Vama Veche

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In Communist times the town of Vama Veche which literally means old customs post, was the place for the intellectuals, hippies and artists. Now the village is, which is on the border with Bulgaria, an ordinary beach village like many others; a coastline with white sand, beach umbrellas, bars, clubs and a lot of fast food restaurants where the youth entertain during the hot summer.

First the local youth was coming over in summer, now it’s “found” by internationalist tourist as well. 

The beach:

Depending what you prefer but remember when you come to Vama Veche you know what to expect; a beach village for party youth with numerous bars, restaurants, clubs and souvenir shops.

Because the village has a history for artists and hippies, many "jewelers" have settled here, but the times of nude swimming and big campfires have been exchanged for pounding dance music, large supplies of liquor and occasionally a joint.

It is possible to sleep on the beach but there are also "paying" campsites and a number of hostels and "casas". Transport from and to Mangalia or Constanza is well arranged.

There are maxi taxis (we call them minibuses) every 20 to 30 minutes from and to Mangalia (4.5 Lei - half an hour). From there you can first go to Constanta (45 minutes and 10 Lei). If you want to travel "north" you first have to go to the "Gare Nord" (1 Lei). Here you can take a bus (09:30) to Tulcea (2 hours) for 30 Lei.

There is a range of eateries in Vama Veche but most of them sell the same - snack food (fries, hamburger, shawarma and noodles) - one looks even more simple than the other one and high-quality restaurants are not going to find you here. There is no lack of bars and clubs here and it is all pretty accessible.

• Name: Villa Cosmina

Address: at the junction in the middle of the village of the beach, 100 meters on the left.

Price: 65 Lei (single, excluding toilet and shower)

Content:

Just from the main road is this villa situated - the main building looks beautiful and here you can also rent rooms. In the back of the garden is a kind of wooden shack with three rooms - there is a shower, toilet and sink in the large garden that is full of flowers.

Bit of a shame that the light does not work and you do not have hot water. There is a bbq present and many more things, but I was sent to the other side of the garden when I wanted to sit on the beautiful terrace. Back to my doghouse where there is also a table. Apparently the garden is cut in two and half belongs to the more expensive part. The room is spacious but smells horribly stale - there is no outside window and everything creaks and is rickety.

There is a gigantic large 2p bed and a closet from grandmother's time. WIFI you can "steal" for free from the house. The owner is not very friendly to people in the “cheap” part.

I came to Vama with the idea to go to sleep on the beach with my tent. But the chance that you are robbed of your belongings is very big, especially if you are alone and have a "more expensive" tent with you. For that reason I did not do it - you are really on the beach in the sand - not really suitable for grubbing zippers that I have in my tent.

In addition, I do not want to leave that tent in the heat of the day (there is no shade at all). And thirdly, I want to enjoy and do not think every time that my whole tent has been ransacked or have been dragging my whole body and hatch.