Looking for a suitable holiday home for three generations of our family, ten in all, enjoying each other’s company but needing privacy too, we came across a recommendation in the “Guardian online” for Casa Heidi. Three double bedrooms, all with private shower & WC, all this in a spectacular location - it just seemed to fit the bill! Plenty of parking and play space for the young ones in front of the house all in a secluded, rural environment. We contacted Heidi and Dinu who immediately supplied with wealth of information regarding the property and its surroundings. Casa Heidi was for us!
We booked it for 10 days in late August / September and following the instructions given by the owners we were met in Bran by a smiling man, the house keeper, who showed us to the villa. Casa Heidi is well away from the tourist bustle created by the popular "Dracula Castle", 1 km away. Casa Heidi is surrounded by apple orchards and smallholding farm dwellings, blissfully quiet. In the evening the centre of Bran resumes its pleasant village atmosphere, too.
The description of what you get, as outlined on the website, is super accurate -- no exaggeration, no hyperbole! A super-clean, spacious living and eating area (easily seating the 10 of us with high chair included) and a well equipped kitchen, constant hot water is on hand (even for the large Jacuzzi) competently taken care of by the house keeper, who also makes sure the trash is removed and a lot more. We felt at home from day one.
Wonderful family walks within the picturesque village of Bran start right from the front door and our temporary neighbors were extremely friendly despite our lack of a common language. A short car ride will take you to nearby marked forest trails and if you want to make a day of it there are vistas which just take your breath away.
Of course we had to feed the family too and there is a very good supermarket in Bran offering everything you need. It might be a few Lei more expensive than shopping in the mall in Brasov, but ‘hey’, why not support the locals who share this jewel of a place with you.
To summarize: Casa Heidi met our expectation in every area and we would happily revisit. Dinu and Heidi are to be congratulated for the superb design of this villa. Mircea needs to be thanked too for his non-intrusive work to make our stay great quality time.
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This was our most beautiful vacation in many years. We loved the cozy, so aesthetically pleasing and extremely well equipped villa. The views from its windows made our hearts sing. Waking up in the morning and seeing a squirrel jump from one tree to another, one meter away from our window while hearing the creek flow right behind it was just one ravishing experience. We enjoyed a lot the proximity to the authentic village life: every morning, on the other side of the creek, the same farmer with his wife were leading their cow to the pasture and they returned in the late afternoon. The surrounding landscape and the relaxing sound of sheep and cow bells constantly filling the air, gave us the feeling that we were living in one of thefairy tales we grew up with. The house keeper was extremely responsive and efficient, always with a smile. The sites we visited in the wider area completed our great experience: Transylvania 's impressive medieval Saxon towns and villages, as well as its spectacular natural alpine beauty. WE WERE CHARMED!
How easy was it to book the property? | How helpful were the directions to the property? |
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Friends getaway | Older travelers |
Families with young children | Large groups |
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How easy was it to book the property? | How helpful were the directions to the property? |
How easy was key pickup/access to the property? | Overall condition of the property |
Bedding & mattresses | Kitchen & utensils |
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Friends getaway | Older travelers |
Families with young children | People with pets |
For anybody looking for Western high standards but in a non-touristy setting then this is the perfect holiday location. Travel back in time to a land where all the family members harvest the alpine farmland by hand. Breathtaking scenery all around whether by foot or by car. After a lovely day out come home and enjoy a good meal then snuggle up with a good book or a family game of scrabble (or soak in the jacuzzi bath). The perfect contrast for people who normally live hectic lives......
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We (2 couples + 1 child) have traveled a lot and I have to say that this place is pampering you. Not only compared to local alternatives (we did check quite a few), but by any standard! It felt like a home right from the beginning, warm and welcoming. The house is new, its architecture is modern, original, at times spectacular, yet the inside gives you a cozy, homey feeling. We got there late yet found everything we needed. The house was warm. In the kitchen (beyond the fact that it’s well stocked), everything we asked the house keeper to shop for us in advance was there. After dinner we all took a long hot shower. Towels were there, waiting for us.
We woke up in the morning to the breathtaking views of the mountains on both sides of the house and the gurgling little spring running along it.
The degree of privacy is exceptional for a vacation house which is so easily accessible. Not feeling that you are one out of X other groups in the house (and garden), but that it’s all yours is great!
The landscape all along the hikes in the area is stunning and the owner was very helpful in giving us tips on where to go, what to do, where to eat, where to rent a car from, etc.
One thing we enjoyed a lot was the Jacuzzi. The view from up there (in the attic!) is fabulous. Both us and our friends took our time on two separate days in the generous double tub, for more than an hour. We did have to let Mircha know in advance when we would use it, so he would add extra wood in the stove for heating, as we were asked to do from the beginning. Everything worked perfectly fine. The room with the heating system has its own entrance and there was no problem privacy-wise…
Too bad (or lucky us!) that the world is still unaware of all this (not just the fabulous house, but the whole area is stunning and offers so much to do!).
We loved this vacation spot!
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