Start Hotel Portos

............live like the locals!!

I have no complaints about this hotel whatsoever - it wasn't advertised as luxurious, it didn't claim to have any special "USP", it is reasonably close to the city centre (quite a pleasant walk actually) and is CHEAP!

On arrival check-in is swift, friendly and with a trainee receptionist is doubly welcoming. Rooms are pretty basic, a little careworn, but clean: the slightly wilted potted plant (pic2) kinda sums the place up.

Breakfast though is excellent - the usual cold meats, cheese and bread but elevated by a couple of very fresh salads, hot sausages and decent coffee.

Unique Quality: There are three hotels here on the same site, all three of which are 20-ish story tower blocks, originally built as worker's hostels during the reconstruction of the city. Whilst the Portos claims amenities such as shop, restaurant, bar etc. these weren't actually available at the time of my visit since the ground floor was being revamped but were available from the other two hotels sharing the site: the Aremis and the Atos.

I kinda liked the lifts - these were quite bizarre: there are 2 pairs of lifts facing each other on either side of the hallway. To summon the lift you press the button in the normal fashion, then when the lift arrives a lit arrow shows which lift ISN'T there - by the time you realise this the lift that WAS there has gone and is now the one BEHIND you, on the other side of the hallway - with the lit arrow pointing to the lift which hasn't arrived yet. Now each lift can only really take 2 people anyway and perhaps are counterbalanced and so summonsing lifts from the upper floors makes for quite an entertaining 5 minutes wait as they go up and down, behind and in front of you, always just seeming to elude as you try to guess which door the lift is really behind - FUN, FUN, FUN!!

If you don't need to be central, want the privacy of your own room and don't want to pay a fortune then definitely have a look at this place - the lift does arrive eventually but you need 360 degree vision to catch it!!

Directions: At the end of the "Royal Route" - bus stop (either direction) just outside - regular buses into the city centre.

This is a budget hotel to the south of the city centre. The hotel does not look attractive from the outside and gives the appearance of a 10 storey block of panel flats left over from the communist era. But this is more than made up with reasonable sized rooms, friendly staff, internet room, restaurant and a good breakfast. The breakfast can be a bit of a scrum as people push in but as it is a buffet you can help yourself to as much as you want to eat and drink. The hotel is next to a main road and the bus stops are close by with frequent buses to and from town.

Unique Quality: This is an inexpensive hotel and even cheaper if you book via the website below it will cost 88 zoltys a night. It is in a reasonable safe location with security staff in the hotel and on the carpark. There is a shopping centre 10 minutes walk away with a multiplex cinema and food court. The rooms have telephones and can be dialled direct by entering #1 and then the room number. The hotel is popular with younger people and budget travellers. All in all you are not likely to find a room any cheaper.

If you're looking for luxury accommodations located in the heart of Warsaw with staff who will serve your every need, Hotel Portos is definitely not the place for you. But if you're traveling on a budget and all you care about is a clean, safe place to stay with convenient access to the city, it will do just fine.

Hotel Portos is located on Mangalia street right next to bus stops that can take you anywhere in the city in a reasonable amount of time. The 166 will take you all the way to Old Town while the 519 is perfect for visiting the Centrum or Plac Bankowy. 116 will also take you in the opposite direction to Wilanow.

I stayed at Hotel Portos for 11 nights and never had any problems except for noise outside my window. To solve that problem I recommend you request a room on the west side of the building.

A free breakfast buffet is included, though it's nothing special. Still, it had more food than I've seen offered at many other hotels that offer free breakfast. But the real reason people stay at Hotel Portos is that it's cheap - dirt cheap. I paid just over $25 US per night, which is pretty amazing for any capital city in Europe, even if it is a bit off the beaten track.

Atos, Portos and Aramis are 3 tourist hotels, located in 20 minutes by bus from city center and not far from Airport.
Price is about USD 25 per person BB in double room.