I have been entrusted with the planning of a trip to Vienna and Prague for a group of five (two couples and an elderly lady). I have made tentative reservations at the Hotel Sacher in Vienna and the Savoy in Prague. I am not sure of my hotel choices with repsect to the centrality and asseciblity. Also what does one do in four days in Vienna and three in Prague? How do I learn about programs for which I shoudlget tickets etc? Any help is much appreciated.

I can't help you with Prague but I can alleviate your concerns about the Hotel Sacher in Vienna. It is ideally located in the old part of the city. The Staatsoper is directly across the street from the hotel. Karntnerstrasse the pedestrian mall leading to Stephansplatz is half a block to the east; the Albertina a block to the west and the Hofburg palace no more than three blocks away. You've chosen one of Vienna's (and Europe's) elite historic hotels. <BR>The hotel's concierge will assuredly help you with information on programs. In the interim, check the website of the Vienna Tourist Office which lists concerts, museum and gallery exhibits, etc. It's at http://info.wien.at/e/index.htm <BR>By all means visit Vienna's palaces, the Schonbrunn Palace of Maria Teresa, the Hofburg and the Belvedere.

Hi, <BR>My wife and I just returned from Europe, which included three days in Prague. We stayed at Hotel Julian and it was great! Hospital/professional staff, clean, very nice breakfast bar and quiet room. It is located about four blocks from the St. Chas Bridge. Be prepared for language difficulties in Prague, but, the staff at Hotel Julian spoke English very well. I would stay there again w/o hesitation. Bruce

Ladan, <BR>I can help with some information about Prague. The Savoy is a first-class, very nice hotel, but it's a bit out of the center. It's just uphill from the castle, essentially at the edge of the castle grounds, but it's in the opposite direction from the Charles Bridge, Old Town, and the rest of what you'll want to see in Prague. It's very easily accessible by trams #22 and I think 23 -- there's a stop right in front of the hotel. Depending on the age of the elderly lady in your group, you may want to look at hotels closer to the center. The Savoy is perfect for walking tours in the sense that you leave the hotel and walk downhill to the castle and you keep going downhill to the Charles Bridge... but, there aren't very many restaurants or cafes within easy striking distance of the hotel for an elderly person, and you're not in the thick of things, as they say. I think for the same price point you could consider the Grand Hotel Bohemia or even the InterContinental, which probably has the best location of any hotel. There are also scores of smaller hotels that would be cheaper than the Savoy. You may want to do a search in previous posts for the Hotel Charles -- I know a few Fodorites have stayed there and liked it -- and it's in a terrific location. <BR> <BR>Wherever you stay, the concierge should be able to help you with tickets for concerts/theater. You might want to ask them to arrange some tickets for you even before you arrive, as many of the events are very popular among locals, especially anything in the National Theater -- which I highly recommend! My favorites have been operas in the National Theater, concerts in the Rudolphinum (wonderful acoustics), and smaller concerts in the various churches. For those, you will see signs as you walk around, and you won't need advance tickets. <BR> <BR>Also search this site for web sites on Prague -- I know I've posted a few in the past, and I remember seeing others. There are sites with National Theater listings and things like that. If I come across them, I'll send them to you. <BR> <BR>In your three days in Prague, I'd plan to take a tour the first day -- maybe on one of those smaller busses -- and then spend the next day taking easy walks around Mala Strana and Old Town, and visiting the little shops and cafes along the way for a break. It's a compact city, but you will want to wander. Have fun!

Found a site: <BR>http://www.andel3w.dk/prague/english/prag.htm

Don't overlook the national marrionette theatre of Prague. We saw a full scale "performance" of Mozart's Don Giovanni as conducted on its opening night by Mozart himself (a puppet in the orchestra pit -- all other performers wer about half human scaled marrionettes. There was rain, thunder, lots of humor, and by the end a very funny drunk Mozart who can barely stand up any more in the pit. It was a highlight of our stay there, and something unlike we have ever seen anywhere else.

In Vienna, be sure to tour the Opera and there is a little torte shop down the street, "The Sacher Cafe", probably attached to your hotel which is a perfect spot to wait and have cafe and a torte. See the Hapsburg palace before Schoenbrun, otherwize you may be disappointed or if there is only time for one, definitely Schoenbrun, we like it better than Versailles. In Prague, do not miss the Jewish Quarter, that will take a least a half day. For a combination, see a concert on the steps of the Natual Museum on Wenselas Square. Save time for shopping in Prague, crystal is wonderful. Your dollar will go much farther in Prague. Food and beer (I think coke costs more) is very inexpensive there. If you have the time, contact the Czech tourist board. For about $3.50 they send you a wonderful package with brochures, well worth it to help you plan. If you like walking tours and other ideas, Get Rick Steves Europe. Both cities are covered.

Try a show at one of the Black Theaters. They feature music, dance, and lots of fabulous special effects. There is nothing similar in this country. We enjoyed the "Alice in Wonderland" one; it is definitely not for children. We also loved the Don Giovanni puppet show.