Jelenia Struga MEDICAL SPA

We had a great weekend at this nice hotel. The staff were friendly and very helpful, and the town's old center is quaint, with a beautiful church interior. The restaurant was nice, though if you book full or half board, expect a set meal rather than a choice from the regular menu. My room smelled a little musty, but we got past it. Also, the room I thought I'd booked didn't match the photo on my booking.

The setting between forests and mountains is beautiful, and there's a lovely pond and lounge area beside the hotel. The breakfast was good, but dinner wasn't: the Tilapia with fries had so many bones it was hard to eat. The restaurant looks modern and fancy, while the rooms feel outdated and weren't particularly clean. The hotel calls itself a 4-star Spa hotel, but the facilities amounted to a pool, two very small saunas and facials costing around 400pzl. Paint was peeling in the spa, with only three loungers and four chairs for the whole pool area, too few hooks and no water available. The receptionist wasn't friendly and never smiled. We tried the inhalation cave, but the woman who took us there rushed us in without explaining anything, then left. There were beds to lie on, but she didn't say how long to stay or whether she'd come back. We sat in the cold, at 7 degrees, for 40 minutes and left on our own. Nobody was at reception, so we went back to our room. I wouldn't recommend this hotel at its high price. There are MUCH better places in the area.

The breakfasts deserve a 10 out of 10: everything was delicious and there was a wide selection. The hotel is in a beautiful, quiet forest setting, and the restaurant terrace overlooks the pond and woods. The photos make it look lovely, and in person the location really is stunning. The wellness area raises questions, though. A 4-star wellness and spa hotel should offer more than a pool and two saunas. There were only three loungers and four chairs, so if there was nowhere to lie down after the sauna, the options were to swim or go back to your room. Some showers didn't work properly, and hooks were scarce in both the wellness area and showers. They also didn't provide extra towels or sheets there, so everyone went into the sauna in swimsuits. I managed to ask reception for an extra room, but the receptionist's reaction made it seem unusual. There are other activities, including bowling, billiards and table football. Just be aware that rooms above the bowling alley may be noisy until at least 10 p.m. The hotel isn't bad, but the missing details take away from the experience.

Free parking made things easy, and I was glad that pets are welcome at no extra charge. I traveled with my dog, and the staff were friendly and treated him kindly. The food was fresh, delicious and beautifully presented, from breakfast through dinner. Jelenia Struga Medical SPA in Poland has a peaceful setting, excellent spa facilities and a lovely atmosphere. I had a wonderful stay and would happily return. Highly recommend it for a relaxing, comfortable break and great service.