Apartmán Srnka s výhľadom na Vysoké Tatry

HOTEL OVERVIEW

Look, I’ve stayed in plenty of places around the Tatras, but Apartmán Srnka genuinely surprised me – and honestly, that doesn’t happen often anymore. The moment you walk into apartment 11, you get why this place has a 9-star rating. It’s not just the mountain views (though they’re spectacular), it’s that someone clearly thought about how people actually want to live when they’re traveling.

The location in Dolný Smokovec is pretty much perfect if you know the area. You’re literally a five-minute walk from the funicular station, which means you can skip the parking nightmare at Skalnaté Pleso and just ride up like a local. What I really appreciated – and you know what, this is the kind of detail that matters when you’re hauling ski gear or hiking boots – the apartment is on the ground level of the building, so no wrestling luggage up narrow stairs. The owner, Mr. Srnka, actually lives nearby and honestly cares about the place. When our coffee maker decided to quit on day two, he had a replacement there within an hour. That’s the kind of service you just don’t expect from a 3-star place, but here we are.

The apartment itself feels more like staying at a well-organized friend’s place than a rental. The kitchen has everything you’d actually need (sharp knives – miracle of miracles – and pots that aren’t dented beyond recognition), and the living area opens right onto those Vysoké Tatry views that make you stop mid-conversation. I mean, you can see Lomnický štít from the window while you’re having morning coffee. The bedroom’s quiet too, which matters because Smokovec can get a bit lively during ski season, but this spot sits just far enough from the main drag that you’ll actually sleep. Only minor thing – the WiFi gets a bit temperamental when it’s stormy, but honestly, if you’re staring at the Tatras and complaining about internet speed, you’re doing vacation wrong. The whole setup just works, especially if you’re planning to spend your days hiking or skiing and want somewhere comfortable to collapse afterward. For what you pay, especially compared to those overpriced hotels closer to the lifts, this feels like finding a secret that locals don’t want tourists to know about.