I am posting this on the Hungary, Poland (and of course Czech) sites as I know Prague is often paired with some of these countries

Through a hotel friend, I was able to get some great rates offered to me at the Puchtuv Palace, Iron Gate, Mandarin Oriental, and Alchemyst Hotel... and now I have to decide which one. Any feedback on these specific properties would be helpful. What are the pros/cons of staying in the Old Town or New Town.

All the 4 hotels are in the Old Town area. To be exact, Mandarin Oriental and Alchymist Hotel are in Mala Strana area. The other two are in the other side of the river, closer to the Old Town Square, more crowded area, if you like that sort of area. All the hotels look very nice, aren't they all 5 stars? Perhaps Alchymist is a very good 4 stars. Mala Strana, quieter area is my favorite but it seems you cannot go wrong with any. Mandarin Oriental and Alchymist have nice spa facility, I heard, if that makes difference to you. Sorry, no first hand experience. I'm just familiar with the locations of these 2 hotels. You can reviews on tripadvisor.com, many on all those hotels.

It doesn't really matter where you stay as long as you are near a Metro stop. The Metro is extremely effiecient and easy to use.

I would stay at the Mandarin Oriental. I wouldn't even think twice about it.

We stayed at the Alchymist Hotel and loved it. Liked the location (right up the street from the American Embassy) as it away from the crowds in the Old District and yet close enough to walk there. It is a small botique hotel and the staff was very accommodating and every day at 5 they had wine and cheese in their lounge area. If I were to return to Prague, I would definitely stay there again. One thing though I would make sure that my room was not on the side where the rooms slant (beams made our room very small and almost and knocked our heads more than once.) I would not stay again if those were the only rooms available. We tried to upgrade but they were full.

I would avoid staying on or around Wenceslas Square. It has lots of clubs off the side streets. Going home in the night you find many people standing on the corners trying to get you to go in to their clubs. I have stayed in New Town twice and as I said the time we stayed on Wenceslas Square put me off. The time I stayed in New Town but few streets away from the square it was fine. I have also stayed in Old Town, given the choice Old Town is better. Prague is very compact and you can walk the whole of center in a short time, so as far as loaction for main points of intrest, there is not a lot in it between the two.

i ended up at the Pachtuv Palace, which is just 2 blocks from the Charles Bridge (opposite direction from Four Seasons)... a small luxury hotel with beautiful rooms (some have a view of the river and bridge, mine faced the inside courtyard). very professional staff... definitely luxury, but limited amenities (no restaurant except for a breakfast room, no gym, business center to check emails, etc.). it was perfect for what I needed and I felt very comfortable there.

I prefer the Old Town or Mala Strana, across the river from Old Town. Anything withing walking distance of the Charles Bridge is great. I wouldn't stay in the New Town or around Wenceslas Square.

There is absolutely nothing wrong with staying near Wenceslas Square. The Prague Opera House (Mendelssohn is on the roof) is right off of the square. My mother and I stayed in a 5-star hotel a block from the square; we walked around the area at night and no one bothered us. Some of you must come from very small towns or suburbia to be so afraid of people hanging out on street corners.

"OH, NO! Someone asked me if I wanted to go to a strip bar! Help! Help!"

OK, Henny Penny.

We were in Prague in August 07.....

Hotel Ukrize (http://www.volny.cz/hotel.ukrize/english.htm) is a very simple, but clean hotel at reasonable rates with continental breakfast. The tram stops right in front of the hotel. Depending on your stay you can purchase a 3 day or 7 day tram ticket, and ride all throughout Prague. The Mala Strona is less busy and more pleasant. Not sure about the other hotels. Also watch out for thieves. They are in the least expected places.

Best Restaurant.... www.usadlu.cz (Klimentská 2, Praha 1, PSÈ 110 00, tel.: 02 / 24 81 38 74). Medieval Restaurant with excellent food. http://www.hoteluprince.cz/ has a great roof terrace that overlooks the old town square. Enjoy

The Old Town is much more charming and closer to almost all the sights. The new town does have some tacky areas (esp lat in the evening) and is a much longer walk to most things you want to see.

(We like to walk to things as much as is reasonable- esp in a city like Prague with so many major sights concentrated in a relatively small area.

Why would you have to walk far to see the sites in the Old Town? There is a Metro stop (Muzeum) right on Wenseclas Square.

I was put off New Town - No I do not come from a very small town or suburbia to be so afraid of people hanging out on street corners. I have stayed in some very seedy areas in the past. I just found it a real pain being stopped by people on Wenceslas Square in those bright coloured jackets giving out fylers to try and entice you in their clubs. The same way I find time share people get on my nerves when going to some of the hoilday areas in Florida, Spain, Maderia etc etc.

marginal

Why stay in a more distant, less pleasant are than right in the center of things in a more pleasant area?

If budget is an issue that's one thing - but it's apparent from the hotels that the OP is asking about that they aren't looking for budget accommodations.

We have stayed in Mala Strana and in the Old Town (but not in the New Town). All 4 of us preferred the Mala Strana side. It was a bit quieter and we loved walking across the Charles Bridge every time we wanted to go to the Old Town side.

When we stayed in Old Town, we just walked across the bridge every day even if we weren't going to do anything over in Mala Strana - the Bridge is just that vibrant and fun.

We also liked being in Mala Strana just down the hill from the castle. One morning my daughter and I got up very early and walked through the castle complex with our cameras and captured everything before it was filled with tourists (especially the Golden Lane).

My recommendation to stay in the Old Town or Mala Strana had nothing to do with being "afraid" of the New Town. I just didn't find the New Town to be very pleasant, especially compared to the areas closer to the historic district. I really enjoyed staying within walking distance of the Charles Bridge, because I enjoyed it so much later in the evening after dinner, when the crowds were gone.

The area around Wenclesas Square was very busy and commercial and just didn't have a lot of charm when compared to the Old Town or Mala Strana.

Excuse moi? Please don't take that condescending tone with me, sweetie darling.

There are many hotels near Wenceslas Sq. that are NOT budget hotels. It is very obvious that you don't know what you are talking about.

I am the author of the Pancaky Papers. Fodor's Prague edition quotes me 4 times.

The Great and Powerful Thingorjus

Who are you replying to? I didn't say anything about budget hotels. ::confused:: I didn't think the hotels mentioned by the OP were in the "budget" category.

I was replying to nytraveler. Stop being so paranoid. Blimey.

Did you fall off of your Jimmy Choo platforms and suffer a head wound, sweetie darling?

Balenciaga

Many consider today Wenceslas Square a tacky area due to strip clubs and alikes as mentioned above by some(though they might not always be obvious from the street outside). Some great hotels on this square have been there before it became tacky as today and it is unfortunate for those hotels. Most Prague local experts (living in Prague) on T.A.com seem to agree on this and tend to recommend other areas to stay unless you were on a stag party. I don't think myself Wenceslas Square a too bad an area but by comparison, I find Mala Strana/Old Town areas much better, especially Mala Strana. From my favourite hotels there I can walk on Kampa Park to get to Charles' Bridge before crowds arrive. That's really a nice way to get to the bridge. Sorry the construction work started on the bridge finally but I suppose it is needed. When I returned to Prague at the beginning of September, they were working on a small part at the beginning of the bridge, Mala Stara side. And at the Old Town side, there was a covered area just outside the tower and in front of the Charles Bridge Museum. Not a pleasant sight was still minimum. Hope it will not be too bad in November when I will be there again.

No one wrote ON Wenceslas Sq. You don't have to stay ON Wenceslas SQ. It was written that the AREA was tacky, which is not true as the Prague Opera and the very nice Zahrada v Opere restaurant are right off of the square, not to mention many other top restaurants and 5-star hotels.

You all remind me of people from Missouri who tell other travellers not to stay in the Times Sqaure area of NYC because it is tacky and unsafe, yet Le Bernadin, one of the best restaurants in the world is only a few blocks away.