1. ufortunately not many things to see in the town... a quick circuit of the city center take some hours by walking... here is the electronic mapof Bucharest:
http://www.salutbucuresti.ro/harta/ ... you should see the Parliament building (the third biggest building in the world, made during the communist regime)
http://www.cdep.ro/cic/ , the main boulevards, the Royal Palace square with the Athenaeum building... the northern part of the city eith de "Victory Arch" (like in Paris), the soviet type bulding (like in Moscou) which is now the "House of Press" (publishing and printing companies)... the "Village museum" and the Herastrau Park... you could visit the Parliament house (the rooms of the conference center used for big summits, conferences etc.) and the Cotroceni Palace
http://www.muzeulcotroceni.ro/ (which is also the office of the President)... for this you need a reservation (by phone or email)... but I recomend to see this palace inside!!!!... is open only tuesday from 9:30... tariff 12 lei/person... but you should call them by phone 1 day before to arrange a reservation and english guide +40213173107 or vizitare@aim.com
2. regarding the use of the taxi... from the airport use only the official taxi company FLYTAXI (ask first for price and ask for the bill!!!) or the buss... do not accept any other "kind" offers from other taxidrivers... you will pay 10 times the price!... in the town, use only the big taxi companies, not the individual or fake taxi drivers and ask for price and for use of the billing machine/metter!!!... use the phone for calling a taxi... will be obliged to use the metter... if you want, I will give you some taxi company names and phone numbers... but you could ask at the hotel reception to call you a taxi.
3. The main problems here are: a) I am not sure you will find a free town map at the hotel... b ) it not exist a touristic office... only some guidance in the museums shops or hotels... c) be aware with your pokets or things with higher value (including in the hotel room)... your hotel is not located in very safe place, d) be aware with people asking for money or offering different unsolicited services, e) all day, they are big problems on the roads.. too many cars... big lines... you will need more time to go from one place to other if you need to go by car!!!.. ask somebody for time estimates, indicating the starting point and destination point, f) be aware with the money: LEI or RON means the new money... but Lei means also the old money which is biger with 0000 (4 zero)... do not accept old type money!!! (the biggest coin is now 0,50 and the biggest paper money is 500... ussualy 1, 5, 10, 50, 100... and is not realy made by paper... is plastic)
4. the prices are more or less like in European countries... for basic things... for clothes or parfumes or electronics are usually more expensive... 1 euro=3,6 LEI (do not use the cash exchange offices!!!!...use the bank cash-machines/ATM's or bank offices to obtain LEI...they are almost everwhere)... in the restaurant is ok to pay 30-50 LEI for 1-2 dishes and one beer (for example)... a pizza is arround 15-20 LEI... a kebab or simillar is arround 10-15 LEI... taxi is arround 1,6-2 LEI/km BUT(!!!) you will pay also by time 10 time more/hour and usually this could be a big amount if you stay too much blocked in the traffic... for a normal trip... 5 km made in half an hour you will pay arround 15 LEI... almost in all mall's/shops/supermarket's you could pay by bank card... but it is not usual in restaurants (or they could charge you % extra)... tips are between 5-10%, including for taxi.
Boris, you come here with bussiness or for a conference etc.?.. alone or with others?... by plane or by car? ... tell me if you need here some help (transfer from the airport, a short sight-seeing tour by car etc.)
I'll give you my phone number by private massage... don't hesitate to call me for help or advice!