Horská chata Stará Horáreň 1

We were looking for an inexpensive and somewhat rustic experience for several days of hiking, cave visits, and castle trips. The location of this place is well-suited for all of these activities. There are trails right from the hotel, or you can drive into the National Park area which is about 20 minutes to the entrance. The park is huge - we were interested in the low Tatras, so it was good for that. Caves and castles are also about 30 minutes away and there are deal to choose from. There are two properties available through the owner: a small pension and a house to rent. We rented the house which was perfect for us. It is rustic with wood-fire heat (which kept the house very warm and was easy to keep going). There is a living room with sofa, table, and chairs to eat at. It was comfortable for us as a family of four. The kitchen and bathroom were good size and well equipped with a heated towel rack in the bathroom. The upstairs had a large bedroom at the top of the stairs with four twin beds. Off of that is the master bedroom with a double bed and another single bed. The place could sleep a lot of people but it would be a tight fit in the living area. Best part for me was being able to take meals at the hotel on the half board option. We had a hearty breakfast each day and something equally yummy in the evening. It was all delicious, simple fare. Breakfast: each day was different. I think you could also get a special order of something if you are picky. 1) scrambled eggs 2) hot dogs 3) deli meats and cheese plate 4) fried eggs with ham. A large basket of breads and jams/honey and coffee or tea was also included. Dinners:1) baked chicken with boiled potatoes 2) chicken w/mushrooms and rice 3) spaghetti bolognese 4) potato, sausage, hard-boiled egg, and barbecue sauce scramble. I'm sure he has lots of other yummy things - this is just what we had. The owner, Richard, is friendly and helpful. He showed us maps of the area, let us use his guidebooks, and offered to arrange horseback riding. We needed to make a business phone call and he was very helpful about making sure we had a good Internet connection and privacy. There is wifi at the hotel, not the house, so we'd check email over breakfast and the enjoy being "unplugged" for the rest of the day. Can't say enough about this place. It's great for those who are looking for a simple, inexpensive way to see Slovakia's beautiful scenery.