Korona Guest Rooms

The outside has an Alcatraz kind of feel, which contrasts with how the hotel looks inside. It's about a five-minute walk to the city center and cafes, and the tram to the train and bus stations stops right out front. This was my best hostel experience so far: for the first time I had a comfortable private room with its own bathroom. I'd recommend it for a short or long visit, and I'll come back with my people on a future trip to Krakow.

The bathroom badly needs attention. There was no ventilation, a damp, humid smell, and a puddle of water on the floor. Only one bulb above the mirror worked, and none of the four ceiling lights did, leaving the shower area dark. The shower curtain had a thick strip of black mold along its lower half. I also found a strange bug on the nightstand mat. I arrived around 1:30 am after a late flight and had trouble finding the entrance sign in the dark arches. The room was extremely hot, though cozy enough. It's cheap and well located, but it really needs some care.

It's a family-run place, which is nice, and the staff were very helpful despite the language barrier. The location is fantastic, with tram 17 from the main train station. The service feels outdated and was fairly poor for the price. Wi-Fi was weak, there was no room service, and rooms weren't cleaned daily. There were no toiletries, which seemed odd for a hotel, and the bed linen had holes. The curtains didn't keep out the sunlight. I wouldn't choose this hotel.

The rooms are clean and basic, in the lovely hippie district of Stare Podgórze, with plenty of nice little restaurants, ice cream spots, and coffee places. If you're interested in history and want a sense of what Poland was like in the 70-80s, this is a good place to visit for the famous PRL experience.