Hotel Branicki — Hotel in Białystok

Located in the historical building in central Białystok, the hotel could be a gem. Unfortunately, faulty maintenance and poor management turned our stay there into a nightmare.

I arrived at around 4 pm. After a quick check-in, I discovered a broken and smelly refregerator and immediately informed a receptionist. He responded that the situation is the same in all (!) rooms which was not true since in a second room we have booked for my wife and the daughter the refregerator worked perfectly fine. Having returned back to the hotel at 9 pm, I found out that a water drain in the shower was blocked making our showering impossible. After complaining to a receptionist, I was offered another room just to discover that an air-conditioner was broken there (with 30° temperature outside!). I was then offered to go to another hotel but the offer was withdrawn after they learnt that my wife and the daughter were staying at Branicki too. I certainly could not divide the family between two different hotels. Even though I was initially told that nobody can fix a water drain at 9 pm, it was eventually fixed at 10 pm or so. (So it actually could?!)

This wasn't the end of the story though, since the next morning I discovered that a water drain in the sink was also blocked. This was too much: I had no choice but to complain in writing to the hotel manager. Only then it started to work: a water drain in the sink and a refregerator were fixed. To make it work, I had to complain in writing! Is it real?!

In fact, it surreal rather than real: the next morning a water flush button in the toilet went broken....

For all this nightmare I was given a 10% discount for the first night even though the entire stay at Branicki was -- let's call it softly -- unpleasant.

In view of this ugly experience, I am asking (rhetorically): is this the service, level of basic maintenance and quality that the 4-star hotel should provide? Does Branicki fits the minimal requirements to be rated as a...

Old World Charm

I love a place like this…the complete opposite of soulless modern. I arrived after midnight and the young man at the desk was patient and kind and beyond helpful after my long trip from Berlin.

The room is charming. I threw open the window to the balcony and slept through the night. The hotel is on a side street to the main square so it is blissfully quiet while being at the center of everything.

The breakfast was amazing. Truly. The chef smokes and cures all his meats and makes all his pastries. I am from the United States. Who does this? The breakfast is a beautiful adventure. It will take two days to try everything.

The people who work here are lovely. They smile. They are kind and they would do anything to help you. I speak no Polish and I am still at home here.

A man wrote a very negative review some months ago. I nearly didn’t come. That hurts a place like this, so committed to superior service over decades. I am writing this as a solo woman traveler.

There is rest here. There is quiet. There is excellent food and kind service.

I hope this is representative of all of Poland because I will be overjoyed.

With thanks…

I...

I stayed at this hotel for two nights, and unfortunately, both nights were disrupted by loud music parties organized by the hotel.

For the first party, I received a notification only 24 hours before my stay, and it was in Polish-not even in English. For the second party, I was not informed at all. When I raised my concerns with reception, their response was dismissive and arrogant, without any apology. I have never encountered such an unprofessional attitude.

Speaking of "luxury," this hotel does not live up to that label I could read on many other comments. While it may be new, the materials and finishes are not high-end. Additionally, soundproofing is very poor-I could clearly hear conversations from neighboring rooms through the air ventilation system.

Overall, my experience was disappointing, and I would not recommend this hotel to those seeking a truly comfortable and...