Apartament Egzotyczny Bory

HOTEL OVERVIEW

Look, I’ll be honest – when I first saw “Apartament Egzotyczny Bory” on the booking site, I wasn’t sure what to expect. The name sounds a bit fancy for what turns out to be this surprisingly cozy place tucked away in Jaszczurówka, but you know what? Sometimes the best finds are the ones that don’t oversell themselves.

The location is actually pretty clever if you know Zakopane at all. You’re far enough from the main Krupówki chaos that you won’t hear drunk tourists stumbling around at 2 AM (trust me, that’s a blessing during peak season), but close enough that a quick drive or even a decent walk gets you to all the action. The thing about staying in Jaszczurówka is that you feel like you’re getting the real mountain experience – I mean, you wake up and there are these incredible views of the Tatras right there, not blocked by souvenir shops and highlander restaurants. The air actually smells like pine trees instead of oscypek smoke, though honestly, I do love me some good smoked cheese.

What really won me over was how the place feels more like staying at someone’s mountain cottage than a typical hotel room. The owners clearly put thought into making it comfortable without trying to be something it isn’t – it’s a solid 3-star spot that delivers exactly what it promises. The apartment setup gives you space to spread out, which is clutch if you’re there for more than just a weekend or if you’re traveling with gear for hiking or skiing. I appreciated having a proper kitchen area because, let’s face it, eating out for every meal in Zakopane can get expensive fast, especially during high season when everyone’s charging tourist prices.

The 9-point rating honestly makes sense once you’re there – it’s one of those places where everything just works without any drama. Check-in was smooth, the place was spotless, and the heating actually kept up with those brutal mountain nights (you’d be surprised how many places skimp on that). Parking wasn’t a nightmare either, which anyone who’s tried to navigate Zakopane’s main areas with a car will appreciate. The hosts seem to actually care about the place running well rather than just collecting booking fees and disappearing.

If you’re the type who needs to be right in the middle of everything, this might feel a bit removed, but honestly? After a day of hiking Morskie Oko or dealing with the crowds at Gubałówka, coming back to somewhere quiet where you can actually relax feels pretty perfect. Plus, the views from here are better than most of the pricier places closer to town – sometimes being slightly off the beaten path is exactly what you want in the mountains.