Radisson Hotel Szklarska Poręba

The Karkonosze Mountains are the perfect destination for a family holiday. A hotel with its own water park is the ideal accommodation for this. That’s exactly what we thought when we came across the Radisson Hotel Szklarska Poręba during our search. The Karkonosze Mountains were already on our travel wish list, and the combination of mountain views, a water park and our long-forgotten Radisson Rewards VIP status made the decision an easy one. What awaited us at this modern mountain resort in Szklarska Poręba, Poland; whether our VIP status made a difference; and who would really benefit from a stay at the Radisson Hotel Szklarska Poręba – you’ll find out all about it in this review.

Booking, arrival and check-in

We booked the Radisson Hotel Szklarska Poręba at the beginning of the year – for the Pentecost holidays – far enough in advance to take advantage of the good deals available at that time. We came across the hotel while searching for accommodations with an on-site water park. Since the Giant Mountains (Karkonosze) were still missing from our travel list, the decision was quickly made. The hotel has 104 rooms and apartments ranging in size from 23 to 60 square meters. All have air conditioning and a private terrace. In the end, we opted for a suite with mountain views and breakfast included.

We hadn't stayed at a Radisson in quite some time. So I was all the more surprised when I booked and discovered that my long-forgotten "Radisson Rewards" account already had the highest status level, "VIP." I must have received this through my American Express Platinum card. We've had the credit card since 2021 and can only use it for travel. recommend. We were certainly curious to see if the status would make any noticeable difference.

The journey by electric car was relaxed. After a short charging stop of about 15 minutes in the town that claims to produce the best yellow-creamy mustard – insiders know this isn't true, as only Born mustard is the one and only real mustard – we rolled towards the hotel after a total of four hours of driving. The last few meters required a bit of patience, as the access road is currently undergoing major renovations and therefore ended on bumpy gravel. The hotel parking lot is accessible via a barrier and costs 40 PLN per day, roughly 10 euros – a fair price for a resort of this category.

The Radisson lobby greeted us with a truly harmonious, modern design – stylish and well-thought-out. However, what followed at check-in left us somewhat unimpressed. As regular Hilton guests, we're used to at least a brief greeting as status guests. At Radisson? Not a word about it. Our details were scanned, the city tax and parking fee collected, and the room keys handed over. This was certainly friendly and efficient. But also decidedly impersonal. There was absolutely no sign of VIP status at check-in.

Where is the Radisson Hotel Szklarska Poręba located?

The Radisson Hotel is located in the quiet northern part of Szklarska Poręba, perched on a hillside above the town, offering sweeping views of the Giant Mountains. Depending on the room category booked, guests can enjoy an impressive panorama of the surrounding peaks. Up here, you'll be largely unaware of the tourist bustle in the town center, guaranteeing peace and seclusion. However, this also means you should allow some extra time for the walk to the center. It's about a 30-minute walk to the center of Szklarska Poręba, partly through the forest. It's a pleasant stroll, weather permitting.

Szklarska Poręba, also known as Schreiberhau, has been a popular tourist destination in the Giant Mountains since the 19th century. In recent years, it has become one of the most sought-after holiday resorts in southern Poland. For outdoor enthusiasts, the hotel's location couldn't be better. The impressive Kamieńczyk Waterfalls attract hikers and adventurers alike. The Karkonosze National Park, the most popular hiking area in the Sudetes, stretches over 100 kilometers with 33 excellent hiking trails and 19 mountain bike routes right on the hotel's doorstep. In winter, the region transforms into a serious ski resort: The Ski Arena, one of the largest ski resorts in the Polish Giant Mountains, boasts 20 ski lifts and 20 kilometers of slopes of varying difficulty. It is located just a few kilometers from the hotel.

What are the rooms like at Radisson Hotel Szklarska Poręba?

Our suite with mountain views was on the fourth and top floor of the hotel, room number 418, and was located directly to the left of the elevator, the first room down the hall. To be honest, we were initially a little hesitant. We usually avoid rooms near elevators. However, what awaited us behind the door quickly made us forget those concerns.

The entrance area welcomes you with a large built-in wardrobe on the right, offering ample hanging and storage space, as well as a safe and an ironing station. To the left is the bathroom with a walk-in shower, a large vanity with plenty of counter space, and a good selection of toiletries. Its design blends harmoniously into the overall aesthetic: gray tiles, light wood, and chrome fixtures provide a subtle contrast to the otherwise black metal elements in the rest of the suite.

Straight ahead is the suite's living room. It features a minibar, which was empty upon our arrival, a tea and coffee station, a desk, a sofa with a coffee table, and a wall-mounted television. At our request, the sofa had already been converted into a bed for our son at check-in. Floor-to-ceiling windows provide plenty of natural light and offer a glimpse of the view that awaits outside.

A door leads into the bedroom. Here, too, there is a large built-in wardrobe and a king-size bed flanked by two bedside tables. Each bedside table is equipped with a lamp, a power outlet, and two USB-A ports. A wall-mounted television completes the furnishings. The decoration above the bed was striking and appealing: two black-painted skis hung from a light green and white checkered wallpaper. This decorative element could be seen as either charming or contrived, but it suits the space and gives the room a unique character. Overall, the condition and design clearly indicated that the hotel is still very new.

The real star of the suite is the balcony, spanning its entire width and offering a magnificent view of the Giant Mountains peaks. Privacy screens made of light wooden slats ensure privacy between the balconies of the adjacent rooms. Four black armchairs and a small bistro table invite you to linger. It was there that we enjoyed the white wine that the hotel had provided as a welcome gift, along with a generously filled plate of fruit, macarons, and cookies. However, two minor drawbacks slightly dampened our enjoyment of the balcony: There is no exterior lighting, making long evenings in the dark less than inviting. Furthermore, the balcony door cannot be closed from the outside.

The suite's design follows a clear concept: light wood, light and dark gray tones, and subtle green accents dominate, while black metal details on door handles, picture frames, and the coffee station shelf form the defining element. The result is modern and serene, but not sterile.

How is breakfast at Radisson Hotel Szklarska Poręba?

The hotel restaurant "Spice & Herb" is located on the ground floor and serves breakfast each morning. Since the Radisson Hotel Szklarska Poręba isn't particularly large, the restaurant area is also quite intimate, which actually enhances the atmosphere. Floor-to-ceiling windows offer unobstructed views of the surrounding mountain peaks, lending breakfast a pleasantly relaxed feel. And if that's not enough, in summer you can enjoy breakfast on the small terrace with its panoramic mountain views.

The buffet was spread across two islands. The first island offered both hot and cold dishes, including homemade sausage specialties from the Giant Mountains. These gave the buffet a lovely regional touch and character. There was also egg salad, various salads, and vegetables. The scrambled eggs were particularly impressive: moist and not dry, as is often the case with hotel buffets. Other hot dishes included bacon and a daily changing special, such as salmon with rice. Desserts like pancakes rounded out the hot selection. The second buffet island offered various types of bread, croissants, pastries, muesli, and drinks. Gluten-free baked goods and various types of milk were also available.

One drawback was the limited fruit selection. There was only sliced honeydew melon, blood orange, and orange – not enough for those who like to create their own yogurt with fresh fruit in the morning. While the baskets did contain apples, bananas, and tangerines, it would have been preferable to have a wider variety of sliced fruit. There were also occasional waits for the small bowls to be refilled, although to be fair, it's better to refill carefully than to waste too much.

Two fully automatic coffee machines, as well as orange and tomato juice, are available. Sparkling wine with breakfast costs an extra 29 PLN, and a freshly squeezed vegetable juice 15 PLN.

As members of the Radisson Rewards program, we enjoyed a pleasant perk: In addition to the regular buffet, we were able to order an à la carte breakfast from an exclusive menu. The choices included granola with Greek yogurt, orange, seasonal fruit, and honey; eggs Benedict on sourdough bread with spinach and hollandaise sauce; avocado toast with egg, sunflower seeds, and chili; two fried eggs; and crêpes with seasonal fruit, whipped cream, and caramel. This was a nice bonus – and the only time during our stay that our VIP status truly made a difference.

What does the Radisson Hotel Szklarska Poręba offer for relaxation?

One of the reasons we chose the Radisson Hotel Szklarska Poręba was its on-site water park – a decisive factor for our son when choosing a hotel. The water park is located on the first basement level and is directly connected to the hotel's spa area. Use of the water park is free for hotel guests and it's open daily from 9 am to 9 pm.

The facility includes a swimming pool and a second pool with massage jets and slightly warmer water. Both pools are made of modern stainless steel, giving the area a clean, contemporary look. We were pleasantly surprised by the quiet, even though the water area was quite busy. Anyone who has ever sat in an indoor pool area that sounded like a packed swimming pool will appreciate this. The absolute highlight for our son was the water slide with its changing light effects, which kept him entertained for hours. Our personal highlight, however, was the outdoor whirlpool with its direct view of the Giant Mountains peaks. An evening there, with cool air and warm water, is hard to beat.

The sauna area, featuring a steam room, a 100-degree Finnish sauna, and an infrared cabin, is located directly adjacent to the swimming pool. The relaxation area offers five heated stone loungers, ideal for unwinding after a sauna session. A striking feature is the floor-to-ceiling window front, which provides a direct view into the swimming area. Whether this is the ideal solution for a relaxation area is debatable, but it didn't bother us. Overall, both the sauna area and the water park give a modern and well-equipped impression.

In addition to the water park, there's a fitness center that's open 24/7, as well as a ping-pong table. Families with children will especially appreciate the kids' club, which is open until 9 p.m. The activities range from a ball pit and foosball table to an Xbox, so there's something for every age. Those with younger children will also find plenty of toys, puzzles, and coloring books.

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