Apartmán Pekná Vyhliadka – Vila Vlasta

HOTEL OVERVIEW

You know what’s funny about Apartmán Pekná Vyhliadka? The name literally means “Beautiful View Apartment,” and honestly, they weren’t kidding around when they picked that one. I mean, when you’re staying in Horný Smokovec – which is basically the heart of the High Tatras – you’d expect decent mountain views, but this place actually delivers on the promise in a way that made me stop unpacking just to stare out the window for a solid ten minutes.

The thing about Vila Vlasta is that it sits in this perfect sweet spot where you’re close enough to hear the morning train chugging up to Hrebienok (that’s the funicular railway, by the way – totally worth the ride), but far enough from the main drag that you’re not dealing with tour groups chattering outside your window at 7 AM. The apartment itself has that comfortable, lived-in feel that’s way better than sterile hotel rooms – I’m talking real furniture, a kitchen where you can actually cook something decent, and windows that open wide enough to let in that crisp mountain air that makes you want to take deeper breaths than usual. The whole setup feels like staying at a friend’s place, if your friend happened to have impeccable taste and lived in one of Europe’s most stunning mountain ranges.

What really got me was how the locals treat this area – it’s not some tourist trap where everything’s overpriced and fake-friendly. You’ll find actual Slovak families hiking the same trails, and the woman who runs the little grocery store down the hill (maybe a five-minute walk?) remembers your face after two visits. That’s the kind of place Horný Smokovec is, and Vila Vlasta fits right into that authentic vibe. The parking situation is refreshingly straightforward – none of that city nonsense where you’re circling blocks looking for a spot. Check-in was smooth too, though I’d recommend brushing up on basic Slovak phrases or having your phone translator ready, because English isn’t always a given (which, honestly, I kind of love about places that haven’t been completely touristified yet).

The apartment stays surprisingly quiet at night, even though you’re within walking distance of the main hotels and restaurants. I slept better there than I have in months, probably because of the altitude and all that fresh air, but also because there’s something about mountain silence that’s different from regular quiet – it’s deeper, if that makes sense. The only real sounds you’ll hear are the occasional night train and maybe some early-rising hikers if you leave your windows open, but those become part of the charm pretty quickly. If you’re planning to hit the trails (and why wouldn’t you be?), you’re literally minutes from trailheads that’ll take you up to Skalnaté pleso or down to Starý Smokovec’s thermal pools. Just pack layers – mountain weather changes faster than your mood on Monday morning.