ROMANIA

NINE DAYS IN TRANSYLVANIA



Bordering the Black Sea, between Bulgaria and Ukraine, Romania also has borders with Hungary, Serbia and Moldova. Covering some 238,391 square kilometres (92,043 square miles), it is a country blessed with a temperate climate.

 

With just under 20 million inhabitants, Romania is listed as the 7^th most populated member of the European Union, having joined in 2007. Bucharest is the capital of Romania and with a population of 1.9 million Bucharest is the 6^th largest city in the EU. Bucharest also has the 2^nd largest building in the world (the Pentagon in the USA being the largest), in the Palace of the Parliament (The Peoples Palace).

Romania is a country of immense and diverse natural beauty, offering the visitor such delights as the Black Sea area, the Danube Delta, and the magnificent Carpathian Mountains. High on the tourist list of places to visit is Transylvania, famous for its starring role in the 1897 Gothic Horror novel Dracula, by Irish writer Brams Stoker. Besides Bran castle, visitors to Transylvania will also wish to visit Poiana Brasov, a fantastic ski area, and Sibiu, Brasov, and Sighisoara.

I was embarking on a 9 day holiday to Transylvania, staying in the Brasov area. I have visited this area on two previous occasions, both times flying with British Airways from London Heathrow to Bucharest Otopeni airport. This time, however, I was flying, with Ryanair, into Otopeni from Stansted airport. The flight was an early morning flight, 06.25, so I had decided to stay the night before at Down Hall Country House Hotel, close to Stansted airport. I had also organized a 'Meet and Greet' service for parking my car at the airport, anything to make the start of my holiday easier and more relaxed.

Having already checked in on-line, it was a simple task of dropping my luggage off at the 'Drop off' desk and making my way, via fast track, through security and into the departure lounge, but, even so, it was still a long winded and chaotic transit from check-in to departures. However, once in the departure lounge I could relax for a while and get something to eat and drink. I had booked a 'Business Plus' ticket with Ryanair, this gave me a checked in bag allowance of 20kg, fast track through security, speedy boarding, preference seating (extra leg room), and the flexibility to change my booking up to the day of departure.

 

 

The flight took just over three hours and was uneventful, the cabin crew went through the usual safety talks, and then walked through the aircraft selling food and drink, as well as duty free items. We landed on time and proceeded through passport control, baggage reclaim, and eventually customs. Finally, I had arrived and could start my holiday, albeit with at least a two hours drive from the airport to Codlea, which is where I was staying for the next 9 days. The drive was a most pleasant one, the sun was shining, and the roads were not overly busy. We drove north away from Bucharest, through industrial areas, and eventually through the Carpathian Mountains, when all at once the scenery changed, giving way to the beautiful mountain landscape, lush countryside, and wonderful little villages. 

 

 

The following 9 days were spent exploring and enjoying the local area, however, as I had visited this area on two previous occasions, there wasn't much new for me to see. I was surprised, but from a tourist's perspective pleased, by how little things had changed in the preceding ten years since my last visit. Apart from the improvements to the main roads, a few more hotels, and new shopping malls, life appeared to be going on pretty much the same. There was still the extraordinary sight, to my western European eyes, of horse drawn carts on the road, as well as working in the fields and forests. A lot of investment has poured into Romania in recent years, and the infrastructure is certainly improving, with much better roads than I remember, however, I think the average Romanian has seen his life change very little.

 

 

The weather for the most part of my holiday was very good, although not as hot as it can get in Romania in the summer months, and we did have two days of constant rain, very unusual for this time of year, which caused severe flooding and mud slides in some areas. The good weather meant I could explore the great outdoors and I had a very nice day walking through the forest in the mountains above Brasov, somewhere I hadn't been before. Among the other new destinations for me was the town of Zarnesti, where I spent a night at the Hotel Transilvania, a lovely, small hotel and restaurant with modern facilities and some very good traditional Romanian food. I also visited Fagaras and the nearby Manastirea Brancoveanu, a beautiful, monastery. The town of Sighisoara, where Vlad The Impaler once lived, was another worthwhile visit, as was Viscri, where I am reliably told by locals, Prince Charles has some properties.

 

 

 

As with all holidays, all too soon my time in Romania was over, but I had, once again, had a wonderful time seeing beautiful places and meeting wonderful people. I, reluctantly, retraced my route back to Bucharest Otopeni Airport in order to catch my 10.30pm flight back to the UK. Such a late departure meant arriving back into Stansted airport in the early hours of the morning. I had therefore booked myself a room at the Radisson Blu Hotel at Stansted airport. This meant I could rest and have a good nights sleep before driving home the next morning. This was just as well, as my arrival into Stansted, and transit through the airport proved to be a lengthy, stressful process. It was at this point that I started to feel pretty pleased with myself that I had the good sense to pre-book the post flight hotel.

Anyone contemplating either a pre or post flight hotel stay near Stansted airport may wish to read my reviews on Down Hall Country House Hotel, and Radisson Blu Stansted. There are of course a wide choice of hotels around the airport, most offering deals on stay and parking. I certainly found that both a pre and a post flight hotel stay added to my overall holiday enjoyment, and I would definitely recommend it.

POST FLIGHT HOTEL STAY

RADISSON BLU STANSTED

 



I checked into the Radisson Blu Stansted hotel at about 2am, I had just flown into London Stansted Airport from Bucharest. My flight had arrived just after midnight, it then took the best part of two hours to get through passport control and pick up my luggage. Thankfully, Radisson Blu Stansted is a mere two minute walk from the airport terminal, the two buildings being connected by a covered walkway.

 

Built in 2004, this four star hotel is delightful. Having stayed here previously on a pre-flight stay, I was well acquainted with the hotel and its wonderful amenities. Unfortunately, having arrived in the early hours of the morning, I would not be able to make the most of these amenities tonight. However, I had every intention of indulging myself and enjoying all the hotel had to offer, the following day. But for now, a well earned shower and a good nights sleep in my comfortable, spacious, Business Class room, was all that was on my mind.

 

 

 

 

The facilities at Radisson Blu Stansted are very impressive. This excellent hotel has 500 rooms and suites to choose from, offering three styles of décor. Urban rooms are decorated in warm reds and rich woods, Ocean rooms feature blues and greens, depicting the colours of the sea, and Chilli rooms are decorated in a vivid mix of vibrant colours. There are also three classes of room, these include the standard room which is approximately 25 square metres, and features free Wi Fi, safe, tea/coffee making facilities, mini-bar, TV and telephone. The family room consists of two interconnecting rooms, one with a double bed, and one with twin beds, the family room has all the features of the standard room, as well as offering the benefit of two bathrooms. Roll away beds and cots are available on request. Business Class has everything that the standard and family rooms have, but also feature luxurious bathrobes and slippers, a daily newspaper, free in house movies, 24 hour room service, a Nespresso coffee machine, and access to the Super Breakfast Buffet. Finally, there are also full, and junior, suites available. The suites include all the amenities of Business Class, as well as having a separate living room. There are also rooms available with improved accessibility, featuring roll in shower, grab bars, audio and visual warning devices, and wider doorways. Public areas are also accessible by wheelchair and a wheelchair is available for loan on request.

 

 

 

  

 

 

 

  

 

With three restaurants on-site, hotel guests are spoilt for choice when it comes to eating. The Filini restaurant serves wonderful Italian and Mediterranean dishes, it is also in this well lit and tastefully decorated restaurant, that the excellent 'Super Breakfast' is served. The New York Grill serves American Steakhouse specialities, in a delightfully intimate dining area. Last, but most certainly not least, is the amazing Angel's Wine Tower Bar. This unique and mesmerizing venue has a diverse menu which includes burgers, pizza, salads, and steak. However, for myself, the main draw to this bar is the Wine Tower, and the Angels who entertain the guests with their airborne acrobatics, suspended from wires within a glass tower. The wine Angels are not there just to entertain, they are also there to retrieve the guests chosen wine from an impressive collection of over 4,000. The wine tower at Radisson Blu Stansted was the first of its kind in Europe, the only other tower, in Europe, is situated in Zurich.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

For the guests health and well-being, there is the Pace Health Club. This on-site gym and spa is free for guests and is also open to public membership. There is a well equipped gym, a 10 metre long swimming pool, and a sauna and steam room. There are also treatment rooms where massages and manicures can be booked, as well as a sunbed room and tanning tent. Lockers and towels are available within the spa area. Guests can even book swimming lessons for the children as well as yoga and aqua aerobic sessions.

 

 

  

 

 

 

 

 

For anyone wishing to use the conference and meeting rooms at Radisson Blu Stansted, there is a wide choice of 26 rooms, all with natural light, and all fitted out to the highest standard. There is a business centre which has fax and printer available, as well as secretarial services. Total business area measures an impressive 1,300 square metres. The Radisson Blu Brain Box concept is scheduled to come to Stansted very soon. This innovative business concept is designed to elevate efficiency and release creativity. The meeting rooms feature a Break Away area with walls you can write on, vivid colours, and a flexible furniture layout. Even the menu has been geared towards creativity. Billed as Brain Food, the food and drink menu offers optimum nutrition for maximum focus.

 

Radisson Blu Stansted is also an excellent venue for weddings. Preferential discounts can be arranged for the wedding party and guests, and with a fantastic choice of menu, everyone is assured of a memorable time. The bride and groom can relax afterwards in the Honeymoon Suite, and awake the next morning to a wonderful, romantic breakfast in bed. With the airport just two minutes away, jetting off to some exotic location for the honeymoon should be no problem.

There is on-site parking available for up to 200 cars. Guests can arrange packages which include 4, 8, or 15 day stays. Guests can even arrange to have their vehicle valeted whilst they are away, ensuring they return from their holiday or business trip, to a clean car.

Check in time is 2pm onwards, and check out time is by 12pm. A later check out time can be arranged, at no extra cost, subject to availability. There is also an Express Checkout facility, for those in a hurry, and a Grab and Run breakfast of tea/coffee, fruit, and energy bars available in the lobby. A 3 hour express laundry service is also offered. 

 

 

 

On both occasions that I have stayed at Radisson Blu Stansted, it has involved a flight out of,or into London Stansted airport. However, the hotel is ideally situated for visiting Essex and Hertfordshire, as well as London. It would, therefore, be a great location for a holiday to this area, which has so much to offer the visitor.

After a good night's sleep in a very large, exceptionally comfortable and welcoming bed, and having enjoyed an excellent full English breakfast, followed by some chill out time in the spa, the time came for me to leave. I left Radisson Blu Stansted much more relaxed and refreshed than when I arrived in the early hours of the morning, and considerably more so than had I driven directly home. I could now arrive home in daylight, at a reasonable hour, feeling that the end of my holiday had been a enjoyable experience. It really did feel like my stay at Radisson Blu Stansted had been part of my holiday.

For more information on Radisson Blu Stansted please visit the hotel's website:

www.radissonblu.co.uk/hotel-stanstedairport

 

PRE FLIGHT HOTEL STAY

DOWN HALL COUNTRY HOUSE HOTEL
 

 

 

 

Ironically, being as how they are supposed to be enjoyable, restful, and relaxing, holidays can be very stressful! It's not the holiday itself that causes the stress, rather, the organizing, packing, and, above all, the getting there. Airports, these days, are not happy places, they are fraught with complications, hassle, panic, and all manner of emotional stress that can leave a traveller bewildered, frustrated and anxious, before the holiday has even begun. Add to this an early morning flight, preceded by a long car journey to get to the airport, and, potentially, you have a recipe for disaster. However, all is not lost!

I was recently faced with a 6.25am flight out of London Stansted airport. That meant arriving at the airport around 4.30am, with a 90 minute drive from home to the airport. Therefore, leaving home at 3am, which meant getting up around 1am. 'Hang on a minute!, is there any point in going to bed?' The answer came in the form of Down Hall Country House Hotel.

 

 

Located on the Essex/Hertfordshire border in Hatfield Heath, just 9 miles from Stansted airport, Down Hall is a well established country house set in 110 acres of woodland, parkland and gardens. Just 45 minutes from central London, Down Hall is situated within easy travelling distance to Stansted airport, which makes it the ideal pre or post flight hotel. The property has a fascinating history dating back to 1322, when Robert Taper gave the house to Hatfield Broad Oak Abbey. Since then, the house has had a number of owners and many uses, including a convalescent home for wounded soldiers, a school, an antiques business and conference centre, and now, today, a beautiful country house hotel.

 

 

Purchased in 1986 by the Veladail Group, the hotel is presently going through a major refurbishment, on-going during my visit, but with very little disruption to the everyday running of the hotel, and the guests enjoyment. Many of the 99 bedrooms have already been refurbished, with the remaining rooms being refurbished over the coming months. Soon to open, will be a brand new spa and treatment area, which will be available for public membership as well as hotel guests. Initial outlay for the refurbishment is in the region of £2.5 million, but total cost is estimated to be close to £7 million.

There is certainly no need to go hungry at Down Hall, as dining options are excellent. The Grill Room Restaurant is a fine restaurant, serving modern English cooking, including fresh ingredients sourced from their own vegetable garden. Here, dinner is served from 7pm. There is also a comfortable and intimate bar area, and afternoon tea can be taken in either the lounge area or Ibbetsons Tearoom. In the summer, picnic hampers can be arranged for a picnic in the grounds. To keep the guests entertained during their stay, facilities include a steam room, sauna, gym, 2 tennis courts, croquet, and a giant chess set. The existing spa facilities are for hotel guests only, these will remain after completion of the new spa, giving hotel guests the option of using either spa.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I arrived early afternoon, in good time to make the most of the facilities, and get myself into the holiday mood. I had stayed at Down Hall on one previous occasion, a 'Murder Mystery' weekend, but even so, I still found the sight of the mansion, as I drove up the drive towards the entrance, most impressive. It really is a grand looking building, set in a beautiful location. I parked my car and made my way to reception, carrying only a small overnight bag, having left my main holiday luggage in the car. Check in was quick and efficient, and the reception staff were extremely friendly and helpful. I took the opportunity to arrange a table for dinner at 7pm, I needed an early night! I also arranged for an early morning wake up call.

 

 

 

My room, one of the refurbished rooms in the west wing, was very tastefully decorated. Situated on the ground floor, with patio doors leading on to the grounds, it was perfect for relaxing in after a long journey. It was a very good sized room with high ceilings and a beautiful chandelier, there was everything I could wish for to ensure a most comfortable stay. Amenities included a seating area, with table and chairs, tea and coffee making facilities which was very welcome after a long drive, and a very spacious bathroom with bath/shower, toilet, bidet, twin sinks and complimentary toiletries. But, most important of all, a generously proportioned and exceptionally comfortable king sized bed. There were also bathrobes which came in very useful for the spa. 



There is something of interest around every corner of Down Hall, beautiful, sweeping staircases, adorned with fine works of art, large, tastefully decorated rooms which are available for private functions, along with cosy and comfortable public areas. The grounds are a delight to walk around, although, unfortunately, limited for time, I did not get to see all the grounds on this occasion.

 

 

 

 

I decided to spend some time chilling out in the spa area. The gym was well laid out with a good choice of exercise equipment, however, I chose not to work out on this visit, preferring instead to just relax in the sauna and steam rooms. There are lockers, towels, and toiletries available in the spa area, and drinking water is available in the gym area. Following my chill out time in the spa, I showered and made my way back to my room to rest before dinner.

 

 

 

Dinner was served in The Grill Room by very friendly and attentive staff who had, clearly, been trained to a very high standard. The food, too, was of a very high standard, and the overall ambiance of the restaurant was very relaxing and welcoming. I chose Prawn and White fish Ravioli for starters, and Salmon in Beetroot with Pea Risotto for my main course, delicious! As I needed to be up by 3am, I, reluctantly, declined the offer of desert or coffee, and headed back to my room around 9pm, ready for an early night. 

 

 

I awoke to my wake up call at 3am as arranged. I had also arranged for a light breakfast to be brought to my room for 3.30am. It arrived promptly, and I enjoyed a breakfast of fruit and yoghurt, and a pot of tea. Just enough to keep me going until brunch. I checked out of the hotel at 4am. The drive to the airport took a mere 20 minutes, and the journey was made even more enjoyable when I was rewarded by the sight of 2 deer, 3 foxes, 1 owl, and several rabbits, a wonderful way to start the day! I arrived at the airport in plenty of time for my flight, relaxed, refreshed, and a lot less stressed than had I driven from home that morning. Without doubt, a far more enjoyable way to start a holiday.

I would definitely consider Down Hall again for a pre/post flight stay, but I would also highly recommend the hotel for a longer stay as it is such a wonderful, comfortable, relaxing hotel, set in an area where there is so much to see and do. Down Hall is also the perfect location for a wedding, and with 161 weddings taking place every year, I am clearly not alone in my opinion. Down Hall is also a fantastic location for business meetings, with 18 well equipped conference and meeting rooms and its close proximity to London.

 

 

 

 

Places to visit during any stay at Down Hall include: Mountfitchit Castle, the House on the hill toy museum, Audley End House, Hatfield House, Hatfield forest, Bishop's Stortford, Cambridge, Colchester, Imperial War Museum Duxford, and, of course, London. All these destinations, and many more are within easy travelling distance of Down Hall. For further information visit Down Hall Country House Hotel's website at:  www.downhall.co.uk  

IMPERIAL WAR MUSEUM

IWM DUXFORD

 

The Imperial War Museum (IWM) at Duxford is conveniently located just off junction 10 of the M11, south of Cambridge. Its location makes it easily accessible by car, and there is ample on-site parking. The museum is open daily (excluding 24^{th -} 26^th December) from 10am to 6pm (4pm in winter), with last admission being 5pm summertime and 3pm in winter.

The IWM was founded in 1917 and now consists of five museums, London, Duxford, Manchester, HMS Belfast, and The Churchill Rooms. IWM Duxford was opened in 1976 and has grown substantially over the years to its present day size, incorporating many impressive indoor exhibits, as well as outdoor displays, leisure areas and restaurants.

Among the many attractions, visitors can also experience:

AIRSPACE:

Here, visitors can view many historic planes, including the Lancaster, Spitfire, and Vulcan. Iconic Concord is also housed here, and visitors are invited to board for a truly close up, nostalgic experience. 

 

 

 

HISTORICAL DUXFORD:

This exhibit chronicles Duxford's time as an RAF airbase from 1918 to 1961.

LAND WARFARE:

A large collection of tanks and many other wartime land vehicles.

 

 

FLYING AIRCRAFT:

Housed in two old RAF hangers, visitors can browse through a variety of privately owned planes, many of them in flying condition. This is where these beautiful machines are restored and maintained.

 

 

 

BATTLE OF BRITAIN:

An exhibition of The Battle of Britain and air defence during the first world war and the cold war.

 

 

 

THE AMERICAN MUSEUM:

A memorial to the 30,000 American airmen who gave their lives flying from UK airbases during world war two, as well as more recent conflicts. Visitor should note that this part of the museum will be closed from 2015 to spring 2016 for re-development.

 

AIR AND SEA:

This exhibit shows the changes in defence methods from the first world war to modern day warfare.

1940 OPERATIONS ROOM:

A fascinating exhibit, showing the actual operations room, furnished as it was during the second world war.

 

 

 

PLEASURE FLIGHTS:

Visitors can also take advantage of a pleasure flight over Duxford, Cambridge or London in a number of aircraft, including a Spitfire, Tiger Moth, or a Dragon Rapide. These flights are provided by Classic Wings and can be booked either in advance or on the day (see my review 'Flight over Cambridge in a Dragon Rapide').

 

 

 

 

 

Besides these impressive exhibits, and the vast array of flying craft on display, IWM Duxford also holds regular, spectacular air shows.

 

For more information please visit the IWM website at: www.iwm.org.uk