Hotel Stary in Krakow, Poland
Refurbished Accommodation in Southern Poland Goes Five-Star
Sep 26, 2007
Krakow in the south of Poland is one of the prettiest cities of Eastern Europe, and with ever more budget airline connections it’s fast becoming a tourist magnet. It’s also very centrally placed to combine with travel in the rest of Poland, the Czech Republic, Slovakia and Hungary. While visiting Krakow, you can’t miss the old town with its large Old Town Square; and a day trip out to the concentration camp sites of Auschwitz and Birkenau should also be on your list.
Staying in Krakow – Hotel Stary
In recent years, many of the major hotel chains have made a home in Krakow, including Radisson, Ibis, Holiday Inn and Sheraton. But to get a more authentic feel for Krakow, it’s advisable to stay somewhere more personal. One recent addition to Krakow accommodation options is the Hotel Stary on Szczepanska Street near the center of the Old Town.
Hotel Stary not only has a suitable name (Stary means “old” in Polish), the building and its furnishings fit well too. The building itself was constructed during the fifteenth century and is small enough to be personal, with 42 standard guest rooms plus eleven suites. A few of the rooms even have a balcony view over the Old Town Square. Guests can choose from single, double and twin rooms, and junior suites, suites and luxury suites.
Facilities at Hotel Stary
On site at Hotel Stary you can also find the Trzy Rybki restaurant which serves traditional Polish cuisine as well as European dishes and seafood. A fitness club is also available to hotel guests free of charge (members of the public can also visit or join the club, too). The swimming pools are quite spectacular – there are two pools linked by a swim-through area, and they are found amidst old stone walls and arches, rather like swimming in the middle of an old heritage building. There is also a sauna, a Finnish bath and all the usual gym equipment.
Hotel Stary has only been open since June 2007 but the reviews have been consistently good. Its strong point seems to be the authentic mix of history and genuinely old architecture, combined with modern luxury.
Elsewhere in Poland:
Check the suggested Itinerary for a Week in Poland to help plan your trip around this fascinating country. There are also suggestions for longer periods of travel in Poland. As far as accommodatino goes, travelers can now found a relatively large selection of hotels (both franchise and local) in all major cities; in general, staying in a locally owned and run hotel will probably provide a more authentic, cultural experience during your stay in Poland.
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