benmia

What location is best in Prague in terms of sightseeing?

Has anyone stayed at the Grand Bohemia Paha? What about the Mariott? Any other suggestions?

WoinParis

My suggestion is to start your posts with 'hello' and to finish with 'thank you'.

It would have elicited answers from my part, for one.

basingstoke2

What standard of Hotel do you care for? We stayed at the Hotel Kampa Gardens located on Kampa Island for seven nights - four nights initially and then rebooked for another 3 nights after visiting Vienna. It is what I would call high end budget. The rooms were nice, all ensuite, the breakfasts were not fancy but also good and plentiful. Best of all is the Kampa Island location. Kampa Island is located under the Charles Bridge with easy access onto the bridge. Thus it is a very easy walk to all sites in Old Town, and many in New Town. The island itself is a peaceful oasis in the heart of everything. There are restaurants on the island, a nice square and a nice park with benches and beautiful views across the river to the Old City.

benmia

Thanks, basingstoke2 I will take a look at it.

Andrew

Prague is a great walking town, compact and easy to get around on foot. As long as you stay close to the old town (east side of the river) or on Mala Strana (west bank of the river, below the castle hill), you'll be in a great spot. It's easy to get around on foot or by tram, underground, or bus.

I love Prague - charming but incredibly touristy now, so be prepared for mobs of people (try walking across the Charles Bridge to the old town square in the afternoon and evening - at least in any sort of tourist season. You may have to wade through crowds.). I've stayed both in Mala Strana (my preference) and in the old town (not a bad choice either). I can't really recommend the places I've stayed - small cheap places mostly, except the Intercontinental I got on Priceline years ago, a bit of a splurge for me even at Priceline prices...

basingstoke2

benmia, if you decide on the Kampa Garden ask for a room in the back. They have a very pleasant view over the canal and those on the upper floor give you a view of the castle and one of the bridge towers, but those rooms tend to be smaller. Some rooms in the front of the hotel have a fantastic view across the river to Old Town, but most overlook the Estonian Embassy (consulate?) so you see mostly brick. There is a nice pub/restaurant across the square and other good ones on the island.

When we booked, it was at the recommendation of Thomas Cook tours and they arranged transport to the hotel at no extra cost. The hotel can also arrange transport to and from the airport and train station.

Leely2

I liked staying in Josefov. We stayed in an apartment right by the Maximilian Hotel, so that would be a good choice in terms of location. Haven't stayed in the hotel, though. The Pariz is near there too. And Hotel Agnes. I would pick any of those because of the area, central but not dead-center so a little less mobbed.

DebitNM

We stayed here:
hotel-general.com/

It is a bit of a walk to old town, Charles Bridge, castle etc. but it was quite nice and we got a great rate which included a huge, awesome breakfast. Each room is unique, named after a general and our room was really large. There is a bus [or maybe it was a tram] near hotel that you could take to the busier area.

Leely2

Deb, I am a runner, and think I ran down by the Hotel General when I was staying up near the castle once. The neighborhood looked nice; did you take the breakfast there? How was it? Were there many restaurants/cafes/amenities nearby? I may be returning to Prague later this year, and wouldn't mind being further out at all.

DebitNM

We had breakfast at the hotel each of our 4 days in Prague. It was excellent.

It's not by the castle. There is a decent area to eat, pretty local kind of are within walking distance.

The Pivovary Staropramen brewery was near by:
http://www.pivovary-staropramen.cz/e...t-us/visit-us/

I don't drink beer, husband said it was really good.

We ate where ever we were at meal time. We like to meander.

Leely2

Thanks! I know your hotel is not by the castle; I was unclear, sorry. I meant to say that I was staying up by the castle but taking 5 mile runs on that side of the river in the mornings--so I eyeballed a lot of neighborhoods I would consider staying, including, I'm pretty sure, that particular area. I like the idea of a less-mobbed spot in which to stay, as long as there are places to eat, have coffee, etc.

Iwan2go

We loved!!! Our hotel in the Mala Strana area, the Golden Well. The rooms were nicely furnished, the breakfasts were amazing, and the location was good. Quiet, walkable up to the castle and over the Charles Bridge.

joannyc

If you are looking to stay on Marriott points, both locations are very good and both hotels are very nice.

NoleNomad

Andrew -- Could you tell us the reason(s) for your preference of Mala Strana to Old Town? Thank you for this and for your many helpful contributions to this forum.

dweislaw

It's been a few years, but the Hotel Paris had plenty of amenities, was spotlessly clean, well situated and fairly priced (but maybe expensive by Prague standards, at least in 2010). Breakfast was excellent and service efficient. It's a block or so from the Bohemia.

Christina

I suppose he might say there are less tourists but that really depends where you stay. Some people have not been in any part of Old Town other than right around the main square, so they think it is all like that. I'm just guessing, there are tons of tourists in certain parts of Mala Strana, also (I'm thinking right around the bridge). Also, the Intercontinental isn't really that convenient a location in Old Town, I probably wouldn't like it if I stayed there, either.

Anyway, I have stayed right near the Grand Bohemia, that is a very convenient location for tourists as it is near public transportation (a metro stop or tram routes), but is an easy walk to the main square, or even Wenceslas Square, actually. I also have stayed in the Josefov area a couple times and like that, also. That is part of Old Town, but there aren't a lot of tourists around, at least where I've stayed (at the Maximilian). I've also stayed at the Hotel Pariz a couple times which is very near the Grand Hotel Bohemia and highly recommend that if you want a top hotel.

Andrew

NoleNomad, Mala Strana feels a little more like a neighborhood than a city than the Old Town area does and a tad less touristy. Certainly not UN-touristy - there are still plenty of tourists in Mala Strana. Prague is overrun with them. If you walk from Mala Strana over the Charles Bridge to the old town, be prepared for wall to wall tourists in the daytime and early evening. (The Charles Bridge is lovely, but the bridge to the north is much less busy.)

Note that Mala Strana sits at the edge of the castle hill - a fairly steep hill (on the plus side: it's a quick if steep walk up the hill to the castle.) On my first visit to Prague, I stayed in some rooms recommended by a friend - and the place happened to be smack in the middle of the hill; my friend forgot to mention that. (After two nights, I moved to the Intercontinental - that hill was killer!). If you stay in a place that is supposed to be in Mala Strana, make sure it's not really on that hill - make sure it's close to the river. The hill isn't something you'd notice on a map.

I don't think staying in the old town is a mistake at all - it's very convenient, and I'd stay there again. Just a matter of preference, mostly. I think Prague's old town square is my favorite in Europe, so being near it isn't a bad thing.

The Intercontinental was not far from the old town square even if not quite adjacent. I thought it was a good location too. I wasn't necessarily recommending it - I got it on Priceline without even knowing which hotel it was until after I booked, after all, and normally I'd never splurge on such a nice hotel.

As I said above, Prague is such a lovely, compact walking town that as long as you are relatively close to the center, it doesn't necessarily matter that much where you stay. Use the trams, subway, and buses, too. If I were going back now, navigating with my phone and Google Maps would be a snap with all forms of transportation.

NoleNomad

Thank you Andrew, Christina, and others for your suggestions.

benmia

joannyc Thanks. Using points is an option, although both hotels were recommended by friends. We like Marriot because we would have use of the club lounge anf therefore woukd not have to take a rate that includes breakfast (although that is not a deal breaker).

We are also looking for hotels in Vienna and Budapest.
Other opportunities to use our points, or not.

We often book using Amex Fine Hotel program. And yes, in doing research now I see we need to choose b/n Old Town and Mala Strana.

KarenWoo

We stayed in Mala Strana twice, both times at the Pension Dientzenhofer. We really enjoyed it; in a quiet location but close to Charles Bridge. We walked literally everywhere. Once or twice we took the tram or bus.