Prague, Hotel and car costs
Mar 25th, 2008, 11:36 AM
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Prague, Hotel and car costs
My husband and myself have booked a trip to Prague and are planning to stay there for about 4 days before heading to Slovak Republic. I am trying to find an hotel to stay in Prague, which would be reasonable priced and a walking distance to the centre. I see hotels posted on this website, but can't seem to get costs on any of them. Am I looking in the wrong areas?
Also, can anyone give us some advice on car rentals, we need a car for the 2 weeks that we will be spending in the Slovak Republics.
Also, can anyone give us some advice on car rentals, we need a car for the 2 weeks that we will be spending in the Slovak Republics.
Mar 25th, 2008, 05:11 PM
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We will be in Prague in June and recently made hotel reservations. I suggest that you try to determine an area/neighborhood in which you would like to stay, then narrow down hotel choices. A site such as venere.com has numerous hotels listed with prices and availability.
Once you find some hotels that are in your price range and located where you want to be, searching this forum and especially tripadvisor.com for reviews of the hotels you are interested in is a good investment of time. Venere.com also has reviews by its customers.
We will be staying in the Mala Strana area across the river from the central town. From our reading, it appears that is a fairly easy walk to most sites, and I also understand that public transportation - particularly trams - is excellent and easy to use.
I do not plan to use a car while we are in the Czech Republic, so I do not have much to say about that. We have frequently used Auto Europe for rentals and I recommend that company highly (they do not have rental locations but act as a broker and can be helpful if you have a problem).
Good luck.
Once you find some hotels that are in your price range and located where you want to be, searching this forum and especially tripadvisor.com for reviews of the hotels you are interested in is a good investment of time. Venere.com also has reviews by its customers.
We will be staying in the Mala Strana area across the river from the central town. From our reading, it appears that is a fairly easy walk to most sites, and I also understand that public transportation - particularly trams - is excellent and easy to use.
I do not plan to use a car while we are in the Czech Republic, so I do not have much to say about that. We have frequently used Auto Europe for rentals and I recommend that company highly (they do not have rental locations but act as a broker and can be helpful if you have a problem).
Good luck.
Mar 26th, 2008, 07:13 AM
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Thanks for all the info, I will certainly look into those websites. We feel cost for a hotel would be between 80 and 100 dollars, can't afford to spend much more than that.
We had been hoping to find something close to the Old Town Square, so we would not have to rent a car while in Prague. Thanks again for the info.
We had been hoping to find something close to the Old Town Square, so we would not have to rent a car while in Prague. Thanks again for the info.
Mar 26th, 2008, 08:26 AM
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That is going to be very difficult to find at that rate in Central Prague as the value of the USD is rock bottom (eg, when I first went to Prague, probably around 2000, I was getting around 40 CZK per USD, and currently you get only 16 -- yes, only 16).
For what you want, you need to look for a Hotel in Prague 1, Old Town or Mala Strana. You'd be more likely to find that farther out, of course, but I understand wanting to stay central. YOu might consider Prague 2 or 5 if you have to, they aren't too far (something in the Vinoradhy or Zizkov or area near Andel metro would be okay).
It is very common for hotels in Prague to be listed on hotel websites, more than in many cities, and some have good discounts. Some hotels have their own website, but a lot do not because they list with others. Venere is easy to use, and I think I saw two (only two out of their entire list in Prague) that fell within your parameters. Those were the Hotel Mustek and the Jerome Home. The Mustek looked pretty good and was even cheaper. Both are actually 3* hotels with rates $75-$98 for a double room, and aren't too far from Wenceslas Square, but not right on it. That would be okay and you can walk where you want.
I checked another website that has been in business a long time www.marys.cz and they didn't have anything in Prague 1 at those rates, not even a 2* hotel -- at least not in peak season (Spring to end of June). I don't know when you are actually going, rates drop some in July and are a lot cheaper in winter of course.
Prague has a pretty good metro system (and trams or buses, but they are not as easy to figure out where they are going nor as efficient and can run infrequently at night). YOu do not have to be right near Old Town Square to do without a car, as they have a good metro system. Just be within walking distance of a metro stop if you did go to Prague 2 or 5, etc.
For what you want, you need to look for a Hotel in Prague 1, Old Town or Mala Strana. You'd be more likely to find that farther out, of course, but I understand wanting to stay central. YOu might consider Prague 2 or 5 if you have to, they aren't too far (something in the Vinoradhy or Zizkov or area near Andel metro would be okay).
It is very common for hotels in Prague to be listed on hotel websites, more than in many cities, and some have good discounts. Some hotels have their own website, but a lot do not because they list with others. Venere is easy to use, and I think I saw two (only two out of their entire list in Prague) that fell within your parameters. Those were the Hotel Mustek and the Jerome Home. The Mustek looked pretty good and was even cheaper. Both are actually 3* hotels with rates $75-$98 for a double room, and aren't too far from Wenceslas Square, but not right on it. That would be okay and you can walk where you want.
I checked another website that has been in business a long time www.marys.cz and they didn't have anything in Prague 1 at those rates, not even a 2* hotel -- at least not in peak season (Spring to end of June). I don't know when you are actually going, rates drop some in July and are a lot cheaper in winter of course.
Prague has a pretty good metro system (and trams or buses, but they are not as easy to figure out where they are going nor as efficient and can run infrequently at night). YOu do not have to be right near Old Town Square to do without a car, as they have a good metro system. Just be within walking distance of a metro stop if you did go to Prague 2 or 5, etc.
Mar 26th, 2008, 08:38 AM
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We stayed in this hotel, which is within easy walking distance of all sights and is clean and comfortable.
http://www.u-suteru.cz/u-suteru/ . If you search for my name and Prague you should be able to get a trip report.
Alternatively, you could try renting an apartment. We rented from here earlier on this year and were very happy -
http://apartments-in-prague.org/ .You can save a lot of money by eating in your apartment rather than eating out, and again, all apartments are within walking distance of the main sights.
http://www.u-suteru.cz/u-suteru/ . If you search for my name and Prague you should be able to get a trip report.
Alternatively, you could try renting an apartment. We rented from here earlier on this year and were very happy -
http://apartments-in-prague.org/ .You can save a lot of money by eating in your apartment rather than eating out, and again, all apartments are within walking distance of the main sights.
Mar 29th, 2008, 04:53 PM
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I recently stayed at the Esplanade on Washingtonova across from the State Opera House on a fairly quiet street. My recommendation is that you contact them directly. They are renovating the hotel and you may be able to negotiate a reasonable rate. It is a 5 star hotel and it is worth the try and it is very centrally located.
www.esplanade.ck
Their rate is higher than $100 per day but you may want to try and see what they have to offer and if they have rooms available.
Good luck
www.esplanade.ck
Their rate is higher than $100 per day but you may want to try and see what they have to offer and if they have rooms available.
Good luck
Apr 1st, 2008, 12:30 AM
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My recent post titled 'Trip Report - Prague and CK by car' may be of interest to you. I stayed at an apartment for €60/nt for 3 persons at Revolucni St, which I will not recommend to you because it wasn't so nice. In my research, I found that you have to pay quite a bit for a nice hotel so we opted for an apartment. However, now I know that the photos do not give a true picture of reality. Oh yes, everything which was in the photo was there and everything was provided as said - just the exterior surroundings and cleanliness were not up to my standards (I am picky). Nevertheless, what we liked was that the place was huge enough for everyone to have their own space - something you can't get in a hotel room when there are 3 people - and we could eat and drink anytime we wanted. Anyway, there are lots of apartments for rent out there for you to choose from. Just check the locations on Google maps or Via Michelin to see where they are.
Get a place in the Old town or the Jewish Quarter and walk or take a tram/metro if something is too far. In Mala Strana you have to walk across the bridge to get to the center and if you find that most of the things you want to visit are in the Old town area, then you will be crossing the bridge twice or more a day. (Trams don't travel into the old town/jewish quarter - just the surrounding periphery, but it isn't far to walk in.)
This car rental agency was next to our pension - http://www.praguerentacar.com/. Looked ok, nice office but we have no experience with them. The lady there speaks English.
Good luck,
Fran
Get a place in the Old town or the Jewish Quarter and walk or take a tram/metro if something is too far. In Mala Strana you have to walk across the bridge to get to the center and if you find that most of the things you want to visit are in the Old town area, then you will be crossing the bridge twice or more a day. (Trams don't travel into the old town/jewish quarter - just the surrounding periphery, but it isn't far to walk in.)
This car rental agency was next to our pension - http://www.praguerentacar.com/. Looked ok, nice office but we have no experience with them. The lady there speaks English.
Good luck,
Fran
Apr 1st, 2008, 10:21 AM
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I just got back from Prague last week, and I agree with Christina about the hotel rates for Prague. I booked my hotel rooms at www.wotif.com. I paid 60 euro/$93 for the first, Prague Expres Hotel, and 69 euro/$107 for the second, the Metamorphis. Both were in Old Town, but wotif.com also lists hotels in other areas of Prague.
Prague Expres was comfortable, but the Metamorphis was absolutely fabulous. It was a 2-room apartment with flat screen tv, 2 sofas in the living room, king-size bed, tropical plants lining the spiral staircase, buffet breakfast--I can't say enough good about it. Prices went up after Easter, though, so I know they are higher now.
You might also consider Priceline. I didn't see much variety or availability for Prague, so I didn't bid on anything, but it is an option. Good luck!
www.hotelmetamorphis.cz
www.pragueexpreshotel.cz
Prague Expres was comfortable, but the Metamorphis was absolutely fabulous. It was a 2-room apartment with flat screen tv, 2 sofas in the living room, king-size bed, tropical plants lining the spiral staircase, buffet breakfast--I can't say enough good about it. Prices went up after Easter, though, so I know they are higher now.
You might also consider Priceline. I didn't see much variety or availability for Prague, so I didn't bid on anything, but it is an option. Good luck!
www.hotelmetamorphis.cz
www.pragueexpreshotel.cz
Apr 1st, 2008, 10:47 AM
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After reading many hotel reviews on Trip Advisor I decided on Aparthotel City 5 for our upcoming trip.I liked the idea of the front desk beng manned during the day to ask questions.
I booked it on venere and we are paying 72€/night.I did book almost 6 months in advance.
I booked it on venere and we are paying 72€/night.I did book almost 6 months in advance.
Apr 26th, 2008, 05:35 AM
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Wow, thanks to everyone for replying to my post. This is a great forum.
I did check out the venere website and it gives you a lot of choices for hotels in Prague. I did check out the Mustek hotel. For sure it looks great. Has anybody ever been there. It almost looks to good to be true.
I'll wait to see if anybody responses and then I think will book it. Thanks again everyone.
I did check out the venere website and it gives you a lot of choices for hotels in Prague. I did check out the Mustek hotel. For sure it looks great. Has anybody ever been there. It almost looks to good to be true.
I'll wait to see if anybody responses and then I think will book it. Thanks again everyone.
