Inn On Balaban — Hotel in Bran

We were on a tour of Transylvania with Untravelled Paths. I’m listing the places we stayed here for anyone else on a similar tour with UTP – enjoy it you’ll have a fantastic time. They were responsible for all our accommodation and booked some excellent hotels for us. We started in Bucharest and then went on to Brasov, Balaban, Crit, Sibu and, returning to Bucharest for a further four nights.||||The big selling point for this establishment is its location. The views from the property are amazing. Our group arrived mid-afternoon and left late morning giving plenty of time to relax. Some went for walks in the countryside however we chose just to spend the time relaxing.||||Dinner was served to the group at the hotel. THERE IS NOWHERE ELSE TO EAT ANYWHERE NEAT THE HOTEL SO YOU MUST EAT HERE! Dinner was not the most exciting food of the holiday (soup, chicken with mashed potato and an apricot tart) but it was quite acceptable.||||The problem came with our accommodation. We were in an upstairs room. There were only three small windows (semi circles measuring about 18" by 9") and three small electric lights. Even in daylight with all the lights on the room was dark. There was no light at one side of the bed. ||||The bed itself was king sized but the bed linen was too small for it meaning that one or other of us kept taking the others duvet! There is only one, thin, pillow. The mattress is very firm. The following morning we both woke up with bad backs. That said I did sleep well here despite finding it not that comfortable.||||The heating in the room did not come on until turned 19-30 - the time we all assembled for dinner - and the room was cold. However by the time we returned to the room after dinner and the following morning the room was very warm.||||The bathroom again has a sloping ceiling meaning there was restricted head room. Here there was only one small semi circular window and the electric light was in the centre of the room meaning that there was no light on your face when it came to shaving etc at the basin mirror. ||||The water pressure was very good and the shower very powerful.||||Breakfast the following morning was again taken as a group and consisted of flakes or muesli, yoghurt, bread, various meats and cheeses, breads and tea, coffee and local apple juice. In one way it was limited but it was also an enjoyable breakfast.||||Would I stay here again? Probably not (although on a tour we didn't have any choice) because there isn't anything to do in the area other than talk (We were lucky to have a very good group) BUT I would recommend anyone to stay here for a night. The peace and quiet and the views are incredible. This is a Romanian experience that you...

My family and I (wife and two children) recently stayed in one of the villas, and we were immediately struck by the absolutely breathtaking views. The location is truly spectacular. The hotel itself is beautiful, with a very stylish restaurant and an impressive-looking spa. We had dinner at the restaurant and the food was delicious, and a special mention must go to the staff at the restaurant and bar who were all incredibly welcoming, professional, and attentive.||However, considering the premium price point of the villa, we were disappointed by several issues that significantly impacted our comfort, particularly when it came to getting a good night's sleep.||First, the master bedroom unfortunately does not have its own air conditioning unit. The only AC is in the living area where our children were sleeping on the sofa bed, which meant we couldn't cool our bedroom during the night without disturbing them.||This was made more challenging by two other factors. The blackout curtains were not properly sized for the windows, allowing a significant amount of light in, especially as our villa faced the sunset, meaning the room was bright from around 4 AM onwards. Additionally, the bathroom was fitted with an extremely bright motion-activated light. While practical during the day, any use of the toilet at night would flood the space with intense light, making it very difficult to get back to sleep.||Another area of disappointment was the spa. While the facilities look wonderful, they didn't deliver on their promise. The dry sauna was advertised as being 85-90°C, but the thermomether showed 70°C and it felt even colder. The wet sauna was similarly underheated. Furthermore, there was no water provided in the dry sauna for steam, which is a basic expectation.||In summary, while the hotel has a world-class location, stunning views, and excellent restaurant staff, the fundamental aspects of a luxury stay—a comfortable night's sleep and functional spa amenities—fell very short of...

Matca, which means Queen Bee in Romanian, is located on top of a mountain near Brasov, Transylvania. It reminds me in many ways of the fabulous resort Blackberry Mountain. It just opened in January and the website doesn't do it justice.||We are staying in one of the Villas, which is very spacious and decorated with artwork made from pressed flowers. The bathroom is incredible with a shower that turns on with a push of a button and mirrors that light up and defog. There is a jacuzzi on the balcony perched over an incredible view down the valley.||The spa is world-class with an indoor swimming pool that has fountains on one side, a dry sauna, a wet sauna, a cold plunge and something I have never seen before- a salt room, which I hope will help my allergies.||The fitness room rivals most gyms and also has incredible views.||The attention is detail in the restaurant is remarkable. From the flatware and handmade plates and bowls to the bee motif that is subtly woven through the property. The food is great too.||This is a true luxury property in a very special part...