charlesbL8539FW
Google
We stayed at Aries in November with my wife, son, and our dog. Unfortunately, we found ourselves counting the days until we could go home. While the hotel has potential, several issues made our stay far from the 5-star experience we expected.|1. Room Allocation|We booked the Aries Suite, one of the hotel’s premium and more expensive room categories, hoping for extra comfort. Instead, we were assigned a ground-floor suite facing the parking lot—certainly not what one expects from a “signature” suite.|Additionally, the curtains were too short and the so-called blackout curtains did not block out light at all, making restful sleep difficult.|2. Restaurant Staff & Service|On our first evening, we dined at the hotel restaurant. Despite the restaurant being nearly empty, the staff seemed more interested in chatting with each other and the kitchen than looking after guests.|Breakfast service was even more disappointing. When my wife asked whether the pancakes would be replenished, the waitress replied, “Będą jak będą” (“They’ll be ready when they’re ready”)—a surprisingly unprofessional response from a hotel claiming 5-star standards.|Overall, the breakfast staff appeared disengaged and unhappy to be there, with one exception: an older lady with short hair who was incredibly kind to our son. Her warmth stood out in an otherwise indifferent atmosphere.|3. Parking Management|Having on-site parking is a real advantage in Zakopane. However, it’s poorly managed. Many cars park across two spaces, resulting in a half-empty lot that is still considered “full.”|Proper supervision—or better yet, a valet service, which is quite standard for a 5-star property—would significantly improve this situation.|Positive Notes|Not everything was negative. The food was very good, and the reception, concierge, and housekeeping teams were polite and helpful. The location of the hotel is also excellent.|Final Thoughts|Overall, this hotel feels much closer to a good 4-star property than a 5-star one. Under normal circumstances, that wouldn’t be a problem—but when you pay for a 5-star experience, your expectations naturally rise.|Sadly, we do not plan on returning.