Most major international hotel chains are represented in Poland. International Student Hotels offer better facilities than youth hostels and are inexpensive, comfortable and pleasant.

Grading: Hotels in Poland are graded in five categories: Luxury, 4-star, 3-star, 2-star and 1-star. In addition there are tourist hotels, boarding houses and motels, each graded into three or four categories.

Guest houses can be rated on a 1- to 3-star rating, but if it hasn't been rated, it doesn't mean it's not good - it might just be very small. In this category are bed and breakfasts (noclegi), often found in the Polish mountains and by the sea. The guest houses called pensjonat can range from very basic bunk houses to cosy or even luxurious accommodation with spas and conference facilities. Reservations can often be made from local tourist offices.

There are over 200 campsites in Poland, nearly 75% of which are fitted with 220-volt powerpoints and several with 24-volt points for caravans. Facilities also include washrooms, canteens and food kiosks. The main camping season is June to August; popular places to camp include the Baltic Sea coast and the Great Malsurian Lakes Region. Holders of an international camping card (FICC) qualify for a 10% discount on rates.

There are over 150 hostels in Poland which are open all year round, and 450 only in the summer season. Addresses can be found in the Youth Hostel Handbook (www.hihostels.com) published by the Polish Youth Hostels Association.

Agricultural tourism is a more recent business model for accommodation which claims to promote the concept of living closer to the land. Some agroturystyka businesses serve organic food harvested on an adjacent farm and promote outdoor activities, some which may involve helping on the farm. Other places only nod to this concept by offering horse riding.

Polskie Towarzystwo Schronisk Mlodziezowych (Polish Youth Hostels Association)
Ulica Chocimska 14, 00-791 Warsaw, Poland
Tel: (022) 849 8128.
Website: www.ptsm.org.pl

Polish Hotel Association
Ulica Nowogrodzka 44 lok 2, 00-522 Warsaw, Poland
Tel: (022) 622 6991/2/3.
Website: www.hotel.pl

Polska Federacja Campingui I Caravaningu (Polish Federation of Camping and Caravanning)
Ulica Grochowska 331, 03-823 Warsaw, Poland
Tel: (022) 810 6050.
Website: www.pfcc.eu