Pensiunea Cornelia

Don't expect more than a one-star bed and bathroom here. It feels like every penny is saved at the guest's expense. The manager likes to talk at length about herself and the business, so maybe you won't mind the pricey low-tier food or dirty pool if you enjoy long stories. UK tourists should look at the hotels farther south.

It's a beautiful setting and very cheap, but be alert if you're not local or fluent in the language. I may have had a very expensive pair of binoculars stolen from my room, and unfortunately the local police weren't worth trying for help.

We were four friends visiting the Danube Delta and had booked a "family apartment" at Cornelia's place through booking.com. Before we could settle in, we were asked about our plans for the next day. We were told we'd be kicked out of the apartment if we took a boat trip with another group or ate somewhere else, supposedly because of Covid-19. We also wanted to visit a friend in a village an hour's drive away, and she said "NO" for the same reason. The apartment turned out to be one room with a twin bed and two pull-out couches. Cornelia said we needed more privacy because it was too small for four, and suggested we also take a "triple room", which would mean four people for seven beds. She couldn't remember which room was available, so she knocked on doors and tried the handles. After we arrived, we also had to wait while she sprayed alcohol on our hands, and first had to be taken to Ms. Cornelia because we couldn't find reception. There were about 15 people standing close together without masks when we arrived, despite the Covid situation. Later, while talking with us inside, she took off her mask and asked us to do the same. She also proudly said she'd cancelled a booking from Poland for someone due to arrive in about two hours, because the person was from Poland and "who knows if she has Covid or not". Nobody checked our temperature when we got there. She said that if she cancels a booking on booking.com, guests can't leave bad reviews, which she gave as the reason for the 8.8 rating on Booking compared with 2.9 on Google. Please avoid this place at all cost.

We spent two nights there, and it was a nightmare. The place was dirty, hot water was available only in the evening, and the host was extremely unpleasant and dishonest. Avoid it at all costs.