We spent two full days with Dana Chaloupkova in Prague. She was an excellent guide and I can highly recommend her. She did a great deal of prior research based on our specific interests. She also helped us get to Terezin and got us timed guided tour tickets to the Small Fortress even though we made that trip independently. We learned a great deal about life under Communism from her. Other guests in our hotel did a group tour and felt we got much better value having the private tour with Dana. Her email address is [email protected].

Peg - How did you find out about Dana? I noticed you were researching Prague guides in early March and wondering how you chose her. We are going in June with my Mom and Dad and our kids ages 12.5 and 16. Where did you have her take you?

A friend of mine had used her on two previous visits to Prague and recommended her highly. We met Dana our first morning and spent that whole day with her so our "orientation" was with her - we walked through the Jewish Quarter (touring it later on our own), went to Old Town Square to see the Astronomical Clock, Tyne Church, then across the Charles Bridge, stopping for grog on Kampa Island (it was snowing!), the Lennon Wall (a must with kids the ages of yours), Strahov Monastery, Loreta Chapel. The next day we went to Terezin on our own, but she had taken us to the bus station, had helped us buy tickets, got us all straight for that trip. Our second day with Dana, we took another look at the Jan Hus monument, she took us shopping for nice garnet jewelry (at our request), went to Wenceslas Square, Church of St. Cyrus & Methodius (mostly the crypt), changing of the guard at Prague castle, and St. Vitus Cathedral. Dana helped me get a ticket to see a concert that evening at Klementium. She will take you/assist you with whatever you wish; for example, I wanted to back up my camera's memory stick on a DVD and she found me a place to do that very reasonably and quickly. She also found places for lunch both days that we enjoyed; in one, she even realized that the main course was HUGE so she was able to communicate that we wanted to share one order; we would have never figured that out or been able to request that.

I forgot to mention that just talking with her about life under the Communists was worth its weight in gold!

Thanks for this information - we'll be in Prague in May, and are considering a private tour guide. We're most interested in hearing about life under Communisim and the more recent political changes.