Travel

Hotel Pod Lwem, Elblag. An Incredible Surprise in One of the Most Unexpected Places

Hotel Pod Lwem was a pleasant surprise from the moment we checked in, till the very moment we checked out. Situated right in the center of Elblag, a small but cute city not far from the world famous Polish city of Gdansk, Hotel Pod Lwem proudly welcomes guests in its centuries old historical building.

The hotel's name comes from the lion statue on the rooftop, and it literally means 'Under the Lion'. So, yeah, for a couple of nights during our grand tour of Europe, my husband and I slept under the lion and you know what? It was actually pretty comfortable!

First Impression

We arrived at Hotel Pod Lwem almost at midnight, and we were terribly tired after a full day spent on the train. But we were welcomed by the friendliest of smiles and that brightened our evening instantly. That, and the complimentary bottle of Italian white wine waiting for us in the fridge in our room.

The common area

We didn't get to see much of the lobby the night we arrived, but the very next morning, just as we came down for breakfast, this amazing space revealed to us in its whole splendor. I simply loved the huge windows, the neat and modern decor...

... and definitely I felt head over heels for the way the sun entered the lobby area, creating a surreal atmosphere.

Our Suite

The moment we entered our suite, my heart skipped a jump. The decor was actually purple, just like the one in our own bedroom from home. Needless to say, this little detail made us love even more Hotel Pod Lwem, and enhanced even further our perception of this place as a very homey one.

Having this huge space all for ourselves felt incredible. I immediately jumped at the opportunity, fired my laptop, and making use of the free Wi-fi available in the whole premises, checked my email and blog from one of the super comfortable sofas. I always had a soft spot for white sofas, so for what it's worth, from my point of view, Hotel Pod Lwem got the decor right from all angles.

The Bathroom

The bathroom was spacious and comfortable as well, but what really stood out was that everything was personalized, from the towels embroidered with the head of the lion, to the napkins, everything was a celebration of the hotel's name and a reminder of the fact that you were actually under the protection of a strong creature and you need not worry while you sleep. Somebody's watching over you and you can dedicate the entire night to the sweetest dreams.

Breakfast

Breakfast was served in this spacious room with super comfy chairs and it never ceased to amaze both of us.

The incredible variety of the buffet and the mouth watering presentation of each dish, was fit for queens and kings. Not to mention that everything was sooo delicious that we could have had breakfast three times a day and never got bored of it.

But what's even more outstanding is that each morning the plates were differently decorated, as fresh food made its way to our table. This is the living proof that parents are wrong when they say kids must not play with the food. On the contrary, the kitchen personnel at Hotel Pod Lwem find joy in decorating each dish and do an amazing job. The creative juices flowing in this hotel's kitchen are matched only by the tastiness of the dishes themselves.

What Hotel Pod Lwem Meant for Us

Hotel Pod Lwem once again strengthen in us the idea that stars are not everything when it comes to a hotel. Though officially having 3-stars, in our opinion Hotel Pod Lwem could easily be a 4-star superior. From the friendliness of the staff, and the fact that even the maid spoke perfect English, to the great attention given to details, the cleanliness of the place, and the services provided, this hotel carved very pleasant memories in our minds.

- Hotel Folketeateret, Oslo. Funky, Refreshing & Delicious
During our Interrail trip through Europe last summer, on our way from Stavanger to Orebro we made one more overnight stop in Oslo. This time we didn't visit any attractions in the city, partly because it was pouring down cats and dogs, partly because...

- First Hotel Marin, Bergen. A Charming Hotel In A Fairytale Like City
When we visited Bergen this summer, we stayed at Firsts Hotel Marin, part of the First Hotels network spreading all over Scandinavia. The hotel stands out for being located next to the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Bryggen, right in the city center....

- Myhregaarden Hotel, Stavanger. A Very Romantic Boutique Hotel
By the time our train arrived in Stavanger it was almost 11PM and we were tired. Nevertheless, some reminiscences of the midnight sun could be seen on the sky even at the end of July, wrapping the city in a charming atmosphere.We took out the...

- Hotel Axel Guldsmeden, Copenhagen. Organic Luxury For Lazy Days
I was sold the moment I entered Hotel Axel Guldsmeden. By the entrance there was this incredibly beautiful sculpted, wooden tray with delicious organic apples. They looked so inviting that I couldn't resist the temptation and picked one. From...

- Hotel Premium, Bratislava. Quiet And Relaxing Atmosphere
We are no experts on Eastern Europe and even less on Slovakia. We've just been there once, during our InterRail trip this summer, and only visited Bratislava, the capital. We didn't know what to expect and we certainly didn't think we would...

Travel