Abrava

The location is great and the amenities were okay, but the check-in left me so uncomfortable that I can't recommend the place. We arrived in Ciechocinek without a plan and started looking for somewhere to stay. I phoned Abrava and was told there were two apartments available for our family of four. Rather than book without seeing them, we went over. At the entrance, a woman said the price she'd given me on the phone half an hour earlier was no longer valid. I pointed out that Booking showed the same price. The receptionist left us in the hallway, shut the door, and said she'd check. She came back in a sulky mood and said she'd give us the Booking prices. As she filled in the paperwork, she told the children off for touching things. When I asked why the price at the property was higher than on Booking, she said I could book through Booking and come back at 4:00 PM, even though it was actually 2:00 PM. We stayed because I'd had surgery and didn't want to keep searching. We travel often, and this was the first time I'd run into anything like this. I rent places through Booking myself and know about the commissions charged on those bookings, so I really can't understand this way of treating customers.

The rooms themselves are excellent, but there are no bedside outlets or kettle. Breakfast was a mess, with little choice and poor organization. The same person handles the reception and breakfast, and plates, bread, cutlery, or water for the coffee pot kept running out. Staff had to rush to the other end of the corridor to fetch things. Some employees also couldn't communicate in Polish.

The location is handy, with a shop downstairs and a restaurant next door. I visited in September when the weather was nice and the area was busy. Parking depends on luck, since spaces can be hard to get. My room was small, but clean and comfortable. Breakfast was an okay buffet with fruit, cheese, and scrambled eggs. I wished there had been something sweet or pancakes, though I know pastries aren't offered everywhere.

Noise from the POLO supermarket next door started early, with carts and delivery drivers. The room had no kettle, cups, or, most importantly, a fridge. There wasn't air conditioning or even a fan, and breakfast was skimpy. I had to go to reception to ask for more slices of anything.