Need Help Picking Prague Hotel
Jul 19th, 2006, 05:33 PM
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Need Help Picking Prague Hotel
We will be going to Prague in May of next year. I booked the Ventana but just read a report on Trip Advisor that said the a/c was barely adequate. Now I am looking for another 5 or 4 star hotel that has powerful a/c in case the weather is warm. Also want either to be near Old Town square or Mala Strana. I was thinking of Maximillian but was wondering if the area is too quiet or deserted at night and would we feel "safe" walking back at night to the hotel. I don't want to be unable to sleep at night because of noise either. How is the Aria? Marriott? Renaissance? Grand Hotel Praha? Alchymist? Iron Gate? Any other recommendations for a 4 or 5 star hotel in a good area? Thanks for any help.
Jul 19th, 2006, 05:42 PM
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The only one I have experience with is the Renaissance. It is a basic 4* type business hotel. The rooms are adequate but nothing special.
The location is good - a few minute walk from the old town - and you wounld't be uncomfortable walkng the areaat night - many restaurants etc.
Caveat: was there in the fall and did not use the AC - many places in europe it is more slight cooling than actual chilling.
The location is good - a few minute walk from the old town - and you wounld't be uncomfortable walkng the areaat night - many restaurants etc.
Caveat: was there in the fall and did not use the AC - many places in europe it is more slight cooling than actual chilling.
Jul 19th, 2006, 06:06 PM
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I stayed at the Adria hotel on Wenceslas Square. I was very happy with it, especially the location - less than a minute's walk to a Metro station and 1 block from a tram line. I found it to be ideally situated for exploring the city. They can also arrange your transfer from the airport.
http://www.adria.cz
http://www.adria.cz
Jul 19th, 2006, 08:58 PM
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I stayed at the Praha. It was only a few minutes walk to the Old Town & I felt very safe walking. I liked the location just off Wenceslaus Square and near the metro. It was very quiet in my room.
I was there in March & it was still quite cool.
I was there in March & it was still quite cool.
Jul 19th, 2006, 10:09 PM
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My favorite hotel in Prague is the 7 Angels, which is really more like a B & B. It's right off the Old Town Square, and the best room is the Terrazza room with frescoes on the walls and ceiling to floor windows overlooking a charming courtyard. There's good AC and breakfast is served in the hotel's restaurant, which is very charming. It's also in an extremely safe, well lit area off the square. It's not a 4 or 5 star, but for the price and amenities, it's my top pick.
Jul 20th, 2006, 03:43 PM
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We stayed at the Hotel Pariz which is about 200 yards east of the Old Town Square. It is a fairly posh hotel with good air conditioning and a particularly comprehensive, quality breakfast (usually included with most room plans). It is quite safe and just behind the Municipal House which contains the Smetana concert hall (and four other musical venues!), two restaurants and a bar. For those of us who prefer a shower (especially in the recent heat wave), the room showers are more in the fashion of the the Italians, i.e., no shower curtains, but a shower "shield" that covers just about the last 1/3 of the tub (the end not at the shower head end). For those who may be satisfied with that lack of good functionality or are satisfied with a tub bath, I found no other flaws and the hotel in Art Nouveau style is an incredibly handsome accomodation with solid and friendly service.
Jul 20th, 2006, 04:50 PM
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BigMamma...we have a favorite in Praha...The Three Ostriches ("U Tri Pstrosu"
smack dab on the Charles Bridge, on the Mala Strana end...entrance in the rear where the Three Ostriches hang...only problem is I've never been there in summer..always at a cooler time of year...I imagine at their rates they do have AC. Be sure to get a bridge view room..excellent, latge rooms and good sized beds with Doen quilts and pillows...last time there we paid equiv. of $180 (2002). Probably in the $200 vicinity now.Try it...it is excellent...also, the noise from the bridge is buffered by closing the windows at night...in cool weather! But if they indeed have AC, no problem...we found the noise at our time of year non existent after 9. Enjoy! (Pretty good restaurant in the hotel, sumptous breakfasts.
Stu T.
smack dab on the Charles Bridge, on the Mala Strana end...entrance in the rear where the Three Ostriches hang...only problem is I've never been there in summer..always at a cooler time of year...I imagine at their rates they do have AC. Be sure to get a bridge view room..excellent, latge rooms and good sized beds with Doen quilts and pillows...last time there we paid equiv. of $180 (2002). Probably in the $200 vicinity now.Try it...it is excellent...also, the noise from the bridge is buffered by closing the windows at night...in cool weather! But if they indeed have AC, no problem...we found the noise at our time of year non existent after 9. Enjoy! (Pretty good restaurant in the hotel, sumptous breakfasts.Stu T.
Jul 20th, 2006, 05:43 PM
#9
We stayed at the Maximilian. It is a bit on the other side of the Old Town but only a 5 minute walk to the Old Town Square. Also, if you can get the directions straight, it's very close to the Municipal house and also the Jewish area of Pariska.
The hotel is very nice (it's very, very modern. not everybody will like that). The room was large and the breakfast was excellent and included. They have a complimentary computer room with two computers.
If I remember correctly. I called and they gave me a lower rate than on the web site.
My only advice with any hotel is make sure you get the rate in the currency that they charge.
We were quoted in Euros but charged in crowns. Not good!!! Whenever somebody else does a conversion for you, you can be sure it's not to your advantage.
I would stay there again.
The hotel is very nice (it's very, very modern. not everybody will like that). The room was large and the breakfast was excellent and included. They have a complimentary computer room with two computers.
If I remember correctly. I called and they gave me a lower rate than on the web site.
My only advice with any hotel is make sure you get the rate in the currency that they charge.
We were quoted in Euros but charged in crowns. Not good!!! Whenever somebody else does a conversion for you, you can be sure it's not to your advantage.
I would stay there again.
Jul 20th, 2006, 07:35 PM
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I've stayed at the Maximilian twice and really liked it, but switched since they have changed decor, which is just personal taste. It's not far at all from Old Town square, just a few blocks. It's not deserted nor dangerous to walk that distance at night.
I stayed at the Hotel Pariz this year and really liked that hotel a lot. It had great AC and was very nice.
There is nothing bad whatsoever about Maximilian quoting some rates in euros and charging in koruna. They do that as a convenience to tell people about what the rate is who are used to euros. Of course, they charge in koruna, they are in Prague, that's the currency. You can't expect a Czech hotel to charge in euro. There is NOTHING wrong with that and certainly they are not making any advantage over charging in their own currency, that is the norm. The advice that you have to get them to charge in euro is completely wrong.
I stayed at the Hotel Pariz this year and really liked that hotel a lot. It had great AC and was very nice.
There is nothing bad whatsoever about Maximilian quoting some rates in euros and charging in koruna. They do that as a convenience to tell people about what the rate is who are used to euros. Of course, they charge in koruna, they are in Prague, that's the currency. You can't expect a Czech hotel to charge in euro. There is NOTHING wrong with that and certainly they are not making any advantage over charging in their own currency, that is the norm. The advice that you have to get them to charge in euro is completely wrong.
Jul 20th, 2006, 08:04 PM
#12
Christina,
I never wrote that you should get the hotel to charge in Euros.
I wrote that you should get them to quote in the same currency that they charge.
"it's for your convenience" is just a scam. We had the same thing happen in Budapest. And we were overcharged there as well.
It's part of the scam of having stores charge your credit card in US dollars "for your convenience".
I would have much preferred to be quoted in Krona and charged the same way.
I did a quick calculation upon checkout and you can be sure the exchange rate was not to my advantage.
I never wrote that you should get the hotel to charge in Euros.
I wrote that you should get them to quote in the same currency that they charge.
"it's for your convenience" is just a scam. We had the same thing happen in Budapest. And we were overcharged there as well.
It's part of the scam of having stores charge your credit card in US dollars "for your convenience".
I would have much preferred to be quoted in Krona and charged the same way.
I did a quick calculation upon checkout and you can be sure the exchange rate was not to my advantage.
