The Cinema Hostel is a brand-new hostel (less than one month old) at the southern tip of Old Town in Krakow. It is nestled among Old Town, Wawel castle, and the Kazmieriz Jewish district. It is about a fifteen-minute walk from the train station (down Westerplatte) or a three-stop ride on the number 19 tram.
It's a very quiet hostel, probably because of its relative newness and location further away from the station. The staff are extremely friendly and the facilities are very attractive. The IKEA style, the color schemes, the huge flat screen, the homey kitchen, and the pastel rooms are all great. The theme is meant to be "cinema" but it is not executed very well. So if you think that the hostel will be too kitschy for you, no worries -- the rooms just have film names and are not themed as such. It's just a normal, trendy hostel.
This hostel is perfect for those looking for something a little off the beaten path -- this is not a hostel that sits at the train station to feed people here. It would also be a cool place for those traveling in a group, because you can basically own this place while you are here. Sometimes it can feel as if you are the only person here -- you, the staff, and trams clanging their bells outside.
The only less-than-ideal thing about this hostel is the extremely small sinks. Washing your face without flooding the bathroom and ending up with bumps all over your head can be a daily struggle. Otherwise it's great -- they provide soap in the bathroom to wash your hands (a rarity!) and there is plenty of hot water.
Breakfast, linens, and internet are all free. They even have wireless internet for those traveling with their laptops. There are no laundry facilities as such, but they provide you with laundry detergent should you want to do your own laundry in the sink.
If you are looking for a party hostel, as of now, this is not the place. There are only six rooms here, two bathrooms, a kitchen, a dining area with tables and chess, and a common area with a flat-screen. No bar, no restaurant -- very simple. And if you love films, it can be quite comforting to be surrounded by all these mini-movie posters that serve as the decoration (not to mention watching films on the plasma TV)!
— Exclusive Hostelz.com Review
September 2006
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