Vila Ursul Negru

HOTEL OVERVIEW

You know what really struck me about Vila Ursul Negru? It’s one of those places that doesn’t try too hard to impress you, but somehow ends up being exactly what you need. I mean, the name literally means “Black Bear Villa” – and honestly, that should tell you everything about how refreshingly unpretentious this place is. It sits right on Strada Principală, which is basically Sovata’s main drag, but don’t worry about street noise because this part of town actually gets pretty quiet once the day-trippers head home.

The thing about Sovata is that most people just know it for the salt lakes – which, fair enough, they’re pretty incredible – but staying at Vila Ursul Negru puts you in this sweet spot where you’re close enough to walk to Lacul Ursu in like ten minutes, but far enough from the main tourist chaos to actually relax. The hotel itself has this sort of mountain lodge vibe that works perfectly with the surrounding hills. I was expecting typical 3-star stuff, but the rooms are actually quite thoughtful – decent Wi-Fi (which isn’t always a given in smaller Romanian towns), and the beds are properly comfortable, not just functional. The bathrooms are clean and modern enough, though the water pressure can be a bit moody in the mornings when everyone’s getting ready.

What really won me over, though, was the breakfast situation. They do this spread of local stuff – proper Romanian cheese, fresh bread, and they’ll make you eggs however you want them. The coffee’s actually decent too, which I wasn’t expecting. The staff genuinely seems to care about what they’re doing, and they know the area well enough to give you real recommendations, not just the obvious tourist spots. Like, they told me about this hiking trail that starts basically behind the hotel and takes you up into the hills – you get these amazing views over the whole Sovata valley, and I probably never would have found it otherwise. Parking’s free and right there, which is honestly a relief because finding a spot near the lakes during peak season can be a real headache. The whole place has this lived-in feeling that makes you want to stick around and explore the area properly, rather than just checking off the must-see list and moving on. For the price point, especially with that 8.9 rating, it’s one of those finds that makes you feel like you’ve discovered something genuinely good rather than just settling for whatever was available.