Trick or Treat in Transylvania

It can be difficult to find a good Halloween party outside North America, but the one European country that truly embraces the holiday is Romania. I mean, what else would you expect from the country that gave us Count Vlad Dracula and Transylvania?

This year, like most, there are weeklong Dracula tours throughout Transylvania that include big Halloween parties, but there are also one-off events throughout the region's hot spots. Do you want to party in Bran under the shadow of Dracula's Castle? You have that option. Do you want to visit Sigishora and party in Vlad's hometown (or even his birthplace)? You can do that as well. There are even options for joining weeklong tours just for Halloween weekend. Brasov, the nearby city where most Dracula tours start, will also host Dracula-related Halloween parties at all their nightclubs and bars.

Now the real question will be your costume. Everyone is going to be Dracula or a vampire, but do you really want to follow the herd? I say the playa move is to go all Blade on those fang-bangers or even stake it up as legendary vampire killer Van Helsing. You can even drive Robert Pattinson fans crazy by dressing like that werewolf dude from "Twilight: New Moon." Of course, the real punk rock move would be to dress up like a giant bulb of garlic. You might not get any kisses, but at least no one will bite you.

Tired of the same old parties in the States? The sky's the limit when you get your 'ween on in Transylvania.