Page 182 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Krakow

180  TR A VELLERS ’ NEEDS

Travelling with Children
Children are welcome
everywhere in Poland. Most
hotels offer additional beds
for children, and usually no
extra charge is made for this
as long as the child is under
the age of seven or eight.
However, check that this
is the case when making
your reservation.
In hotel restaurants there
should be no problem in
ordering children’s portions,
and most places also have
high chairs. Only the very Cheerful decor in the communal lounge at the Flamingo Hostel (see p185)
best hotels offer baby-sitting
facilities as part of their service. Rooms and and Kolory (see p183). Be aware
Apartments to Let that rooms might be on the
Many rooms and apartments small side. While most B&Bs
Disabled Travellers in Krakow are rented out to offer rooms with ensuite
As a general rule, all newly tourists for short- or long-term bathrooms, some will offer a
built hotels and guesthouses stays. Accommodation of this mixture of ensuite rooms and
in Krakow include one or two type can be found in all areas rooms with shared facilities.
rooms for disabled travellers. of the city. Apartments in the Some B&Bs will have someone
A lot of older hotels, especially Old Quarter are often located at reception 24 hours a day,
those in the luxury bracket, in beautifully renovated old while others may be staffed
have also updated their buildings and are usually more only at specific daytime hours.
facilities for disabled guests. expensive than those further Always confirm your arrival
However, be aware that many out. Apartments tend to have time by email or phone to
older hotels, especially those a fully equipped kitchenette make sure somebody will
in the Old Quarter, which and a TV; most also have Wi-Fi be there to meet you.
have no space for lifts, remain access. Some of the more
devoid of any facilities for expensive apartments are Hostels
the disabled. It is advisable cleaned daily or every few days.
to contact the hotel before- Rooms and apartments are There is a huge number of
hand to check which facilities often rented out directly by the backpacker hostels in Krakow,
for the disabled they have. owner via accommodation most of which offer cheap,
Also, bear in mind that hotels websites such as Booking.com simple dorm accommodation
only have a small number of or Airbnb. A number of agents, in fun, informal surroundings.
rooms for disabled travellers such as Krakow Apartments, Beds in hostels can be booked
and they usually sell out Old City Apartments and via the hostels’ own websites or
much faster than the regular Sodispar, rent out holiday on specialist websites such as
rooms, so advance booking apartments in central locations. Hostelworld. Many hostels offer
is recommended. doubles, triples and quads as
well as dorms, and they are
B&Bs increasingly popular with
There is a small but growing couples and families who
number of bed-and-breakfasts enjoy the social aspects of
in Krakow, catering for travellers backpacker culture but who
who want something a bit want a private room.
more informal than the average Hostels in Krakow vary a
hotel, with the added benefit great deal in terms of character:
of friendly and helpful hosts. some have a bar on site and
Krakow’s B&Bs tend to have encourage late-night socializing,
a bit more character than while others offer a bit more
contemporary hotels, frequently peace and quiet. The type of
featuring homely decor that is atmosphere favoured will be
in keeping with the often very clear from the description on
old buildings in which they are each hostel’s website. Many
situated. Some of the more hostels have invested a lot of
characterful B&Bs in Krakow money in contemporary design
Brightly coloured room at the Secret include La Fontaine, Tango and comforts, and are similar in
Garden Hostel (see p185) House, Wielopole, Klezmer-Hois style to small boutique hotels.