Grand Hotel Traian — Hotel in Iași Metropolitan Area

MY NOTICE IN ENGLISH The first time we came to IASI, 12 years ago, this is the hotel where we stayed given the value for money that Booking.com indicated to us: the luxury of a “4 star luxury” for the price of a low-end hotel in France (less than €50 per night for 2 people at the time).

Arriving on site, we were not disappointed: for €50, very large and beautiful room with “king-size” bed for 2 people, “lounge/TV” area with 2 armchairs and 1 sofa in the Louis XV style (like all the rest of the furniture, molded bed included), very spacious and very well equipped bathroom. The room, located on the top floor, was very well heated and very quiet (with a view of Unirea Square and, in the corner, of the Palace of Culture and the Braustein Palace), in the center of the city, with the tram and taxis at the foot of the hotel (12 years ago, a taxi ride to the other side of the city or to the airport cost less than a bus ticket in France!).

The breakfasts turned out to be fantastic, served in the restaurant with the old-fashioned charm of the palaces of yesteryear.

The meals, equally copious, were very well cooked with a varied choice between “continental” dishes or more typical Romanian dishes, which we loved. The room service has always been very attentive, very friendly and courteous and above all very fast and very efficient.

Over the years and our fairly regular visits to IASI, the quality of the hotel, the services and the service have never faltered, at prices that are always more than reasonable (not to say modest) considering luxury of services. What's more, we loved (and loved) this slightly old-fashioned luxury, giving us the impression of taking a step back in time, to the palaces of the late 19th/early 20th century. The decoration and layout was also entirely in keeping with the late 19th century architecture of the building, the building having been built to plans drawn up by Gustave EIFFEL.

In 2020, the hotel was completely renovated, losing a little of the old-fashioned luxury that we loved. But the high-quality renovation nevertheless managed to keep the spirit of the place and we were not too disoriented and not disappointed by this modernization, which remains very luxurious and in good taste.

Certainly the prices are no longer the same as 12 years ago (€50 for a “palace” class double room), but they remain very affordable and incommensurate with what one would have to pay in France (or elsewhere in Europe) for services of such a level.

Every time I come to IASI, I always stay at this hotel (having, however, made some occasional infidelities due to a full hotel, and having then had to fall back on the Unirea hotel, located on the same square, but which is very impersonal [the layout and furniture are those found identically in all so-called “international class” hotels - therefore without soul] and very significantly more expensive.

Overall, I recommend +++ this hotel (but you have to book well in advance because it is often full [unlike the UNIREA hotel which with its 15 floors is a real...

On the place where the Hotel Traian is located today, there were previously the offices of the lawyer Scarlat Pastia (1827-1900), the mayor of Iași in the period 1877-1879. Although the shops in Piața Unirii and on Arcu and Lăpușneanu streets brought him considerable profit, the mayor decided to demolish them to build a national theater. The project was not realized, however, and the Traian Hotel was built instead of the cultural edifice.2]

Grand Hotel Traian Satisfied with the quality of the Eiffel Bridge in Ungheni, Scarlat Pastia also calls on the famous French engineer Gustave Eiffel (the author of the projects of masterpieces of modern art such as the Eiffel Tower in Paris and the Statue of Liberty in New York) for the realization of the building project. The building was built in the French neoclassical style, on a metal structure (a novelty at the time), with cast iron columns and metal platforms.

The construction works took place between the years 1879-1882, being executed by the company led by Eiffel. As a result of the very high construction costs, Scarlat Pastia went into so much debt that it was ruined. In order to cover his debts, he had to sell the building to the Creditul Urban company (one of his creditors). The new owner turned the building into a hotel, which brought in more revenue than a theater.

Later, the hotel became the property of the Jewish Theitler family. The businessman Adolf Theitler died in 1930, having two children: Jacques (died in 1941, without issue) and Carol. In 1942, the building was expropriated from the heirs of Adolf Theitler.[3] In 1943, the Iasi City Hall renovated the hotel with its own funds. Hotel Traian was nationalized in 1950.[4] After the Revolution, Hotel Traian was transferred to SC "Turism Moldova" SA, with state capital.

In 2001, after the appearance of Law no. 10/2001, Israeli citizen Carol Theitler (born in Pașcani in 1924 and emigrated to Israel in the 60s) claimed 36 nationalized properties, including the Traian, Astoria and Continental hotels. He requested restitution in kind of...

Classy hotel, a masterpiece by the famous French architect Gustave Eiffel who designed and built the famous tower with the same name in Paris and who, along with Auguste Bartholdi, built the symbol of American Freedom, the famous Statue of Liberty in New York City. This hotel is currently undergoing a massive renovation project, I stayed in a freshly renewed room, well sized, with classy furniture, paintings, and quiet air conditioning. Premier location, in the heart of the city, everything is in walking distance. Outside terrace is a great place to get a good dinner, I tried one of the best filet mignon I ever had, or just to enjoy a cold beverage and unwind after the daily stress. The night porter, Mr. Nelu, was extremely helpful to get my car into the underground parking, and the girls at the reception were very polite and sweet. Overall a great hotel for the money, a bit noisy from the street car but it retains the patina...