Vila Tisa

We made a terrific ravioli meal while parked nearby. Check out the photos of our creation below. We nailed it, even though my friend kept saying that the cooking know-how I picked up mostly from YouTube doesn't replace proper chef training. I'm basically Gordon Ramsey, Anthony Bourdain, and Marco Pierre White rolled into one, and nobody can tell me otherwise!

The staff were okay, and cleanliness was almost okay, but I left more tired than when I arrived. It was already my third year coming here, but I'm done and definitely won't return. The guesthouse itself is alright, but it's extremely noisy. Tourists at the neighboring guesthouse party late into the night, and people at Tisa do nothing about it. The neighbor on the right has about 3-4 Pekingese that start barking at 6 am, with no action from Tisa either. The ACs are turned off around 11 because their compressor bothers people, so two people end up making life difficult for a whole guesthouse.

There may be potential here, but the place badly needs management. Two staff members can't meet the needs of 40-50 tourists, especially when they seem too few and not sufficiently qualified. Cleaning was rough, as if done with a phone to the cleaner's ear, and I mean that literally. The air conditioners couldn't cope with the outside heat, leaving us sweating at about 28 degrees indoors. I tried breakfast one day. It was like a mining canteen meal, with salami that I suppose you only find there, roughly chopped as if with a chainsaw and completely inedible. A few years ago things were much better. Now it all feels shabby, outdated, and dilapidated. The anti-covid rules are completely ignored, especially by the few staff overwhelmed by events. Nothing at all deserves a positive mention. The quality-price ratio is a disaster, and I can't recommend it. There are reasonable places at fair prices in Râmnicu Vâlcea, just 6 km away. The savings would cover a taxi there and back, with enough left for a beer.

It's probably the most luxurious place in the area, rated 4*. There's a restaurant with affordable meals at around 20 lei, plus parking and a barbecue in the yard. I couldn't find a children's playground, though they may not have one. Ocnele Mari Salt Mine is no more than a 5 min walk away.