As our trip on Romania’s Vaser Valley Forest Railway, set off at 9am from the village of Vișeu du Sus, we stayed overnight at the nearby La Cassa.
Room nine was up a flight of stairs and with no lift, we were grateful to our guide who carried our bags. The good-sized room had a comfortable double, with one pillow each, and a single bed. It was simply furnished with a wardrobe, TV, empty fridge under the desk and a chair. As the floor was polished wood, the bedside mats were relegated to under the bed. Lighting was good with bedside tables and plug points. There was air conditioning, which didn’t seem to be adjustable, and complimentary WiFi.
The bathroom had a shower cubicle with powerful hot water, but the downside was not a single hook or rail for used towels. However, this was fine for our one-night stay.
As we’d not arrived until 5pm, we ate in the restaurant which had an English country house vibe. There was an extensive menu with lots of soups and starters, but as Lonely Planet referred to large portions, we opted for a ‘mains only’ dinner. The pork cutlet in gorgonzola sauce and chicken breast in a mushroom sauce were manageable, however, the delicious, but overwhelming volume of sliced potatoes cooked in the oven defeated us. As we had recently visited Știrbey Castle, we chose a bottle of Prince Știrbey Sauvignon Blanc (the two may or may not be connected) and a bottle of sparkling water. We then retired to the well-stocked bar, with its more modern look and feel, for a nightcap. Our G&T were beautifully presented in a Tanqueray goblet with ice, cucumber, lime and mint. Our meal and drinks came to 284 Lei (£47.83).
Despite lots of confusion about whether breakfast began at 7am or 7.30am, at 7.15am it was fully available with one guest already eating. The huge buffet comprised of orange juice, yoghurt, fresh fruit, prune compote and cereals. There were lots of salads, dips, and pates, but as all the labels were in Romanian, it was a lottery, but everything we tried was tasty. And whilst generally avoiding sausages abroad, the chorizo-like cârnaţi, were delicious. There was also an extensive selection of sweet treats and biscuits to go with the coffee which was served to us.
Outside were lots of communal seating areas and a huge garden with picnic benches and tables, and a firepit. It was a shame we had neither the time or the weather to truly enjoy and whilst this was a simple Casa with only 10 rooms, it is a place we would like to have stayed longer.
