Holiday Reviews
We invite every traveller who books a holiday via us to send in a review. Because we don't run the holidays they're completely independent and unedited... remember to read between the lines though, as two people on the same trip can have different views!
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Transylvania winter holiday accommodation, independent reviews
 Reviewed 15 Jan 2008 by Rebecca Totterdell |  |
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?
Spotting bear tracks in the snow on a walk up to some little caves, and the shadows amongst the trees on the snow as the sun went down. Also the sledge ride down to the volcanic lake and trying archery in a tent in a fortified town high up on a mountain in Rasnov. Tea and brandy with Count Kalnoky and the fireplace. Oh, and the cheese dumplings for pudding with jam and cream - like big, hot doughnuts. Sorry, that's more than one thing isn't it!
2. What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday?
Wrap up warm if you're going in winter, and take good walking boots. If you're prepared for the ground to be a bit slippery you can do almost everything that you could do in summer. Also, if you're getting a taxi at a station or airport, call or approach one with a reputable company name - if you are approached by a driver they will probably be expensive. This happened to us, but "expensive" only meant £25 for a 20 minute journey through Cluj. And travel first class if going by train - it's cheap and so comfortable.
3. Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, and minimized impacts on the environment?
Certainly. People living in this village generally seem to work on their own land and this provides another option for them (I believe the cooking and cleaning is done by local villagers, and the tour guides were all from the area and therefore very knowledgable). The buildings have been restored to a luxurious level of comfort and are cosy and warm in winter, but this has been done using local furniture and styles and is very beautiful. The food is as local as possible and we met nearly everyone who works for this company. So much more personal than a typical package holiday.
4. Finally, how would you rate your holiday overall?
A real adventure! Transylvania in the snow is a magical place, and I can't wait to return in the summer some time. We were looking for some festive snow and were so glad to stumble across this on the responsible travel website. Count Kalnoky is doing something very admirable here and I wish him the very best with the continuation of his project. I am already recommending this holiday to everyone I know!
| Reviewed 29 Jan 2008 by Keilly Mcintyre | |
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?
I can't really name one thing. It was all amazing. The people, the food, the room, the tours, the staff the scenery and snow!! All amazing. The people were all super friendly and loved mixing with us in the pub, even though none of us could speak the others language. I didn't get that horrible feeling you often get as a Brit abroad...
The food was a delicious 3 course meal for lunch and dinner (at a candlelight table in the cellar) I have never felt so spoilt! The room was great - we first went in and it was really snug. They had pre-light the wood fire for us. The bed was sooo comfy and the duvet was the most snugly duvet ever. The staff really made the holiday for me. They were so welcoming and friendly. Nothing was fake or too much trouble. When we first got there the manager took us in to the 'drawing room' where we sat and were treated to the local brandy. You could go into this beautiful room and hang out whenever you wanted. He sat with us and chatted about the area etc. I'm sure he must have had the same conversation thousands of times but he seemed to be talking about the area to someone for the first time, he was more than happy to explain about the local culture etc... He then took us to our room and offered to come and get us when it was time for dinner, so we didn't get lost!
Our guide Micheal was fantastic and the tours were really interesting and lots of fun. Micheal didn't just look after us on our tour, (volcanic craters/horse sleigh ride/walk) but made sure everything was perfect for us throughout the stay. Often when I have gone abroad staff can be overbearing and I often feel any helpfulness has an ulterior motive, but I never once got this with the staff at the guesthouse, they were simply genuinely really nice people. It was also nice to meet the other people on holiday there and we got on really well with them.
2. What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday?
Spend longer than 3 days there!
3. Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, and minimized impacts on the environment?
Yes, the people who worked within the tourism created by the holiday would not have had the injection of money created by the tourists. This includes all the people working for the Count and also the shops/pubs in the area.
4. Finally, how would you rate your holiday overall?
Totally brilliant. I was a bit unsure that I would enjoy it after I had booked it, and on the train ride over was worried that it was going to be boring and too rural. I couldn't have been more wrong and after having arrived at the guesthouse, within 30 seconds I could tell I was going to love it!
| Reviewed 31 Jan 2006 by Tony Corrigan | |
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?
Horse and cart ride in snow through a forest.
2. What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday?
To bring plenty of warm clothes - it's very cold at this time of year (winter).
3. Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, and minimized impacts on the environment?
Yes - all the employees were local people.
4. Any other comments?
It was fantastic.
| Reviewed 4 Jan 2009 by Christine Bell | |
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?
Where to start? Dracula's Castle - impressively situated on a tall crag, with snow swirling around. Being caught in the wind, in a doorway of a Saxon fortified church while admiring the sheer drop to the rocks below; tobogganing down a beautiful snowy road, and being towed back up the hill in a 7-toboggan snake, by a 4-wheel drive; Christmas Eve - children coming to the guesthouse to sing carols, and singing their little hearts out; Christmas Eve dinner - suckling pig, followed by charades in the good old fashioned way till midnight; Renaissance singers on Christmas Day with 16th century music and songs; a Christmas Day walk up the hill with a picnic - and lots of brandy; making new friends and laughing so much it hurt; having guides who couldn't do enough for us; meeting Count Tabor Kanolky and hearing his plans for the village... so you see it's impossible to pick out one thing. This was simply a wonderful Christmas holiday.
2. What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday?
Bring your sense of fun and adventure, join in everything you can and you'll leave with so many wonderful memories that you, like us, will be planning your return visit.
3. Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, and minimized impacts on the environment?
Yes. It was good to visit local areas, even in winter, and to see first-hand what is being done. It was especially good to listen to the Count's plans and to see how our financial input is helping. Also very interesting to learn about local living and working conditions i.e. no running water in houses, majority of farming done by horse etc. We were acutely aware of the landscape and local environment.
4. Finally, how would you rate your holiday overall?
Fantastic - we are already planning the next trip.
| Reviewed 25 Feb 2008 by Liz Thomson Skitt | |
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?
The holiday was full of memorable moments! I think our first excursion was perhaps the most exciting: sledging down about a kilometre to a frozen volcanic lake; then being pulled back up again on the sledge by a landrover, only to do the whole thing again. Also, the evening of my husband's Birthday was wonderful - as a surprise, the staff brought us a home baked cake and sparkling wine.
3. Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, and minimized impacts on the environment?
Yes, we could see that the people working in the guest houses were all from the village or from nearby villages, and that this was an important source of employment locally. Talking to our guides, it was also very clear how important preservation of the environment was to them. Their belief in conservation was very clear.
4. Finally, how would you rate your holiday overall?
I have rarely been so affected by a holiday, and we both feel determined to go back and experience this again. More than individual moments or outings, it was the whole atmosphere that created this feeling. I read on the website beforehand that we would feel as if we were transported to another world - I didn't really believe it before we travelled, but this is exactly what it was like.
| Reviewed 21 Feb 2008 by Isobel Craddock | |
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?
Unique wonderful experiences in a beautiful land, with villagers living in a timewarp and staff who really cared that we were catered for us and carried out our requests. Horse and cart ride through snowy forests, across frozen streams, seeing foxes and birds of prey and wild boar tracks. Sledging a 2km run down to a frozen volcanic lake, climbing snowy paths up to caves. Plus Bram Castle. The look of complete happiness on my sons face as he was driving the Horse and Cart - something I will always treasure.
2. What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday?
Take the train up to Brazov - it is a great train ride, cheap and clean. The views are amazing. Watch out for taxis at the airport, most people staying were ripped off. Move away from the airport and flag down a taxi into town. Make sure they put their meter on should be between 1 - 2 Lei per km
3. Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, and minimized impacts on the environment?
Yes in terms of jobs and money. There is additional customers for local shops and pubs. All the staff were very knowledgeable about the local environment, no one goes away from this holiday without having their awareness raised concerning the local environment. The tourism in the guesthouses has not spoilt or impacted on the local way of life. It is a good blend.
4. Finally, how would you rate your holiday overall?
9/10. Really really special and atmospheric.
| Reviewed 21 Feb 2006 by Kristine Andersen | |
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?
Skiing + see how different and relaxed people lived in the little village.
2. What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday?
Travel with an open mind, and be prepared to spend a lot of time together with the other guests.
3. Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, and minimized impacts on the environment?
Yes.
| Reviewed 13 Feb 2006 by Kate Eugster | |
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?
Animal tracking.
2. What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday?
Warm clothes, good boots and an open mind.
3. Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, and minimized impacts on the environment?
Yes, everything's local including the diet (so lots of pickled veg).
4. Any other comments?
A unique holiday, loved it.