View from the Room: Mercure Krakow Stare Miasto
Location doesn’t get much better. The Mercure Krakow has been built directly opposite the huge new shopping centre, Gallerias Krakowska which boasts a decent food court and is the throughway to the major train station. The bus and tram routes are right outside too.
Contemporary and luxurious, the Mercure Krakow has placed the reception desk right by the front door, none of this walking through a big foyer to reach it. The lounge that stretches out from the other side of the door is luxurious and bright. Beyond that, the bar and Winestone restaurant, complete with it’s own Winestone radio station broadcasting, takes up a whole corner of the building with plenty of opportunity to people-watch.
Room 438 has windows all along one wall. I loved that there a mural that took up the whole wall outside. It didn’t appear that it could be seen from anywhere else so it looks like it was just created for the few people that would see it from their rooms. The table is placed here along with two chairs and a further comfy chair at the desk
The TV on the wall opposite the bed is where it should be and I love the huge lamp that hangs over this corner of the room.
Comfort
The air-con worked superbly and rather delightfully, the quickest way of turning it off was to open the window, which opened as much as it safely could. A big plus.
Two USB charge points on each side of the bed are handy although it will be great to see these on the desk to save having the phone bedside. In any case, plenty of sockets are placed in all of the right places including by the main mirror.
The mini-bar fridge was pretty full so we needed to remove some of the minibar bottles to make room for our own cold drinks and snacks.
The safe didn’t work for us although we didn’t bother asking about it on this occasion as the room wasn’t being cleaned daily, as usual, there will be very little opportunity for the room door to be open. We did ask for one clear freshen up halfway through when we knew we’d be out all day.
I loved that the TV had a station permanently showing a sleepy scene for the kiddies - iI found it utterly relaxing and peaceful! It’s also still quite rare to see hotel rooms with good recycling facilities, especially outside Canada. This Mercure had a bin with three compartments. Simple.
The twin beds were a compromise to ensure we had a bath tub. Although the staff pushed them together, they did keep slipping away. I’d prefer one big bed but I have to say, I did sleep better.
Storage
Standard fold-up luggage rack
Double wardrobe housing plenty of shelves and an assortment of six wooden hangers. More were bought up when requested.
More shelf space above the coffee making area plus a little cupboard below
Two drawers
Bathroom
The bar has been set high with simple push-button taps. Why isn’t the whole world using these? I immediately decided this is what I’m having for my next home - I’ve already looked up the local supplier. Three buttons operated the bath, overhead rain shower and the excellent hand shower with simple control to manage the temperature.
There is good storage on the shelf under the ample sink and plenty around it too. A very handy shelf alongside the bath keeps things tidy and rather marvellously, the toilet sits off the floor. Another note for my next bathroom refurb.
There are my preferred two toilet roll holders which save having a spare using up valuable space, a tissue holder attached to the wall next to the shaving/toothbrush charge point and an array of toiletries.
The towels are fairly basic: two large, two hand and a bath mat. At this time we needed to ask for anything extra such as bathrobes and slippers which were plush when they arrived and great for drying off to save asking for additional towels.
Toiletries consist of a bar of soap, shower gel and shampoo although again, ordinarily there may be other amenities available.
Lighting
Other than the huge overhead lamp, the room was amply lit up. I never did work out all the mood lighting (five days wasn’t enough) but I loved it nonetheless. At least there was an individual switch for every light and also one that turned off everything other than the separate desk lamp.
There are two bedside lamps including the fantastic bendy reading light that all new hotels seem to have. Conveniently there are two lights in the bathroom as there is a window between the two rooms in the style of Spanish hotel rooms so at least the person in bed asleep doesn’t get blinded by the light as Springsteen would say.
I particularly like the hidden light just to aid coffee making.
Refreshments
Along with a fully stocked mini bar fridge, it was good to see coffee making facilities in the room as some hotels have taken this out. Room service was available at no extra charge although the breakfast was lovely in the light and airy restaurant. It included a terrific array of buffet items from hot and cold savouries, breads and pastries, cereals and fruit plus juices and any kind of coffee. Currently guests are being served this rather than what I suspect is the usual self-service. We loved the mugs in their signature pattern so much that we bought a couple from the hotel shop to bring home. We wanted to bring the whole shop home.
Service
5 stars. We utilised the 24-hour room service more here than in any hotel I’ve stayed in. After the beloved’s accident which led to a morning in A&E and subsequent diagnosis of broken ribs, housekeeping delivered extra pillows and a constant supply of ice, towels and peppermint tea bags at all hours. The latter for me as the whole episode triggered a reaction of nausea in me and I couldn’t eat properly for a couple of days afterwards. Worse, I couldn’t drink coffee. Luckily the beloved had full appetite if not a full quota of working ribs. Their service and that peppermint tea saved me
The staff were so supportive and accommodating and I was even approached one morning when leaving the hotel by presumably a manager just checking in to see if we have what we need. The restaurant staff were friendly and super professional and the meals were amazing - we’d go back just to eat here. The breakfast staff communicated to us in English brilliantly, we were so grateful as there was so much to choose from with hot and cold foods plus piles of pastries. If they didn’t have it on the go - such as scrambled eggs or toast, they’d arrange to bring it to you.
As we learned in Vilnius, when something bad happens, it’s the hotel staff that can make or break the trip. They made it here.
Every single staff member wore a mask like it was the natural thing in the world and they made us feel so safe during our first trip abroad in 2020. We will be back.
August 2020.
