Vila Doina Branului

We spent 5 lovely Christmas days at Doina Branului, and I’m glad we picked it after a long search. Finding a peaceful place with good conditions in a beautiful part of Romania can feel almost impossible. Mrs. Nicoleta is a wonderful host and administrator. The rooms and the whole place were clean, it was warm, there was hot water, and everything we needed or asked for to manage ourselves was brought to us. Thanks as well to the lady who checked that all was in order in the yard and handled things with such poise. The beds were in very good condition, the linens and towels impeccable, and the pillows comfortable. The rooms and bathrooms are basic, but have what you need and everything works. The reading lamps are too bright, a softer option would help. We needed the dishes and kitchen utensils to cook our whole Christmas meal from A to Z. The oven and microwave could use an upgrade, though they do the job if you aren’t cooking anything complicated. The coffee maker could be upgraded too. The yard is huge and gorgeous. We enjoyed the kittens and puppies who showed up, they were all great lovers. We also had two puppies with us, and were glad the villa is pet friendly. There’s a village shop 100 meters away for emergencies, and a large Mega Image about 4 km along the main road. You can walk uphill 3 km to the former Bran hermitage, now a monastery. It’s a bit of a climb, but the landscapes are splendid. Bran Castle and the Queen's Teahouse are in the castle courtyard, and there are plenty more trails to explore. Thank you, we had a good time and recommend it.