Romanian travelers face high bank fees and insurance costs abroad

Many Romanians traveling abroad encounter hidden expenses. Cash withdrawals from foreign ATMs can add up to €20‑40 for amounts of €500‑1,000 due to bank fees and currency‑conversion charges. Some banks offer travel‑card packages for a monthly subscription of 29‑129 lei that waive or reduce these fees.

The Romanian travel‑insurance market is expanding, with policies worth 85 billion lei sold in 2025, a 13 % rise from the previous year. Insurers paid out 81 million lei in claims, averaging about 220 000 lei per day and compensating roughly two tourists each hour. Around 60 % of tourists booking through agencies also purchase insurance. For example, Cătălina Szakacz paid 430 lei for a policy before a dental emergency in Bulgaria and received a 600 lei reimbursement. Medical emergencies abroad can cost about €1 000 per day, which travel insurance can cover.