Stella doro

HOTEL OVERVIEW

Look, I’ll be honest – when I first pulled up to Stella d’oro on Jaszczurówka, I wasn’t expecting much from a 3-star place. But you know what? Sometimes those ratings don’t tell the whole story, and this little spot actually surprised me in the best way possible.

The thing about staying on Jaszczurówka is that you’re sort of tucked away from the main tourist chaos of Zakopane’s Krupówki street (which, trust me, gets absolutely bonkers during peak season), but you’re still close enough to walk into town when you want that energy. I mean, it’s maybe a 15-minute stroll to the heart of things, and honestly, I loved having that buffer zone. The street itself is quiet – well, as quiet as anywhere gets in Zakopane during summer – and there’s actual parking, which if you’ve ever tried to find a spot near the main drag, you’ll appreciate. The hotel sits in this residential-ish area where you get glimpses of the Tatras between the buildings, and there’s something really satisfying about waking up to mountain views instead of souvenir shops.

What really got me about Stella d’oro was how the staff actually seemed to care about the place. Check-in was smooth, no weird deposit demands or confusing key card situations, and the woman at reception gave me solid recommendations for hiking trails that weren’t the usual overcrowded spots everyone hits. The rooms are… well, they’re not going to win any design awards, but they’re clean and comfortable with that slightly old-school Polish hospitality vibe – think sturdy furniture and proper thick curtains that actually block out light. The bathroom was surprisingly spacious for a 3-star, and the water pressure was decent (I’ve stayed at fancier places where the shower was basically a sad drizzle). You can hear some street noise if you’re a really light sleeper, but nothing that kept me up. Actually, the most charming thing was the breakfast setup – nothing fancy, just good bread, local cheese, and coffee that didn’t taste like it came from a machine that hadn’t been cleaned since 2019. They had this homemade jam that I’m pretty sure came from someone’s babcia’s recipe.

Here’s the real deal though – Stella d’oro just works. It’s the kind of place where you’re not paying for marble lobbies or infinity pools, but you’re getting solid value and a genuine Polish mountain town experience. The 9 rating makes total sense when you consider what you’re actually getting for the price point. If you’re the type who needs five-star everything, keep scrolling. But if you want a clean, comfortable base for exploring the Tatras without the tourist trap markup, and you appreciate when a place feels more like a family-run spot than a corporate chain, this is honestly a great choice. Plus, being slightly off the beaten path means you’ll probably end up discovering some local gems just by wandering around the neighborhood.