In Krakow we stayed at the DoubleTree by Hilton as it was less than half the price of the Sheraton Grand Krakow. I found the hotel quite satisfactory and would return.
DoubleTree Hotel Krakow Review
At $69 a night, it was a budget hotel, but a full service hotel.
Location
After driving from Warsaw we arrived and parked the car. The hotel is located in the city center, it was convenient for our activities for the next two days. For our evenings in Krakow’s old town, we used the tram – a station was located right outside the hotel. Parking cost 50.00 zł per night (currently about 11 USD).
Registration
The hotel shares common areas with a Hampton Inn, also owned by Hilton. We arrived late afternoon and there was a queue to check in, but it only took a few minutes to complete check in and receive room keys.
This was my first stay at a DoubleTree and I was offered a cookie upon check-in, which I believe is a signature of all DoubleTree hotels. I ate it later in the evening and liked it.
Bedroom
It was a last minute trip and as I had booked a few days before all the king rooms were taken and I was assigned a room with two twin beds, 416.
I liked that the room had a desk and found the green and woodgrain accents to be modern and clean. Above all, the bed was comfortable and the outlets were easily within reach no matter where you sat.
The bathroom included a tub-shower combo and Crabtree & Evelyn body wash, shampoo, conditioner, and body lotion.
Executive Lounge
The Executive Lounge offered an impressive variety of food and drink that would have easily sufficed for my dinner in my younger years. Food included savory snacks like pretzels and fries, salad bar, sandwiches and pierogi ze szpinakiem (spinach dumpling), which was really the only Polish food I ate during my weekend in Warsaw and Krakow.
Soft drinks, tea, coffee, water and self-service liquor (beer, wine, whiskey, gin, rum) were available.
Breakfast at the restaurant on 5th avenue
Breakfast is served at the 5th Avenue Restaurant. Like the hotel describe “There’s no glitz or gastronomic ceremony – just the finest ingredients handled with respect and served without fuss.” Practically this means you help yourself to everything and the buffet had a nice assortment of European, British and American breakfast favorites. Made-to-order omelettes and other egg dishes were also available.
A sign instructed customers to wear gloves when taking food from the buffet, but most ignored it.
The coffee was very disappointing…I was happy to skip it and go to Cafe Wesola.
Lounge bar
Next to the 5th ave restaurant is the hotel bar, which actually had a very nice coffee machine, but didn’t seem to be in use during my visit.
Swimming pool + Wellness area
The hotel offers a beautiful indoor aquatic area with two saunas (the “bio” sauna is set at a lower temperature) and a hammam. I spent my morning here before my flight back to Chicago and find the sauna (plus exercise) to be a great antidote to jet lag.
Aptitude
A 24/7 fitness center offered a wide assortment of cardiovascular and weight-training equipment.
CONCLUSION
I loved the value for money at this hotel: the comfortable room, great breakfast, and full-service amenities like the sauna and steam room. Next time I’m in Krakow, I’ll probably try the new Hyatt Place, which will open on October 1, 2022, but the lack of a wellness area at the Hyatt will make the decision difficult.
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