Orkana Apartment in Zakopane by Rent like home

HOTEL OVERVIEW

Look, I’ll be honest – when I first saw “Orkana Apartment” in the booking listings, I wasn’t expecting much from a 3-star place. But you know what? Sometimes the unassuming spots end up being the gems, and this little apartment managed by Rent like home totally proved that point. The 9 rating isn’t just inflated reviews from friends and family – it’s actually earned.

The location is what really got me excited about this place. You’re right in Zakopane proper, which means you can actually walk to Krupówki (the main pedestrian street) without needing to figure out the local bus system or blow money on taxis every time you want to grab dinner. I mean, sure, Zakopane gets absolutely packed during ski season and summer hiking months, but being centrally located means you’re part of the action rather than watching it from some distant hotel on the outskirts. The morning sounds are pretty typical for a mountain town – you’ll hear some street activity picking up around 7 AM, but it’s not the kind of noise that’ll ruin your sleep. Actually, I found it kind of charming after a day or two.

What impressed me most was how the apartment felt like someone actually lives there year-round, not like those sterile vacation rentals where everything’s beige and boring. The kitchen setup is legit – I’m talking proper cookware, not just a sad little coffee maker and some plastic plates. This matters more than you’d think when you’re staying somewhere for more than a couple nights, especially since eating out for every meal in Zakopane can get pricey (and honestly, pretty heavy after all that traditional Polish mountain food). The Rent like home management company seems to have their act together too – check-in was smooth, they responded quickly when I had a question about the wifi, and they didn’t hit me with any surprise fees or weird rules about towels or whatever.

Here’s the thing about Zakopane that caught me off guard – it’s way more seasonal than I expected. If you’re coming during shoulder season (like late spring or early fall), this apartment becomes an even better deal because you’re getting that prime location without the summer crowds or winter ski prices. The nearby streets get pretty quiet then, which is perfect if you want to experience the Tatra Mountains without feeling like you’re at a theme park. Plus, you’re close enough to the cable car stations that you can still do day hikes up to Kasprowy Wierch or wander around Morskie Oko lake – just dress appropriately because mountain weather changes fast. The apartment’s got decent heating too, which matters more than you’d think when those evening temperatures drop.