Traveling to Poland in early May 2017 and looking to book lodging before arrival. At this stage most of RS recommendations are booked and I'm curious if anyone has found their own recommendation for hotel/pension stay.
I used my own choice for accommodations in Gdansk. My recommendation is Dom Aktora on Straganiarska 55/56, a small hotel, like a Pension in the old town, stayed 4-5 nights. Now this was in July of 2003 but I can only imagine the place has improved, very nice, great location. and comfortable. At the time the check-in/out staff spoke only Polish, German and Russian, no problem, we easily used German. If they knew English, especially after seeing our American passports, they certainly did not let us know. My gut feeling at the time, definitely at check-out, was they did not want to speak English to us. This was, however, 14 years ago.
When you go through that pedestrian tunnel from the hotel to go to Old Town , at one point there are two signs, one to the left, the other to the right. The left sign had "Westerplatte" on it. If you're interested in the war history, set aside time for a day trip.
How are you arriving in Gdansk, by train or on a flight? There are advantages of flying in if you don't care to see the landscape and the forests in the former eastern Pomerania. We took the train from Berlin Zoo (Hbf wasn't yet operational), transferred twice, once in Germany, once in Poland, it took close to 9.5 hrs before arriving at Gdansk central station....thrilling, fascinating, could hardly believe I was really there in that "neck of the woods" so to speak. . It just seemed the train ride took forever in arriving.
Recently I've used the Hotel Wolne Miasto (»Free City«). Perfectly adequate. Good breakfast. At walking distance from the railway station and just a few metres from the real centre. No language issues.
thanks for all replies, We fly into Gdansk and have three days to play then fly (i think) to Krakow. I was looking at Wolne Miastro so glad to have the recommendation! Using R.S. walking tour as our main guide and of course a trip to Malbork Castle, and my husband is a Mariner, so will go to that museum and soliderity building/shipyard, and glad to take other recommendations. Would also like to go to Westerplatte - hopefully by boat.
You might be interested in the Museum of the Second World War. It is going to open by the end of March, so when you get to Gdańsk, you will be able to visit it.
http://www.muzeum1939.pl/en/museum/programmatic_premises/mission_and_purpose
Also, in the centre, there is Museum of Polish Post Office, which is documenting one of the first battle of the WW2 (1.9.1939) when Polish post office was attacked by Germans.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Defence_of_the_Polish_Post_Office_in_Danzig
Awesome, all great information, will definitely look into your recommendations Daniel.