Paszkowka Palace Hotel Near Krakow Poland

Paszkowka Palace Hotel - Historic Setting Located Near Krakow

Paszkowka (pronounced pash-kov'-ka) Palace Hotel is located on a former country estate. While it is not exactly a convenient place to stay if your intent is to explore Krakow, Paszkowka Palace is nevertheless a great place for a romantic weekend in rural Poland.

Photo Tour of Paszkowka Palace Hotel

Paszkowka Palace Hotel is gorgeous. Exterior and interior have been lovingly renovated with the manor house appeal preserved in detail. The interior of the hotel is decorated with art by contemporary artists. The staff members are young, friendly, and pleased to be of assistance. You'll get only great meals at the onsite restaurant, you can use reserve the sauna for personal use, and you are far away from the noise and bustle of Krakow.

The location of Paszkowka Palace Hotel is anything but convenient - about one half hour to forty-five minutes from the Krakow city center. Some taxi drivers in Krakow may not even be familiar with the place, and the price of a ride there can cost between 120 and 250 PLN (about 60 - 125 USD as of May 2008). If you aren't worried about the costs of a taxi, the ride is quite pleasant, but if you plan to spend your days in Krakow, you may want to consider staying in town.

The Paszkowka Palace Hotel offers more luxurious accomodations in the palace itself. However, if you've paid for the cheaper rooms, don't expect anything special. Those rooms for the common folk located in the hotel annex (formerly the granary of the manor house) are downright boring. It's easy to be disappointed by these rooms, even though they contain everything you'll need for your stay and are not uncomfortable.

The onsite hotel restaurant is delightful, with a menu that ranges from traditional Polish to French cuisine. Upon your initial visit to the restaurant, you'll be presented with bread, salt, and a shot of vodka, the elements of a traditional Polish welcome.

The menu doesn't feature wines - you will have to ask for a separate wine list. While most wines are sold by the bottle, you can request a glass of house wine to accompany your meal. You also have a full range of alcoholic beverages to choose from.

Breakfast may not be included with the price of your room. While it may seem overpriced at first, if you're going to fill the day with sightseeing, take advantage of it. Freshly prepared salads, cold cereal, fruit, yogurt, coffee, tea, juice, rolls, cold cuts, and cheeses will fortify you well until lunch.

Patience with the waitstaff is appreciated - many servers are young and may still be in training. They do not always speak English, and many not understand what you need at first. However, any issues are quickly resolved. Unlike most Polish restaurants, you'll always have your water glass refilled and your server will always be smiling.

The Paszkowka Palace Hotel has a game room, pool (open only during the warm weather season), fitness equipment, and sauna. The sauna can be reserved for private use - just inquire at the front desk.

The hotel is equipped for business meetings and conventions, and several rooms are outfitted for large numbers of people.

In your room, you'll find a detailed history of the palace, information about the hotel amenities, and information about local sights. The palace guard is named Cooper, a friendly dog who will sometimes have to be shooed out of the dining area of the restaurant.