Generally I don't like to stay in luxury hotels expecially when I have to pay the bill myself. I consider that it's a waste of money. However, there are more reasons that I almost never stay in 5 or 4-star hotels. They rarely offer good local food. Usually the meals are small, the atmospere too serious and the staff somewhat anonymous. It's a bad place to make new friends while you are on holiday.
But there are exceptions from my, above mentioned, rules. I'd like to stay in small, pretty designed and charming hotels located in beautiful, relaxing setting, somewhere off the beaten path. The location irself guarantees more relax in peace and quiet Their staff is usually more direct and friendly and. I wish they weren't tip me for everything.
I think that Dwor Oliwski, I haven't stayed in though, fulfills perfectly my requirements and expectations about 5-star hotels. I've visited the hotel and I've had a great dinner in the French restaurant there. Dwor Oliwski hotel is a member of the Small Luxury Hotels of the World
ADVANTAGES
1. Very pretty design and setting.
17th century country manor house (Dwor Oliwski) stands in lovely gardens of Valley of Joy (Dolina Radosci) on the outskirts of the historic city of Gdansk called Oliwa.The complex is surrounded by a pretty lake and the forests of National Landscape Park covering the hills around. Both green space around and the carefully restored manor amazed me. The thatched, gable roof of the hotel buildings looks outstanding. I loved it.
2. Typical facilities for 5-star hotel including multilingual staff, guarded parking lot (8 euros per day) and Fitness Center offering an indoor swimming pool (not a large one but beautiful), a gym, massage rooms, saunas and a tanning salon - free of charge for hotel guests (50 zl per day for the others).
3. Price (not at all for me though)
Check it here
Well, 96 (on weekends) or 116 euros for a room for two (parking fee included) is not much for someone who used to stay in 5-star or even 4-star hotels in, say, Western Europe or the USA but... as for Poland it's a lot of money. Maybe I need a sponsor to stay in Dwor Oliwski :-). You may spend 2 - 3 times less for a quite comfortable accommodation (to sleep, not to live in) in Gdansk downtown. Although there are more expensive hotels in downtown Gdansk as well, you pay for the location there.
DISADVANTAGES
1. Location.
Staying outside Gdansk downtown you can't easily eat out or enjoy Gdansk nightlife. Well, the hotel offers free shuttle to Gdansk downtown (and to/from the airport and the railway station) but, anyway, it takes time. They offer good tourist information at the reception and tours to Gdansk and other nerby attractions.
