Review: Sheraton Grand Krakow | Prince of Travel

After an incredible keep on the AC Hotel by Marriott Kraków, we headed over to the Sheraton Grand Krakow for a couple of nights. It was tough having to depart the AC, given the superb facilities obtainable on the property, however I used to be curious to see how the Sheraton would evaluate.

The Sheraton Grand Krakow has a superb location, and serves as Marriott’s flagship property in Kraków. In actual fact, all 232 rooms and suites within the resort, the lounge, and different public areas have been renovated in 2022. Right here is my impression.

Sheraton Grand Krakow – Reserving

The resort’s commonplace room sort, which is the Deluxe Room, might be booked on common from 600–1,000 PLN ($193–322 CAD) per night time earlier than taxes and charges. In our case, I booked right into a Deluxe King Room for 849 PLN ($275 CAD) per night time.

A redemption will value you between 31,000 and 45,000 Marriott Bonvoy factors per night time. Primarily based on our valuation of Bonvoy points at 0.8 cents per level (CAD), it’ll normally be higher deal to pay in money. Nevertheless, on pricier nights when the fee is nicely over 1,000 PLN ($322 CAD) per night time, factors could also be a greater possibility.

In case you have a Free Night Award obtainable, you can take into account redeeming it at this property; nevertheless, you would possibly get higher worth by saving it for one more time.

For any money bookings on the Sheraton Grand Krakow, you’ll be comfortable to know that it participates in Marriott Luminous, a most popular companion program. By reserving your keep by a certified journey advisor, you’ll obtain a variety of different perks and advantages at no further value, which come along with these you might take pleasure in with Marriott Bonvoy status.

Sheraton Grand Krakow – Location

The resort is situated proper on the financial institution of the Vistula River and simply steps away from the previous city metropolis middle of Kraków. Simply strolling outdoors the resort and making a left, you will see that Wawel Fort earlier than you.

For those who’re searching for a resort with a handy location, then this resort is a superb possibility. It’s a 10-minute stroll to Kraków’s important market sq., a ten–15 minute Uber journey 0r 30 minute stroll to the place the Jewish Ghetto as soon as was, and an 18-minute Uber journey to Oskar Schindler’s Enamel Manufacturing facility.

There’s a park with shaded paths and park benches surrounding the previous city, which is a good spot for a stroll to stroll off a meal. Loads of outlets, cafés, and eating places are situated all inside strolling distance of the resort. 

John Paul II Kraków-Balice Worldwide Airport is barely a 25–30 minute drive from the resort. An Uber will value considerably lower than grabbing an airport taxi. 

Sheraton Grand Krakow – Examine-in

From the surface, the resort isn’t probably the most visually interesting. The constructing is a mixture of reflective home windows and red-brown blocks with an off-white concrete façade that doesn’t actually slot in with the encircling European structure. 

As our Uber pulled up, a bellhop got here out from the resort to see if we would have liked any help along with your baggage. We had solely carry-ons, so we kindly declined.

When you enter the resort, the check-in desks are on the left.

The check-in desk was manned by three employees, and one was clearly a brand new trainee. The skilled employees member thanked my husband for being a loyal Titanium member, and knowledgeable us that our room had already been upgraded one class as much as a Grand Deluxe King Room with Vistula River view.

I hoped for a greater improve, however it appeared just like the resort appeared fairly busy, so I left it at that.

We have been supplied the selection of 1,000 Bonvoy factors or breakfast at Anima restaurant as our Elite Welcome Reward, and naturally, we went for the breakfast. The agent then went on to tell us of our lounge entry profit as nicely. 

The foyer rapidly opens up into the principle atrium of the constructing, a spacious space full of various seating preparations and the resort’s important restaurant, Anima.  

Making our well beyond the principle atrium to the elevator, I used to be impressed by the openness and pure brightness of the area, lit solely from the daylight coming by the glass ceiling.

Getting off the elevators, the expertise was fairly totally different. The hallways alternated between darkish, unlit corridors to areas that may open up into the atrium. The doorways and corridors present the age of the constructing, which is in stark distinction to the renovated public areas.

Sheraton Grand Krakow – Grand Deluxe King Room with Vistula View

For those who seek for previous photographs of the resort, you’ll discover that each one the carpet and  among the room furnishings have been changed. 

As you enter the room, you’ve got the closet and beverage station on one aspect, and a full-length mirror and toilet on the opposite. The room was carpeted and this seemed new, with a linked-chain design.

By the doorway is a key card energy management panel. You’ll need to put your keycard in right here in any other case not one of the electrical options of the room will work. You may as well simply put another card in there, like a bank card or a enterprise card, if it is advisable to cost gadgets when you’re out.

The room was spacious, however the décor within the room gave the impression to be a little bit of a hodgepodge of kinds. In the midst of all of it is the king mattress, with clear vivid linen and leather-based headboard with mirror accents.

On both aspect of the mattress is an evening desk and matching lamps. Behind the lamps on the wall is an electrical panel with an outlet and a few USB ports. I discovered the USB ports in our room to be finicky, and it took loads of fiddling round with it earlier than it might cost my cellphone.

In entrance of the mattress is a big sensible TV. Beside this can be a spacious desk that matched the night time tables with a lamp and cellphone. A pleasant upholstered chair accompanied it. Above the desk was a couple of seemingly random framed prints.

Beside the mattress are one other two armchairs upholstered in blue velvet, with a desk in between. Being proper by the window, it makes for a pleasant place to sit down to take pleasure in a espresso and do some studying. If it’s a cloudy day, like what we had, you possibly can activate the ground lamp within the nook.

From the window, you’ve got a transparent view of the Vistula River. 

The closet is split into two sides, with the beverage station and fridge in-between. The beverage station consists of a kettle, a Nespresso machine, and a pair bottles of water. Apparently, there was no tea obtainable.

Within the closet you’ll discover a protected, iron, ironing board, hairdryer, further bedding, and a pair pairs of slippers and bathrobes. There was additionally a shoe horn, shoe mitt, and stitching equipment that appeared haphazardly positioned on the shelf.

The rest room is easy however spacious, embellished in beige tones with a mixture of tiling and wallpaper. In the midst of all of it is a darkish accent wall, with a single self-importance and a big backlit mirror.

The bathe has a foldable, half-glass panel to forestall water from the bathe head from spraying outdoors of the bathtub. Gilchrist & Soames facilities are supplied. Apart from the physique lotion, every thing is provided in massive eco-friendly bottles.

Different facilities obtainable embrace a few toothbrushes, bathe caps, and self-importance kits.

We have been pleasantly stunned by a small dessert reward after we got here again from dinner the primary night time of our keep.

Employees had additionally are available to do a turndown service, laying out our slippers by the beds and inserting goodies on our pillows. Sadly, I wasn’t an enormous fan of the goodies, which consisted of fruit jellies dipped in chocolate.  

Sheraton Grand Krakow – Membership Lounge

The Sheraton Membership Lounge is out there for Marriott Bonvoy Platinum Elite members and above, and for visitors who e-book on particular flooring.

In my view, this lounge was the spotlight of this property. It’s situated on the second flooring, and open from 6am to 11pm day by day. When you enter, there’s a check-in desk, however for the few days we have been there, it was by no means manned. 

The area could be very open, and in reality opens as much as the atrium under, with pure lighting pouring by the glass ceiling of the atrium above. The one draw back is that within the night, the area does change into fairly darkish, though there may be some lamps round.

The furnishings have a contemporary but informal look to them. They match that of the atrium under, with quite a lot of seating preparations round tables of various sizes. It made for a really snug spot to work from, take a break from sightseeing, or simply socialize. 

For those who’re travelling for work, there’s a lengthy co-working desk with shops and USB ports. 

Gentle snacks like cookies, fruit, and nuts can be found all day, together with water, tea, espresso, juices, and pop. 

Within the night, sizzling meals and alcoholic drinks are served, and I used to be impressed by the unfold. There would at all times be a soup, a number of sizzling meals picks, a charcuterie platter, quite a lot of salads, wraps, different finger meals, and several other dessert choices. You would simply make a dinner out of it.

For the open bar, there was at all times laborious liquor, a collection of wines, and beer on faucet. 

My husband and I might eat an earlier “pre-dinner” right here earlier than heading into the town for a lightweight meal, like dumplings. We additionally noticed folks bringing in take-out and simply consuming it right here, too.

I additionally wish to point out that the employees listed here are fabulous. They’re pleasant and attentive, continually clearing tables and replenishing the meals and drinks. One explicit gentleman was at all times approaching visitors and beginning up conversations with them, very like an an previous buddy would.

The one small nuisance was attending to the lounge. The resort is a protracted wedge-shaped constructing, with just one set of elevators, and the lounge is situated on the alternative finish of the place the elevators are.

In case your resort room is situated on the similar finish because the lounge, you truly need to stroll all the best way to the elevators, after which when you get off on the second flooring, stroll all the best way again within the course you got here from to get to the lounge. In the long run, we used the fireplace escape stairs a number of instances for comfort.

Sheraton Grand Krakow – Eating

The Sheraton Grand Krakow has three important eating venues. 

Anima is a sit-down Italian-inspired restaurant situated within the atrium on the principle flooring. Right here, breakfast, lunch, and dinner are served, and it’s open from 7am to midnight day by day. That is additionally the place breakfast for Platinum Elites and better is served right here.

For breakfast, there’s a good collection of drinks and meals. The beverage station had smoothies, milk and milk options, and several other fruit juices. Various kinds of espresso may very well be ready from a espresso machine. 

Different chilly meals stations included a pastry and bread station, a cheese, salad, and chilly cuts station, and a fruit station.

The new meals station consisted of oatmeal, pancakes, waffles, beans, bacon, sausages, scrambled eggs, and a made-to-order egg station.

We didn’t get likelihood to take a look at the lunch menu, however we did have dinner right here one night time. An appetizer begins at round 40 PLN ($13 CAD), whereas an entrée begins at round 60 PLN ($20 CAD), so the pricing is affordable. 

The meals was easy however first rate, though the streak may have used a bit extra salt. 

Roof Prime Terrace is the resort’s important bar, situated on the fifth flooring. It affords nice views of the Vistula River; nevertheless, the doorway to the bar terrace could be very unassuming.

The terrace is open from 5pm to 12am day by day. The alcoholic menu was complete, however not in depth. You may as well order small bites right here as nicely.   

There are seating choices inside a lined space, or outdoors on patio furnishings. 

Regardless of the venue itself being fairly easy, the view was nice on a heat, sunny day.  

SomePlace Else is the sports activities bar situated on the principle flooring, tucked away down a small hallway. It’s open from 6pm to 12am day by day.

I glanced in earlier than they opened so the picture makes it look useless quiet, however within the evenings we have been there, it was bustling with folks. 

As somebody who’s an evening owl and suffers from the midnight munchies, I appreciated that each one the eating venues have been open until midnight. 

Sheraton Grand Krakow – Different Amenities

Even when you don’t have lounge entry, you gained’t have to fret about discovering a spot to sit down, work, or actually have a assembly. The atrium on the principle flooring affords a variety of seating preparations and work stations, whether or not you’re seeking to socialize with household and associates, or to work alone or with colleagues.

A variety of snug chairs and sofas upholstered in impartial, turquoise, or blue-coloured velvet are spaced out across the atrium. The entire space is carpeted, and with the pure lighting from the skylight above, offers the realm a heat really feel, just like that of 1’s personal lounge.

Preserving with the open idea, the informal seating space seemingly blends into the bar of Anima, so you possibly can simply take pleasure in a drink wherever you select to sit down. 

Quite a lot of bigger workstations can be found, too. There’s a lengthy picket work desk within the atrium, just like the one within the lounge. For those who require extra privateness or are assembly with a bunch, sliding wall dividers might be pulled out to separate the area from the remainder of the atrium.

For those who need assistance with planning your travels in Kraków, there’s a concierge desk within the foyer, proper beside the test in counter. Employees listed here are available to supply help throughout common enterprise hours. 

Subsequent to the concierge desk, is a small enclosed enterprise centre, with two pc stations and a printer. 

Situated under the principle flooring is the spa and health centre space. The spa affords a sauna, pool, and therapeutic massage providers. 

The pool and sauna are open from 7am to 9pm on Mondays to Thursdays, and from 9am to 9pm on weekends. The pool is warmed to a cushty 30ºC. 

The health centre is open across the clock, and had quite a lot of weight machines in addition to cardio machines. Free weights are additionally obtainable.

A change room with showers, bathrooms, hairdryers, and lockers is out there, do you have to want them. 

Conclusion

We had a pleasing keep on the Sheraton Grand Krakow, and appreciated the entire facilities on the full-service property. Regardless of the renovations, some elements of the resort nonetheless present indicators of its age.

In case you have Marriott Bonvoy status and revel in making full use of your advantages, then this resort is a good possibility. There’s a superb breakfast buffet, and an incredible lounge expertise.

The situation can also be incredible for exploring Kraków’s previous metropolis centre by foot. Contemplating the fee, I’d advocate a keep on the Sheraton Grand Krakow when you’re searching for a centrally situated resort with loads of facilities for visitors, particularly when you’ve got elite standing.