VATRA is the place to go if your goal is to lose weight, and lose weight quickly! The food is actually very good and the portions are surprisingly plentiful. After lunch and dinner there's always a dessert to look forward to! Don't expect luxury and you won't be disappointed. The rooms are clean which is what is important to me when weight loss is my goal. The staff couldn't be friendlier and the facilitators who ran the exercise classes were very helpful, giving personalized suggestions to all who needed it. I'll be back!

I bought a coupon and stayed for 30 days and lost 20 lbs.! The wonderful yoga changed my life. (I had previously never done any and use to think it was weird) I came having done no exercise for six months and left walking 9 miles a day and doing 1.5 hours of water aerobics, weights and stretching clases, etc. Every day and every week I got stronger and my knee better! The instructors were all marvelous and all brought something new to the day. At that time there was a very negative manager but everyone else was wonderful and we just ignored her. The owners have since fired her and hired the wonderful people to manage. I'm going back for three 5 day visits this year!

The place is falling apart. The biggest problem as I see it - is that the management and front desk personnel are rude and unavailable. Utilities sometimes do not function - no water sometimes, sometimes no power, no phones at times. Nothing happening at night. But you should lose weight if you eat their meals and do the exercise.

I went to Vatra thru the Kosher Spa Getaway in May 2007 that was arranged as a charity fundraiser by an energetic, nurturing & kind woman . The ladies, the classes,the spa services, the breathtaking scenery, lectures by Dr. Respler (especially the hypnosis for weight loss), the welcome bags, the fitness classes, Christine the nutritionist, the walks, the water classes, the strictly kosher meals, and everything was great. It was almost liking being back at camp! The rooms were very rustic, but everything else surpassed my expectations. I hope they organize other Kosher events there- boy do I need it!