Rent like home – Jaszczurówka Bory

HOTEL OVERVIEW

Look, I’ll be honest – when I first pulled up to Rent like home – Jaszczurówka Bory, I wasn’t expecting much from the name alone. But you know what? Sometimes the places with awkward names end up surprising you the most. This little 3-star spot sits right in Jaszczurówka-Bory, which is actually perfect if you want to be close to Zakopane’s action without dealing with all the tourist chaos on Krupówki street. I mean, you’re literally a few minutes from the main drag, but far enough out that you can actually hear yourself think – and sleep without drunk groups stumbling past your window at 2 AM.

The whole setup feels more like staying at someone’s well-maintained mountain house than a typical hotel, which honestly works in its favor. The rooms have that solid, no-nonsense Polish mountain vibe – think sturdy wooden furniture and windows that actually open wide enough to let in that crisp Tatra air. What really got me was how quiet it gets at night; you can hear the wind in the trees, which sounds cheesy but is actually pretty amazing after months of city noise. The Wi-Fi works fine (I had to check emails, unfortunately), and there’s decent parking right there – trust me, this matters way more than you think when you’re hauling ski gear or hiking boots around. The staff knows the area inside and out too, which is clutch. They pointed me toward this little trail that starts practically from the back of the property, and I ended up having one of those perfect mountain mornings where you feel like you discovered something secret.

Here’s the thing though – it’s not fancy, and it doesn’t pretend to be. The breakfast is solid Polish mountain food (definitely try the oscypek if they have it), but don’t expect some elaborate buffet spread. The decor is more “comfortable cabin” than “Instagram-worthy retreat,” but honestly? After a day hiking around Morskie Oko or dealing with the crowds at Gubałówka, comfortable is exactly what you want. The location is what really sells it for me – you’re close enough to walk into town when you want pierogi and beer, but you wake up to actual mountain views instead of souvenir shops. Plus, if you’re driving up from Krakow, it’s way easier to find than some of the places buried deeper in the old town maze. I’d definitely stay here again, especially in shoulder season when Zakopane gets a bit crazy with the peak tourist crowds. It’s one of those places that just works – nothing revolutionary, but everything you actually need for a solid mountain getaway.