Casa Maria

I felt ripped off and had a really unpleasant stay. I paid the same as for a hotel with basic things this place lacked, and I don't understand how it's rated 4 stars. Getting in was difficult: there was hardly any room to park, so you had to back out, and the rooms were reached through a tiny, hidden side passage with barely space for luggage. The rooms were off to the side behind the rest of the house, with a view only of the owners' room. The twin bed had no mattress, just a hard wooden plank; the queen bed had a flimsy thin mattress with springs sticking out, and the old blankets were thin too. There was no fridge or microwave, and nowhere to keep belongings.

Casa Maria made a welcoming, comfortable, and clean home base for my solo trip from the US to see Romania's painted monasteries. Maria is SO friendly and welcoming, and although we don't speak the same language, we communicated really well. Her son speaks perfect English, and she asked him to help me plan what to do around the area. My room was private, comfortable, and clean. Definitely stay here if you're exploring this part of the country!

I paid for 5 nights but was told after the fourth night that I'd only paid for 4, and had to leave. I wasn't given any receipts. She was very nice when I arrived, but things got weird later. There's no kitchen access, and even trying to boil water for tea turns into a whole ordeal. Don't recommend it. Avoid it. There are plenty of other places to stay.

We only spent one night there, and had a really nice time with Maria, who was a great host and fun to be around. The place is pretty rustic, so don't expect a five-star hotel, but we enjoyed the atmosphere.