Prague & the Czech RepublicFavorite discoveries or tips: We thoroughly enjoyed the Villa Richter in Prague. It is a vineyard/wine garden/restaurant on a pedestrian path leading down the hill from the castle exit. It is a great place to stop at the end of the day after touring the castle, or in the evening after dinner. Views over the city are superb and servers are gracious. It was one of the high points of our stay. Judy in Peterborough, ON Canada 11/04/2009 While visiting Prague, I stayed at The Castle Steps Hotel. I loved it. Very friendly people, great location (historic center), free Internet, reasonably priced including breakfast. Toll free from most countries. US - 800-860-0571, Nerodova 7, Prague 1 11800, www.castlesteps.com. Carol Fallon in Newport Beach, Ca USA 11/01/2009 I would highly recommend hiring a guide in Prague for a day. We were extremely pleased with our guide, Gabriela Zelenkova with Prague Walkers. Her knowledge of the city, its history and its culture was invaluable. She helped us become comfortable with the public transportation system and we were able to spend the rest of our Prague visit with a great deal more confidence. Since this was our 30th wedding anniversary, we decided to splurge on a hotel. We found a real gem in Hotel le Palais Prague (www.palaishotel.cz). It is located in a beautiful neighborhood and is listed in the "Leading Small Hotels of the World". The the hotel itself was just amazing. It is very elegant and the rooms are spacious and beautifully appointed. The bathroom was of marble and the heated floor was a wonderful comfort every morning. Breakfast was included in the price and the options were very impressive - not just rolls and cold cuts. The staff was of the caliber of a 5 star hotel. Sue in Las Vegas, NV USA 10/19/2009 We discovered a great restaurant in the Ungelt: Indian Jewel. Wonderful Indian dishes at reasonable prices. Indoor and outdoor seating. We were even able to make a substitution on the dinner special. Tyn 6, 110 00 Praha 1 - Tel. =420 222 310 136, ind.jewel@savic.eu Laurel in Washington City, UT USA 09/15/2009 I would like to recommend a guide whose English is great, his knowledge of history is fantastic and he has a great sense of humor. Vaclav Storek can be contacted at vaclavstorek@post.cz or his short bio can be viewed onwww.storek.guide.prague.cz. Miriam MacDonald in Sarasota, FL USA 08/27/2009 Leonardo Hotel, Prague: Tomas Nesvorny, Gen. Mgr., 011 420 239 009 204. Centrally located but quiet, reasonably priced, very helpful staff, onsite Italian restaurant, free Wifi in room, rooms clean and spacious. Miriam MacDonald in Sarasota, FL USA 08/27/2009 Yes - we discovered a laundromat on Rybna St that was right around the corner from the Maximillian Hotel. It was a great find because we were completely out of clothing and had resorted to washing things in the sink! Pam Notar in Rochester, NY USA 08/03/2009 The Prague Castle audioguide is a must. Although the charge is now up to 320 Kc, they still give the Rick Steves discounted rate of 200 Kc if you show the book. Free wifi is available at several Cesky Krumlov cafes (check at Tourist Info Center) and in and near the Tourist Information Center in Telc. Secure & convenient pay parking is available in Trebon just outside the archway at the end of the town square. In Cesky Krumlov don't stay in the apartments in Pension Anna during the warm months because of poor ventilation on the 3rd floor where the beds are located. The room and breakfast in Penzion Steidler in Telc were very nice but our 3rd floor room had poor ventilation and was very warm during our July stay; ask for a room on the 1st or 2nd floor during warm months. Also they charged us 50 Kc/day for parking without notifying us in advance of the charge. In Prague Comfort Shuttle offers convenient transportation from hotels to the Prague airport. It cost us 550 Kc for two people from the Hilton Hotel on Probrezni. Contact them at www.comfort-shuttle.com, phone +420-774-820-530 Chris Peter in El Cajon, CA USA 07/29/2009 I found your guidebook very helpful and worth the weight of carrying it daily!! Mary E. Ford in Cambridge, MA USA 07/27/2009 The Jewish Museum, particularly the holocaust exhibit of children's art work and poetry, one of the most moving and well done (understated) things I've ever seen. Jennie in Washington DC, DC USA 07/10/2009 The Castle Steps (castlesteps.com) was really a great find. I just returned from my third trip to Prague, where I usually stay pretty far outside the city center (Praha 6 or 8). The Castle Steps, located in Mala Strana, was a wonderful find and just the kind of value for your money that I believe RS readers are looking for. We stayed in the Dahlia, the smallest and least expensive room, but it was wonderful! There's a rooftop terrace shared by all with great views, plus free laundry and internet. The staff couldn't have been more helpful, too. I highly recommend this place to everyone interested in visiting one of my favorite cities in the world! Ashley Berthelot in Baton Rouge, LA USA 06/09/2009 I love Italian food and was chagrined to read, back in October 08, that Rick thought Italian sauce in the Chez Republic bared a striking culinary resemblance to Heinz 57 Ketchup. I was not optimistic. However, and here is the good news, wandering around the small touristy town of Cesky Krumlov and, well before I happened upon the brewery for some of the best dark beer I've ever tasted - even better than Guinness in Dublin and that is going some for me an O'Connor- I chanced upon, lured by the pungent aroma, a small restaurant on a narrow side street, across from the castle entrance. It's called Nonna Gina - Pizzeria Ristorante Italiano - and is located at Klasterni ulice 52, 381 01 Cesky Krumlov, tel/fax +420 380 717 187. It is run by the young chef and his wife Petra e Andrea Massaro. It's a lovely operation; the kitchen is on the first floor and the dining room is upstairs. Given the configuration I was able to get an up-close and personal look at the kitchen and smell the sauce and see the fresh pasta before actually glancing at the menu. The restaurant is Italian authentic right down to the candle covered, red and white checkered table cloths and wicker chairs. The pasta was fresh and light - obviously not from a package; the sauce was delicate and tasty - nowhere near the resemblance to Heinz. The pizza was thin and the crust perfect. I thought I was sitting in Roma or in a cafe on Lake Como surrounded by the sweet dulcet tones of Luciano Pavarotti. The bill was very reasonable for a bottle of water, a glass of Merlot, a dish of Gnocchi al Pesto and a Margarita pizza - 12.90 EUR Gerry O'Connor in Stony Brook, NY United States 06/01/2009 Contact Info: Suzanne Gardent Marketing Coordinator PBW Czech Republic s.r.o Pobrežní 3 186 00 Praha 8 tel. + 420 224 835 000 fax. + 420 222 323 723 mob. + 420 602 349 240 e-mail: suzanne.gardent@pbw.cz www.pbw.cz Suzanne Gardent in Prague 8, Czech Republic 05/11/2009 Plzen is nice day trip. The brewery tour is excellent and the town square well worth visiting. It's an easy train ride from Prague. (1 1/2 to 2 hrs.) Deb Flannigan in Cazenovia, NY USA 03/22/2009 Regarding the Airport Express. DO NOT GO TO NADRAZI HOLSEVICE. tHAT SERVICE IS NO LONGER OPERATING.For those using the Metro the Airport Express (AE) now leaves from Hlavni Nadrazi, which is the main railway station in Prague. Currently being renovated the best way to get to the departure point is to take the stairs which are to the left of the Infomation windows which are under the main departure board. Once up the stairs go through the doors to the street and bear left. The bus departs from there about every 30 mins. Ours left at 1935 arriving at the Airport at 2015. Cost was 50Kc and you cannot use your daily travel ticket. The other cheap way to the airport is Green Metro line to Dejvicka and take Bus number 119. Roger Snuggs USA 12/21/2008 We used the guide books Germany & Austria and Prague & Czech Republic. If your readers are interested in wine we found a great place in Prague call the Noble Club 1357. Their website is www.nobleservices.cz. It's a little hard to find but worth the effort. We met a Czech expat who had left Czechoslovakia in the late 60s and moved to Canada. She recommended the restaurant U Bulina and the Noble Club 1357. The address of the restaurant is Budecska 2. Tim Hopkins in Norwell, MA USA 11/08/2008 I've used Rick Steves books to travel all over Europe and found them to be very informative and extremely accurate. Not so with this book. It is so poorly written with out of date or inaccurate information that I must believe Rick had nothing to do with it writing. Jim L in San Jose, CA USA 10/26/2008 In Prague we used Martin Belohradsky and Renata Blaskova. Both were well spoken and very informative and I highly recommend both of them. We stayed at the Hotel u Klenotnika. It was easy to get to from the Metro. Be prepare for lots of tourists here Joel in Farrell, NM USA 10/09/2008 New Indian Restaurant in Prague: The Khajuraho Indian Restaurant. Manager-Saikat Dutta. Steps off the main square at Male namesti 11, Richtruv Dum, Telephone:+420 224 242 859. www.khajuraho.cz They have several excellent 700 crown menus (for 2 people), as well as a large a la carte menu, and we had exceptionally great service, from the manager himself, including being given a 200 crown voucher for future use (we gave it to other travelers). We'd recommend it to anyone. Only open since January '08. Bill Nation in Sonora, CA USA 10/01/2008 On page 127 of Prague & Czech Republic you recommend Residence Retezova where I stayed 13Aug08 for 1 night in a awful room no air con in a cellar. For just $20.00 more I got Hotel Ma Maison with air con by Charles Bridge with view of river. Residence Retezova made me pay for an extra night because I moved out after 1 night on a 5 night reservation. Take them out of your book please. Ma Maison also know as Pachtuv Palace at Karoliny Svetle 34,110 00, Prague 1 W. M. Kames in Newport Beach, CA USA 08/22/2008 On p.84 of Guide you reference the Greek Orthodox Church on Resslova St/Heydrich Assaination Museum. To complement your visit, go to the Restaurace U Parasutistu adjacent to the church. It is a WWII-themed pub, very reasonably priced food & beer, and they have a back room of memorabilia of the event. Contact: DanielHendrich@seznam.cz who very kindly showed me the "grisly" backroom. Geoff Bocian in St. Albert, AB Canada 08/13/2008 Sarka Kacabova (Pelantova) was to be my tour guide in Prague, I got her from your book. She got sick and set us up with another guide who was wonderful. Her name is Katarina Kruspanova, www.prague-perfect.cz, cell phone: +420 723 002 075, address, Heleny Malirove 18/273, 169 00 Prague 6, Czech Republic. She was so full of information, she knew just where we should stand to be on the front row as the changing of the guard happend at the castle as they walk in. She taught us how to use the metro and train system. I highly recommend her. Sarka was wonderful in setting up a custom tour of my great grandparents home town. Katarina took us there for a day plus Kutna Hora. Katarina also took us on a 3 hour tour our 1st day in Prague and a 5 hour tour on our last day in Prague. Please check her out. Kris Berger in Whitewater, KS USA 07/17/2008 Please know that we have found your tips and suggestions great here in Prague. Like a bible. Until today! We took the train to Konopiste and everything was as described UNTIL we got off the train in Benesov. Your book said to follow 'the yellow-marked trail' directly to the castle. Well, we looked at the many markers and sign postings for a yellow-marked trail and instead found blue signs that read 'Konopiste 2.' We thought perhaps the trail markers had been changed since you were last at the castle. However, along the sidewalk by a wheat field, we spotted a painted marker on a tree... two horizontal white stripes with a yellow stripe in the middle. Was that our trail marker?? Then on another tree, a similar marking with an arrow...pointing to a path in the woods! We took a leap of faith and followed the trail, by-passing the parking lots as your book had said we would. Once that code was cracked, we spotted the two white stripes with the yellow stripe in the center all over the place, including marking the entire way back to the train station! Now that we knew what to look for, we found the markers on the in-bound side of the street as well. We just didn't know what to look for as we originally got off at Benesov. SOOOO, my suggestion to you is that for future editions of the Prague guidebook, please more descriptively tell readers about the trail markers. Otherwise, great book with great tips. Lisa Jensen in North Palm Beach, FL USA 06/25/2008 We spent four days in Prague in early March 2008. Cold and grey, but still as magical as ever. I know there's been plenty said about Hotel Julian and it is on Rick's video, but I must add my praise as well. A wonderful staff and great room. The tram down the block takes you anywhere you need to go. Mike's Chauffer service was great- they picked us up at the airport and also took us to the train station when we were leaving for Berlin. Premiant Tours gave us a short but informative tour of Kunta Hora, which included St. Barbara's and the "bone church". Their kiosk is downtown right off Wenecslas Square. For food- we enjoyed Bohemian bagels off Old Town Square. Via Musica is great for getting "tourist concert" tickets. we saw a lovely concert at the Municipal House- but beware that they are truly "tourist" concerts. A few people stood up in the middle of the concert with their cell phones to take flash pictures- how rude! The sights- what can you say- Mala Strana, Old Town and Hrdcany- just get lost in each. Mala Strana side of Charles Bridge is under construction, but only a small part. Charles and Maria Sleefe in Valley Stream, NY USA 05/19/2008 We stayed at Prague Lion Hostel and would highly recommend it. It was much cheaper than a hotel (we paid $26 per person) and we had a huge private bedroom and kitchen. We shared a bathroom but with only one other room (private bathrooms were also available). http://lion.prague-hostels.cz/ Karis in Brookfield, WI USA 05/04/2008 Many readers have commented on getting rail tickets into Czech Republic. Some say pay the conductor on the train (inflated charges) or get off the train just inside the border and buy a ticket. Instead, get a Prague Excursion pass (available on Raileurope, click on country passes) that provides one roundtrip from any Czech border to Prague within 7 days. You can enter and leave at separate points. It costs 119 Euroes 1st class, 90 second - very close to the ticket prices separately. Dennis Simpson in Redmond, WA USA 05/01/2008 Carmelita Restaurant just north of the funicular and Fleurs Cafe, Sporkova 5 near the German embassy. Bob in Sequim, WA USA 05/01/2008 My girlfriends and I loved the Golden Tulip. The breakfast was seriously gourmet, and filled us up well past lunch. A little bit out of the center of town, but that was a nice retreat away from the crowds. Also, we loved Ufleku (http://www.ufleku.cz/en). My Hungarian boss keyed us into it, and its old, from 1499. But most importantly, we went in early April, before the big crowds. This made a HUGE difference. The weather wasn't too bad, but we had the city to ourselves and that was key. So many friends who have gone in the summer have not enjoyed themselves as much as we did. Meghan Lake in Los Angeles, CA USA 01/30/2008 Stay near the old town and walk. There is no need for public transport and you can get to everything from there. We stayed near Nam Republiky and everything was easy to get to. There is also a new, large, and wonderful "mall" (not like ours - a multi storu building) right there with an excellent grocery store as well. Alan & Shelley Davis in Thornton, CO USA 01/23/2008 Our Guide Ondra booked through Sarka and her assistant Jana was awesome. YOung, but informative and comfortable to be around college student. JOhn USA 01/05/2008 I have used Rick Steve's on nearly every trip I have taken since I have moved to Italy. Prague was one of his best! I am especially grateful that I took Rick's advice and booked a private guide for the 2 full days I was there. Leslie in Mathews, Italy 11/09/2007 The Globe Book Store, Pstrossvva 6 (south of the National Theatre), www.globebookstore.cz. On my second trip to Prague I found this little bookstore. It is a haven for Americans in Prague. I do not travel with a laptop, so I used the computers and best of all the food is a little taste of home. Michael Homann, the owner, is great. What a wonderful place to sit and enjoy the wonderful coffee and all the students who visit. Barb Thayer in Albany, OR USA 10/29/2007 I hired Renata Blazkova as a private guide and she was just wonderful, she had a great knowledge and helped us navigate the crowds ie, purchasing tickets to the Jewish exhibits at a vendor instead of waiting on a ticket line. the two half days spent with her in fact saved at least two full days of attempting to explore wonderful city. She was also helpful in making restaurant suggests and day trip suggestions. martin in New York, NY USA 10/23/2007 U Mecenase (Restaurant) FANTASTIC!! Great food and Atmosphere [and reasonable prices]; on square with Lichenstein Palace & St. Nicholas Cathedral [Lesser Square at end of Charles Bridge] Malostranske nam. 10, Praha 1 telephone: +420 257 531 631 www.umecenase.cz email: umecenase@tiscali.cz Robert Hardy in Queenstown, MD USA 10/18/2007 On day one we felt overwhelmed by the city-so much to see-and decided that we needed a guided tour of Prague. We were at the TI office near the Astronomical Clock and inquired about a tour. They gave us brochures and we went outside to peruse them, but saw a man with a tour about to start. All I can say is that his name was George with "Orange Umbrella" tour company. He charged 450 Crowns/person for a 4 hour walking tour. It was excellent and actually went 5 full hours, and included a streetcar ride up to Prague Castle. Our tour had 8 clients, very intimate. We saw many with 20+ folks. Doug Stansbury in Saint Cloud, FL USA 09/29/2007 Mucha Museum: I did not know much about Alfonse Mucha before travelling to Prague in Sept 07. However the window in the St Vitus Cathedral made me want to see more. At the museum I would suggest walking all the way to the back when you get there and watch the biographical video BEFORE viewing the exhibits. It will explain what you are seeing before, not after you tour the museum. Arlene Doskocil in Riverside , CA USA 09/19/2007 Just returned from Prague and used Mike's Chauffeur Service for both the pickup from the airport and to be driven from Prague to Vienna, via Cesky Krumlov. Mike picked us up at the airport and his dad actually drove us to Vienna. When we arrived at Cesky Krumlov, we had only a few minutes to spare for the English tour of the Castle at 12 noon, and his dad literally ran ahead to the ticket office and got our tour tickets for us! The service was excellent and both Mike and his dad were extremely friendly and helpful, just like their motto says. We even discovered that they have family in the same suburb of Vancouver where my in-laws live! Their prices were very good and we would recommend them to anyone! R MacLean in Mission Viejo, CA USA 09/08/2007 We found The Castle Steps hotel (www.castlesteps.com) through Google, not through your book! I am not sure why they aren't mentioned. Our rooms were really lovely and the staff were very kind to us. We were met at the airport and had a conceirge we could call if we had any problems. The rooms were in the centre of Mala Strana next to the castle with a view onto the park. Mark in Penryth, UK 08/31/2007 I had heard from a fellow traveler of this Thai restaurant Lemon Leaf on Na Zderaze and it was great, and alittle cheaper then Orange Moon. Also I would recommend getting to St. Vitus Cathedral earlier than 9am to beat the crowd because I got there at around 8:45 and there were already tour groups lined up, although it was still significantly less crowded than at peak hours. Ian Brotman in East Brunswick, NJ USA 08/22/2007 Shows: *Krizikova Fontana: this is an outdoor water, light, musical dance show held at the Vystaviste fairground after dark. Shows include things like Swan Lake, Romeo & Juliet and The Nutcracker. Tickets were 180 Kc each (a bit less than $20). The show lasts about an hour. Check out the website for shows and times. Some of the shows are just music, water and lights (I think the earliest one). The show that includes the dancers was really good. I bought the ticket at the box office. I used the directions in a guidebook to get there taking 2 trams and 2 metro trains. On the way home I found that tram #17 stops right in front of Vystaviste . This tram also stopped right near my hotel at Vyton. So it took about an hour to get there and 10 minutes to get back to the hotel! When you arrive at the fairgrounds the place will look deserted. To find the show walk around to the rear of the exhibition hall (head inside the gate and to the left). Don Giovanni marionette show, National Marionette Theatre Žatecká 98/1, near metro station Staromestska. Mozart composed this opera, this version uses the classical marionettes. It is presented in the original Italian librette and lasts about two hours. Although it’s not in English I found it to be very cute and funny. Also very interesting to watch the puppeteers. I bought tickets at the door at 7:15 PM for the 8 PM show. I was the first to arrive – the person selling the tickets said that the best seats were in the middle of the last row of the first section. This is a must see for all kids at heart. Make sure you go to this particular show/location as I have heard that other shows aren’t nearly as good.
Violin concert with Jaroslav Sveceny, Krakovska 5, near Wenseslas Square: Jaroslav Sveceny is one of the best contemporary Czech violinists and a prominent personality on the Czech musical scene. The hall was small and intimate (about 25 people). They had a tiny bar which served drinks and chlebicky (open faced sandwiches). He is a really great performer. He also will answer questions, most were in Czech but he speaks English well. Check the show listings before you attend. During one of his shows he doesn’t play much but just explains the violin differences in Czech (this particular probably not of interest unless you speak Czech, but his others are great for all – the club also has other venues). http://www.sveceny.cz/index.php?id=8&L=1 (Sveceny) and http://www.violino.cz/ (club).
Walking along the Vltava from the Arcadia Residence to the Charles Bridge was beautiful and relaxing. There are times when you can walk right along the river’s edge. There were very few tourists. I watched men fishing, lovers strolling and kids feeding the swans pieces of bread. The walk takes you passed the Dancing House also known as “Fred and Ginger” and the National Theater. During the journey you also have the option to stroll around a few of the city’s small islands. Usually quiet and virtually tourist free.
Vsyehrad: this is very close to the Arcadia Hotel (about a block). There is a beautiful cathedral, cemetery (many of Prague's great artists, scribes, musicians and politicians lie here, most notable are the graves of Dvorak, Smetana and Mucha.), park, ruins and a variety of restaurants. There is a wonderful view of Prague . At sunset I went to one of the food places and got a plastic cup of wine to go (the wine was just average, but they also had beer). I sat on the wall and watched the sunset. There was a group of people tightrope walking. It was pretty interesting I sat and watched them for awhile. I visited Vysehrad on several occasions. The park was very quiet. There are lots of walking paths and a variety of views. While I was there I watched a man propose out on the ruins (she said yes, she was still crying when they walked back to the main path). It’s a great place to wander around, people watch or have a picnic lunch/sunset snack. If you walk to the other side of the park you reach the Vysehrad metro station.
Letna: This is worth a visit. Once you get to the top of the steps stop to watch the skateboarders. Head to the left and walk through parks all the way to the castle garden. The walk (I strolled) took about an hour. With every step the views got better. About ½ way into the walk there is a beautiful beer garden where you can stop for a drink. Here you have unobstructed views of the bridges on the Vltava. Great late in the day and hardly any tourist. You will eventually pass through a gate in the castle grounds. At this point you can walk up some steps, straight or down some steps. All three paths end at the castle garden. If you head up the steps you get a great unobstructed view of St Vitus (walk behind the large bushes on the path, there’s plenty of space to walk along the wall) and walk through Kramá?ova vila, residence of Czech prime ministers. Straight takes you passed the palace greenhouse (it was never open when I walked by – this was my least favorite choice), down takes you into the moat and through a maze of quiet paths and gardens. Note that if you take the down route at some point you will have to walk back up.
Petrin Hill: Worth a visit. You can walk up the hill (pretty steep), take the funicular or take the tram (#22 or #23) up to the rear entrance of the park. If you take the funicular get there at 9AM when they open so that you don’t have to wait in line. If you head to the Hill later in the day it is probably faster to take a tram or walk. Once you are at the top there is lots to do:
The mini Eiffel Tower has 299 steps but offers a really wonderful view of the city (one of the best). Although the tower is 1/5 the size of the real Eiffel Tower, because it is on the hill it is technically the same height as the real Eiffel Tower (or so I was told). The mirror maze is a bit lame but the kids seemed to enjoy it. There is a beautiful rose garden and lots of walking paths. This is a great place to wander or relax and on the two occasions that I was there it wasn’t crowded. Charles Square (also a tram stop – Karlovo namesti); There is a park but it’s nothing exciting. It’s kind of small with a few benches and a fountain. Not really worth a visit.
Stromovka Park next to the Vystaviste Fairgrounds, to the left as you are looking at the Fairground which is also the home to the Krizikova Fontana show mentioned above (and the end point of the Saturday/Sunday historic tram #91, also tram 17 stops here). This is a huge, beautiful park. It has a pond with ducks, is great for biking, walking and rollerblading and has lots of flowers and a few 1960ish playgrounds. The walk is wonderful and ends at the Troja palace and Prague zoo where you can catch a bus for a few stops to Trojeska and then tram #17 back to Prague. It is pretty easy to get lost. I used the lonely planet guidebook to navigate through and also the help of some police officers on horses. There was a map at the entrance; I was thinking later that I should have taken a digital photo of it so that I could refer to it as I was walking. There were a few signs but they didn’t help much as they were few and far between. Kids (or kids at heart), off the beaten path at the Castle – not to be missed: As you walk into the palace garden on the right hand side there is an area (daily from 12 PM to 5 PM) where a woman brings several hawks and an owl. For a donation on 50 Kcs you can hold the birds (wearing a glove), if you do not want to hold a bird admission is free. She speaks excellent English and explains the bird’s rehab program. Great photo opportunities. This is definitely worth a visit. One of the kids in our class did a photo story here. I don’t think he has posted it yet as he had hundreds of photos to go through but it should be up on the CDIAphoto.com website in the next few weeks. This was not listed in any of the guidebooks nor did any of the castle employees know of it – it took me a few minutes to find it but well worth it!
Prague Zoo in Troja. Tram 17 to Trojeska and then a bus to the zoo (3 stops, about a 5 minute ride). The zoo was really impressive. 100 Kcs for adults. It had a large variety of unique animals, a cute chairlift, two kids trains for rides around the park, playgrounds and reasonably priced food. I guess the zoo was nearly destroyed during the floods of 2002. They did a great job of rebuilding. Probably one of the best zoos that I have ever visited. I tried to visit the Troja Palace on two occasions (next to the zoo). It’s is closed on Monday (my first visit) and it was closed for a wedding one Saturday (my second attempt). Note that you can also take the boat back to Prague from the zoo/palace. I did this after my first visit. The ride took almost two hours. Most of the ride was spent getting through two locks. There were lots of whiny, cranky, very tired kids who had a miserable ride after the excitement wore off (5 minutes into the ride). The boat was overcrowded and very hot. The 20 minute tram ride back to the city is much more desirable.
Museum of Miniatures, a small shop/exhibit near the Stahovy Palace at the back entrance of Petrin Hill. This was interesting (things like a drawing on an apple seed). There were about 30 such exhibits that could be viewed under a microscope. I wouldn’t go out of my way to visit but would stop if I was in the area.
Public transport museum, Patockova 4: Tram 1, 8 or 18 to Vozovna Stresovice, in a renovated tram depot houses a collection of restored trams and buses along with a vast array of related items, from uniforms, old plans and maps, to advertising and photographs. The museum is open to the public from 9-5 on Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays from early April to mid November. Groups can book weekday visits in advance. This is also where historic tram #91 starts/ends its weekend journey (runs every hour starting at noon). Great for kids – maybe a 30 minute visit and then take the historic tram ride (vintage tram from 1908-1924). No English, all exhibits are in Czech. If you start here the ride ends at Vystaviste fairground (you can get off at any other stop) – offers a great overview of Prague. Zlute Lazne : On a hot day the Czech coordinator suggested Zlute Lazne. It was wonderful! It is a huge park/beach/ sports center/playground on the river very close to the center of Prague. It is free after 6PM. I think it is about $3.00 admission during the day. They also had plenty of parking for cars.There was a huge kids playground and a fairly large kids shallow swimming pool. There is a beach area (really the river but people were swimming) with real beach sand and a grassy area where people were just laying out on towels. Also had quite a few cabanas with tables that fit 4-8 people and hammocks. There are volleyball nets, rock climbing, paddle boats, a DJ & dance floor, an adult workout area (punching bag, chin up bar, rope to climb), a nude bathing area (gated so you couldn't see inside). Also had picnic tables beer/drinks & food (typical beach food). People were rollerblading and biking; kids had scooters. Lots of families, lovers & singles. They have a website but it is in Czech. There are pictures an a map of the grounds. http://www.o2zlutelazne.cz/gfx/areal_go_zlute_lazne.pdf It's about 9 tram stops from Wenseslas Square and also 9 from the Charles Bridge. Open year round, daily 8:00–2:00, metro to Karlovo námìstí then tram 3, 16, 17, 21, 52 (to Dvorce) Astronomical Clock in the Old Town Square: This is one of those “must sees”. Every hour mechanical figures do a short performance (watch the skeleton on the clock as the performance starts). Even more fun is to stand under the clock and look at the tourists looking at the performance. It’s really funny (and a great photo) to watch about 300 digital cameras all pointing upward at the same time. The tower above the Astronomical Clock offers a great view of the city. It is accessed through the Old Town Hall. While looking at the clock, the entrance is about 100 meters to the left in the tourist information area. There is a small fee. While I was there the elevator was broken. There are ramps (not very steep) and a short spiral staircase up to the top. If you are looking for an Old Town Square photo opportunity a better choice is at the top of the U Prince restaurant. On weekends in the Old Town Square they set up a stage and various events were held. We went to a jazz fest one weekend another weekend they had dancers.
Prague Castle: I wandered around the Castle Grounds, especially beautiful at night when St. Vitus is lit. Admission to a portion of St. Vitus is free as is entrance to the bell tower – lots of steps (287) but great views and the cathedral is beautiful inside. I visited Golden Lane (and paid the admission fee) these are quaint little colorful houses, now gift shops, attached to the side of the castle. I found out later that entry is free before 9AM and after 5PM. Of course the shops are closed (but you wouldn’t be missing much). To get to the castle you can walk up the hill or take tram 22 or 23.
The changing of the guards at the Prague Castle: This occurs hourly but the most elaborate is at 12:00 noon everyday. I got some great photos. It’s best to sit on the pavement and shoot upward thereby focusing on the guards and virtually eliminating the crowds for the photo. On the way up to the castle wander up Nerudova Street and check out the historic house signs (these are all over Prague but this street has the most). Before there were house numbers people used these as identifiers.
Charles Bridge: This is a pedestrian only bridge with lots of vendors (art & jewelry), musicians and tourists. I climbed the Tower’s on each end (small fee). The one closest to the Old Town offered a better view (and was open until 10 PM – the tower on the other end closes at 6 PM). The bridge gets pretty crowded. I got up before sunrise one day (4:30 AM) and took a walk to the bridge. It was nice to walk the bridge without tourists – just a few other photographers and a few drunks from stag parties headed back to their hotel. They shut off the lights at 4:57AM so you need to arrive early if you want a photo of the bridge empty of tourists with lights. I’m sure the time changes with the seasons. This is a beautiful place to watch the sunset over the castle. My favorite musician was a guitarist named Petra Ester Kahle – I bought her CD, it’s really great. She was on the bridge almost every evening. Most interesting was the crucifix with the Hebrew words “holy, holy, holy lord” that were paid for by a Jew that disrespected the cross and the statue of St John Nepomuk (he was thrown off the bridges for refusing to divulge the sins of the queen to the king) which you are supposed to rub and make a wish.
John Lennon Wall: this was pretty cool, it’s a colorful wall of graffiti a few minutes walk from the Charles Bridge on Kampa island. To get there you pass an old mill wheel the last of many that used to line the canal. The Rick Steves guidebook gives some background information. Wenceslas Square – I guess this is something that you have to see. It’s a really long street with lots of junk shops and tourists. There are some nice flower gardens down the middle of the street but other than the flowers it was my least favorite place in Prague.
The Crypt in the Church of Saints Cyril and Methodius: the church is between Charles Square and the Fred and Ginger Building. This is an amazing memorial to the Czech assassins of top-Nazi, Reinhard Heydrich, and the place where they hid after the Operation Anthropoid and where they, after a fierce gun battle, reportedly committed suicide to avoid capture. The entire exhibit is explained in English. Another sight not to be missed. Just an FYI that the Lonely Planet guidebook mentions an exhibit on Heinrich at the Army Museum. I arrived at the museum to find that the exhibit had ended 2 years ago.
Wallenstein Palace (Valdstejnsky palac) Valdstejnske namesti 3; the entry gate is just behind the metro station entrance and tram stop Malostranske namesti. This is a great place for all ages. A large pond houses large fish (lots of kids were feeding pieces of bread to the fish). There are peacocks (including little babies) who wander freely around the palace garden. There are also some caged owls. Worth seeing is the grotto with stalactites and stalagmites. Hidden among the rocks are animals and scary faces – I found a puppy, frog and snake. The palace itself is rarely open but the garden is really worth a visit. The gardens are open 10-6 (5 on weekends).
Boat ride on the Vltava. There are people dressed up as sailors all around the Charles Bridge selling tickets to these boats. They offer a 45 minute ride on a medium sized boat or small boat (same price, your choice of boat). The price includes an ice cream and a beer (which don’t really mix but both were good). The ride was nice because it was short and the boat stayed around the area of the Charles Bridge and Kampa Island. The best time to cruise (at least in July) is at 9:15 PM so that you get a nice sunset ride beneath the castle. The guide was very informative and spoke English well. I had heard that the other cruises (jazz, disco, etc.) run for 3 - 5 hours and spend a long time getting through the locks, I am sure a jazz cruise with adults would be a better experience than my return trip from the Troja zoo but I didn’t want to take any chances! TV Tower, this is Prague’s tallest landmark, Jiriho Z Podebrad metro stop. Great views but you can’t see the Vltana so the views from Letna and Petrin Hill are better (and free!). It is a very bizarre structure. There are 10 giant crawling babies attached to the outside. Not on my top ten but if you are in the area it’s worth a walk by. Admission is 150 Kcs. There is a 2007 art project in Prague http://www.editionartco.com/e/art.php; http://www.editionartco.com/e/sgp.php. It’s fun to go look for this art. My favorite is the one of a pig on a diving board just outside of the Namesti Republiky metro station.
As a group we visited Barrandov Studios. We got a great tour. I was amazed at how many movies are filmed in Prague. Barrandov is the largest film studio in the country and one of the largest in Europe. No cameras allowed and the guide told us that he would immediately end the tour if he saw anyone trying to use a camera phone or camera. They are getting ready to film part two of the "Chronicles of Narnia" for Disney. We were able to view the giant castle that they are building for the film. It was really amazing - It was a 20 minute cab ride outside of Prague. I am not sure if this is open to the public. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barrandov_Studios. During my month in Prague we noticed film crews out on several occasions filming commercials and a history movie.
Lidice, (a small town outside of Prague, it was a 13 minute bus ride) This was so moving. The town was completely destroyed by Hitler in retaliation for the assassination of Reinhard Hevdrich. See: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lidice No need for a tour guide here the museum is wonderful and moving. There are beautiful gardens and a statue remembering the 88 children who were killed. There is also a short film shown in English in the Gallery (a few hundred meters from the museum) and a moving exhibition. There is a small restaurant and market in the town. Admission which included the museum and gallery was 85 Kcs, the park is free. This really isn’t mentioned in many of the guidebooks (it sometimes gets a few sentences) but is a not to be missed site. The bus stop is at the metro station Dejvicka across the street from the Hotel Diplomat. You pay when you get on the bus, just tell the driver that you want Lidice (write it on a piece of paper so he understands) and he will tell you if it is the right bus. The metro pass is not valid on the bus. The driver collects about 20 Kcs when you board. The bus schedule lists two Lidice stops. It really only stops at one. Buses leave hourly. When you get off the bus you are left in the middle of a big field. Just walk toward the yellow shelter 20 yards away that says “Lidice” and cross the street (small highway). You will see the entrance directly in front of you. The bus taking you back to Prague arrives hourly in the same field on the other side of the road (you will see the bus sign).
Jewish Tours: I took two tours with Wittmann (www.wittmann-tours.com). I first did the 3 hour “Prague’s Jewish Quarter” with Bela. It covered all of the Jewish sights with the exception of the Old-New Synagogue. They offered me a student price and a 10% discount for paying in Kcs, total 500 Kcs. Bela was really great. I had already done all the Jewish sights on my own but I learn so much more having a guide. She told us about the ghetto, the mythical Golem and other interesting facts. Our tour had only 8 participants. Most of the tours that I saw wandering the streets had 20-40 participants. It was nice to be part of a small group. Best were the Jewish cemetery and Pinkas Synagogue (now a memorial to Czech victims of the Nazis; this Synagogue also has an exhibit of pictures drawn by the children of Terezin).
The second day I went on the Terezin concentration camp tour led by Natan (I got a student price and 10% off for taking a second wittmann tour, total 900 Kcs). Natan was very knowledgeable but he was quite distracted. He took 5 or 6 cell phone calls during the tour. He really rushed us through the exhibits saying that we really didn’t have time to see it all and that he would be explaining most of it anyway. His presentation was a bit scattered and disjointed. We arrived home an hour earlier than scheduled. He explained that this was because the timing was based on having a group of 20 participants versus 8. I really feel that we didn’t get the full experience with him. He was nice enough but I wish we had a better guide. He did take us to a small “secret" synagogue of Terezin that a resident discovered in his shed a few years ago. It was pretty interesting. It’s house L225 Zidovska modlitebna and numbered 17 (brown door/yellow building).
As a group one Sunday we visited Cesky Krumlov. It was a long way to go for a day trip. If we had to do it again we’d stay over one night. Because of traffic & construction it took 4 hours to get there (and 2 ½ hours to get back to Prague). The city was magical. There was a colorful tower, we walked to the top for a great city view. Although very touristy it was the most romantic place that I have ever been in my life. Great place to rent a canoe or rubber raft and float around. I wish we had time to do the 3 hour rafting trip mentioned by Rick Steves, but without staying over we didn’t have the time. The shops were all upscale. We ate at Restaurace Barbakan on Horni 26. I ordered pork (a bit tough) and potatoes fried with onions and mushrooms (awesome) and cucumber salad (also good). It was a cute place along the river with picnic tables, good Czech beer and reasonable prices.
Best Experience ****Rici Puppet Factory, Vratislavova, 23 I visited the Rici Puppet factory (across the street from the Arcadia and near Vysehrad). Pasquale arranged for me to take photos of the workshop. I spent several days there. It was truly an amazing process. The owner Richard trains each employee himself. He also designs new puppets. Everything is handmade from cloths, shoes, noses, faces…. The office manager Tana explained everything that was going on. The employees were great. Everyone was so friendly and happy to show me their part of the process. I took hundreds of photos. This was one of my most memorable Prague experiences. The puppet quality is so much better than that of the shops in the tourist areas of Prague. They do sell the Rici puppets in their workshop (cash only), on-line and is some of the more upscale shops in Prague. If you buy a puppet, first look for the Rici label. They offer both more expensive elaborate puppets and simpler puppets for kids play. http://www.marionettesrici.com/ Other Stuff - Although I have been at BU/CDIA for a bit over a year I have never met the school founders. It was a great opportunity to meet them on this trip. I got to speaking with one of them and we discovered that our great grandparents grew up four houses away from each other. This was also the house where I grew up. His family sold the house when I was a baby but prior to that he was there every Sunday for dinner. He also believes that my great grandfather owned the land that his great grandfather rented to run a small store. Small world!! - While I was at Zlute Lazne a Czech man saw me with my camera and told me that I needed to get a book “In the Name Philosophie Photografie” by Wilhelm Flusser. I didn’t go looking for this yet…. - I was amazed at how much graffiti covered the city. Luckily it seems to be controlled in the main areas. - I didn’t go to the Frank Kafka Museum on Kampa island but I got an interesting photo of the statues out front. I also spent about an hour walking around the Jewish cemetery where Kafka is buried searching for his grave. The directions given in the Lonely Planet book are not accurate. I couldn’t find the grave and none of the signs were in English so I finally gave up. - The ATM machine spits out large bills and I sometimes had trouble finding places that could break these into smaller bills (one day I did stop in a bank to have them change a large bill). I found that instead of withdrawing 4,000 or 3,000 Kcs each time if I took out an odd number like 3,400 Kcs then I knew that I would get two 200 bills. I saw a number of people screaming at the tellers at the street side currency exchange windows. It didn’t seem like a good idea to use these. - Trams: Each tram stop has a schedule posted. There are little arrows pointing to future stops in the direction that the tram will travel. There is a little “M” on the tram stops that are also metro stops. Pasquale gave me copies of the common trams that I would use. The metro and tram systems are easy to use and very efficient. - I had a laptop with me so I used Skype to make free calls back to the states. This took a minute or so to download and create a user name. Test this before you leave home as not all computers have a speaker. You can buy one cheaply if you don’t have one or you can also use Skype instant messaging for free. Very much worth it as Cingular now AT&T charges $1.99 a minute for calls from Czech to the US. - I learned the hard way (by a Czech lady yelling at me) that food and drink is not allowed on the tram. I was drinking a soda. I guess I should have noticed that no one around me had a coffee or water in the morning. - Keep some small change on hand. Public bathrooms are everyplace (WC) but it costs 5-10 Kcs to use the facility. The good news is that most were spotless, unlike the US. - Tesco is like the Walmart of Prague. There are several, they sell pretty much everything including some food, beer & wine. They had little plastic packets of Nutella (my favorite!!!), I bought a bunch and ate them as midnight snacks. I also tried the chocolate banana yogurt – it was a bit weird and I am a chocolate lover!! - My allergies acted up quite a bit in Prague (glad I had allergy pills with me) – I am allergic to pollen, dust, mold and everything green. - Bring an umbrella!! It rained almost every day for 5 or 10 minutes sometimes it was a downpour. I learned the hard way that even if it looks like a beautiful day you will need an umbrella at some point (also a great tool to protect you from the sun on hot days). - Cab drivers on the street should not be used as they will overcharge you. It’s best to call a driver (although the metro/tram system is so easy and efficient you really don’t ever need to use a taxi). The hotel an give you a number for a cab. If you do use a cab driver make sure you get a price and ask them if they use the meter. If they are hesitant to answer don’t use them (this was the advice we got from the Czech students). - Each house/business has two address numbers. One in red and one in blue. This can be confusing when you are looking for an address. I think it is usually the red number that is listed in the guidebooks. - I used 3 guidebooks (all from the library) and found all to be useful: Rick Steves, Lonely Planet & DK Eyewitness Travel (best photos). - I always felt safe in Prague (being a woman traveling alone) and found the Czech people to be very friendly and helpful. Almost everyone spoke some English. - I used the Pimsleur Language tapes before I left and found that the Czech’s liked that I attempted to speak the language. In reality the only words I actually used were: o Hello – Dobry den (Dough-bree-den) o Bye – Na Shledanou (nah-skleh-dah-no), I also heard people saying Ahoy o Please (also means You’re Welcome) – Prosim (Pro-seem) o Thank you – Dekuji, there were a few different pronunciations but Pasquale told me both were correct (Dj-ay-quee) o No – Ne (Neh), Yes – Ano (Ah-no) o Excuse me – Prominte (Pro-mean-tah) Note that if you stay at the Arcadia Residence you should learn a few Italian words so you can chat with mama. If not, no worries – she’ll teach you!! She is also great with sign language. Photos are at cdiaphoto.com under Prague project. Mine are listed under “Prague – Hall”, Jewish Prague, Making Marionettes, Off the Beaten Path and a few under “Images of Prague” (photographers names are on each photo). Things I missed but wish I had time for: - The Story of Prague Castle exhibit - Day trips to Kunta Hora & Karlovy and more time in Cesky Krumlov - A Prague walking tour with a private guide (or one of the 8AM group guides) - A concert at the Prague Opera House - Seeing a movie on Strelecky Island (or just watch the sunrise/sunset from the beach on the island beneath the castle and Charles Bridge) - Dinner at the following places recommended by guidebooks, message boards or my new Czech friends or other tourists I met while there): o Peklo (Strhovske nadvori 1/132), o Sushi Bar (recommended by the Czech coordinator, Zborovska 49), o La Perle (on the 7th floor of the Dancing Building, Rasinovo nabrezi) o Kogo (Slovansky, Na prikope 10) o Café Louvre (Narodni triad 20, breakfast/bakery/lunch) o Beer Cellar and Papa’s living restaurant in Cesky Krumlov And probably a whole bunch of stuff that I can’t think of right now because my brain is fried from writing this. I am also sure that I forgot some of my activities (like just wandering and getting lost in the maze of streets around the Old Town and Charles Bridge). If I think of anything really amazing I will repost. Thank you soooooo much to everyone posting who helped give me ideas, website links, sources for Christmas ornaments, etc., etc. You are all wonderful!!! Linda in North Andover, MA USA 08/08/2007 Exc restaurant in Prague - L'Angolo @ Dlouha 7. Had three great meals there John Barrere in Fresno, CA USA 07/15/2007 Although it's in the "splurge" category, we loved the Hotel Paris, with genuine Art Nouveau details and a massive breakfast buffet included. Superb location off Nam. Rupubliky, across the street from Municipal House. Our view (double windows, double door) included Prague Castle and the towers of Old Town Square. Best rates via internet advance payment. http://www.hotel-pariz.cz/ We had a very expensive ($100/person) anniversary dinner, with what must be a better view than La Perle de Prague. Terasa http://www.terasauzlatestudne.cz/ has 40 rooftop seats at roughly the height of the Castle Gardens, which are just behind you. We watched the sun set over all of Prague. The continental food and wine were worth the expense, and the view unforgettable. It's at the top of a hotel elevator you enter from a Little Quarter back street. Reservations recommended. Mike's Chauffeur Service did a great job for our day trip to ?eský Krumlov. We were only two, but Mike now can provide cars that carry two couples in comfort, if you reserve them. But two-lane roads and slow truckers keep the trip near 2 1/2 hours. Our cheerful driver agreed to help book our Baroque Theater tickets while we took Mike's recommended guide's walking tour. Just beside the short-cut stairway from the Krumlov town to the bear-pit castle entrance, there's a window-only bakery that offers oven-warm dough-rings, rather like the Hungarian kurtoskalacs. Krumlov hasn't quite been spoiled by tourism yet! After seeing Gehry's "Dancing Houses", consider the sports-bar bright, chain pub across the street, Potrefená Husa, Resslova 2, Praha 2. The soups in a bread-bowl make a full meal, very cheaply. Timothy Buchman in Wyckof, NJ USA 07/04/2007 Re: Kutna Hora (p. 159, 2006 book)from my trip in the fall, 2006. Your tip about car rental was incredibly wonderful. The owner of the agency (Pavla Stipkova), who spoke beautiful English, met me at the bus stop from Prague with my rental care and was so enchanted with my mission to see where my great-grandfather was born, that she scheduled her days to personally drive me around the countryside as my tour guide. She even took me to her grandmother-in-law's home in the same village and over coffee and cookies, the two of them brainstormed about connecting me with appropriate people in the village who could be helpful. Later in the week I was there, she and her husband took me to dinner and invited me to their home. I was dumbfounded with surprise and gratitude. Meanwhile, she was dumbfounded that her agency was listed in a travel book! I made a photocopy of the page for her and promised that I would tell everyone that she would make an excellent tour guide for people in the area -- for hire this time, of course. Without her, I would have not known to explore the ruins of the castle whose residents had "owned" my serf ancestors. I should also mention that the earlier comment in this feedback list about taking the bus to Kutna Hora from Prague is absolutely right. The locals all recommended that method (rather than the train), and one of them, Pavla, brought the rental car to the bus station to meet me. Talk about service! One last thing, Kutna Hora is full of medieval buildings, roads, fountains, and sights as is Prague, but I actually felt connected to it all, unlike in Prague. The old parts of the big city were filled with huge tour groups and guides shouting through bullhorns. I always felt like a tourist; disconnected. But in Kutna Hora, I wandered the cobblestone streets with real residents, not tourists, and felt like I were truly seeing Europe through the back door. I can't recommend my time there enough. Lee Ann Bourcier in Yachats, OR USA 06/30/2007 Wallenstein Palace was very lovely and relaxing. A good break from Castle touring. Castle can be very intimidating with enormous crowds, go later in the day as Rick - Honza recommend. Ceska Kuchyne restaurant was fun, but read the English menu outside and write down the numbers of several items that appeal. Some servers speak English, but this is a locals restaurant, not geared for tourists. Both Kolkovna and Franz Kafka Cafe were fine for breaks/lunch/dinner after touring Jewish Quarter.
Pinkas Synagogue and names on its walls breaks your heart and angers at the same time, knowing this is only a fraction of the total number so senselessly and brutally murdered. Mucha Museum is recommended for the film, best part. Don't buy Mucha souvenirs there however. Dramatically cheaper and same items at the Municipal House where you can see actual Art Nouveau work of Mucha.
Kutna Hora was an interesting day trip - easy from Prague. Don't walk into city - quite far from station - spring for a cheap cab ride. Mr. Matuska at the Mining Museum is charming and very helpful on the mine tour. However, it is NOT a Disney recreation. It is VERY close, cramped and absolutely not for anyone in poor shape, with bad knees, or overweight. The passages are tiny in places - some very low, some very tight. Very interesting, but if you have the slightest doubt, don't take the tour, as it is a real mine - wet, dark, and very confined. And you cannot turn back once in the mine. Must have been a horrible existence for the miners and their families.
Prague main station is very "depressing" and don't make it your first impression of this lovely city. Badly needs a major overhaul and appears to be in the planning. Holesovice Station is tiny and easy to use.
Prague public transportation is a "shoe saver" and should be used whenever possible. Roderick McNealy in Hillsborough, NJ USA 06/18/2007 We used Lobo Bus Shuttle to travel from Cesky Krumlov to Linz, Austria. Then we took the train from Linz to Vienna. The Lobo Bus Shuttle was a great value, it cost less money than the bus/train combination and was a hour and a half faster. The TI in Cesky Krumlov has fliers for the company. The website is www.shuttlelobo.cz Natalie Kittrell in Nashville, TN USA 06/05/2007 The Castle Steps is a wonderful little hotel in the heart of Mala Strana. The rooms are full of antique furniture, and our room had views over the park. It is at www.castlesteps.com. Maija Johnstone in London, UK 05/28/2007 Please add the K + K Hotel Fenix to your list of hotels. Excellent value for money, right off Wenceslas Square, in the New Town. Jennifer Wild in Scottsdale, AZ USA 05/19/2007 In Prague for a week on business. My wife accompanied me and we took two friends with Czech heritage along. Used Mike's Chauffer service from the airport to our apartments and were very impressed with the service, price and information given on the way into town. Our friends had considered hiring a car to visit the family village south of Brno but used Mike instead for a day trip. Turned out to be an excellent investment as the cost was less than the cost of a car rental, all of the additional insurance, not to mention the frayed nerves when only one person in the group reads Czech. Mike stayed with my wife and our friends while they visited cousins, saw the parents home, etc. and helped with translation. Another of my collegues used Mike from the Airport to his hotel and was going to use him to go to Vienna and do some sightseeing on the way. After several trips to Europe, when making plans to stay in a city for a length of time, we like to let an apartment. At times, a home cooked breakfast, afternoon snack or late night snack is what is necessary to wind down. We stayed at Residence Masna, Masna 5, Prague. Were two blocks from Old Town Square, 5 minutes from Kotva department store and grocery. We booked two apartments through Booking.com which I have used before and had excellent rooms overlooking the small square with all the amenities of home. Going through Booking.com gave us better prices than we could get through any of the competing services offered through the various Prague tourist web sights. Ken Ken Culverson in Dalton, GA USA 05/10/2007 I visited Prague over Spring Break with my two college age sons and used private guide Katarina Kruspanova (www.prague-perfect.cz) for 2 half day walking tours in Prague and a day trip to Cesky Krumlov. She was a delightful wealth of information about the sites and Czech history. We learned so much more than we would have on our own. It was certainly worth the extra expense. She also has a wonderful spacious apartment to rent close to the Castle Quarter and also right next to a tramstop. Nina in Onaga, Ks USA 04/11/2007 Just returned from Prague and a wonderful 4-night stay in the rental apartment offered by The Perfect Package, owned by excellent tour guide Katarina Kruspanova. About $140 a night for a large, 2-room apartment close to tram stop or walk downtown to the sights. Katarina is a great tour guide, perfect English and knows the city very well. Highly recommended: www.prague-perfect.cz Phil in Gambier, Oh USA 03/29/2007 |
