TerryLFred

We are three couples who will be in Prague after going on a river cruise along the Danube. We were thinking of hiring a private guide/tour for our time in Prague (our friends will be there two full days but we'll stay on for another two or three days). We've hired private guides in the past and have good experiences. Does anyone have someone they have used and can recommend? Kamil & Petra Vondrous Prague Guide was in the Rick Steves book. Has anyone used them? Also looking for hotel recommendations. One of our friends has Marriott points so wants us all to stay at the Prague Marriott Hotel. It seems a little pricey ($191 per night) or $156 per night if we prepay. Has anyone stayed here? Thanks for any help you can give me.

unclegus

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Praga...234892?fref=nf
http://www.caputregni.cz/about.html

this is a highly reccomended guide company in Prague and can adjust things to cater for you.I include their facebook page as it is quite informative.
There are several Marriot hotels in Prague , the one in V Celnici is the most central and very popular, Ideal location for a first time visitor, never been in it but have passed by often enough

TerryLFred

Unclegus, the Marriott we are looking at is the Boscolo Budapest at 9-11 Erzsebet korut.

I will look more into the guide you recommended. Have you used Marketa? Have you used any of her other guides? The reviews on TravelAdvisor are good.

unclegus

The Marriot you mention is in Budapest which according to my map is no where near Prague.The two main Marriots in Prague are V Celnici which is very central and ideal for a first time visitor, the other main one is at Flor a bit away from the main centre but right next to a Metro stop and many trams that get you to the centre quickly.
There is also a Marriot at the airport.
I have not used Marketa, I travel to Prague several times a year and do a lot of work on the various travel forums ,I have had a lot of conversations on-line with Marketa over the years and sometimes post on her Facebook page but have not used her as a guide.

TerryLFred

So sorry. Yes, you were right, the one in V Celnici is the one we are looking at. We are also going to Budapest so I got them mixed up. Good to know it's in a central location.

I did contact Marketa and she got back to me. Since we are traveling with others, I will give them all the information on the various guides and see which one we will use.

My husband and I would also like to go to Kutna Hora to see the bone church. Is this something we could easily do ourselves or would it be worth using a tour guide?

sparkchaser

<i>My husband and I would also like to go to Kutna Hora to see the bone church. Is this something we could easily do ourselves or would it be worth using a tour guide?</i>

It is about a 30-45 min drive outside of Prague. IMO guide is not necessary for the Sedlec Ossuary.

Also in Kutna Hora is The Church of St Barbara and the Czech Museum of Silver.

unclegus

Kutna Hora is realy easy to do yourself from Prague, regular trains take about an hour. the Bone church is about a 10 minute walk from the train station and the Town Itself about another 25-30 minute walk from the Bone Church, there is a shuttle service run from the Bone church ,costs pennies but they wait till they have at least 3 people before they go,check with the folk in the church about the shuttle.It drops you off above St Barborar's cathedral.
I was last in Kutna Hora with some friend in Novemeber last year, you can see my trip Advisor reviews and photos here.

http://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/members...clegus/g274701

Rhea58

we used Sandelman's free tours in Prague & other cities.


http://www.newpraguetours.com/?_ga=1...747.1430907139

BigRuss

<< It seems a little pricey ($191 per night) or $156 per night if we prepay>>

Neither price point is "pricey" - each is par for a Marriott (and this is a full fledged Marriott, not another branding like Courtyard or Garden Inn), and the location is good. If you don't want to be coerced into a particular hotel because of someone else's points fetish, check this group: http://www.avehotels.cz/ At worst, you could stay in the Marriott with your friends and move across town to someplace less expensive after they bolt for home.

There are other marriotts in Budapest, including one right on the river. The river-side one is in a far better location than the one you referenced.

Christina

I've used both Martin Tours and Prague Sightseeing Tours in Prague for day trips, both were excellent. The PST had a more comfortable bus (to Kutna Hora), I guess because it was larger, the other trip was just a small van and the seats were not super comfy. I find tours like that very convenient in Prague and excellent value. YOu can do it yourself, of course, if you want to negotiate the train and bus system, etc.

http://www.pstours.cz/tour/t10-kutna-hora-ossuary/

Their all day tour to Kutna Hora only costs 990 CZK or 36 euro per person, which includes admission fees. I wouldn't go to Kutna Hora just to see an ossuary, but of course, that's up to you. There is a lot more interesting stuff to see. Don't really get people's interest in dead people's bones myself, I think it's a little sacrilegious.

E_R_K

We recently used the services of Martin Tours, taking the tour to Cesky Krumlov.
Service was poor and the trip was very poor value for money.
First, upon payment we were assured that the tour price included hotel transfers (as is common practice for such services). This was also the main reason to take the tour rather than travel by rail for a fraction of the price (considering that the tour price in effect includes fuel costs only). However, transfer was not provided. Therefore, the main reason to opt for the tour service - i.e. the convenience of door-to-door
service for the elderly person travelling with me - rather than travel by using rail
was gone. I talked to the guide about this and she was not only not apologetic but very rude about it.
Second, the guide Anna was generally rude and dismissive. She managed to alienate a number of other passengers taking the tour as well. I understand some of them have now complained or left negative comments on the Internet.
Third, upon paying the deposit I was not advised by company staff that payment of the remainder of the price by card on the day would incur a 2% charge. This meant I had to rush in order to find an ATM and withdraw cash urgently just before paying for the
trip, therefore also queuing twice.
I hope that the company takes the above concerns seriously and revise their policies in order to ensure at least an adequate level of service provision for services which we found very poor value for money.

Wekiva

Topping for additional review. We need a day tour in early June.

unclegus

http://livingprague.com/tourscity.htm
http://www.nakedtourguideprague.com/
you could have a look at these companies, small group tours or even individual ones.I did one with Jason ( Living Prague) a few weeks ago but I have know him for years and this is a fairly new venture for him ,but it was really good.The website has loads of great info on it.
Naked Tours are run by a young guy called Marcus, I have not met him but have talked to him online and his tours do seem very good.

bilboburgler

Given Prague's Art Deco and Nouveau buildings/museums it seems a little odd to go off and see a bone collection. Just buy tram passes and get out onto the streets.

If you are leaving Prague, why not visit the Pilzen Brewery, the beer has gone a little down hill since the 1970s but still stands above its American cousin and the visit and the chance to drink the real stuff is worth a day out.