Just really can't recommend this place highly enough! Incredible location, superb hosts and simply the ideal base to explore the Maramures from. The word idyllic springs to mind again and again. Already looking at when we can next return! Thank you, Penny and crew for another fantastic stay
Before I proceed with the lowdown, just know that this is not your ordinary hotel. There are no phones, no TVs, though there is great WIFI access. You do cook your own breakfast but all the ingredients are provided. The idea is to unplug and get in tune with nature and be present. So please do not expect a 5 star hotel room like the Intercontinental or the Four Seasons. The Good 1. Location is ideal for visiting the wooden churches in Maramures as it's close to many of the UNESCO World Heritage sites. You can use Breb as your base while exploring the other towns. 2. Each cottage comes with a kitchen stocked with basics and more for making breakfast, snacks, etc...The butter, eggs, milk are so fresh! 3. Each cottage is tastefully decorated with local tapestry and artifacts. It's very cozy. 4. There are sufficient radiator heat to keep the place toasty. 5. The people managing the property are very friendly and accommodating. Penny helped us during our stay and was very attentive despite having a cast from the injury to her arm. Her assistant Andrada (sp?) was also very wonderful. They can help to arrange dinners in nearby homes and pensions. 6. The setting is very bucolic and peaceful. Even if you go nowhere the whole day, it's a great spot to just relax, read a book, and chill out. The Bad 1. The floors are creaky as the cottages are traditional. So unless you rent the whole house, be prepared that your upstair neighbors may be a bit noisy walking about. When we were there, we had the whole house to ourselves despite renting only one room so it was great. I did hear that others have not had major issues and those staying in close quarters became friends afterwards. 2. I did not really like cooking my own breakfast because I'm on vacation and i'm a mom of two children. Other guests we met did not seem to mind this. 3. You do need to arrange dinners and lunches off site so no room service. 4. If you have a physical limitation and can't climb narrow stairs or lift heavy suitcases up said narrow stairs, this place may not be suitable for you. The Verdict We would stay again. We were traveling with two young kids who loved the nooks and crannies of the room we stayed in.…
An absolutely perfect experience! We stayed at the casa pictata- charming, cute, lovely! Staying at the village hotel felt like we were part of the village and not a detached hotel. These are real village houses that help you realize how it feels to live in a traditional village. Penny did a marvelous job in maintaining the atmosphere and authenticity and quality of the houses and Andrada is the sweetest person ever! We received fresh fruit and veggies daily and the kitchen and fridge are well stacked with all items to enable you to eat all your meals in the house. Andrada is a source of information ( gave us maps and suggestions) and she assisted us in all areas. She performs everything with a smile and unmatched pleasantness. Walking around the village you meet friendly ppl who invite you into their homes and share their stories. Andrada arranged for us a typical home cooked dinner at someone’s house and despite our dietary restrictions ( vegan in Romania- a small challenge haha) the dishes were delicious! We spent magical three days at the village hotel and I miss it already! …
We had a very good stay in our little traditional wooden house with our 20 months old daughter. We enjoyed the decor, the accomodation was clean and neat. We liked the breakfast set up as well as the local dinners offered by a local lady who lives near by. She was very friendly and eager to please and so was Penelope, the owner of the Village Hotel. We enjoyed some hiking around Breb and the atmosphere around the village.
Penny is a great host. She is cheerful, friendly and approachable without being intrusive. She is this guest house’s biggest asset. The WIFI here is also very good. The room however had not been fully cleaned – the room was very dusty, there were several dead flies on the window sill, the carpet was covered in hairs, the tooth mug still had toothpaste stains from the previous occupant, and so on. We were glad to leave. If you are looking for an “authentic” Romanian stay then staying here goes a long way towards that and my grading is based on someone wanting that. If, like us, you are used to 4/5 star hotels this is NOT the place to stay. Our room did not have full head height for the entire room - for example in front of the toilet and the room itself was not particularly clean. Dinner “in a local’s house” is cheap. It is also poor. My feeling is that it’s better than trying for self catering but you do not get anything approaching a good meal. The self service breakfast was not enjoyable. We will not return…
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