My allocated room had a bathroom that smelt bad, as if there was some leakage of the soil pipe behind the scenes. I asked to change but was told that it was not possible because the hotel was full. The next day I asked again if someone could look into this but nothing came of it.
Also, having booked in PLN, I said clearly that I wished to pay in PLN but the hotel took payment in GBP. The receipt stated that I had been offered a choice, that I had chosen to pay in GBP, that I had no recourse, and that the exchange had been performed by an agent called eService, who added a 3% mark-up. The combination of the agent’s mark-up and its exchange rate resulted in a rate approx. 5% worse than that of my own card provider. As a result, I paid in GBP approx. 5% more than I needed to. On return I e-mailed the hotel - they replied that this was how Gromada’s payment system worked, that they had no control over it and that the hotel itself had not made the currency exchange. I now know that when comparing prices at a Gromada, I should factor in 5% on top of the quoted room rate.
Despite the poor start, the hotel had good points. The room was a decent size and quiet. Mineral water was supplied and replenished daily. The bathroom, though smelly, was kept very clean. Hot water was instant. Communal areas were cleaned daily. There was a range of options for breakfast. Breakfast and restaurant staff excellent; reception staff polite but not entirely effective. Mixed use area.