Seva Hotel Health Club

HOTEL OVERVIEW

You know what caught me off guard about Seva Hotel Health Club? The name makes it sound like some corporate wellness retreat, but honestly, this place has way more character than that. I stumbled across it on Strada Erupției – and yeah, I had to ask locals how to pronounce that street name too – and it’s tucked into this quiet corner of Campina that feels refreshingly removed from the main tourist drag.

The building itself is sort of unassuming from the outside, but once you’re inside, there’s this unexpected warmth to it. I mean, sure, it’s a 3-star place so don’t expect marble lobbies or anything, but the staff actually remembers your name after day one, which is something you don’t get at those bigger chain hotels. The health club part isn’t just marketing fluff either – they’ve got a decent-sized pool that’s usually empty in the mornings (perfect if you’re not into crowds), and the fitness area is small but well-maintained. Nothing fancy, but everything works, you know?

What really sells this place for me is the location. Campina’s not exactly on every tourist’s radar, but that’s actually the point. You’re about an hour from Bucharest when traffic cooperates, but you get this mountain town vibe that feels authentically Romanian. The hotel sits close enough to the Prahova Valley that you can easily hit Sinaia or Brașov for day trips, but far enough from the crowds that you can actually find parking and walk around without dodging tour groups. I discovered this little bakery about two blocks down from the hotel – can’t remember the exact name, but it’s the one with the blue awning – where they make these incredible papanași that’ll ruin your diet plans. The hotel’s breakfast is decent enough, but honestly, I kept sneaking off to that bakery instead.

The rooms are clean and comfortable, though the Wi-Fi can be spotty on the upper floors – something about the mountain terrain, the receptionist told me. But here’s the thing: sometimes that’s not entirely a bad thing. I ended up spending more time exploring the area instead of scrolling through my phone, which felt pretty refreshing actually. The beds are firm (I’m talking European firm, not American firm), and the bathrooms are renovated enough that you’re not dealing with Soviet-era plumbing. Parking’s free and right there, which saves you the headache of hunting for spots in the town center.

Look, this isn’t going to be the most Instagram-worthy hotel you’ve ever stayed at, but it’s got something better – it feels real. The kind of place where the night manager will give you directions to the best hiking trails, or where you might end up chatting with Romanian families who are using it as a base for their own mountain adventures. That 8.5 rating makes sense when you consider what you’re actually getting for the price point. It’s honest hospitality in a part of Romania that still feels like a discovery rather than a destination, if that makes sense.