Hi, I'm Łukasz — I help run VITA Augustów. The property is a family business owned by my father-in-law, and together we decide what to change and what to leave exactly the way it has always been. The day-to-day operations are in the hands of a wonderful team, with Ms Iwona at reception — she's the person you'll meet when you arrive. She remembers guests by name, knows what's worth seeing in the area, helps plan your day, and always has a moment to share local stories. If you're writing to VITA through Booking, she's usually the one replying. My own job is to make sure the technical side of the property just works — from online bookings and fast WiFi to making sure guests have everything they need without having to search for it. I'm an IT administrator by profession, and in my free time I spend most of my hours by the water — I love lakes, water sports and tennis. What I like most is the moment when guests return after years and say "nothing has changed here" — because it means we've managed to keep the same quiet, family atmosphere VITA was built around. Many of our guests now arrive with their second and third generation. Feel free to message us before your stay — we'll happily suggest which days are the quietest, which kayak route is right for you, or where the fishing is currently best. See you at Lake Necko.

VITA Augustów is a small, family-run lakeside retreat right on the shore of Lake Necko — 19 rooms with private bathrooms and breakfast included. Everything we do here revolves around the lake. Guests get a private sandy beach just 130 metres from the rooms, with a gentle entry to the water — perfect for families with small children. Included in your stay: kayaks, pedal boats and a rowing boat with no limits, a lakeside pier with sun loungers, a tennis court with rackets and balls at reception, bicycles, a gym, billiards, table tennis, volleyball, basketball and football courts, and a large children's playground. Breakfast is a buffet served in our dining room: hot dishes, pancakes, cheeses, cold cuts, fresh fruit and homemade baked goods. Free parking on site, fibre-optic internet 300 Mbps throughout the property, pets welcome (50 PLN/night). Available at extra cost: lakeside sauna, hot tub in the garden, motorboat rides, SUP and an evening bonfire with sausages. We don't have a swimming pool, 24/7 reception or organised animations — what we offer instead is peace, nature and a stay that simply unfolds on its own.

VITA is located at Rajgrodzka 140, directly on Lake Necko — the largest of the Augustów lakes. It's about a 5-minute drive or a 20-minute walk along the Netta river boulevards to the town centre. What I'd recommend in the area: The Augustów Canal (4.6 km) — a 19th-century monument and one of the most interesting inland waterways in Europe. You can take a boat with "Żegluga Augustowska" from the town pier (a trip to the Przewięź lock or a full-day trip to Studzieniczna). Augustów Primeval Forest (19 km) — the largest forest complex in Poland, perfect for cycling and hiking. I recommend the trail around Lake Białe and the Stara Ruda nature reserve. Studzieniczna Sanctuary — a wooden chapel on a peninsula where Pope John Paul II prayed in 1999. You can get there by boat or by bike through a forest trail. The Netta boulevards and old town square — evening walks, ice cream, restaurants with regional cuisine. I recommend pierogi with potato and cheese — a local specialty. Lake Serwy (25 km) — for those who want to go even deeper into wild nature. Crystal-clear water and beaches that are often completely empty. Augustów railway station — 8 km from us, trains from Warsaw via Białystok. Olsztyn-Mazury airport — 170 km, Warsaw Chopin — 270 km. My tips: have breakfast a little earlier and head out on a kayak around 9:00 — at that hour the lake is practically yours alone. In the evening, walk along the Netta boulevards to the centre — sunsets over Lake Necko can be spectacular. On Saturday mornings it's worth visiting the market for fresh vendace and whitefish straight from the boats.