Temporary Accomodation

Warsaw has an ever-expanding range of short-term lodging options, so you can easily make arrangements to have a convenient base from which to search for a new home – or to recommend to those not-soclose friends and family who have announced a visit. The offerings include a broad range of hotels, from the luxurious to the small independently owned, as well as serviced apartments and guesthouses in all price brackets. Availing yourself of temporary housing will also enable you to stake out various neighbourhoods before you choose a residence that meets the needs of you and your family.

Hotels:

Owing to the large influx of business and capital, Warsaw’s property market has expanded furiously over the past two decades and the inner-city neighbourhoods have steadily filled up with new accommodations. These days, the hotel market spans the spectrum from buzzing backpacker places and cheap hotels to decent mid-range options and international-brand luxury establishments. The most visible development has been on the top end of the spectrum, with a slew of four- and five-star hotels popping up all over town, each one upping the ante in terms of facilities, creature comforts and well-designed spaces. At the same time, a number of existing hotels have buffed up their buildings, improved amenities and gone all out to keep pace with the shiny new rivals. Although rooms in mid- to top-end hotels are by no means cheap, prices remain palatable compared to other European capitals. It’s no secret that small things make all the difference, so when selecting a hotel give some thought to what you’re really looking for. For a comprehensive list of options and an insider lowdown on the best places to stay, log onto www.staypoland.com, www.polhotels.com or www.bookwarsaw.com.

Westin Warsaw
al. Jana Pawla II 21 (450 8000, www.westin.pl)
Crisp, minimalist interiors, business-friendly facilities and an incredibly polite and professional staff can be found inside a 20-storey modern sweep of metal and glass on one of the city’s most dynamically developing streets. The restaurant serves East-meets-West fusion food, health and beauty treatments are rich and varied and there are even toys and special rooms set aside for guests with pets.

Le Royal Meridien Bristol
ul. Krakowskie Przedmiescie 42/44 (551 1000, www.starwoodhotels.com)
Located right along the Royal Route, within a 10-minute walk of the historic Old Town, this beautifully restored early 20th-century hotel provides an elegant base for exploring Warsaw. The spacious and superbly fitted quarters are favoured by heads of state and well-to-do travellers, and the upscale culinary venues, including a Viennese-style cafe and Italianfocused restaurant, lure visitors and locals alike.

Hilton Warsaw Hotel and Convention Centre
ul. Grzybowska 63 (356 555, www1.hilton.com)
Foreign dignitaries and high-maintenance urbanites frequent this five-star 2007 newcomer where contemporary charm and business functionality go hand-in-hand. Besides the 341 sumptuous rooms tricked out with excellent bedding, walk-in showers and high-tech gear, it offers multiple decadent culinary venues, a full-service wellness and fitness centre, a casino and the city’s largest conference space.

Marriott
al. Jerozolimskie 65/79, (630 6306, www.marriott.com/hotels/travel/wawpl-warsawmarriott-hotel)
Towering above the heart of downtown, the city’s first truly high-end hotel is a destination in itself – its bright and breezy units are full of modern comforts, the wellness-fitness facilities are first-rate and dining options run the gamut from sashimi to saltimbocca, with the 40th-floor Panorama Bar offering cracking cocktails and spectacular views across the city. The chain’s Courtyard operation at the Chopin International Airport offers the same high-style luxury for the jet-setting elite.

Campanile, Kyriad Prestige & Premiere Classe
ul. Towarowa 2 (582 7200, www.campanile-varsovie.pl; 582 7500, www.kyriadprestige-varsovie.pl; www.premiereclasse.com.pl)
This complex of three mid-range options, each designed for a different degree of comfort, is your best bet for good value and reliable lodgings in close proximity to the inner-city commercial, entertainment and shopping areas. Premiere Class is a basic budget affair; Campanile has simple and uncluttered rooms; and the three-star Kyriad Prestige comes up trumps with stylish decor and comfortable amenities.

Castle Inn
ul. Swietojanska 2, corner of Zamkowy Square (425 0100, www.castleinn.pl)
This historic townhouse has been treated to a fun and youthful makeover by its design-minded owners, giving the Castle Inn an artsy-eccentric edge in Warsaw’s storied Old Town. Each room is individually styled by a local designer, some with exotic oriental furnishings, others in more toned-down, natural decor. Best of all, the city’s top tourist spots are all a comfortable stroll away.

Sofitel Victoria
ul. Krolewska 11 (657 8011, www.sofitel.com/gb/hotel-3378-sofitel-warsaw-victoria)
Opposite Norman Foster’s curvaceous office complex on Pilsudskiego Square, this seven-storey hotel was erected in 1976 and now, after extensive renovation, offers 340 deluxe rooms sporting handsome furniture and thoughtful amenities. The underground fitness-wellness centre, the multifunctional conference space and the close proximity of the Saxon Garden, the Zache ta National Gallery of Art and the Grand Theatre are all part of the allure.

Polonia Palace
al. Jerozolimskie 45 (318 2800, www.poloniapalace.com)
Bang in the centre of Warsaw, this sensuously renovated 1913 Art Nouveau landmark exudes calm luxury: plush beige-and-brown bedrooms have long windows overlooking the cake-shaped Palace of Culture and Science. The fitness-wellness area is compact yet comfortable and the dining venues, including a jazz and swing-focused bar and a restaurant serving European delicacies, ensure the ultimate in class.

Rialto
ul. Wilcza 73, corner of Emilii Plater (584 8700, www.hotelrialto.com.pl)
Tucked away in a turn-of-the-century townhouse in the centre of town, this five-star boutique property is richly decorated in a blend of Art Deco, Art Nouveau and lavish contemporary designs. It proudly maintains its historical edge over Warsaw’s hefty chain hotels, and each room comes fitted with period furniture, plush fabrics and porcelain bathtubs.

Number 12
ul. Mysliwiecka 12 (628 0073, www.number12.pl)
Built as the home of a Polish architect in the leafy embassy quarter of the city, a short stroll from the Royal Łazienki park, this elegant property was converted into a luxurious two-room boutique bolthole. Fridge by yDe operates a spa on the premises, featuring an assortment of treatments based on their all-natural lotions, creams and essential oils.

Novotel Warszawa Centrum
ul. Marszałkowska 94/98 (596 0000, www.novotel.com/gb/hotel-3383-novotelwarszawa-centrum)
One of the first high-rise buildings in post-war Warsaw, this 111-metre monolith was known as the Forum hotel until 2002, when it was taken over by Novotel and given a new-age look. Noise-proofed rooms are appointed with sleek furnishings, quality technical gear and floor-toceiling windows to maximise views of the cityscape.

Serviced apartments:

With all the freedom, flexibility and convenience you need during a prolonged stay, serviced apartments are a good alternative to hotels if you want to keep costs down without sacrificing quality or creature comforts. Short-term apartments geared toward foreigners are located either in newly-built condominiums or alongside a hotel. They’re usually spacious and well appointed – many are furnished to a higher level than the average family home – with their own kitchen and laundry facilities, giving more of a home-like experience before moving into permanent accommodation or while waiting for your furniture to arrive. When it comes to costs, these accommodations often work out to be cheaper than hotels. and the longer the stay, the better the rate. Some notable options include Mamaison Residence Diana (ul. Chmielna 13a, 505 9100, www. mamaison.com/warsaw-diana.html), Platinum Residence (ul. Grzybowska 61, 419 0000, www.platinumresidence.com) and Residence 1898 (ul. Marszałkowska 72, 523 6277, www.1898.pl). For reviews and deals on serviced apartments try www.moveandstay.com or www.staypoland.com.

Finding housing:

Although property options abound in Warsaw, house- or flat-hunting is still not easy and much depends on where you want to live. The traditional adage of ‘location, location, location’ holds true, as finding the right home for you and your family has as much to do with the neighbourhood as with the residence itself. To make an informed decision as to which location is most suitable for you, check out a variety of residential areas and hire a specialist relocation company to locate and preview homes within your price range. You can also ask friends and colleagues about the pros and cons of their neighbourhood or get more information from expat Internet forums such as www.polished.pl, www. expats-in-poland.com or www.expatguide.pl.

Looking for a new home can be exciting, but at the same time frustrating, as each area comes with an equal bag of advantages and disadvantages. Renting a flat in Srodmiescie (city centre) will keep you close to all the entertainment and shopping, but space may be limited and all the hustle and bustle can get tiring. Choosing a house in the outer-lying district of Wilanow, on the other hand, may leave you feeling cut off from the community social life.

Expat families with children attending international schools tend to prefer Mokotow, a laid-back residential district with a wealth of transport connections to the centre and some of the most alluring parks in the city, including Pole Mokotowskie. The historical and business downtown district, Srodmiescie, tends to house younger foreigners who appreciate the mish-mash of dining, shopping and nightlife venues and want to be right in the middle of all the action. Property prices in these two precincts are among the highest in all of Warsaw. For the same price you can rent roomier flats in the outer areas of the city, where many new condos have extras like underground parking, fitness centres and additional security. Before signing the lease contract, do the research, outline all your priorities and weigh all the strengths and drawbacks of each option – from your commute to local shopping options to the accessibility of sporting facilities – in order to choose a place which meets the specifications of your entire family. Some of the many factors to consider in your home search include:

Space
Have a good think about how much living space you and your family need. Houses in the outskirts of Warsaw are naturally more spacious than inner-city flats, but sizes and layouts vary widely so make sure to look at the floor plan and visualise where you’d like your furniture to go. Living in an apartment block means having to think about the proximity of your neighbours, as noise travels through walls and floors, but it can also be a great way to forge ties in your community.

Commute
How much time will it take to get to work and for your kids to reach school? How many modes of transport are available near the property? For a major metropolitan area, Warsaw’s average daily commute time is relatively short, but convenience of access and travel duration depend heavily on travel conditions and time of day. To get an accurate door-todoor estimate, it’s best to do one or more trial runs at various times of day.

Children
The school you enrol your children in can be extremely helpful in answering your many questions about how to help them fit in. For example, what kind of playgrounds, parks, community centres and after-school activities are there in your neighbourhood? Are there other families with children of similar ages and interests nearby? When is it safe for them to walk to school or take public transportation?

Neighbourhood conveniences
If you don’t have time to take lengthy walks through the neighbourhood before moving in, your neighbours or real estate agent will be able to help you answer many of your questions. For instance, is there a good transportation system in the area? Are there supermarkets or shopping centres that stock the kind of food, household items and other goods you need? What kind of sports and entertainment facilities are nearby? Doing your homework early on will make you feel right at home as soon as you move in – and may prevent you from being disappointed later.

Safety
While Warsaw is a fairly safe city, petty theft does occur and crime against expatriates is not unheard of. To be on the safe side, it’s advisable to take the same security precautions as you would in your home country and to pay close attention to your surroundings. If you have children, you might want to consider moving into a gated community with video surveillance and on-site security guards.

Lease agreement
The minimum lease when renting an apartment in Warsaw is usually twelve months, unless otherwise stated or agreed upon with the landlord. At the time the contract is signed, the renter is typically expected to pay a security deposit amounting to two months’ rent. As is common elsewhere, the rent is usually paid in advance at the beginning of each month in PLN, via bank transfer or in cash, and does not usually include utilities (water, electricity, gas, telephone, Internet) or the common fee charged by many condominiums. Make sure the lease agreement includes a ‘Diplomatic Clause’ that allows you to terminate the contract with two months’ notice. If you don’t want the hassle of dealing with authorities and landlords, get a good relocation agency or real-estate broker to assist you with all the formalities of renting your new home. They will negotiate a favourable price and terms with the Polish landlord on your behalf, as well as have the lease reviewed for you by a legal advisor before you sign on the dotted line.