WE will be spending a few days in Prague in late June early July. We have found some apartments which seem to be in good locations. None have air conditioning? How important is it in Prague? Should it be a consideration when selecting a place to stay?

I'd want AC if only to be able to sleep with the windows closed to block out the noise. You might ask the rental agencies of the apartments specifically about noise at night.

i did a study abroad for 4 weeks last week of may through june. we didn't have a/c i don't think, and i was fine. i don't remember prague being that hot.

it was 2 years ago though, so memory is slightly faded.

I've been in Prague every summer for the past 9 years. Weather has been anywhere from 50 F to 90 F, and it changes every year. Most places do not have AC, and if they do, it will cost considerably more. You can almost always ask for a fan, if one is not already there, and you will be OK. Nights are generally much cooler, but, again, it changes every year. If you ask for a place with the bedroom NOT facing the street, you will cut down on tram/car noise,etc. Ask for a bedroom facing a courtyard. Also, bugs are not that bad there, so curtains on the windows usually keep out the big ones, while letting a breeze through.

It may depend on where you are from; i.e., what you are used to. If you live on the pacific coast, as do I, you are not used to the humidity and sleeping in a warm room, and will be miserable. For only a few days I personally would spend the extra money to be comfortable and sleep well.

This is sooo personal - some need a/c no matter what and where they are, others can't sleep with a/c - too chilled, dries out the air, hard to control in most places, or too noisy when it comes on and goes off. In which category are you? Do you have and use it at home?

Since fully integrated (ducted) central a/c is not the norm in the European cities where most buildings are at least 100 years old, make sure you're not getting one of those window-mounted a/c contraptions that make more noise than the traffic outside if you were to leave the windows open.

WK

Good question. Residents of Chicago, use to move to the northwoods of Wisconsin in the summer if they could afford to. Air conditioning arrived, previous emigrants stayed home. Few Prague residents leave! Check temperature and humidity records for Prague and then compare them with your locale.

As "Wally" mentioned, many ACs in Europe are window mounted, so they will be noisy. Since Prague is OLD, most buildings do not have ductwork for central AC. That is why most buildings do not have AC, and most hotels, with the exception of ones that have been recently built, or have been through reconstruction, will not have AC. You can find places that offer it, but if the window mounted is not your style, you'd better clear that up. Which apt rentals are you looking at?