GFGlobetrotter

I am planning to go to the Czech Republic in April. I was wondering if this itinerary is doable in a week.

Wed: Leave NYC for Prague
Thurs-Sat: Prague
Sunday: Day trip to Karlovy Vary*
Monday-Tuesday: Overnight to Cesky Krumlov
Wed or Thursday: Fly home

*Is Karlovy Vary worth staying one night? I was thinking of staying so I could get some spa treatments. Other than the spas, is there anything else worth seeing in Karlovy Vary?

I would like to visit the Prague Zoo. Is it worth spending an entire day there? I haven't been to a zoo in over 15 years and thought it would be fun.

Finally, has anyone booked tours from Prague Experience? I was thinking of using them for my overnight trip to Cesky Krumlov.

Thank you for your help!

tomboy

Some, if not all, spas in CR and SR extol how their water and treatments cure all sorts of ailments, from TB to arthritis, from exzema to epilepsy. This aura of professionalism can require a doctor's prescription for what I would consider a soak and a massage. Plan ahead...I don't know if Karlovy Vary holds to such rules, but it might.

We found it odd to see so many "believers" strolling while sucking on their little clay sipper-pipes.

Ingo

Karlovy Vary is worth an overnight if you want to get a spa treatment. All the nicer hotels offer treatments without prescriptions, no worries. On the other hand, they're not different from any other good spas anywhere else.

There's enough to see and do in K.V. for a day. Some churches, Grand Hotels, walk along the promenade, see the springs ...

Never been to the zoo in Prague.

I.

Kwoo

You can click on my name & read my trip report to Prague, Cesky Krumlov, Karlovy Vary & Telc from August 2009. We were gone for 10 days but our trip included an extra destination (Telc) than yours, so yes, your trip is doable in a week. I definitely think Karlovy Vary is worth an overnight trip. We stayed for 2 nights. We had a spa treatment, did a lot of walking around & tried the different springs, & did some shopping. We rented a car & drove from Prague to Karlovy Vary. We also drove to Cesky Krumlov & stayed there for 2 nights.

Architecturally, Karlovy Vary is very different from Prague & Cesky Krumlov. We stayed at Hotel Romance Pushkin in KV and Zlaty Andel in CK.

gwan

Never been to the zoo (not big on zoos personally, so I wouldn't take a day on a short trip to Prague to see one, but each to their own of course) but the Troja Palace is right next to the zoo and worth a look if you're out that way already - it is a bit of a trek from the centre. I think I enjoyed the gardens more than the interior, so you could just have a bit of a look around outside after the zoo.