Hotel Cristal is located in the centre of Bialystok near the border of White Russia. The centre, Old Market, University and Branicki Palace, all are at walking distance. Staffs are friendly and helpful.

The hotel was built in the early fifties, completely renovated in 1997 and had a redecoration in 2002. Hotel Cristal is part of the Best Western chain yet it does not have the impersonal atmosphere of a chain hotel. The interior of the hotel is clean, adequately furnished and decorated and still makes you feel a bit in the pre 1989 days.

Our room was spacious, had a comfortable bed and a large bathroom and was very clean. The buffet style breakfast was very good, with hot and cold dishes and plenty of Polish treats.

Stayed at the Hotel Cristal for 3 nights in August 2009 and was very impressed. The hotel is part of the Best Western chain however it does not have the impersonal feel of a chain hotel.
Our room was on the first floor. It was spacious and had a big bathroom.
We stayed on a bed & breakfast basis. Breakfast is buffet style, with hot and cold dishes and plenty of Polish treats.
Internet access is available free in the lobby.
The hotel in right in the centre of town and it is in an ideal location for tourists.
The most convenient way to get to Bialystok from Warsaw is by train from Warsaw Centrum train station. It takes about 2 hours 40 mins and costs 45zl (about £10/€12). A taxi from Bialystok train station to the hotel will cost about 10zl.
If I visit Bialystok again I will definitely stay at Hotel Cristal.

The building interior is quite old, makes you feel a bit in the pre 1990 days. Nevertheless, the room itself is okay, breakfast is nice so no complaints. Nice restaurant.

I stayed several nights in the Hotel Cristal. Everything was fine until the Friday night when they had a disco operating in the hotel's restaurant. The noise was beyond defeaning. You literally had to raise your voice to have a conversation in the room. Sleeping would have impossible had I not had very effective earplugs with me. The noise didn't end until about 3 or 4 a.m.

Had it not been for this problem, the hotel would have been just fine. Maybe the noise is less noticeable on the upper floors. I was on the 2nd floor, above the restaurant area. I would never stay there again.