I learned so much on this trip!
Your hotel choices and restaurant recommendations were excellent throughout; I wouldn't change any of them. But most of all I want to thank you for the countless times you went beyond the program and beyond our expectations to make us more comfortable and to make the trip more memorable. In particular when you were able to figure out that there was a Jewish cemetery in Reghin, then find it(!) and then help us to discover that we have possibly relatives buried there, I can't tell you how much that meant to us, especially to my mother. Also your help once we were on our own in Bucharest (even though it was after the tour and on your day off) was again way beyond what we could have expected and shows how much you cared about making our visit to Romania as carefree and enjoyable as possible. As I was describing it to someone the other day, it felt like we were being taken around Romania by a really knowledgeable friend!
I hope you and your family can come visit us in America one day so I can repay the favor. So thanks again for everything and I know that if we visit Romania again (as I hope we will) we'll be calling you again to guide us.
Best Regards,
Steve Korn and Gladys Korn
Sheila Smith
Glenwood Springs, Colorado, USA
Simply the best!!! I spent 2 1/2 weeks with Daniel Gheorghita on a Photo Tour of Romania and enjoyed every second of it. Daniel is not only knowledgeable of the local history and the best locations to take photos, he is also extremely personable. I feel comfortable telling anyone I now think of him as a friend. I hope to return to Romania soon, and would not consider going with anyone but Daniel.
Daniel not only provided us with detailed and interesting history about each area, but he was able to tell us funny stories and interesting trivia that would have never been part of your standard tour. He was happy to spend time doing what we wanted to do rather than worrying constantly about an impersonal, time-constraining schedule. We did impromptu hikes and enjoyed evenings running about the cities, laughing hysterically, while trying to catch the blue-hour and the best of the city lights.
He is simply the most accommodating and enjoyable guide anyone could ever have. The pace is always your own. After traveling with Daniel, you can honestly say you not only have gone to Romania, you have experienced it.
Sheila Smith
Sarah Martin & Stacey Wizner
California & Arizona, USA
Our tour with Daniel Gheorghita was the easiest, most stress-free, fun vacation ever. From the very beginning, we knew we were in good hands. Daniel is capable and clever, knowledgeable and witty, eloquent and spontaneous. After making the initial plan for our 9-day tour, we chatted a bit via e-mail to discuss some of our likes and dislikes. Then we simply showed up and everything else was taken care of for us. Even when things did not go as planned, Daniel was able to improvise and make the day great. From impromptu stops on the road to pet sheep and meet a Shepard or take pictures of storks nesting on chimneys, to treks through a pitch-black ice tunnel to reach Wallachia, Daniel made sure that our trip was an adventure full of non-stop laughter.
He knows every delicious place to eat (try the Shepard’s Bag and a Bear meat lunch or Melon & Ice Cream with Potato pancakes on the road) and always drives the most beautiful, picturesque roads. They may be a bit longer, but they are worth it. We learned a lot about the real history of Romania, including personal accounts of Daniel’s childhood in a changing political landscape. He also kept us informed on local flora and fauna. This trip was personal and not the sort one would experience on a 20+ person bus tour. We didn’t just take a wonderful trip, we made a wonderful friend. Take our word for it, book with Daniel and REALLY see Romania.
Sarah & Stacey
Valli Goldfield
Montreal, Canada
There's a guide by the name of Daniel,
I got to know him quite well,
He knows his country by heart
Romania, to you he'll impart.
Daniel is a jem,
You will find out when
You hire him to be, your private guide.
He'll be your friend before your eyes ever meet,
Is that not quite neat?
He'll respond to your mail,
With every detail,
And make you feel good,
As you surely should.
Your wish is his command,
He will cater to your smallest demand.
He does not check the time,
He wants you to be just fine.
Daniel is smart as a whip,
And he thinks on his feet,
If you change your mind,
Something else he will find,
As you are his priority,
You will surely see.
He is polite, by the book,
And you will get hooked
By his talents, abilities and charm!
If laughter you desire
He will keep you in stitches,
Until your belly will burst, and you just might truly need stitches!
If photography is your passion,
Then Daniel is the man for you
For his eye is remarkable, his photos too.
If you want good food,
Daniel knows just the place,
You will surely savor, every morsel on your plate.
History, he knows it,
Nature, he knows it,
If you want something off the beaten track,
Hurry, and pack up your sack!
If you want a cup of coffee in a gypsie's kitchen, or even milk a cow,
I asked Daniel if it's possible,
And he arranged it without a hassle.
He'll make all your dreams come true,
you'll see.
Good clean beds, for Daniel, it's a must,
As soon as you're tired, he will take you there, fast.
He will drive with such care,
With Daniel, you can go anywhere.
Summer, winter, spring or fall, Daniel will amaze you, you will have a ball!
Daniel is just the best,
to this I can attest
You will have a trip of a lifetime,
And a friend for a lifetime,
Daniel, I thank you, for such a good time!
Valli Goldfield
See the pictures taken during the tour of Mrs. Valli Goldfield.
Michael Isador
New York, USA
I recently had the pleasure of spending a week with Daniel Gheorgita as guide and driver in some less-travelled parts of Romania. I wanted to visit the Moldavian city of Iasi, where my grandmother had come from, and I particularly wanted to see the extraordinary “painted” churches and monasteries in the province of Bukovina. I had been to Romania in 2006 (Bucharest and Transylvania) and knew that once off the beaten track, it is much better to have someone with you who knows the terrain and the language – not to mention the history and culture. I found Daniel through the Internet, and from the very first communications, I felt that he would be the right person to travel with. And indeed he was. Highly personable, highly knowledgeable, extremely considerate, an excellent driver and with a highly-developed sense of humor, Daniel quickly became a good friend in the time we spent together (often 12-15 hours each day). He is extremely flexible in planning and in changing situations, and while he performs his job with great skill, the feeling is more like travelling with a good friend who also happens to really know what he’s doing and who is very much there for you at all times.
I would also recommend a private tour, such as we did – yes, it costs more than a group trip, but having the flexibility of being in a normal car and minus a group, you can really get to see and know a country from a much more personal point of view. Romania is fascinating and not yet over-developed for tourism, your dollar (or euro) goes far, and Daniel is really the perfect person to guide you through this unique experience. I can’t recommend him highly enough, and hope you will enjoy your trip as much as I did.
Michael Isador
See the pictures taken during the tour of Mr. Michael Isador.
Eti & Gad Yaron
Jerusalem, Israel
Dear Daniel,
It was a great pleasure to travel with you a week in Romania. Your knowledge, your clear and
detailed explanations, your patience and your total service attitude, made our tour to Romania
an unforgettable experience.
We were very pleased from the accommodations that you have picked for us, and your
recommendations about restaurants proved to be very valuable.
We must praise your driving, before coming we were a bit worried about the experience to sit
in a back of a car and having someone else driving us. It felt very safe and comfortable in
your car.
Last but not least your good spirit, your friendliness and your good sense of humor made the
long time we spent together very pleasant and enjoyable.
We are going to recommend you and Romania to all our friends, and as we have already
mentioned, we plan to come again next year to see more of Romania with you.
Eti and Gad
John Hayes
St. Albans, UK
Daniel,
Many thanks for all you hard work and patience. We have all enjoyed our trip to Romania. We
have learnt a lot from an excellent guide.
We’ll never forget the time spent with you and the tour around your beautiful country. Thank
you very much.
John Hayes.
Karen Brakel
Louisiana, USA
My family and I just recently travelled to Romania and had the pleasure of having Daniel
Gheorghita as our tour guide. We travelled into the mountains and we were able to see Romania
thru his eyes and with his immense knowledge. He was so friendly he made our trip just
wonderful. There was nothing he didn't know and nothing was too much to ask.
Because we only had 2 days to spend in the mountains, we had a tight schedule to see and do
everything we wanted. However, we never felt pressed to leave anywhere and were never rushed
by him. If we wanted to spend more time somewhere he allowed us to spend the time at our
leisure but we somehow made it to the next location and we were able to see everything and do
everything there as well. He maximized the time well and truly was part of our group. He was a
joy to spend time with and our only regret was that we couldn't spend more time with him
touring his beautiful country.
We never saw him putting gas in the van and he handled the hotel rooms with ease. In other
words, he handled his administrative duties without our knowledge. He has a rare gift in that
he kept us moving, we were never bothered with details and he was a true pleasure to spend
time with.
Also, he took the most wonderful pictures of our group and gave them to us on a CD. He has a
true gift as a photographer. Pictures create memories and make the entire tour more enjoyable.
He really is a wonderful asset to any tourist group and an entirely pleasant person.
If we get back to Romania, we would not hesitate to use Daniel as a guide.
Karen Brakel
Jensen Family
Georgia & California, USA
We had a great guide experience with Daniel Gheorghita. We were on a driving holiday and had
plans to visit Romania, but had not worked out any details or reservations. We contacted
Daniel six days before arriving in Romania. He responded quickly, proposed an excellent
itinerary and gave us a great sense of confidence for our upcoming trip.
Our itinerary was perfect. A mixture of culture, sightseeing, scenic landscapes, history, and
interaction with local folks left us with a sense that we received a good picture of Romania -
both current-day, as well as its past. The lodging accommodations were a pleasant mixture of
family-run pensions and hotels. His dining choices were good and he made sure we were aware
of local specialties.
Daniel remained flexible, always asking if we wanted to alter the itinerary in small ways. He
was very knowledgeable about the places we visited and was able to give us an overview of
Romanian history and culture. Whether we were visiting small towns, cultural places, churches
or hiking, he was a great companion. He was always punctual and reliable. Daniel's English is
excellent and he has a witty sense of humor.
We brought our own car and, because of insurance restrictions, had to drive it ourselves.
Daniel, not used to being a backseat guide, adapted beautifully. He became not only a guide
but a Romanian driving instructor, and that became a memorable part of the trip.
We would highly recommend Daniel as a guide. He is courteous, informative, flexible and
altogether professional.
Anita, Vinnie and Bernie.
Sandra Becka
Seattle-WA, USA
My trip to Romania all started when an old friend of mine called me with the question, "do you
want to go to Transylvania for Thanksgiving holiday?" It sounded just crazy enough to be
interesting and so I said with a shoulder shrug, "sure, why not!" Well, I have been back home
now for several weeks and have not stopped talking about how amazing and beautiful this
country is to just about anyone who will listen.
My friend Carol and I realized early on that all the places that we would want to visit in
Romania were quite remote or simply just far away from the next place we would want to go.
Carol then found Daniel, a recommended, Romanian tour specialist, who was to become driver and
guide for our first three days in the country. From the moment Daniel picked us up from the
Bucharest airport, he was kind, considerate, fun, and so full of interesting information.
We saw many awesome things in those first three days and already this holiday was going so
well! We then had to decide what the next step would be... where to go AND how to get there.
On our last day with Daniel, he shared with us his beautiful photos from all over Romania and
started to talk about a place called Maramures, referring to it as the, "true Romania."
"I want to go there!!!" I decided with much certainty, but it would be another place "off the
beaten path." Daniel offered to take us and Maramures was by far the most fantastic part of
the trip! The original plan was to spend only a few days in Romania, and then move on to
other countries. Romania turned out to be so incredible, thanks to Daniel, that we spent most
of our time there and I am so happy that we did! We never would have been able to see so much
and to get around so efficiently without Daniels help.
Daniel was a great driver, magnificent guide and just a fun person to be around. Carol and I
were in Romania during the off-season, and even though some areas we wanted to visit were
deemed "closed," with Daniel as our guide and translator, we were still able to get in to see
these places. Also, there was quite a bit of snow in the mountains which Daniel traversed
with much competence. It was nice to be able to just hang out as a passenger and take in the
scenery as we drove from place to place. He was very helpful in communicating our special
dietary needs when we went to the various and exceptional restaurants that he recommended. He
really did an excellent job with balancing our experiences, enabling us to be both tourist as
well as a blended part of the local culture. I left our Romanian tour thinking of Daniel as
a friend as well as trustworthy guide.
I would definitely recommend to anyone and everyone to visit Romania on your next European
adventure, and when you do, contact Daniel who will most certainly refine and better your
travels with both his wisdom and presence.
Sandra Becka
Becky & John Minor
Oregon, USA
Daniel,
Thank you for being our guide to Romania. We had a great time and your knowledge of Romanian
culture, history and locations was invaluable. Your willingness to adapt to our needs for
sights that could accommodate a wheel chair was appreciated and your car’s trunk was spacious
enough to hold the chair. It may have seemed odd that we asked to visit grocery stores and
mini-marts but it gave us the opportunity to pick up lunch snacks, unique souvenir gifts and
it was insightful into local culture.
Your camera equipment and artist’s eye as a photographer will provide us with many high
quality memories.
Of all the places we spent the night, the highlight was the pension in Vadu Izei. I’ll never
forget the plum brandy or the genuine friendliness and entertainment of our hosts. The Bicaz
Gorge and cable car trip at Sinaia were breathtaking natural wonders that we could have spent
several days exploring.
I particularly enjoyed stopping to visit local people doing the same type of work that I
do.
Again, thank you for a wonderful trip and we would be happy to be a referral if any
prospective clients have questions.
John and Becky Minor.
Ronnie & Mr. Chris Fischer
Pennsylvania, USA
When we told our family and friends that we were planning on spending sixteen days in Romania
with a single guide this year for our vacation, some of them thought we were a little bit
crazy to be spending so much time in a single country (and a rather untouristed one at that)
with just one other person. Could there really be that much to see in Romania? Sixteen days
was a lot of time to spend with someone—what if we didn’t get along with our guide? Our
family and friends did not, however, know Daniel, who could make sixteen days in Romania
entertaining and adventurous.
From our first email contact with Daniel, he was very responsive to our requests, and at the
same time was able to suggest places to visit that we hadn’t read about in our research on the
country. He worked with us to plan a trip that focused on our particular interests, and
patiently revised itineraries for us when we thought of alternative things we might like to do
or see. He was just as flexible during our actual trip, changing our itinerary on the go as
it best suited us.
During our trip, Daniel had an uncanny knack for taking us to particular sites just before
hordes of tourists would arrive, so that we were often the only visitors at an attraction. He
always had very good recommendations for us when it came to our accommodations and meals and
directed us to the hotels and restaurants that provided the best quality and value. Daniel’s
English is excellent and we enjoyed his explanations of the historical significance of each
place we visited as well as our informal conversations with him about various issues of
relevance to Romania today. While we genuinely enjoyed his company, he also knew when to give
the two of us some space in order to enjoy a dinner or afternoon by ourselves. He drove us
over 3,150 kilometers during our trip, and impressed us by being a very good—and very safe—
driver in a country that presents some unique driving challenges.
What we appreciated most about Daniel, however, was that he actually cared about us. We were
happy to make a new friend and wholeheartedly recommend Daniel to anyone considering a trip to
Romania.
Ayme Wilkie and Darren Pruscino
New Zeeland & Australia
We spent 6 days in Romania with Daniel Gheorghita. We are a couple both aged 30 and we don't
normally use tour guides but we found Daniel to be fantastic.
Even before arriving in Romania, all his emails and answers to our queries gave us a lot of
confidence. It was obvious Daniel put a lot of time into planning our itinerary and
corresponding with us.
He designed a very well organised itinerary and there is no way we could have seen all that we
did on our own, either in a rental car or by train/bus, and we do a lot of travelling and are
good organisers! For example, it was great to have an experience of meeting gypsies and buying
a small souvenir from them, which we could not have done without Daniel's help and bargaining
skills!!
We travelled to Transylvania and the Maramures with Daniel (having travelled to Bucharest and
Brasov on our own up from Bulgaria) and loved both areas for different reasons.
Daniel took us to some great restaurants and sites that we would not have found even though we
had a guidebook and did a lot of research before we travelled to Romania.
The accommodation that he booked was really nice from the lovely hotel in Sighisoara to the
really nice traditional pensione in the Maramures area.
Daniel was happy to leave us on our own or spend time walking around with us showing us
things, and let us decide the timings of things so we felt it was our holiday. Nothing ever
seemed too much trouble. He was also very entertaining & knowledgeable about the many sights
of Romania, and has an easy-going sense of humour which comes in handy on long car trips!
Daniel was a safe driver, and had a good comfortable car. We thought his prices were very
reasonable overall.
Daniel is very professional and thoughtful and after our trip sent us many photos he had taken
of us and at the end of the trip arranged a special 'surprise'.
We would recommend Daniel to anyone planning a trip to Romania.
Darren Pruscino and Ayme Wilkie.
Patricia and James Davis
Texas, USA
Daniel,
What a wonderful experience. Romania is simply breath taking and I can’t imagine how we could
have discovered it with out your assistance. I think we reminded you a couple of times,
starting with the moment you picked us up at the airport, that we really don’t care much for
Tour Guides. I guess if we had discovered you a few years back or a few countries ago we
would have developed a different opinion. Your attention to planning and detail was
outstanding. It seemed you paid attention to what was working for us and then shifted and
modified things to fit our needs and taste. The hotels you picked out, in a country that is
still building a tourist infrastructure, were amazing. And the restaurants, how do you find
those places? Each was spectacular, each was different and each was excellent. No tourist is
going to find these sorts of places on their own. Your company is entertaining and your
knowledge of your country is amazing.
Actually with all there was to see along the way I wouldn’t discourage anyone from making the
exact same trip. Thanks to you and your camera I will finally have proof that I have actually
been on a vacation (I am ALWAYS behind the camera and so have never appeared in a photo). You
are an outstanding photographer. We will be back, I think we only scratched the surface of
what Romania is, and we wouldn’t imagine doing it with out you. Please feel free to have
anyone contact us for a reference (jsdpda----o.com) it would be our pleasure to recommend
you.
Best Wishes,
James & Paty
Texas
Linda Parker and Lynn Rito
Florida, USA
Daniel Gheorghita from Covinnus Travel “Guiding us through Unspoiled
Romania”
We have just returned from a wonderful ten-day trip to Romania. The best way to see Romania is
with a guide and Daniel was an excellent choice. From the moment we saw him waiting with our
names upon arrival until our departure through security he took care of every detail
(including going to the bank for money exchange so we did not have to do it). We found Daniel
to be an outstanding and safe driver, extremely knowledgeable, courteous, patient and has a
great sense of humor. We made some changes to the itinerary as we went along and he was most
accommodating and flexible. He is sincere and caring that we were happy and satisfied
regarding every aspect of the trip.
We are Travel Agents from the USA doing research for future clients. Though most people think
of only the Dracula and Transylvania story we found Romania to be an amazing country filled
with many other historical sites, picturesque topography from the flat farmlands to the
mountains, and warm and friendly people.
Romania surpassed our expectations.
We feel we made a friend forever in Daniel and we will miss him.
We highly recommend Daniel Gheorghita.
Linda and Lynn
Joshua Funk
Edmonton, Canada
I had wanted to visit Romania for a while because of it's picturesque landscapes and rural
life.
On the recommendation of a couple from our church I decided to use Daniel Gheoghita as a guide
too.
He showed us more than we possibly could've seen on our own. Romania surpassed my
expectations. I was completely unaware of the German influence in the country.
Daniel did a good job as a guide since he was flexible with what we were interested in.
Anyone who wants to visit Romania will be well served by Daniel.
Joshua Funk
Dorothy Domermuth & Chris Vestal
Virginia, USA
We just returned from a 12 day trip to Romania with Daniel Gheorghita as our guide and driver.
It was obvious from the start that Daniel had spent a great deal of time planning and
preparing for our visit. The trip exceeded our expectations in every way. Daniel was a
wonderful, considerate, flexible, knowledgeable guide. His choice of routes led us through
photo-ops in abundance. The hotels were all very good and the food was excellent - simple,
fresh and tasty and the people were friendly and helpful. The northern part of Romania with
its horse drawn wagons, wooden churches, painted monasteries and gorgeous scenery is unique
and very worth seeing. Transylvania's walled cities, castles, ski resort, made for another
interesting aspect of this country which offers such a variety of places to see. We did not
get near the Danube Delta or the Black Sea and now wish we had included those two areas. We
were sorry to leave this beautiful country.
Dorothy & Chris
Eleanor Murillo & Dr. Louis Murillo
California, USA
To anyone who is thinking of visiting Romania and who wishes to engage the services of a
guide, we highly recommend Daniel Gheorghita. He is five stars easily!
My husband and I after a good deal of planning visited Romania for three plus weeks and
spent most of the time with Daniel as our guide.
Our plans included the wooden churches of Maramures, the monasteries of Bukovina, the Bicaz
Gorge and a number of cities that we thought would be of interest to us. It was our good
fortune that Daniel was our guide. He is intelligent, intuitive and thoroughly knowledgeable
about his country as well as being knowledgeable about the roads and routes that we were to
take. Once he assessed our interests he presented us with several delightful treats -
monasteries that we hadn't thought of visiting, a wonderful visit to Sibiu that had not been
in our plans but which we enjoyed enormously. His choice of restaurants and hotels were always
good even when the plans changed on the spur of the moment such as the visit to Sibiu.
Daniel was always patient never putting a limit to his time. Many of the sites we visited were
a distance from each other and entailed a good amount of driving(he is an excellent driver)
but he was always willing to go along with our wishes. My husband is an amateur
photographer and it is always important to him to spend time taking photos and stopping along
the way. Aside from his patience in stopping often, Daniel was a first class assistant and
also a photographer with a good eye for the beauty that we were seeing.
Romania is a country of extraordinary beauty, warm and delightful people, excellent food and
wine and unparalleled national treasures.
Without reservation we recommend Daniel as the person to guide you on
your trip.
We are located in the United States.
Eleanor Murillo
Eirú Ward
Dublin, Ireland
Dear Daniel,
The whole six of us very much enjoyed our trip. Romania is an exceptionally beautiful country!
I think we all had different highlights but my personal favourites were Peles Castle and
Rasnov Fortress - it was particularly amazing to see it illuminated in the darkness.
Our experience with you was a very positive one. We all found you to be informative, good
humoured and patient.
We had a fantastic holiday and would have no hesitation in recommending the Romanian
countryside, Bucharest and yourself as a guide to anyone - in fact we would actively encourage
it!
Once again many thanks for the trip. We will hold many fond memories of it.
As for Bucharest, I feel it is a city that is, unfortunately, grossly underappreciated. Aside
from the traffic problem, we found that many of the unfavourable reports and comments made
about it to be completely false. We found people to be very friendly and helpful, the food
good and a diverse range of architecture with many, many beautiful buildings. I think that the
negative remarks often made of this city stem largely from peoples attitudes rather than the
place itself.
Kind regards,
Eirú.
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