Hostel Motion, Krakow

Hostel Motion is a small, up-and-coming hostel in the historic and vibrant neighborhood of Kazimierz. The hostel is on the third floor of a rickety, smelly building that has no lift. Once inside the hostel, you are greeted by a balcony that faces the internal courtyard of the building. Another short flight of stairs later and you are inside a small apartment featuring two dormitory rooms, one living room, a kitchen, and one full bathroom. Towels are included.

Because there is no signage, the hostel is a bit difficult to find. To mitigate any confusion the owner emails everyone detailed directions to the hostel, instructions which lead all the way up to the front door of the apartment itself. The instructions also include the names of the Wi-Fi networks, and their respective passwords. This is a very nice touch.

The Location

This is one of the best locations in all of Krakow. The "Jewish Quarter" in Kazimierz is rich in history and full of great restaurants, bars, and cafes. The hostel is about a fifteen-minute walk from the market square, and ten-minutes to the Vistula River. For the adventurous, across the Vistula River is another great neighborhood. For the fitness fanatics, there is a twenty-four-hour gym right downstairs. For the clean freaks, there is a laundromat/cafe just a few meters away.

Rooms and Bathrooms

There are just two dorm rooms in this hostel, so it is on the small side. Maximum capacity is eighteen. The dorms are bright and spacious with lots of power outlets. The bedding is very comfortable. Mattresses are still on the newer side, so they are comfortable as well. Each bed has a locker with a lock.

There is one full bath for all guests; the bathroom gets a bit grubby at times. The toilet does not have a lid, which is inconvenient and rather unhygienic. Water pressure is sufficient but not great, but the water does get nice and hot. There is a rack for your toiletries inside the shower. The owner keeps a mop in the bathroom, which is great for mopping up after a shower.

Common Spaces

There are three common areas -- one living area with a laptop for communal use, one balcony for the smokers, and the kitchen. The kitchen is equipped with pots and pans and dishes and cups. A nice addition would be a kettle for boiling water. There is complimentary tea and coffee.

There are two Wi-Fi networks; both are quite good and work best in the common areas. Common areas are a bit on the chilly side, both physically and metaphorically.

Summary

This is a cute, budget accommodation in a wonderful part of Krakow. The building is a bit on the dingy side and the hostel seems very new and like they are still working out a few kinks. The hostel remains a bit neglected during the day. They would do well to have someone clean the bathroom and kitchen more frequently. Overall, it's a fine choice but there are better options in the area.