Great Polonia Kraków City Center

I regret booking two nights here. I rushed the booking and didn’t read the reviews, so I didn’t realize reception was digital. Apart from the cleaning staff, there was nobody around. It took me an hour and a half just to get internet access, and after several attempts to reach a person, I was given the code for the room next door. I paid for a room with WiFi and didn’t get it. The room was much tinier than the photos suggested. I knew I’d booked a single, but I’ve never seen one so narrow, more like the width of a couch, and it was very uncomfortable. I couldn’t sleep, and the hallway noise went on for half the night. The bathroom was tiny too. Its sink is about 12 by 7 inches, so washing my face left water all over the floor. It didn’t seem particularly clean, and smelled awful, as if someone with stomach problems had just left. With no people around, the place felt dystopian, like a future where everything is digital and nobody is there. Absolutely horrible.

The area is really nice for the price and comfort, and the place was very clean and quiet. I could pick up a key and go straight to my room. They clean the rooms every day, and it’s a good choice. One small improvement would be some glass panels or another kind of shower screen.

I’ve stayed here before, but this was definitely the dirtiest visit. It’s a relatively cheap place for a night, but 185 zlotys isn’t that cheap, so surely something should be clean. The bathroom was generally very dirty and smelled as if the shower curtain had never been washed. The kettle was filthy and stained, with a broken lid, and should have been thrown away ages ago. There was hair on the pillows and bedsheet, which clearly made me think the bedding hadn’t been properly changed or cleaned after the previous guest. Disgusting.

The self-service check-in and checkout were smooth, and the room had the essentials, though it was small. The location is great, about 15 minutes from the old town. The bed was very uncomfortable, with a poor-quality mattress, and the room could have been cleaner. Bring earplugs.