WHAT’S IT LIKE? A grey block just off the busy main road of Ul Monte Cassino, this five-floor hotel is a straightforward no-frills business offering. The ground level has an open-plan lobby/bar/restaurant and floor-to-ceiling windows and the neutral rooms are contemporary in style, with minimalist fittings and furnishings that are jazzed up with a primary palette of royal blue, yellow, red and green.
WHERE IS IT? About 20 minutes’ walk from the centre of the old town on the opposite side of the river, and beside a building site that is scheduled to be replaced by a state-of-the-art conference centre by 2015. John Paul II International airport in 11km away.
ROOM FACILTIES Bedrooms are on floors two to five, and while the décor is the same throughout, they vary is size and amenities across the two categories. Standard rooms offer twin or queen beds, safes, satellite TV and minibars, while suites are more spacious and come with robes and slippers, Sony flatscreen TVs, tea- and coffee-making facilities, free mineral water and views of Wawel castle in the distance. Wifi is free in all bedrooms but I couldn’t connect via my iPhone. Room service is available 6.30am-10pm.
My Junior suite was on a corner so it had plenty of daylight but when the windows were open at night, the noise of traffic from the front was a nuisance. (It was fine when they were closed, though, as they were double-glazed.) The pillows on the bed were foam and the firm mattress was not that comfortable, but the linens were clean and fresh. There were also a couple of armchairs, a luggage rack, and a bathroom with a walk-in shower, twin sinks, a brown tiled floor, soap dispensers and a few small bottle of body lotion, shampoo and conditioner.
RESTAURANTS AND BARS Open from 6.30am to 11pm, the RGB bar and grill seats 140 guests and serve breakfast, lunch, dinner and snacks throughout the day with dishes including the likes of macaroni cheese, organic salmon and rib-eye steak. The hotel bar is open 10am-1am daily.
I tried the buffet breakfast here one morning and found a selection of hot and cold options ranging from scrambled egg (that looked bit grey), bacon and hash browns, to cheese, pastries and fruit salad. There was also self-service tea, coffee and orange juice, although this was not freshly squeezed.
BUSINESS AND MEETING FACILITIES There are five event spaces for up to 460 people in total, with the ballroom measuring 348 sqm and the foyer at 400 sqm. Free wifi is provided, along with air conditioning and natural daylight. The interiors are simply decorated, offering a “blank canvas” for planners.
LEISURE FACILTIES There is a fitness centre and sauna that is free for guests to use. Massages are available on request.
VERDICT A good value option for business travellers. The Park Inn may not have much personality, but it provides everything you need for a short stay, and when the convention centre opens it will be in an enviable location.
FACT FILE:
HOW MANY ROOMS? There are 142 Standard rooms and ten suites.
ROOM HIGHLIGHTS The free wifi (when it works), the modern flatscreen TV and the clean, fresh décor.
PRICE Internet rates for a midweek stay in February started from €70 for a Standard room.
CONTACT Park Inn Krakow, Ul Monte Cassino; tel +48 123 755 555; parkinn.pl/hotel-krakow
Jenny Southan
