Stay at Vila Gabriela - you will not be dissappointed!, May 4, 2006
Reviewer:
Juhani Toivonen
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Maintenance
(4)
Cleanliness
(4)
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I have read all the reviews of Vila Gabriela, both before I and my wife went there in the summer 2005, and also afterwards. We can only agree, and if you need a nice clean and quiet place with fresh air to stay overnight in connection with a flight, or if you wish to explore Bucharest, this is the place to go! You will be overwhelmed by the friendliness and helpfulness of the hosts - you almost feel like you are a member of the family! Go there!
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(Review ID: 4870)
Wonderful people, nicest place in Bucharest, January 24, 2006
Reviewer:
John and Andreea
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(5)
Cleanliness
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My husband John and I first visited Gabriela in oct. 2004. We were planning to stay for one night, but we enjoyed the atmosphere so much that we stayed for nine. We centred our stay around the Gabriela, as we found it very homely and safe. Vlad, Carmina and their daughter Ionela are genuine, wonderful and very helpful people and make you feel welcome so much so we regard them as friends rather than hosts. Since that visit, we stayed there three more times (on vacation) and we will be staying there again. And we can't wait! Thanks, Carmina and Vlad! Looking forward to seeing you, Ionela!
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(Review ID: 4871)
Excellent friendly hostel for all ages, September 18, 2004
Reviewer:
jjpof
( jjpof@yahoo.com)
from England
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(5)
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I stayed in the hostel in August this year having found it via the internet - the owners daughter operates the online booking from England. We only wanted an overnight stop on route back from the north of Romania to the airport and this was no problem for the owners to accomodate.I can honestly say that the welcome and hospitality exceeded anything I could possibly have expected (even knowing the legendary high standards of hospitality in the country). We made our own way to the hostel from the centre (not knowing our time of arrival in Bucuresti in advance) and found the hostel quite easily with the help of a local taxi driver.Carmina greeted us and showed us to the room which was a beautiful spacious double with television and romanian stove (thankfully not needed in the summer).Her English was excellent meaning I did not need to practise my Romanian. We were given a beer and bottled water as a welcome pack (much appreciated) and shown where the bathroom was (Again very clean - with constant hot water).Breakfast (included in the $10 charge) was coffee and croissant at the time we set with Vlad and his wife.The area is very pleasant and though within a short distance of the airport is unbelievably quiet. There was a wide range of ages (teens to sixties) and nationalities (Romanian, English, German and Canadian).The owners who live on site are available for advice at all times and they know their stuff.Vlad gave us a lift to the airport when we left Romania ($8) and we agreed to extend our stay in Bucuresti when we return to the country.
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7 people found this review helpful
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(Review ID: 4872)
Nice People Nice Location, July 28, 2004
Reviewer:
Sally Murphy
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saw things this way
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(4)
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This nice hostel in a clean quiet residential area about 5 minutes walk from the 25 minute bus ride to centre of town is good. The family will meet you on arrival and let you know how to get buses. The local shop is also a lean to where people meet in the evening to have a few beers, english is not widely spoken but everyone is friendly. This residential area is kept spotless by the URBAN cleaners (company name) I have never seen so many litter bins and the are used unlike London. The area has food shops and a couple of fast food restaurants. You can use the cooking facilities at the hostel if you wish. Vlad will organise any trips you wish and his wife speaks good english. Overall a nice place to stay in a fascinating city.If you are thinking of a long weekend ie from Europe allow yourself 4 days as you may decide you really like Romania, If you have the opportunity take the train to Brasov and Sinaia for a fairytale castle or get Vlad to drive you.
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(Review ID: 4873)
Hospitality beyond compare, January 4, 2004
Reviewer:
sandi
( sandifletch@hotmail.com)
from Maine, usa
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(5)
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When I think of hostels I think of rooms filled with bunk beds, cafeteria style breakfasts and impersonal common areas. The complete opposite is the Vila Gabriela. It is like being welcomed into someone's home. The rooms are comfortable, neat and clean as well as cozy. Breakfast was brought down to us. But what tipped the scales for me most was the amount of time that Carmina and Vlahd devoted to us. Carmina met us at the airport, showed us to the hotel and taught us how to use the bus system. She and Vlahd gave us countless sets of directions, even sat down and gave us a brief history of the city. Anytime spent in Bucharest is best spent at the Vila Gabriela no doubt about it.
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(Review ID: 4874)
Excellent hosts, good position and value, January 3, 2004
Reviewer:
Vasja and Sanja
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(5)
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(5)
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We strongly reccomend this hostel which we found one of the best we have seen. We have been late and in the dark was difficult to find the villa by car but the hosts surprised us from the first contact with their hospitability and helpfulness. Vlad is in fact the only (and superb) tourist information centre in Bucharest. The villa has convenient access to the city centre by express bus line and you can count on a closed parking if you come by car. The rooms are nice, clean and decorated in national style. You can count on Vlad's and Carmina's descriptions and advices on the Bucharest and Romania history and major sights. We advise you to visit the Romanian parliament, the Cismigiu park, the botanical garden, the Zambachian museum, the Baneasa quarter and to enjoy the local specialties in the restaurant Branduziei in the city centre. We hope will visit Bucharest again to see many other sights which we haven't seen for a lack of time. When planning Bucharest don't think 3 days will be enough!
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(Review ID: 4875)
Excellent service, January 3, 2004
Reviewer:
healeyjack@ntlworld.com
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saw things this way
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Three of us travelled from Southampton to Bucharest for a UEFA Cup match.We found the hospitality warm and friendly,and without the assistance of Vlad we would not have reached the stadium on time as our flight was delayed.Transport was waiting to take us straight the ground and our luggage back to our rooms.We would all like to thank all the staff for their efforts and would recommend Vila Gabriela to anyone wishing to visit Bucharest.I would therefore accept any e-mails and would be glad to give additional information about our stay .
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(Review ID: 4876)
Great hosts and convenient to Otopeni airport, December 28, 2003
Reviewer:
stradakiev@hotmail.com
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It's been over a year since I stayed, but the Rogati's are excellent hosts. Very informative and helpful. You stay in their home in a residential section outside Bucharest which I found interesting.You have privacy and cleanliness. I had a special treat of dinner (piersoale-little meatballs, tomatoe salad, sheep milk cheese, fresh bread and gin and tonics! Yum! I don't think it is offered to everyone, but I was a Peace Corps Volunteer in Moldova, and spoke Romanian. They have good news about their successful daughter who got her PH.D at Carnegie Mellon and is living in the U.S. I love hearing this kind of stuff. They do speak English so don't be intimidated! Enjoy
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(Review ID: 4877)
Very good value for the money!!!, December 27, 2003
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Anonymous
saw things this way
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I enjoyed my stay at this hostel. The staff was friendly and helpfull, the room was very nice and clean and it was also very close (10 minutes by bicycle) to the airport.
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(Review ID: 4878)
seriously excellent memories, December 27, 2003
Reviewer:
chris
( cmjh_uk@yahoo.com)
from London, UK
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Romania, particular Bucharest will blow you away. And when I got off the delayed train on my own at 2.30 am in Bucharest something like 8 hours late, thinking ok what the hell am I giong to do now, seeing Gabriala and vlad waiting for me on the platform waving a union jack at that time assured my lifelong alliegence and hearty recommendation for them and the hostel! Go, live there, you'll never regret it.
