Willa Epiona

The place was very, very clean, and I stayed overnight without finding anything bad to say about it. I don't enjoy sharing a bathroom with other guests, though that was my own fault for not checking properly beforehand.

Okay.

Epiona in Stepnica is a lovely spot for some peace and quiet, while still being within easy reach. The apartment is spacious and modern, with a kitchenette and bathroom, and the decor is tasteful. It was incredibly clean and smelled like fresh laundry and a forest with the windows aired out. The woman who checks the rooms is warm, smiling, and helpful, and you can tell she cares about her work. There's also handy bike storage, which is great if you're cycling or exploring the area. A gem of a place, and I can already imagine coming back.

I'd give it a solid three. The rooms were clean, and towels, coffee, detergent, a well-equipped shared kitchen, bike storage, and a small children's playground were provided. The price was relatively affordable. But two bathrooms for six rooms felt like too few, even if another one or a separate toilet would only partly solve it. I also ended up with a mattress that had a noticeable spring, apparently my special luck. Checkout at 10:00 felt restrictive and early. We'd cleared our rooms around then but were still packing bikes and planning a 20-30-minute route on the porch. I told the hostess we'd vacated, and she said, "You haven't left the building." We packed up quickly and left, but the exchange left a bad impression. She'd seemed nice at first, yet I don't want to return. It's okay for a stop on the trail around the reservoir, but I wouldn't recommend it for a longer stay.