AC Hotel by Marriott Krakow

The room was much more spacious than I expected, and after a cold day sightseeing, the pool and steam room were a welcome bonus. The hotel is beautifully decorated and peaceful to return to after a busy day. It's about a 15-minute taxi ride from the lively city centre. The staff were incredibly friendly, and drinks and other amenities cost quite reasonably compared with the UK. We also had a lovely couples' hot stone massage at the hotel. Our therapists Patricia & Olga was exceptional, and the massage was a perfect way to unwind.

We had a great stay and I'd happily come back. The room was spacious, spotless, and modern, with thoughtful lighting and huge windows with drape curtains. The bed had a little bounce to it, but was still comfortable and we slept well. Sobremesa Restaurant deserves a mention. The food was fairly standard hotel fare, but the customer service was exceptional, truly 10/10, and made the meal memorable. The spa facilities were clean, relaxing, and well maintained, with a pool, jacuzzi, and sauna. The area is on the small side for a hotel this size and could be bigger, but we still enjoyed it. Breakfast had a good, varied selection, though a Marriott could raise the offering a little to better match its brand standards.

The hotel itself is beautiful, clean, and very nice, but the way reception handled our arrival made the whole stay feel disappointing. We were excited to come, and it's sad that this left us feeling stressed and uncomfortable instead of welcome. I hope the staff improve their customer service so other guests don't have the same experience. We arrived in Krakow early in the morning and called at about 10 a.m. We were told we could check in early after 12 p.m. We understood that an even earlier check-in might be possible for an extra fee, but planned to have lunch and visit the Old Town first. When we got to the hotel at 1:05 p.m., we were told the room wasn't ready and to wait 10-20 minutes. We waited until around 1:40, then were told it still wasn't ready and we'd have to wait another 20 minutes. The reception staff's attitude made the delay especially frustrating. One of the women was unfriendly from the start, spoke unclearly, and showed no instinct for customer service. There were two employees there, but the other one didn't say a word during the whole interaction. A hotel can be lovely, but guests should be treated warmly and respectfully.

We got upgraded to a corner room with a large balcony overlooking the park. The room was spacious, and the nearby green space was lovely for unwinding after a day of sightseeing. Breakfast was decent, and you can order eggs. It's a nice hotel if you want to stay a little away from the heart of the old town. The walk into town takes about 25-30 minutes along a tree-lined street, with interesting restaurants on the way.