We are making our first trip to Prague at the end of our December Austria and Germany 12 day trip.

I have researched hotels and there seem to be quite a few that are well regard yet reasonable.

Is the old town the best place to stay? We are arriving by train from Salzburg and departing by air back to the USA. We would like to be in walking distance (we love to walk and distance is not an issue) so general proximity to the city is preferable.

We are looking at the Savic and got a great deal with breakfast for 102 USD per night. I can also book the Courtyard for not much more.

Any insight is appreciated!

The historic center of Prague where all the main tourist sites are is quite compact and easily walkable. I liked staying in Old Town but Mala Strana, which is on the other side of the Charles Bridge (on the way to the castle) is equally lovely and may be a little quieter. The Josefov area borders Old Town and that's nice too.

Either one of those areas would be good - you will be walking back and forth across the Charles Bridge so staying somewhere in reasonable proximity is nice. I loved being on the bridge at midnight when it wasn't so crowded, and I know others like it early in the morning, so it's nice to be staying somewhere close for an easy walk.

We stay in Mala Strana, close to the castle, and can recommend the area. Lovely architecture and restaurants but within easy reach of the castle, bridge and old town centre.

Hello k:

If you are going to be in Salzburg in December and travelling by train to Prague, you may be interested in my report of our recent Christmastime visit this past December:

http://www.fodors.com/forums/pgMessa...ame=gradyghost

Good luck.

Gradyghost

We stayed at the Savic in October 2008 and loved it! (And we paid almost twice the rate you've been quoted.) Our room was very comfortable and quiet. Although the bathroom was smallish compared to the huge room, it was beautifully appointed. The breakfast offered a large array of hot and cold items. We also enjoyed lunch one day in the hotel's restaurant.

The hotel's location is just a couple of blocks from Old Town Square and the Charles Bridge. The building is centuries old, and some of the stone foundations have been left exposed. The staff was very helpful with tram info and walking tips, and the hotel arranged for a car to meet our flight.

I looked at the Tripadvisor reviews of the Courtyard. They're almost all very positive, but the photo of the hotel looks like it could be a Marriott anywhere. If you haven't read the Tripadvisor reviews, the Savics is rated #3, and the Courtyard is rated #30.

We stayed at House at the Big Boot (Dum u Velke Boty) in the Mala Strana section of Prague, and really loved it. It's owned and run by a wonderfully friendly and helpful local family, and they speak excellent English. Their restaurant recommendations and tips on the city were very reliable. I think a standard room there is just a bit more than the price you quoted. We actually spent more and stayed in one of their "best" rooms. www.dumuvelkeboty.cz

We love to walk too, but due to Prague's cobblestones of all different sizes, we found it was brutal on our feet, and we couldn't walk as far as we had planned each day. But it's a gorgeous city! Enjoy! I'm working on my trip report and will be posting soon.

Yes you can walk to Charles Bridge and the beautiful square from Mala Strana. To walk up to the castle was a bit more challenging, not so much for the distance as due to the hills and cobblestones. There is also public transportation...

I prefer to stay in Old Town myself, although I've been in Mala Strana while visiting. I just like it better on the other side of the river and find it more convenient to the things I want to do. I like the atmosphere a little better, also, it's more varied.

I do stay in the Josefov area, but that IS in Old Town. Old Town is official borderewd by Revolucni on the east and Na Prikope/Narodni on the south end.

We booked the Savic. The reviews are great, the price a bargain and it seems to be right in the area everyone is recommending.

Thanks!

Hi, me and my friends, we stayed at Hostel u Melounu. It was great stay, very nice stuff and its very close to the Wenzels squere.. Very cool. www.hostelumelounu.cz ... Czech it out.. I´d love it..

First post for Larsy. Probably advertising.

i always go for staying in the old town regions of any city if going for a short stay
we thought we were booked into antik hotel which looked great
but ended up beingshoved out into the sister hotel antik CITY hotel
it wasnt convenient
there was nothing round it to see and when OH napped i walked the seedy parts of the city by myself
the good thing that came out of that was that i talked to a local who directed me to a great restaurant where locals go
called stoleti
but that was it
the rest of the time i had to keep my head up and strut like i owned the joint - lots of undesirables on the streets
so definitely stay somewhere near the sights