We stayed for three nights at the Continental Forum, located close to the historical centre of Sibiu, a former European Capital of Culture.
On arrival, the check-in was slick and as there were two efficient lifts, we were soon at 202 on the second floor. The room was a vision in blue with the soft furnishings, furniture and wallpaper all in different shades. Our room was small and due to its layout, required constant shimmying around each other. The double bed had a duvet which when laid on the bed didn’t touch the edges, so didn’t cover two bodies. Although reception appeared surprised by our request for an additional duvet it was quickly provided. We had an open plan wardrobe with safe, robes and slippers, a desk and chair, two further chairs with coffee table, and TV which left little spare space. However, there were good bedside tables, lights and charging points. The mini bar was well stocked with water, soft drinks, beer and wine. Tea and coffee facilities were available and although two complimentary bottles of water greeted us, they were not replaced.
The bathroom can best be described as weird and although it’s hard to describe, I’ll try. It was basically a frosted glass cube in the corner of the room, which as it was semi open plan, there was a lack of privacy: the separate toilet had a frosted glass door. The clear glass wash basin was set into a corner, and the two mirrors distorted your face. The plug didn’t stay down, and as our universal plug wouldn’t fit, my husband shaved under running water. The small bath had a shower over it, but due to a solid wall, the gap to get in was tiny, with my husband suggesting it would be like having a bath in a cupboard. There was little space for our toiletries after discounting a circular metal rack that went under the sink because everything fell through. The only positives were complimentary soap, shower gel and body cream in large refillable containers, a good plug-in hairdryer and a shaving mirror.
Weekend breakfasts were served from 7am to 11am rather than 6.30am to 10.30am on weekdays. At 7am it was busy with two large tour groups, and although there was lots of seating, the food was crammed into a small area, resulting in chaos. We skipped the hot dishes (fried eggs, bacon, sausage and rather tempting chips) and settled on orange juice, cereal with yoghurt and fresh fruit, before the cold selection. This comprised of hams and cheeses, pickled herrings with wallies, potato and mixed salads and a good selection of bread and jams. There was a small selection of cakes to accompany machine-made coffee.
The hotel was a five-minute walk from the pedestrianised street, Strada Bâlcescu, which was lined with shops, cafés and restaurants with outdoor terraces and ice cream vendors for dessert.
Whilst the hotel had many quirks, the location made up for them.
