Hotel Sir Gara de Nord

We had booked four months ahead, in August 2025, for a stay on 31 Dec 2025. When we got to Bucharest at 6:00 AM, we went to leave our luggage and ask about checking in early. The hotel said no rooms would be available until the 2:00 PM check-in time, which we understood. They let us use the restroom to freshen up, and everything seemed normal. We'd also contacted them the night before and heard nothing concerning. After following our plans for the day, we returned at about 8:00 PM to check in. Then we were told our room had been “blocked.” The receptionist, a woman from the Philippines, gave a vague explanation about “card problems” and said six rooms had been blocked that day. No one had called or messaged us during the day to tell us there was a problem. She said we would have to find another hotel. She offered a room at Sir Royal Hotel, another property under the same company, but it cost slightly more, so we'd have to pay extra. It was about a 30 minute drive away, and they provided no transport, so we had to arrange it ourselves. We later heard other customers had been sent to the same alternative hotel. Based on what we experienced, it seemed they overbooked and moved customers who had paid less to another property for a higher price. The whole thing was stressful and left us feeling scammed. I strongly advise avoiding this hotel. DO NOT BOOK THIS HOTEL. I WOULD STRONGLY ADVISE AGAINST BOOKING THIS HOTEL.

The bathroom window was a nice feature, bringing in daylight and natural ventilation during warmer months. My room faced west, so it got sun during the day, and the location worked well for train travel. The major problem was a leak: water came through the bathroom and hallway ceilings when the person above used the bathroom.

We got to the hotel at 16:00 and were told our reservation had supposedly been cancelled by Booking.com after 15:00 because we hadn't “confirmed our time of arrival.” The receptionist said they were fully booked and told us to find somewhere else. That explanation made no sense to me. Booking.com doesn't cancel a booking just because you haven't confirmed your arrival time. It felt like they thought six naïve guests would believe it. The receptionist seemed irritated as we sat in the lobby looking for another place and drinking beers, which clearly bothered her. At the same time, smoking inside the building didn't seem to be a problem. I travel a lot and stay in hotels more than 100 nights a year, and I've never come across such an absurd reason to refuse a booking. A completely unprofessional and unacceptable experience. DO NOT BOOK THIS HOTEL UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES!

This is my second visit, and I’ll definitely be back. It has great public transport and airport access, and for this area I think it’s the best hotel to stay in. I’ve seen the bad reviews, but I don’t understand them. I arrived late at night and my room was still there. I’d suggest emailing ahead about a late arrival, as I did. They replied quickly and were understanding. I’d already had good email contact with the receptionist, madalina, about my arrival. Last week I had room 109 for one night, with a very good private bathroom. This week I’m in room 117, which is even better and has a large private bathroom. There are loads of English TV channels. The cheaper rooms with shared bathrooms are also good. I checked them out, and the bathrooms were very clean and spacious, so they seem ideal for solo travelers on a budget or anyone saving for their next adventure. madalina is polite, helpful with directions, and always smiling. alkptano works here too, speaks amazing English, and was very helpful. We had a good chat about football and travelling. I’d definitely recommend staying here.