Apartmány a Chalety Horizont Resort

HOTEL OVERVIEW

Honestly, I wasn’t sure what to expect when I first pulled up to Apartmány a Chalety Horizont Resort in Stará Lesná – the name’s a bit of a mouthful, and finding it on that winding road through the forest felt like I was heading to some hidden mountain retreat. But that first glimpse of the property nestled against the backdrop of the High Tatras? Yeah, that sold me immediately. The whole setup sits perfectly between the tourist bustle of Tatranská Lomnica proper and the quieter, more authentic feel of the older village sections. You’re literally a stone’s throw from the cable car that takes you up to Lomnický štít, but far enough away that you won’t hear the crowds shuffling around at dawn.

What really impressed me was how they’ve managed to blend modern comfort with that classic Tatra mountain architecture – you know, the kind with heavy wooden beams and those distinctive steep roofs that actually make sense when you see how the snow piles up here in winter. The apartments themselves are spacious in a way that makes you realize how cramped most hotel rooms really are. I mean, there’s actual kitchen space where you can prep your own meals (which is clutch considering how pricey the resort restaurants can get around here), and the living areas don’t feel like an afterthought. The chalety – the individual chalets – are even better if you’re traveling with a group, though they book up fast during peak season.

The staff here actually knows the area, which sounds basic but you’d be surprised how rare that is. They pointed me toward some lesser-known hiking trails that start right from the village, including this gorgeous path that winds through the forest to a small waterfall – completely off the typical tourist radar. Parking is straightforward (free, thank goodness), and they’re pretty flexible about check-in times, which matters when you’re dealing with mountain weather delays. I will say the WiFi gets a bit spotty in some of the chalets, but honestly, that might be a feature not a bug depending on why you’re escaping to the mountains. The whole place maintains that 4-star level of cleanliness and service without feeling stuffy or overly managed. It’s the kind of place where you can show up in hiking boots and nobody bats an eye, but you could also dress up for dinner and feel perfectly comfortable. That 9-rating it’s earned makes total sense – it’s not trying to be the fanciest place in the Tatras, but it absolutely nails what it is trying to be.