A Trip to Brasov: Transylvania's Hottest (and Coldest) City

Romania is divided into three geographic regions. The Carpathian Mountains extend like a crescent moon north and south. To the north of the mountains is the region of Moldavia, to the south lie the plains of Walachia. Within the arms of the Carpathians sits Transylvania. A train ride from Bucharest through the mountains to Brasov, one of the most popular tourist attractions in Transylvania, passes through some of the most beautiful country in Eastern Europe.

My fiancée and I left Gara de Nord in Bucharest for Brasov on a bleak and frigid day shortly before Christmas. As the rapid train picked up speed we passed the industrial wastes on the outskirts of Bucharest, which soon gave way to rolling plains blanketed in snow. We then passed through forests of pines and spruces coated with snow so fresh it looked like powdered sugar. Abruptly rose the Carpathians, heavily forested mountains with jagged white peaks. In the valleys and on the slopes nestle the wooden cabins, luxury hotels and cable cars of Romania's best ski towns.

We arrived in Brasov's train station, which doubles as the principle bus station and after making our way through unsolicited offers for flats and cab rides, we took the public bus into town. Our hotel, Pensiunea Ambient, is actually a small offshoot of the much bigger and more popular Hotel Ambient down the street. For most of our stay we were the only two in the hotel. It was well worth the stay, however, as our hotel room was spacious and comfortable. The king size bed was equipped with memory foam making for sound sleeping. The walls and ceiling were lined with charming wooden beams and our balcony looked out upon the hills surrounding Brasov. Of the four hotels in which Carrie and I stayed during our Christmas vacation, Pensuinea Ambient was the nicest and best value for our money.