We are going to be in Prague in September (2 adults-old enough to want our own rooms. looking at 2 rooms, single occupancy, but prefer double rooms). There is a large conference during our timeframe and many hotels are sold out. What's left is pretty expensive. Here is the short list available:

Grand Hotel Bohemia-single only (anyone seen their single rooms? That worries me...)
Elite
Golden Wheel
Bellagio
Espanade
U Prince
Josef
Any personal input into any of these is greatly appreciated!

If I had the option of staying at the Josef I would take it. It's a good location in the Old Town and has only been open a year. Stunning interior design and courtyard.

Jason

Sorry, but I haven't stayed at any of those places. I always rent an apartment, and you may be better off doing that, if all the affordable hotels are taken. If you want to look into that option, some sites are (as on other posts, also):

www.marys.cz
www.athos.cz
www.travel.cz
www.apartments.cz (same company as travel.cz)

There are other sites, but I have used all of the above. You can get a very nice 2 bedroom (try the one on Francouzska offered by travel.cz / apartments.cz) for about $150 per night. You'd save $, and still have a great place/location.

Good luck.

LEt me echo strong support for using www.athos.cz - - we were very pleased with our rental from there - - Apartment(s) Zatec, less than 600 yards from the Old Town Square, in May of 2003.

If it appeals to you, one nice feature is the ability to talk to an agent there, "live", using ICQ.

Best wishes,

Rex

Thanks for the input.
The Josef was booked by the time I got back to them and so far no response from athos.cz.
I booked the U Prince. Anyone stayed there? Looks great!
Jason, went your website. It's excellent. Question: Can you tell me what kind of "conference" is in Prague the week of September 25th? All the hotels refer to it, but no description. Just curious.

I will be staying at Hotel Esplanade from July 9-18, 2004. I will post a trip report when I return, if you would like to wait. However, I do realize that you would probably want to book as soon as possible.

I also stayed in an apartment when we were in Prague in December, but I did make a point of checking out U Prince as it had been on my shortlist.

I'm sure you won't be disappointed! Great position, with a lively cosy bar overlooking the main square. The food looked good and there was a really nice atmosphere about the place.

The roof terrace bar has great views, particularly when everything is lit up at night. I'm sure it will be a lot warmer for you than when we were up there in December, but they do have outdoor heating for the cooler nights!

Didn't get to check the rooms out, but they look great on their website.

Have a wonderful time

In 2002, I stayed twice in Prague, once at the Cloister Inn near the Charles Bridge; on the later trip I stayed at the Esplanade near the museum at the top of Wenceslas Square. The Cloister had the better location, but the Esplanade was much nicer. The twin room was lovely, but the view is not great. Breakfast was very good, and we loved the bar right off the lobby. November was fairly cold, so we stopped there for drinks and bar food after sightseeing every day. My favorite restaurant is the Café Flambée at 5 Husova, near the Old Town. The restaurant in the basement is very expensive; the café is reasonably priced. Boots

Just got back from 4 nites at the Elite. It was OK, not a great value. The smallest bathroom that I have ever had in a hotel. Lovely renovated 14th Century building, done very tastefully, smallish rooms. Location has plusses (around the corner from a metro stop, very easy walking distance to everything on the right bank) and minuses (more seedy part of town, especially the block where the metro is located). Very mediocre breakfast. The restaurant is inexpensive and fun for younger people (I was with my 22 year old daughter). There is a nightclub in the basement and I could faintly hear the "thumping" until 2am (but it might have been because my room was on the 1st floor). Good car service for hire otherwise reception desk not particularly helpful, they messed up a couple of phone messages.

I also took a look at the U Prince while in Prague because I wanted to change hotels. The lobby is nice, the food at the restaurant is very good but they couldn't show me a room because they were booked. It is in a great location. Better check to see they have AC.

We loved the Josef. Besides the terric location and tasteful modern interior the breakfast was wonderful.