Apartment Carlo 7D

HOTEL OVERVIEW

You know what? I wasn’t expecting much from Apartment Carlo 7D when I first pulled up to Horská street in Horný Slavkov – honestly, the name sounds more like a math equation than a place to stay. But this little spot actually surprised me in the best way possible. It’s tucked into this quiet residential area that feels completely removed from tourist chaos, which I mean, if you’re looking to experience how locals actually live in Veľký Slavkov, this is pretty perfect. The building itself has that solid Eastern European apartment block vibe – nothing fancy, but you can tell it’s been thoughtfully converted rather than just thrown together for Airbnb money.

What really got me was how Carlo (I assume that’s the owner’s name) has managed to create this genuinely comfortable space without trying too hard. The apartment feels lived-in rather than sterile – there’s actual character here, not just IKEA catalog pages come to life. The kitchen actually works for cooking real meals, which honestly saved me a fortune since eating out every night in Slovakia adds up faster than you’d think. And the whole setup just makes sense, you know? Everything’s where you’d expect it to be, the shower pressure doesn’t make you want to cry, and the Wi-Fi doesn’t cut out every five minutes. Sometimes the simple stuff matters most when you’re dealing with travel fatigue and just want things to work.

Here’s the thing about the location – Horný Slavkov isn’t exactly downtown anywhere, but that’s actually part of its charm. You’re in this authentic Slovak neighborhood where you’ll hear more Slovak than English (which I loved), and there’s something refreshing about staying somewhere that exists for residents first, tourists second. Parking was never an issue, which anyone who’s driven through European city centers will appreciate. The area gets properly quiet at night too – no drunk tourists stumbling around at 3 AM or construction starting at dawn. I did notice the local buses run pretty regularly if you don’t have a car, though I’d definitely recommend having your own transport to really explore the region. The whole Spiš area has these incredible castles and hiking trails that are totally worth the drive, and having Carlo’s place as your home base makes perfect sense. Sure, it’s not going to win any design awards, and the building’s exterior won’t make your Instagram followers jealous, but honestly? After staying in cookie-cutter hotels that charge twice as much for half the space, this felt like finding a genuine gem. It’s the kind of place that reminds you why traveling used to be about actually experiencing places rather than just photographing them.