Generally I don't like large hotels built and opened before, say, 1990 in Poland and other countries which had belonged to the Soviet bloc. They were built and run following typical for those times and their location on the wrong side of the Iron Curtain, poor quality. Although they had been renovated and they had released their lazy (sometimes rude and corruptive) staff (otherwise they would go bankrupt in times of the market economy), I am always afraid that somewhat didn't still changed in these hotels or minds of their staff.
I didn't stay in Mercure Hevelius Hotel due to no vacancy but I called them and surprisingly they tried to help me (unsuccessfully though) to find other accommodaion. Anyway, it was a nice surprise. I'd probably hear short "what do you want?", "no vacancy", "I don't know" and "do what you want", "sorry, I don't have more time for you" etc. in the same hotel, say, 15 years ago. Or being a foreign visitor from "the West" I would be forced to pay a few US dollars bribe for "finding out" a room for me. Well, the 3-star hotel is a member of international hotel chain (run by a French company) called Mercure Accor Hotels now.
ADVANTAGES
1. Views from a room window.
It's the highest building in the area. Try to book/take a room on a higher floor with a view towards the south (old town).
2. Location (at daytime)
Just a few minutes on foot from the most touristy and interesting part of the old town.
3. Guarded parking lot (outdoor though).
4. Their webpage in English, German and French.
Although you have to start reservation procedures to see up-to-date price for your room. Warning: the real price at place may be... lower or higher.
5. Pets allowed.
6. Restaurant.
The hotel restaurant "U Heweliusza" offers great Polish food at both reasonable and higher price. Try Polish duck with apples, roasted in honey (Kaczka z jablkami zapiekana w miodzie; 45 zl)
DISADVANTAGES
1. Price
If you mix well-known Polish and unfamous French bureaucracy (isn't it a French word?) in any business you have to get either bankruptcy or high prices for consumers, right? I think that 360 zl (90 euros, add a parking fee) they wanted from me for a room for 2 is far too much as for a 3-star hotel in Poland. There are better 3-star hotels for 200 - 250 zl in other Polish very touristy cities. The hotel should lower the prices (and own costs or profits) as soon as new hotels will be completed nearby. Otherwise it may go bancrupt. I can't wait :-)
2. Location (at night-time)
I had to take a walk along poorly lighted streets to get from the old town to the hotel. Well, Gdansk is not famous for high crime rate in Poland, no worries. But, if I were a foreigner, I might had been afraid to walk there alone in the middle of the night, especially after a few beers.
3. The past
Hmm... I am not sure whether the communist past still influences this hotel (design, quality of service and staff). Anyway, read my doubts in the beginning.
4. Limited internet access
Only in some rooms (and no wireless but by a cable).
4. Ugly exterior
I just don't like such simple, high, cement structures. Well, it looks better at night.
