Dear Fodorites,

Await your recommendations for pensions in Prague and CK.

Kind regards,
SKPKCP11

http://www.livingprague.com/
have a look at this website, lots of great info there,on the left hand side of the page are links to accommodation reccommendations..
http://www.prague.net/
this link will give yopu lots of info on what to do and see,some of the prices are a bit out of day but gives you a rough idea.
I will be in Prague in may for the Beer festival and can reccommend you making a visit there, not just beer but lots of other drinks,good food and live entertainment.
http://www.ceskypivnifestival.cz/en/

Why does it have to be pensions ? Budget reasons or others?

Thanks Unclegus for the info. Understand you are pro for Prague. Can you recommend some real good hearty must eats. We love pork.

Kappa1 - yes we are looking at pensions for budget reasons as I understand they would be cheaper. If we can get a family room for approx. Euro 100-120.

Do we need to book the Student Agency bus and buy tickets months in advance before we reach Prague for travelling from Prague to CK? Please advise.

Kind regards,
SKPKCP11

Ok, then you can try the following:

http://www.garzottohotels.cz/en/

Go to above and choose : Prague - Residence Mala Starana 3*.
I can recommend this place for its quality, central location, tram lines nearby, etc. They have larger rooms consisted of 2 rooms, called senior suites that can take 2 - 3 persons in the bed room and 2 in the living room that has 2 convertible bed. I have stayed there many times. Not ultra modern maybe but quite good neverthless. Last time was I stayed there at Christmas few weeks ago and now they had flat screen TV ( not that that's important ). For a May date, I put 2 adults + 2 children and got €76 for 4 persons. Curiously the site shows also a junior suite room ( that's only one room and smaller than senior) for 3 persons but the price is more expensive € 91. In any case, it would be worth a try as the rates are well within your budget.
Happy planning !

the living prague website has a section about czech food
http://www.livingprague.com/food.htm
lots of places to eat.Jason that runs that website is a good friend of mine and we often meet up to enjoy a beer or two and a bite to eat when we are both in the city.Once you decide on where you are staying i will try and make suggestions ,but have a look at this blog for info on lots of resturants
http://czechoutchannel.blogspot.co.uk/.
http://www.nadkralovskouoborou.cz/
this is one of my favourite places,specialises in Game but it is a bit hard to find and you will need to walk from the tram stop about 600 yards or so,worth it in my opinion.

as to accomodation worth looking at an apartment option ,should be able to get something for that price, look at this company I have used them a couple of times.
http://www.travelcook.com/

Sorry, Mala STRANA.

Has many inexpensive restaurants nearby but one good place for Czech food is Olympia ( of Kolkovna Group), a brasserie like, large and clean place. Lots of pork choices I suppose. Soup from CZK30 (about 1.30€), Pilsner beer also from about CZK30. Quite inexpensive. Just 2 blocks away from the hotel.
http://www.kolkovna.cz/index.php?place=12&show=hot

I will second Olympia, been a whiles since i was last there but very good food.

We used this company in Poland and were very happy with the selection.

http://www.bedandbreakfastworld.com/map#,51.787489,12.495145,5

Thanks kappa1 and unclegus for your replies. Will definitely check out these sites.

Since we will be in Prague and CK for more nights what are the must do day trips you recommend from Prague and CK that can be done using public transport.

Also, what are the grocery stores and butcher shops called in Prague and CK for the picnic food on the go? Is there a chain of stores that has its presence all over Czech Republic?

Have heard about Telc and Olomouc a lot? Can it be seen as a day trip and which is the better one? Any info is welcome.

Kind regards,
SKPKCP11

main supermarkets are Tesco, Billa and Alberts. loads all over the place and no problem getting picnic food, you will even get ready made sanwhiches/rolls in many of them.
Kutna Hora is probably one of the easiest places to visit by public transport and I can highly reccomend visiting there, Plzen is about 90 minutes away by train and has the famous Pilsner Urquell brewery there which is worth a visit (I have been 5 times so far) they do have a special eductional tour for kids but I think that may only be for school groups).
a lovely little town is Tabor again about 90 minutes away by train A lovely Tower,medieval museum, Hussite Museum,underground passageway you can tour, carp farm and nice ,nice square and even a Whisky Bar. I think Olomouc and Telc are to far for a day trip but possible.
My number once secret thing to do with the kids is whilst visiting tha castle is to go in the armoury musuem in Golden lane and a have a go at the old fashioned crossbows there, great fun.
there are also some open air markets at Namesti republiky, Karlovy Namesti and Jihiro Z Podebrad (all metro stops) where you can get artizan breads and poastries, cooked meats and cheeses as well as fresh meat and chicken and lots of other stuff.The open airmarket at Havelska has a great selection of fresh fruit and veg.

Whilst I still have my thinking cap on this resturant may be of interest to you.
http://praha-en.vytopna.cz/
all set round a train set and your drinks get delivered to your table by train, great fun and the food is pretty decent ,it is near the top of Wenseslas square and the prices pretty good for the area, can get really bust with kids parties at the weekends ,but worth seeking out.It has been over a year since I was last in there.

Thanks Unclegus. Please keep the info coming in. Any must eats and new things to try are always welcome. We love soups, meats and pastries. Is langos also czech variety of bread? If yes, where can we get it? In which area are the street vendors more concenterated in? What are the must eats from them? What are the things we must take home?

Currently, we are looking at staying in Prague, CK. What are the places we can visit using public transport from CK? Is Hubloka Castle closer to Prague or CK? Can this be done using public transport?

Which other place can someone recommend which we can keep as a base and see the area? Very keen on staying in Dresden for 4 nights to see the area as I have heard a lot of wonderful things. But, not sure how to go about it. The website for Dresden is in german with no english option available. Any ideas?

Kind regards,
SKPKCP11

Hi SKPKCP11,
We stayed here in Prague in the one bedroom. It's just a couple blocks from the Charles Bridge in Mala Strana area. It's exactly as pictured on the website. www.homeaway.co.uk/p85711

We ate here one night and loved it. So much food. Two could easily share one dinner. http://www.uzelenehostromu.eu/EN/main

I have never had langos but I have sen it getting made in some of the street markets/festivals I have been to.When I was visiting in October there was a food festival on in Wenseslas Square doing the Langos, just not the type of thing I go for but the czechs do a great variety of bread my favoyrite one is a type of rye bread with carraway seeds (you get lots of carraway seeds in the CR)
You get lots of street vedors in the tourist area but mainly around wenseslas Square, every variety of sausage going with bread and cabbage but my favourite from street vendors is the deep fried cheese,really delicious.the oyther nice thing is trdelnik,it is a sort of pastry rolled into a tube and cooked on a spit like contaption,usually served with cinamon sugar, great with a coffee for breakfast.
You will see huge hams being cooked over wood fires, this is delicious but be warned it is expensive and you will see prices like 85kc, but thats per 100g and not per portion so it can get quite pricy but it truely is delicious.
There are some great soups to be had one experience to look out for is Goulash soup served in a bread bowl, you can even eat the bowl, spicy filling and delicious., the mushroom soup is also a must try item,they even do garlic soup,I tried it once and it was ok but didn't hit any high spots for me
can't coment of foods to take home as I don't know where you are from so there may be legal issues there ,but I always arrive home with smoked hams and fresh bread, bread and potato dumplings and lots of beers I just can't get in the UK.
I don't know the CK area so really can't make comment so maybe someone else can help there.
Again Dresden is another area I don't know, other parts of Germany yes but not there ,I spent a lot of time in southern Germany nearly 30 years ago as i was engaged to a german girl but all my info for that area would be well out of date.

Would you consider staying in an apartment - it might be better when you have children with you. We have stayed three times in this apartment - http://apartments-in-prague.org/rental-apartments-in-prague/apartment-vlasska-6/

The Apartments in Prague people are very helpful and the apartments in the Vlasska Building are in a great quiet location - in the Mala Strana near the American and Irish embassies. There are shops nearby for provisions and it's a short walk either to the Castle or to Charles Bridge, and there is a tram stop nearby if you don't feel like walking.

other pork food to try is Koleno (Pork Knee)http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KWhbVpdXzp0
this youtube clip will show you it,I think this was filend in U Vejvodu a very good pub in the Old town and where I first tried Koleno,it can be a bit mutch for one person so worth sharing one with the family just to try it.
http://www.restauraceuvejvodu.cz/?page=home&lang=EN, there are a couple of good places nerby U Vejvodu to try.
U Medvidku
http://www.umedvidku.cz/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=60
it is always a must stop place for me when I am in the city, good food ,decent service and fantastic beer.
A new place is this U Tri Ruzi.
http://www.u3r.cz/en/
it is a fairly new place ,makes their own ber and the food is excellnet,mor bistro style than pub style but bloody good and the beer really is quite superb.
A nice cafe in the same area is cafe Louvre.
http://www.cafelouvre.cz/en/
a bit more upmarket but prices are very good.I love the Cowboy Breakfasts/brunches in there,I have never had an evening meal in there though ,it is usually where I meet my mate Jason who does the Living Prague website I mentioned earlier.
hope this is all giving you some ideas.

+1 for Cafe Louvre and U Medvidku. Don't let the smoky atmosphere in U Medvidku put you off - there are non-smoking areas as well. Similarly the restaurant in Cafe Louvre is non-smoking but there is a smoking area in the Cafe part.

We tried the beer in U Tri Ruzi last November - gorgeous! This place is also a good bet for traditional food, but you need to book - www.malostranska-beseda.cz/en/

Dear Fodorites,

Thanks for the lovely info. Unclegus I am looking forward to the Koleno, sausages and deep fried cheese.

Any info on Hubloka Castle? Since we are using public transport, should we do it from Prague or CK?

Is Telc worth visiting or staying overnight? How is the public transport from one city to the other in Czech Republic? Is it safe? Are the trains reliable? Do we need to get tickets in advance?

Kind regards,
SKPKCP11

never been to Hubloka Castle, but I believe its near Cesky Budejovice which I have visited ,a fairly long day trip from Prague but a nice town ,I was there to visit the Budvar (original Budweiser) brewery,actually all my trips to the Czech Republic are based round beer and breweries.
Another city to consider visiting is Brno,I was there for a few days last year and loved it but I was in the company of an English friend who lives there and had a real ball with him and his czech friends, again breweries and beer were involved.
Public Transport in the Czech republic is very good ,very punctial ,very cheap and SAFE! ,never had a problem though sometimes there are works going on the rail track and you may get buses between various points, that has happened to me twice in recent visit.Buses are good and withing the various cities i have been to the tram system has been real easy and cheap to use.

Thanks Unclegus. We are finally deciding on the following :

Arrive : Prague (stay for 5 nights)
Move to Dresden : stay for 3-4 nights
Return to Prague and take the Student Agency bus to CK. Would prefer if they have direct connections between Dresden-CK. Cannot find any. Any suggestion?

From CK-move to either Munich or Salzburg not yet decided. Is there a direct bus service from CK to any of these points as the Student Agency bus comes back to Prague and then moves to Salzburg.

Any inputs for doing this sector of Cesky Krumlov - Munich are welcome.

Kind regards,
SKPKCP11

http://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/ShowForum-g1-i12483-Train_Travel.html
try the TA Train travel forum for info on Dresden to CK folk there might be able to help you.I jbow the German train cpmpany Dbahn run many bus services to various city destinations and i am sure some one will help you there.

I've been to Hluboka and Olomouc and did go to Hluboka as a day trip but on an organized bus tour company which handled the logistics (combined with Ceske Budejovice). I liked it a lot. Olomouc is too far for a day trip from Prague for most people, although you can get there by direct train from Prague, and it is do-able. It's around 2 hrs each way, that's up to you if you want to do that in a day trip.

Hluboka is much closer to CK then Prague. There are public buses from Ceske Budejovice main bus station to Hluboka, not very many on weekends, you need to go during the week. It's an easy walk from where the buses stop. You couldn't do that on your own from Prague, it would take much too long to do the train to CB and then the bus to Hluboka -- and back. The train alone is around 2:45 to 3 hrs one way.

Thanks all for your very informative replies. We have planned 3 nights for CK. Any pension recommendations? Any doable attractions from CK using the public transport? Is Telc doable from Prague or CK? Any advise is welcome.

Kind regards,
SKPKCP11

certainyl Telc would be a lot nearer to CK than Prague but would be easier as a day trip from Brno or Ceske Budejovice as it is halfway between both

Here's a private bus/car service that will take you on a trip from CK to Hluboka for only 40 euro (your private driver). I believe that is RT, that's a good deal.
http://www.shuttleceskykrumlov.com/transfer/cesky-krumlov-to-hluboka

Hluboka is really nice.

YOu could also visit Ceske Budejovice by train direct from CK. That is a city with some interesting thigns to see, I'd say worth a day if you need something to do (and you can't spend days viewing CK alone, there isn't that much to do there). YOu could maybe spend 2 days there seeing things if you want a lot of free time (and won't get there until late morning). So I'd do Hluboka or Ceske Budejovice on the other day.

Book marking for April, with thanks.