When many Westerners think of Transylvania, they conjure up horror movies and scary monsters. The mental images are of dark nights and haunted castles populated by mysterious batlike creatures with long, pointed teeth. This commonly-held opinion makes Romania a great overlooked Springtime destination in Europe.
Actually, springtime in the Transylvanian city of Sovata is anything but dark and gloomy. It’s a sunny resort community at the foot of the Ghurghiu Mountains in Romania. The area is surrounded by pine forests, bubbling hot springs and salt lakes that offer visitors the therapeutic pleasures of natural spa experiences.
We heard glowing reports from friends who had enjoyed their health-restoring visit to Sovata several years ago. We decided to forget our eerie childhood tales of Transylvania, and seek the health benefits of the spa resort town. Although its charm and and beauty have been there for hundreds of years, the Romanian destination is usually overlooked in the usual European travel guides.
How to Get to Sovata
The closest airport is Targu Mures (TGM), with direct flights available from Hungary, Germany, Britain, Italy, France and Spain. We flew Hungarian airline Malev to Budapest from Los Angeles, then onto Targu Mures. The fares added up to $1,600 per person. After arriving at the Targu Mures airport, we paid $25 for the 30-minute taxi ride into Sovata.
Sovata Accommodations
Danubius Health Spa Resort
Our friends recommended this resort to us, and once settled in, we understood why they liked it so much. We had a comfortable room with large windows overlooking forest-lined (Urso) Bear Lake. Members of the staff speak English and were very helpful in service and recommendations.
Because most guests come to Danubius in the summer months, our early May visit gave us plenty of uncrowded opportunities to explore the nearby forest trails, stroll the quaint Transylvanian town and enjoy the fantastic spa facilities.
The Danubius spa is located near the only naturally thermal lake in continental Europe. In May and June, the daytime air temperature above the lake surface is between 60-70 degrees. Floating our tired bodies into the buoyant and naturally-heated water, we enjoyed its 80-90 degree heat. The hotel’s heated pool is filled with salt water from the lake, and we found it delightful for floating and swimming in the evening, great for relaxing tired limbs and inducing peaceful sleep. Each night cost $75.
Danubius Health Spa Resort
Trandafirilor 111, R-545 500, Sovata, Romania
danubiushotels.com
Sovata Restaurant
Although there were some interesting cafes and taverns in Sovata, we ate most of our meals at the Danubius in-house restaurant terrace and buffet bar. We sampled local dishes, including stuffed cabbage, lamb kebabs and chiftele meatballs. There was live music and singing by local Romanian groups in and around the restaurant during the evening dinner hours.
Summary
We spent a delightful week in Sovata, and especially enjoyed the therapeutic benefits of the beautiful scenery and naturally-heated waters.
You can follow travel writer Ted Sherman on twitter, @travel4seniors and check out his blog, travel4seniors.com
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