First Time to Krakow
 

I will be going to Krakow in the beginning of September.
I am thinking about staying at the Holiday Inn in the city center. Does anyone have any experience with this hotel?
I am also interested in the nightlife in Krakow and would welcome any suggestions.
Thnaks

Why go to Krakow and stay in a Holiday Inn? Polite question. Try a Polish hotel..I like the Saski just off the main square. Night life is available at many levels and in many venues. One pleasant past time, the sidewalk cafe. The passing show is always great.

I didn't see the Holiday Inn when we were recently there but it appears to be right outside the city center. Krakow is a very walkable city and is active very late so the location should be fine. Most of the hotels in Krakow are within a 10 minute walk from the center.

For good up to date info on nightlife, restaurants, attractions, etc., try picking up a copy of In your Pocket once you are there or take a look before you go at http://www.inyourpocket.com/poland/krakow/en/

Krakow has a large student population so there are lots of reasonable places to eat including the really budget option of kebabs and pizza slices. We really liked Pizzeria Cyklops for pizza and Hawelka for pierogis which was right on the square. Both meals were under $5US per person excluding drinks.

I second the idea to get In Your Pocket as soon as you get there. It will have everything you need to know about nightlife.


I don't recall seeing any Holiday Inn, but the fact that it's a Holiday Inn doesn't mean it's not Polish -- those two things aren't related. All the Holiday Inns I know in France, for example (and there are a lot) are French. I imagine the HI in Krakow is Polish because HI is a franchise.

There is a kind of odd dichotomy in Krakow hotels -- basically old versus new not Polish vs not. There are not a lot of upper end hotels at all in the central area, or of charm/character. If you are looking for a high-end hotel with more modern conveniences and not rundown and has elevators, I'd suggest the Pod Roza, where I stayed. It wasn't that expensive for a 4* hotel (I assume you don't want budget because the HI in Krakow is an expensive one, I gather). If you want some other high end, there is a new deluxe one near the castle.

I just checked and the HI Krakow is owned and run by a Polish company. It's in a renovated historic building, part of which was Parenskich Palace, although I gather the interior is modern, of course. It appears to be just outside the ring around the Old Town, which isn't really that far out at all, it's closer than I was picturing.

Thanks for the suggestions. It seems like the Hol. Inn. is located just outside the city center ring and I think I would prefer to be inside. How far a walk would it be from the H.I to the city center?
The Pod Roza and the Saski recommendations both seem like they would work for me. Great locations and character. Does either one have a/c? How about an elevator? (how is the weather in the begining of sept?)
Any suggestions for the type of room I should request or avoid? ( ie. facing the street or lower floor etc.)
One other interesting Hotel that I found was the Francuski. How does it rate as far as location etc versus the other 2 mentioned.
Thanks

Of the three hotels you listed the Pod Raza and Francuski appear to have a/c, Saski does not. In your pocket has listings for hotels including amenities. You'll find the Saski under budget, Pod Raza under upmarket, Francuski under cream of the crop so you are dealing with a wide range of hotels (and likely costs). Try www.polhotels.com and www.hotelspoland.com (also has some customer reviews) to see if you can get better rates and also try the hotels direct.

Thanks Christie. I am also now looking at the Amedeus Hotel. It is a newer hotel, all a/c rooms and a great location in the Old Town. Anyone familiar with this one?

I have to recommend the Pod Roza. The service was great and the location was perfect. We opened our windows so we could hear the musicians playing on the street. Perfect.