Poland - Eastern Europe - page 444

GETTING AROUND You'll find yourself doing a lot of walking. The Old Town
is relatively small and closed off to cars. Outside of the Old Town, tram and bus lines
are extensive. Tickets cost 2 z l (65¢/35p) and are available from vending machines
around town or newspaper kiosks. As for taxis, dishonest drivers have sometimes been
a problem. Never get into a unlicensed taxi and use reputable firms when possible.
Lux ( & 9623 ) and Hallo ( & 9621 ) are two of the best.
VISITOR INFORMATION Wroc l aw's helpful tourist information center is situ-
ated on the Rynek (Rynek 14; & 071/344-31-11; www.itwroclaw.pl; daily 9am-
9pm). In addition to the usual services of handing out maps and selling postcards, the
staff can help arrange tours of the city, book hotel and restaurant reservations, help to
sort out bus and train tickets, and even rent bikes. The office is also a good source of
cultural information. To see what's on, pick up a free copy of The Visitor, updated
every 2 months, at the tourist information office.
WHERE TO STAY
Hotel prices have been rising in recent years in step with the growing economy and
rising accommodations standards. You can beat the high cost by planning your visit
on a weekend, when rates are cut by as much as 30%. There's a good cluster of hotels
along Kie l ba 1 nicza, in the northern part of the Old Town near the university.
Very Expensive
Holiday Inn Not long ago, this was arguably the best place to stay in Wroc l aw.
It's still an exceptionally nice hotel, but for the money there are now equally comfort-
able places closer to the Rynek. The outlying location, however, is excellent if you are
arriving by train or bus, since the hotel is just a short hop from both. For business,
this is probably still the best address in town, given the extensive business center and
conference facilities. And it's certainly still one of the few places around offering
warmed bathroom tiles and bathtubs as standard.
Pilsudskiego 49/57. & 071/787-00-00, or 44-870-400-91-21 (U.K.-based central reservation service). Fax 071/
787-00-01. www.wroclaw.globalhotels.pl or www.holiday-inn.com. 164 units. 520 zl ($173/£90). AE, DC, MC, V.
Amenities: Restaurant; exercise room; sauna; concierge car-rental desk; business center; salon; room service; mas-
sage; executive-level rooms; nonsmoking rooms. In room:A/C, TV, dataport, minibar, hair dryer, trouser press (execu-
tive rooms only).
Hotel Prima/Best Western To be sure, a clean and well-managed hotel, but
feels overpriced given some of the newer properties on the market. Everything you
would expect from the Best Western chain. The staff training is evident from the first
encounter with the helpful reception desk. The rooms are upscale middle-market,
with carpets and floral prints on the bedspreads (like a well-furnished suburban
home). The hotel's Sir William restaurant is a nice choice for vegetarians.
Kielba1nicza 16/19. & 071/782-55-55. Fax [phone]. www.bestwestern-prima.pl. 79 units. 420 zl ($140/£75)
double. AE, DC, MC, V. Amenities: Restaurant; exercise room; sauna; limited room service; nonsmoking rooms. In
room:A/C, TV, dataport, minibar, hair dryer.
Expensive
Art Hotel Occupying two renovated burghers' houses in Wroc l aw's art (and
hotel) quarter, this is a welcome alternative to the chains. The funky, bright orange
exterior will draw you in. The reception area is sleek and cool. Each room has been
furnished individually in an eclectic mix of modern and traditional. The restaurant
gets high marks from local critics.