For our a year and a half anniversary (since we’ve been dating) I decided to plan a long weekend in Moneasa, a mountain resort located 110 km from where we live. We both been there before but not together. So, close by, affordable, good idea. Right?

It wasn’t until Thursday last week that I got the time to make a reservation. Actually we were kind of debating to go to Cluj Napoca or not but decide for a romantic trip instead. So found 3 places to stay and called two of them. Decided on the second – Pensiunea Raluca – because the photos looked good. Cost? 65 lei (14.30 euros) / 2 persons/night with shared bathroom. The place offered a pool, places to sunbath, BBQ and common kitchen.

I am not exactly a pool person and by the time I decided to actually enjoy the sun, I managed to catch some tan for 5 min before it became cloudy. Still, during our stay the lotion was my friend because the sun was strong. So, protection first!

We ate two times in the resort. First time, when we arrived, at Mayumi Restaurant, which is located close to the Strand. It was 50 lei / 11 euros for both of us (main course, water and beer). The second time we chose Coste’s Pizza and payed 43 lei / 9.50 euros for both of us (2 pizzas, 2 waters, 2 coffees). I liked both places a lot.

For the rest of our meals we became friends with the three stores we found in the resort. So got cheese, bread and whatever else to nibble on. Overall, it wasn’t expensive at all.

We sort of planned to do some hiking. But the weather wasn’t exactly meant for that. When it wasn’t too hot, it rained and the hiking trails became slippery. So we ended up doing 3 shorter hikes. But we walked absolutely everywhere so we got plenty of cardio in.

Unless you plan to hike or spend your time baking in the sun, there isn’t anything else to do in Moneasa. And that’s the only downside of it. But if you look for a quite place to relax, show up on Mondays or Tuesdays. The resort is pretty much empty.

From Arad we took the bus. The cost is 25 lei (5.50 euros) / one way /person and the travel time is 3 hours. It makes a 10 or 20 min stop in Ineu, half way to Moneasa, so you can use the toilet at a bar close to where it stops.

(c) photos by Cristina Puscas