Golden Eagle Castles of Transylvania — deeply disappointing for the price
At roughly $13,000 per person, we expected an exceptional luxury train journey. Unfortunately, our experience fell far short of what was advertised, with itinerary changes, poor food, limited choices and disappointing attention to detail.
The problems began before departure, when our travel dates were changed after payment, affecting our original Halloween plans. The station where we boarded was approximately 90 minutes outside Istanbul, and boarding was two hours late. That night included a Turkish border stop around 9 p.m., followed by Bulgarian border formalities at 1:20 a.m., when we had to get out of bed and stand on the platform in our robes to be fingerprinted. We understand that border requirements are outside the operator's control, but this was a very disrupted start to an expensive holiday.
The excursions were poorly balanced. Castles—the main reason for booking this particular journey—often felt rushed and tightly timed, only to be followed by disappointing meals or over an hour of free time in towns where we found little to do. We were told only the day before that Peleș Castle would be unavailable, with Cantacuzino Castle substituted. Eventually, we chose to skip one morning's sightseeing and stay on the train.
Bran Castle was decorated for Halloween and was genuinely fun to visit. However, the experience was not private: other visitors were walking through alongside us. The dinner afterwards at Queen Maria's Tea House, promoted as a "gala," was the most disappointing meal of the trip. There was no menu choice. We were served cold cheese on cold eggplant with tough bread, followed by duck, with no alternative offered. It did not remotely feel like a gala dinner.
Food was a recurring disappointment throughout the journey, both in quality and variety. Across four nights, duck appeared twice as the main dinner option and salmon once. Dietary needs were not consistently met, and even some cocktails listed on the drinks menu could not be made. At this price, thoughtful menus, proper choices and consistently good dining should be basic expectations.
Our cabin was comfortable and clean inside, but the exterior windows were dirty. We requested that they be cleaned on the first day, and they remained uncleaned when we raised the issue again several days later. On a scenic train journey, being able to enjoy the view through clean windows matters.
The staff deserve credit. Our cabin attendant was excellent, and we appreciated the kindness and efforts of the onboard team and guides. They were a highlight of the trip.
There were enjoyable moments, but they did not justify the cost. Too much of the experience felt changed, rushed or below the standard promised. Based on our journey, we would not book again or recommend it at this price. A luxury holiday needs to deliver more than a luxury price tag.