Hotel Sport, Poiana Brasov

Found in the Carpathian Mountains, Poiana Brasov is the most well known of the Romanian resorts and three hours from Bucharest. There are only 14km of pistes, which cater primarily to beginners and intermediates. With the excellent ski school and extremely low prices, Poiana is a place where you can give skiing a try without coughing up too much money. The other main attraction is the cheap and lively nightlife, with beer only 34p a pint. This does mean, though, that there can be a few slightly less-than-sober folks, so if you are looking for a quiet time this might not be ideal. The resort is purpose-built and rather unattractive, but the snow is reliable. The town of Brasov is only 13km away, should you need an escape route. Non-skiing activities are limited to sightseeing and a few alternative Alpine pursuits. You might also want to pick up some cheap ski gear while you are there.

Overall, Poiana is a typical Eastern European resort - no frills, average skiing, but cheap and a good choice for those unsure if skiing is really for them.