Pensjonat u Ani

HOTEL OVERVIEW

Look, I’ve stayed at plenty of places in Zakopane over the years, and Pensjonat u Ani is one of those gems that actually gets what travelers need. It’s tucked away in Chłabówka – which honestly, most tourists never venture to – but that’s exactly why it works so well. You’re maybe a 15-minute walk from all the Krupówki madness, but when you come back at night, it’s properly quiet. No drunk groups stumbling around at 2am like you get in the town center.

Ani herself (yeah, it’s actually run by Ani) has this way of making the place feel more like staying at your Polish aunt’s house than a hotel. The rooms are simple but clean – I mean, it’s a 3-star place, so don’t expect marble bathrooms or anything fancy. What you get is solid wooden furniture, decent beds that don’t creak when you move, and windows that actually open properly for fresh mountain air. The breakfast is pretty typical Polish fare, but the coffee’s strong and there’s always fresh bread. Actually, the homemade preserves are surprisingly good – I think she makes them herself from local berries.

Here’s what I really appreciate about this place: the parking situation is sorted. You know how stressful it can be driving around Zakopane looking for a spot? Well, there’s a small lot right there, and it’s included. The check-in is refreshingly straightforward too – no endless forms or upselling attempts. Ani just hands you the key and points you in the right direction. The location on Chłabówka puts you within walking distance of some decent hiking trails if you’re into that, and there’s a small grocery store about 5 minutes away where you can grab snacks or drinks without paying tourist prices.

What strikes me most is how the place has this lived-in authenticity that so many hotels try to fake. The wood floors creak a bit in the hallways, there are family photos mixed in with the mountain landscapes on the walls, and sometimes you can smell whatever Ani’s cooking for dinner wafting through the building. It’s not luxurious, but it’s real – and in a town that’s increasingly full of overpriced wellness resorts and generic chain hotels, that actually means something. The rating of 8 out of 10 feels about right; it’s doing exactly what it promises without any pretense.