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PRAHA - LODGINGNOTE: It is impossible to list every hotel and every restaurant. Rather, listed below are only those establishments at different price ranges that were recommended by fellow 'Netizens.' Hotel reservations are imperative! |
| HOTELS: | |
| Over $200/double w/breakfast: | Diplomat, Evropská 15, Praha 6 (ph. 2439-4111) fax: (331-4215) |
| $150-200/double w/breakfast: | U Páva, U luzického semináre 106, Mala Strana (2451-0922), fax (53-33-79) |
| $ 100-150/double w/breakfast: |
"We stayed here all 7 nights and we were extremely pleased. The setting, in the Hradcany castle district, is peaceful and village-like after the crowds in the town centre; the place is a genuine designer pension, conceived by its photographer owner, with carefully chosen rustic decor and genuine antique objects. Breakfast was copious, there was a minibar and tea available every evening; the staff were very helpful, and there was a night security guard. Guests have the use of a delightful rooftop garden. We even had 2 rooms (downstairs and mezzanine), with private bathroom. It was actually very difficult to fault; well worth the money, and we'd stay there again. Thank you very much for recommending it!" "A wonderfully located 6 bedroom boutique hotel that costs much less than the Hilton. Our taxi from the airport was met at the door by staff who welcomed us with complementary champagne. Our entire stay was in this beautiful, artistic and AIR CONDITIONED place. Gardens, art, photography, very helpful and creative staff who'll whip up a ham and cheese pancake snack and serve it in the garden. Two pillows on each bed, one very large and duvetish, and the other small and snuggly. A great circular glass shower. An evening watchman who keeps an eye out for late returners walking down the narrow curving lane." "This is a relatively new hotel of 30 guest rooms. Our room was as clean and comfortable, the shower fully enclosed, and the breakfast buffet was wonderful. At 3,380 Ck per night in high season all inclusive, we found the room to be a good value. The hotel had a driver meet us at the airport - highly recommended!" "The front desk workers have an apartment on the fourth floor of the building next door, which they rent for about half of what it costs to stay in the hotel itself." "This small, family run hotel with supremely friendly staff is located in a former burgher's house in Malá Strana, a convenient spot for sightseeing. Each of the 12 rooms had unique period furniture. Ask for the charming honeymoon suite, even if you're alone." "My wife and I stayed in there last year. It was an excellent value - clean, simple and inexpensive. Great location. You can stroll down to the Charles Bridge or up to the Castle." |
| $50 -100/double w/breakfast: | "It's a permanently docked boat outside the city center - It is about 5 mins walk from Metro Palmovka. Rooms with own bathroom including breakfast are about $60 single & $70 twin" "This hotel has a marvelous location on a quiet side street about 5 minutes on foot from the Old Town Square. Service at the hotel, headed by English-speaking Karel Pechac is good. There's a pleasant bar adjacent to the lobby and a restaurant with a 1950s decor" "It has the advantage of being proximate to the metro as well as the trams on Jecna, without being in the midst of all the tourists. It is a quiet block near the Botanical Garden and the medical school. I was more than willing to walk to the central areas of Nove and Stare Mesto. The facilities were quite nice (even a private terrace on our room) and the staff was most helpful in all respects." "It is cheap, one block from the Vltava River, clean, and they have an excellent breakfast (not to mention a great little bar). They also have a 24 hour reception desk which is helpful if you don't feel like lugging your key around or you somehow get separated from your companions. Guests share bathrooms (one bathroom for every two rooms)." "It is located just below the Castle in a quiet area. Best of all it, was off the tourist track and was mostly used by business people visiting Prague. The rooms are clean and bright with their own bathroom. The people working there were all very friendly and helpful. Breakfast is included and it was always very good and plentiful. I would recommend it to anyone." "I thought that the Pension Expres was a good 'cheap and cheerful' place, steps from the center of town. There is a strip- joint a couple of doors down but it's quiet. Nice pub next door. Cost me 2,600 Kc per night for a double with private bathroom and huge breakfast brought to the room! I also booked it on-line with a visa card, no trouble at all." "A double room a night with private bathroom was spacious and clean but the breakfast was average with just some bread rolls & jam, cereal, tea & coffee, orang juice and small cakes. The Old Town location is very convenient." "Right in the Old Town, no more than 150 yards from the Charles Bridge. It was very convenient and clean. We got a large room with en suite." "I stayed in the King George two months ago. The location is excellent. Two drawbacks -- (1) the breakfast wasn't much, and (2) I had an attic room, #15 I believe, which was a LONG, LONG climb (no elevator). I was rewarded with an outstanding view of the rooftops of Prague, though. Oh, and (3), poor TV reception (if it matters). But if you avoid the attic rooms and don't watch much TV, I recommend it." "I stayed 6 nights. It is a converted monastery and it has only been open a couple of months. The rooms are simple and clean. The nearest metro is Palackeho namesti (about 2 blocks) and the #24 tram goes past it. It stops about 1/2 block away." "We also enjoyed it. It is a former convent and prison - if you ask ahead, you can stay in Vaclav Havel's old cell. It is pretty basic, but we loved the location (although street noise was bothersome - we used earplugs)." "If you want something central and cheap, the best I found in Prague was the attic room 401 in Hotel Betlem Club. Very cordial reception staff when I stayed there and it's a great location. The room was clean, but tiny and oddly arranged. I loved it and I'd stay there again. I wouldn't recommend it for a tall person, though, as standing upright might be hazardous. ;-)" "In Prague we stayed at the Hotel U Tri Korunek in Zizkov, still a favorite spot for being cheap, clean, and close to Wenceslas Square (two tram stops on the #9). I don't recommend the breakfast buffet, but the hotel is a good pick if you're on a budget. Triple room US $70 before tourist season, $125 during. Phone is 2278-1359" "We've used the Pension Veronika for our bicycle tours. It's at Na jezerce 29/632, 140 00, Prague 4. Good location, near public transportation, resonable price." |
| BED & BREAKFASTS: |
Hana's B&B: "We stayed at a Pension called 'Holiday Home.' We paid $35.U.S. for a double and included breakfast, clean and simple. The owner was helpful with directions and advice. It was very close to a square and metro/bus stop called Namesti Miru. It was in town, but not right in the heart of high dollar tourist places like Old Town or Charles Bridge area. Mostly locals, didn't see many tourists, which was fun. It was very easy to get anywhere from there. Near, there were a few cheap local holes to eat in. We had a chicken dinner with a pivo (beer) for $5.00 for the both of us. An ATM on other side of square. Walking distance to an Internet Cafe and a grocery store." "I recommand the Guest House 'DZS,' Dlouha 17, Praha 1, tel.: +420 222 317 040. This summer I paid EUR 27 for one overnight stay with breakfast. Room and the bathroom were small, but clean and the breakfast was good. Location is excellent. The only problems was that I got in touch with them only by phone."
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| SHORT-TERM APARTMENT RENTALS: | JEWISH TRAVEL AGENCY: Pavel Erdos pavelerdos@volny.cz, 602/330-435
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YOUTH HOSTELS: (about US$ 10 w/breakfast. Shared bathrooms): |
"It was almost impossible to find from the tram stop, esp. at night. When I arrived they didn't have any beds, but they set me up in the upstairs hallway for the night on a comfy foldout until a bed became free. The groove there is to wake up at 11am run into the dining room to just make breakfast in time, eat and talk, venture into town, hit a bar for happy hour, then dinner maybe back at the hostel, then out clubbing all night....so exhausting, such fun... Some people did this for one or two months. They have Czech ladies living there doing the cooking and cleaning, and they were like Czech Moms after a while (except you couldn't understand them sometimes :) So cheap and warm and friendly.... a great place!" |
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STUDENT DORMS: |
e-mail: welcome@welcome.cz "Not the prettiest place--6 plain and functional towers with endless rows of rooms. But I had a double room to myself for about 400 Kc a night (a little over $10 American). And the bathrooms were clean and the showers always had hot water. Transportation was convenient to and from the hostel. Service was reasonable. No lockout policy. I would recommend it to others." |
| FURTHERMORE: | |
| ACCOMODATION SERVICES: |
Hybernska 13 - Masarykovo nadrazi 110 00 Praha 1 tel.:00420/2/24615163 tel./fax:00420/2/24617168 (Economical end of accommodation, including loads of private rooms. The staff were very chatty - I spoke Czech - friendly and obliging. Their office is actually at Masaryk's Railway Station, tucked away somewhat.)
Ostrovni 7, 110 08 Praha1 phone: +420 -(0)2-24 990 990 -2 fax: +420 -(0)2-24 990 999 e-mail: oms@travel.cz web: http://www.travel.cz phone/fax: US Toll free: +1-800-707 7819 phone fax UK, London: +44-20-7681 2362 (Self-catering flats, pensions and hotels. Their office is right behind the National Theatre) AVE, Hlavni nadrazi, Praha 2, (phone 2422-3226, fax 2422-3463), PragoCongress (20-24-19), HELLO, Senovazne namesti 3, Praha 1 (2421-2741), PIS, utvar Pragotur, U Obecniho domu 2, Praha 1, (phone 26-40-22, fax 2481-1651) all offer room-finding services. Most will have photos of the room and show you where the place is on the map. Then, book for ONE NIGHT ONLY. If you like the place, make your reservations directly with the place you are staying. It'll cost you half as much. Check with CKM at Zitna 9 (ph. 2491-0457) on the latest on hostels & dorms. Private accommodations offered at train stations are plentiful and generally safe. THE NUMBER OF PLACES ADVERTISING ACCOMMODATIONS ("zimmer frei") IS ASTOUNDING! |
| AVOID: | "Hotel Kafka, even though it's suggested by the train station booking center. Rude management, dirty rooms, spooky bar downstairs. In other words rip-off." |
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