After an incredible keep on the AC Resort by Marriott Krakow, we headed over to the Sheraton Grand Krakow for just a few nights. It was troublesome having to go away the AC, given the superb facilities obtainable on the property, however I used to be curious to see how the Sheraton would examine.

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

Sheraton Grand Krakow – Reserving

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

A redemption will value you between 31,000 and 45,000 Marriott Bonvoy factors per evening. Based mostly on our valuation of Bonvoy factors at 0.8 cents per level (CAD), it should often be higher deal to pay in money. Nonetheless, on pricier nights when the associated fee is properly over 1,000 PLN ($322 CAD) per evening, factors could also be a greater possibility.

If in case you have a Free Night time Award obtainable, you might think about redeeming it at this property; nevertheless, you may get higher worth by saving it for one more time.

For any money bookings on the Sheraton Grand Krakow, you’ll be joyful to know that it participates in Marriott Luminous, a most well-liked accomplice program. By reserving your keep by means of a certified journey advisor, you’ll obtain quite a few different perks and advantages at no additional value, which come along with these chances are you’ll take pleasure in with Marriott Bonvoy standing.

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 exterior the resort and making a left, you’ll discover Wawel Fortress earlier than you.

Should you’re in search of a resort with a handy location, then this resort is a superb possibility. It’s a 10-minute stroll to Kraków’s major market sq., a ten–15 minute Uber trip 0r 30 minute stroll to the place the Jewish Ghetto as soon as was, and an 18-minute Uber trip to Oskar Schindler’s Enamel Manufacturing facility.

There’s a park with shaded paths and park benches surrounding the previous city, which is a superb 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 just 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 skin, 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 encompassing European structure. 

As our Uber pulled up, a bellhop got here out from the resort to see if we wanted 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 workers, and one was clearly a brand new trainee. The skilled workers 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, nevertheless it appeared just like the resort appeared fairly busy, so I left it at that.

We had been provided 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 properly. 

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

Making our well past the primary atrium to the elevator, I used to be impressed by the openness and pure brightness of the area, lit completely from the daylight coming by means of the glass ceiling.

Getting off the elevators, the expertise was fairly totally different. The hallways alternated between darkish, unlit corridors to areas that will 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

Should you seek for previous photographs of the resort, you’ll discover that every one the carpet and  a number of 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 loo 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 should put your keycard in right here in any other case not one of the electrical options of the room will work. You too can simply put every other card in there, like a bank card or a enterprise card, if you should cost units 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 types. In the midst of all of it is the king mattress, with clear shiny 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 numerous fiddling round with it earlier than it might cost my telephone.

In entrance of the mattress is a big sensible TV. Beside it is a spacious desk that matched the evening tables with a lamp and telephone. A pleasant upholstered chair accompanied it. Above the desk was just a few 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’ll be able to 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 secure, iron, ironing board, hairdryer, additional 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 toilet 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 stop water from the bathe head from spraying exterior of the bathtub. Gilchrist & Soames facilities are supplied. Apart from the physique lotion, all the pieces is provided in massive eco-friendly bottles.

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

We had been pleasantly shocked by a small dessert reward after we got here again from dinner the primary evening of our keep.

Employees had additionally are available in to do a turndown service, laying out our slippers by the beds and putting 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 obtainable for Marriott Bonvoy Platinum Elite members and above, and for visitors who ebook on particular flooring.

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

The area may be very open, and in reality opens as much as the atrium beneath, with pure lighting pouring by means of the glass ceiling of the atrium above. The one draw back is that within the night, the area does develop 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 beneath, with a wide range of seating preparations round tables of various sizes. It made for a really comfy spot to work from, take a break from sightseeing, or simply socialize. 

Should you’re travelling for work, there’s a lengthy co-working desk with retailers and USB ports. 

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

Within the night, scorching 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 scorching meals choices, a charcuterie platter, a wide range of salads, wraps, different finger meals, and a number of other dessert choices. You possibly can simply make a dinner out of it.

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

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

I additionally need to point out that the workers listed below are fabulous. They’re pleasant and attentive, continuously clearing tables and replenishing the meals and drinks. One specific gentleman was at all times approaching visitors and beginning up conversations with them, very similar to an an previous pal 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 identical finish because the lounge, you truly should stroll all the way in which to the elevators, after which when you get off on the second flooring, stroll all the way in which again within the route you got here from to get to the lounge. In the long run, we used the hearth escape stairs a number of instances for comfort.

Sheraton Grand Krakow – Eating

The Sheraton Grand Krakow has three major eating venues. 

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

For breakfast, there’s a good choice of drinks and meals. The beverage station had smoothies, milk and milk options, and a number of other fruit juices. Various kinds of espresso might 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 probability to take a look at the lunch menu, however we did have dinner right here one evening. An appetizer begins at round 40 PLN ($13 CAD), whereas an entrée begins at round 60 PLN ($20 CAD), so the pricing is cheap. 

The meals was easy however respectable, though the streak might have used a bit extra salt. 

Roof High Terrace is the resort’s major bar, situated on the fifth flooring. It presents nice views of the Vistula River; nevertheless, the doorway to the bar terrace may be very unassuming.

The terrace is open from 5pm to 12am each day. The alcoholic menu was complete, however not intensive. You too can order small bites right here as properly.   

There are seating choices inside a lined space, or exterior 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 primary flooring, tucked away down a small hallway. It’s open from 6pm to 12am each day.

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

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

Sheraton Grand Krakow – Different Services

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 primary flooring presents a spread of seating preparations and work stations, whether or not you’re seeking to socialize with household and pals, or to work alone or with colleagues.

A spread of comfy 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, provides the realm a heat really feel, just like that of 1’s personal lounge.

Maintaining with the open idea, the informal seating space seemingly blends into the bar of Anima, so you’ll be able to 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 wood work desk within the atrium, just like the one within the lounge. Should you require extra privateness or are assembly with a bunch, sliding wall dividers could be pulled out to separate the area from the remainder of the atrium.

Should you need assistance with planning your travels in Kraków, there’s a concierge desk within the foyer, proper beside the test in counter. Employees listed below 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. 

Positioned beneath the primary flooring is the spa and health centre space. The spa presents a sauna, pool, and therapeutic massage companies. 

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 snug 30ºC. 

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

A change room with showers, bogs, hairdryers, and lockers is obtainable, do you have to want them. 

Conclusion

We had a nice 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.

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

The situation can be improbable for exploring Kraków’s previous metropolis centre by foot. Contemplating the associated fee, I’d suggest a keep on the Sheraton Grand Krakow when you’re in search of a centrally situated resort with loads of facilities for visitors, particularly when you have elite standing.