Pensiunea Art 1000

The location is mesmerizing, and the view is wonderful. The food was the one thing we really liked, though it was a bit pricey for this hotel. Service was great, but the place felt dull and dark despite the scenery. It didn’t feel child friendly: there’s no playground, only a trampoline, and the concrete football field is in terrible shape, especially beside the grey walls. The whole design reminded us of Alcatraz prison. We were charged 1000 lei for a tiny sofa bed for my son, and his legs didn’t fit on it, which left me really dissatisfied. The ice cream freezer was locked, and the waitress left the hotel and went home at 22:30. It’s a shame they didn’t consult an architect about bringing more life to the place.

We enjoyed the pool and the trampoline, which our daughter loved. The dam is within walking distance, and the surroundings are lovely, though there aren’t many other trails nearby. You can reach plenty of places by car, around 30’-1h away. The location and view are great. Breakfast was good, but we weren’t keen on the restaurant food, with quite a few frozen products used. We ate there once and then looked for somewhere else in Șuncuiuș. One letdown was the fold-out bed in our room: when we opened it, it was stained and hadn’t been cleaned.

The room was nicely decorated and stylish, with enough space, and we could watch birds flying in every direction from the window. Breakfast was tasty and included in the price. Staff served it from a buffet table while following the proper measures. The restaurant portions were generous, with decent dishes at reasonable prices. The mountain and lake views were beautiful in daylight and with the moon reflected on the water, and there are walks nearby. There are lots of facilities, though the pandemic kept us from enjoying them all. Without trying the sauna or pool, the room and breakfast felt only just worth the cost. Getting there was a drawback. The road from Cluj through Valea Draganului takes about 40 minutes on bad roads, while coming from Apuseni means about 10 minutes of bad road. It’s under construction, so it may improve soon. We didn’t have a mini fridge, and the staff could have been more welcoming. On Saturday evening we waited over 1 hour for food, and it arrived lukewarm. There’s no other option around, which was very frustrating. Breakfast starts at 9, too late when you’re an hour from the e St objectives, the caves, or the main Oradea - Cluj road.

There’s plenty of parking, and it’s easy to find. Inside, there’s a lounge area, a large restaurant, and a wellness space, plus a kids’ area they’ll enjoy. The food was good, though not great. Service was okay, and the place wasn’t as clean as we expected. The staff were kind and willing to help.