If you’re visiting Krakow on business or pleasure, you won’t find a better hotel than the Hilton Garden Inn – it’s a delightful place where service with a smile is evident throughout.
I visited for three nights in September 2014 and couldn’t have felt more welcome. From the staff at reception to the waiters and waitresses in the restaurant, nothing was too much trouble because they wanted me – and all the other guests – to enjoy the visit.
The hotel is situated on the opposite side of the River Wisla to the Old City, which is where most of the main attractions are sited. But it only takes about 15-20 minutes, depending on how fast you walk, to reach this part of Krakow. Taxis are readily available, of course. The Old Market Square and Kazimierz, the former Jewish quarter, are within easy reach, too.
It may not be the prettiest hotel in terms of the exterior, but it’s what happens inside that really matters. The décor is fresh, light and contemporary and an air of relaxation courses around the hotel.
Breakfast is served in the ground floor restaurant and there is plenty to choose from, including cold meats, cereal, hot food, fruit and waffles. The hotel scored highly as far as I was concerned because they catered for dietary requirements. I was pleased to see they stocked soya milk – it’s surprising the number of hotels that still don’t.
I eat dinner in the restaurant one evening and was relieved to discover that altering dishes on the menu to suit one’s needs didn’t cause a major incident!
An alternative venue for food is the Globe Café Bar & Restaurant, open from noon until 1am, selling not just a wide selection of drinks but offering a generous selection of meals.
One facility I liked is the microwave room – a great idea, in my opinion. It’s accessible 24 hours a day and can be used by guests to heat up food. Plates and plastic cutlery are available. The room is located on the ground floor, next to the business centre. In fact, the business centre is also free to all guests. You can use the computers, print off documents, send a fax – just about everything; and it’s free.
There are 154 guest rooms, including seven junior suites. My comfy and spacious bedroom was on the 7th floor – Room 706, to be exact – and overlooked the river. There is a busy main road right outside the hotel but the glazing eliminated most of the traffic noise.
Except for the now defunct concrete hotel, which is a bit of an eyesore, standing across the highway, the rest of the view from my bedroom window was pleasing to the eye. I watched people strolling along the stretches of grass bordering the river, pleasure boats making their way along the Wisla and, to my left, admired the impressive Royal Wawel Castle.
Complimentary wi-fi is available throughout the hotel, including bedrooms. Other features in the bedrooms include fridge, tea & coffee-making facilities, a large work desk, hairdryer, iron and ironing board, safe and flatscreen TV.
Check-in begins at 2pm and check-out is 11am, although late check-out can be arranged (a charge may apply).
I was extremely impressed by Krakow’s Hilton Garden Inn and wouldn’t hesitate staying there again.
More information:
Marii Konopnickiej 33
30-302 Krakow
www.hiltongardeninn3.hilton.com, t: 0048 123 999000