City break to Prague

The city of Prague is divided into five main areas, and is split by the Vltava river. On the right bank, we have the Old Town, New Town, and Jewish Quarters. (Our Hotel was in Old Town). On the left bank, there is the "Little Quarter" and the Prague Castle and Hradcany area. Any good guidebook will show the main areas and main attractions of each, allowing you to make the most of your visit- we had purchased the eye-witness guide.

The best way to explore the city initially is on foot. We had a five night break in Prague, which is probably a little longer than average, but did give us plenty of time to explore every corner, and have time to relax and watch the world go by. Once you set out on your exploration, you will find that the city is extremely geared up for tourism – there are tour operators offering coach and boating tours, and if you want a tour by horse drawn carriage, or by a vintage Skoda, then you have come to the right place! There are plenty of walking tours, and you will soon get familiar with tour guides leading 10-50 people around the main sites of the city. We didn’t join any, as generally I would prefer to explore alone, however if you are near an historical site, if you are close enough to a tour guide you might learn a fact or two..!

We did opt for a late afternoon 1hr river cruise, which was pleasant and affordable enough. There is a myriad of entertainment boats offering dinner and jazz nights etc, from the bridge just north of Charles Bridge - that links Little Quarter with the Jewish Quarter, however these are not my idea of enjoyment.

Transportation
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It is possible to purchase tickets which cover both the electric trams, underground and buses for very affordable pricing across several days. Tickets can be bought at a tabac or at a station and should be validated at the ticket machines before making the first journey. If you don’t have a ticket you risk a fine, and it isn’t always possible to buy a ticket at a machine at a tram station. Public transport tends to be very busy and tickets are rarely checked but the sooner you can get to a station and buy a ticket the better, as there are heavy fines for passengers travelling without a ticket. We bought a three day ticket which we did not use all that much, but it was invaluable when it was late and it was a long walk home. Tickets also cover the Fenicular railway (although we didn’t realise that and paid twice!)

Key Attractions
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Our hotel was situated on Narodni, which divides the Old and New Town and we often found ourselves in the Old Town Area. The highlight of the area is the wonderful Old Town Square but all the streets leading into Old Town Square are bustling with life. Not surprisingly, as Old Town Square has been important for almost 1000 years. Even if churches are not your thing, the Powder Gate, the Old Town Hall Tower and its fantastic astronomical clock should not be missed.

Charles Bridge crosses the Vltava and links Old Town with the Little Quarter. Crossing the bridge might take a while! This footbridge used to take four carriages abreast. There are plenty of artists selling their wares as you walk over the bridge, but the main feature of the bridge is the umpteen statues of saints that line its route across the river. Be prepared for the groups of people who congregate to touch the statue of St John Nepomuk, the statue has been polished bright from people wanting to receive good luck.

Prague Castle – the size of the Prague Castle complex is overwhelming. According to the Guinness book of records it is the largest continuous castle complex in the world, and is recognised by Unesco. We opted for a traditional Czech lunch at one of the restaurants close to the castle, before exploring its grounds. There are in fact five churches within this area, as well as several palaces and historic buildings, museums and galleries and important streets, including Golden Lane.

The Cathedral is situated within the walls of Prague Castle, and while there may look like there is a long queue for entry, it disappears within a reasonable timeframe and it is worth joining. You cannot gain entry to Golden Lane and its picturesque 16th century cottages without purchasing a ticket, which also allows access to St George’s Basilica, the gruesome Dalibor Tower and other attractions. We found an anomaly here, in that it is cheaper to purchase a family ticket than it is to purchase a ticket for two adults...so we purchased a family ticket, and were then refused entry to St George’s on the grounds we didn’t have a child with us..! Madness..but we got in eventually. I think they got their pricing strategy a little incorrect there however..!

Museum of Communism – this small museum was situated just off Narodni, and a few minutes walk from our hotel. Amazingly this was not mentioned in our guide book however it was an excellent social history museum looking at communism, the dream, reality and nightmare that was life in Prague from the second world war until the Velvet Revolution in 1989. The fact that they advertise themselves as situated betweein a McDonalds and a casino was not lost on me.

As you wander around Prague, you cannot fail to notice the large number of musical halls, and everywhere you walk, you will find leaflets thrust upon you, promoting classical music events available to you that evening. We found one we liked, which covered a mix of popular classical music and bought two tickets for approximately £10 for a one hour show. The act was a four piece string quartet, playing in a church and it was an excellent way to spend an hour early evening and experience the importance of music on this great city. I would however say that it is better to purchase the tickets at the venue itself, rather than street sellers, as a precautionary measure.

Wenceslas Square seemed quite commercialised to me, however the great buildings that are all around Prague are evident here, and it is impossible to come to Prague and not spend some time here. Most of our time was spent sitting outside the Hotel Europa, which has much of its original features, and is an affordable but fashionable place for a drink or lunch.

Back over the water to Petrin Park, which is worth visiting late afternoon, to spend some time see some of the attractions there, but also a good place to relax, read a book, and look down upon the city and river. The park itself is extremely steep, hence the reason for the 1891 Funicular Railway which carries visitors to the Observation Tower, the false "Eiffel Tower" that is clearly visible on the city skyline. Just 299 steps, and one spiral staircase will get you to the top of the tower, from which you can see for miles around, and the entrance fee is minimal.

The Jewish Cemetery, in the Jewish Quarter, was expensive, at the equivalent of approximately £7.50 a head. However this is an important part of Prague history, and even if you do not visit the cemetery, it is worthwhile spending an afternoon wandering through the Jewish quarter to get a better feeling of Jewish life. Most Jews in Prague were sent to Terezin ghetto once the second world war was underway.

Overall
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I am delighted that I finally got the opportunity to visit Prague and even though my city break was fairly extended compared to others, I still wish I had a day or two more to do some more exploration. From exploring the architecture and culture of Prague, this has been a very wealthy city that has had its struggles under communism but is certainly a lively city for visitors from across the globe.

Obviously the city has become popular with group travel, but as we arrived Monday and departed Saturday we never saw any situations that we were uncomfortable with. There are plenty of warnings about pickpockets, and this is very much a city which is heaving with tourists. We took the normal sensible precautions and did not have any security scares either.

The city is alive from early morning to late evening, and whether you want to explore architecture, churches and history, relax in parklands and watch the world go by, or eat, drink and party to the small hours, then Prague has something to offer you.

I had not heard of the Museum of Communism before my recent trip to Prague. Perhaps that it caught the attention of both my husband and I at the exact same time while on a brief visit to the tourist Information centre meant we were destined to go and visit. Even more conveniently, the Museum was situated on the same road as our hotel and a mere five minute walk away. It also has great opening hours, meaning a visit is possible in the early evening. Finally the irony of the fact that they give their directions as being sandwiched in between a McDonalds restaurant and a Casino was not lost on us. It was not however in our DK guide book of the city, and so is one of those places that could easily be overlooked.

Prague was, in fact, under communist rule until relatively recent times - 1989. Most of us can remember the fall of the Berlin Wall but I have to admit I struggle to remember news coverage of events in Prague at the same time. The Velvet Revolution and the return of power did go relatively smoothly, all things considered, and perhaps that has contributed to my loss of memory.

The purpose of the museum is to portray an insight into life during the period of occupation, which lasted from just after the second world war until that day in 1989. Admission costs an affordable 180 CZK which is a fraction over £1 and is good value for money given the information and artefacts it contains.

As my title suggests - the main theme of the museum is to portray Communism - as the Dream, The Reality, and the Nightmares. While there are plenty of posters, artefacts and objects from the period, most of the displays provide information to the visitor (in several languages) and the museum starts with the theories of Communism per the Marx period (The dream), before moving into the reality by showing aspects of every day life and finally the nightmare that was communism.

Regardless of any regime, city life must go on, and the museum offers an insight into the various aspects of that life, including sport, politics, schooling, media propoganda and censorship. There is a small area which shows a video of footage from the period, showing the struggles and the sacrifices as the people of Prague fought against the regime.

There is no particular political slant to the museum, or not one that is immediately apparent - it is simply there as a collection of objects and information from which the visitor can form their own impression of life in the city during this period.

It's perhaps not the most exciting museum although I personally enjoyed the aspects which relate much to every day life. A visit would take no more than perhaps one hour, and for anyone visiting the city and wanting to learn more about its political and social history, then it is extremely worthwhile to visit

Museum of Communism
Na Prikope 10
110 00, Prague 1
Czech Republic

Tel.: +420 224 212 966
Gsm.: +420 777 949 472
E-mail: muzeum@muzeumkomunismu.cz

Situated 60km north west of Prague, the town of Terezin with its population of a few thousand inhabitants should have remained a sleepy little country town that few people could locate on a map.

All that changed in 1939 with the occupation of Czechoslovakia.

Terezin was used as a ghetto by the Nazis for the period of the Second World War. While it was not specifically intended as an extermination camp, it was still the final home of tens and thousands of Jews who died here in the appalling conditions. Those that did survive were sent to other extermination camps in the region, including Auschwitz.

The Terezin Memorial actually consists of a number of exhibitions and memorials. The key memorial is the "Small Fortress" where most Jews were held. The Fortress was actually built in 1784 as part of the Terezin Fortification System and was intended for lodging. It remained an important garrison town and by the early 19th century it was being used as a prison for army offenders and political prisoners before it was seized by the Nazis. People who lived in the town who were not Jewish were eventually evacuated altogether as the entire town and the fortress was taken over by the Nazis.

Visitors to the city of Prague can visit Terezin by taking a tour bus from the city centre. Organised by Martin Tours, this costs 1100CZK per person, and lasts approximately 5 hours. The trip includes a guided tour of the Small Fortress, entrance to the Ghetto Museum and a trip to the Jewish Cemetery and Crematorium. During the drive to Terezin, which takes around one hour, the tour guide provides important background information to the ghetto.

It seems unbelievable that the "Jewish Question" ever arose in such recent history, and hearing the numbers of Jews that were sent to Terezin (and then onwards) is really quite shocking. Over 140000 people were sent to Terezin, including women and children, and the majority did not survive the experience.

The benefit of going to Terezin in a small group is that a guide will take you through the ghetto and our guide was exceptional in her knowledge and understanding of the conditions of the time, and the practicalities of daily living. The site itself is quite large and you need to allow at least 1.5 hours or more to gain the most from the visit.

The tour itself meanders through the various courtyards and into different rooms which either housed officers or prisoners. Clearly the rooms today are fairly empty places but it is only when you stand in them and listen to the guide explaining the vast numbers of people that had to live together in them that you can gain an appreciation of just how dreadful conditions really were – albeit not on the scale of concentration camps such as Auschwitz. Conditions got considerably worse during the latter half of the Second World War, when prisoner numbers increased causing living conditions to deteriorate even further, and of course rations reduced considerably. The conditions themselves contributed to a lot of deaths. There was a sick bay for the most serious patients but with only eight beds and no equipment, this simply wasn’t up to the task.

The "Death Gate" at Terezin leads onto the execution field. Prisoners knew that if they ever went beyond the gate then it meant they would not be coming back out alive. There were around 250-300 executions including a few notable ones – the execution of 3 men and 1 woman in March 1945 as punishment for an attempted mass escape, and the execution two months later of 49 men and 3 women who were members of a resistance group.


The tour of Terezin also includes a visit to the Ghetto Museum. Here you can watch an important film – known as "Propaganda". Knowing that a Red Cross inspection was planned, officers at Terezin forced prisoners to take part in a film showing a very different Terezin than the reality. Instead it was shown as a safe retreat, a happy place, where people were safe, well fed and enjoyed group sports and activities. Remarkably, at the fortress, officers even built a large washroom area with plenty of sinks – but these were never used (and they are still there today) – they were simply used as part of the plan to show the Red Cross that living conditions were humane, when in fact the opposite was true. The museum itself is quite extensive, and one of the most heartbreaking parts was a large exhibition room containing some of the original pictures and crafts from children who had been housed at Terezin – normal childish drawings showing families outside playing and having fun and being free to do so

- something that most children that were sent to Terezin never saw again.


www.pamatnik-terezin.cz

Prague Zoo is situated a few miles outside the city centre itself and can be reached via the tube line C to Holesovice and then by bus 112. The bus itself can be quite an ordeal as it gets absolutely packed with passengers and reminded me more of transport in Asia than anywhere else! Thankfully it is only a few kilometres to the park entrance.

Prague Zoo has changed enormously since 1931 when it opened. Back then there were only 8 hectares, and less than 100 animals, and visitors could only enter the zoo at weekends.

Nowadays the Zoo receives over one million visitors a year, visiting over 4500 animals in over 60 hectares of land and the zoo is open daily (and until 7pm in summer). A visit to the zoo will certainly require the best part of a day if you want to see as many animals as possible.

Entrance Fee is a very affordable 100 CZK per adult (40 CZK = £1) making this excellent value for money for a day’s outing. There are of course cheaper tickets for families and concessionaries. I strongly recommend you splash out a further 5 CZK on the Zoo "Orientation Map" available at the ticket kiosk as this will enable you to plan your journey among the zoo’s pathways – with a zoo this size, it would be very easy to miss sections and you don’t want to be disappointed.

The Zoo itself is situated right on the River Vltava and the site itself is reasonably steep, however as the main entrance is mid way up the slope then it makes sense to go to the higher levels first (another good reason to get a map!), then make your way downhill towards the river. There is a small cable car which will take you up the steepest sections, as well as a small train – although we didn’t use either and walked instead.

There are a number of pavilions within the zoo and the Indonesian Jungle, situated near the entrance is a recent addition, from around 2004. Enclosed within a huge biome type structure (think Eden Project) the Indonesian Jungle is home to various types of monkeys and gibbons, flying foxes, komodo dragons and flora and fauna from the region. It is useful to enter the Jungle early on in your visit, as it is very warm and humid.

It was very hot on our recent trip to Prague, and as we arrived at the zoo late morning, and stayed until around 4pm, we did notice that many animals were sheltering from the suns heat and we were not able to see quite as many creatures as we would have liked – at the same time understanding that the animals clearly have more sense than humans for escaping the mid-day sun!

The Polar bear home was our next port of call. Here I felt that the concrete "cell" was no place for a polar bear, and certainly not in the heat of the day. I also felt the bear was pacing a little, which didn’t seem fair on her. There is water and a waterfall which helps to keep them cool, but if I ever thought an animal was out of place in a zoo it was this one.

The Africa Closely pavilion is another fairly recent addition and is home to 50 different species of mammals, amphibians and creepy crawlies. Across the road and into "The Americas" and the exhibitions are more open here. I enjoyed watching the Canadian Otters swim, very elegantly before exploring the whole upper area of the zoo which is the home to the largest mammals, including wolves, antelopes, moose, camels, bison, prairie dogs, and the beautiful leopards and tigers.

It must be mentioned that Prague Zoo has had a pivotal role in saving the Przelwalski horse and over 200 have been bread here with some released back to the Gobi desert.

The lower half of the zoo is home to the many birds species as well as smaller mammals. There are also a number of pavilions in this section, including the Pavilion of Big Cats, Pavilion of Penguins, Pavilion of Big Tortoises and the Pavilion of Big Mammals. While I enjoyed most of these, and in particular the penguins and the adjoining sealions, the Pavilion of Big Mammals left me with the same feelings as I had with the polar bear earlier, a little saddened by the concrete homes for these magnificent creatures (elephants and hippos). The beautiful ring tailed lemurs have a new home, and compared to the size of the animal, it felt that the large animals were a little hard done by.

There were a number of restaurants around the Zoo, and while these were all of the fast food variety, it was extremely cheap fast food. If possible, it would be nice to take a packed lunch, especially if you want something a little more wholesome, but at least you will not be ripped off financially.

From 1030 until 1630 during summer, there are various "feeding times" and meetings at different pavilions across the zoo. We only managed to see a couple of these, and it would need a little bit of careful planning at the start of the day to ensure you were in the correct part of the zoo at the right time, so it might be better just to go with the flow unless there is something you would particularly like to see.

Prague Zoo suffered in the horrendous floods in 2002, when the Vltava broke its banks. Over 1000 animals had to be evacuated and over 100 were killed in the flood waters, including many birds. While there is still evidence of the floods, the zoo has for the large part recovered from this natural disaster.

Overall I thoroughly enjoyed the day at the Zoo, and feels like it has a lot to offer, particularly for families. The fact that the zoo was opened in the 1930s was evident in some of the enclosures, and this did leave us thinking about the role of zoos in our society – they were made for our enjoyment, although have a role in protecting endangered species also. However I felt that some of the enclosures still need some development to provide a better home for some of the creatures, particularly the larger mammals.

The Kampa Park, part of the Kampa group of restaurants in Prague is one of the premier fine dining restaurant experiences in this fine city. The restaurant is situated in the lesser quarter, on the bank of the river and within a couple of minutes walk from the magnificent Charles Bridge.

We hadn’t planned our visit in advance, in fact we had set out a little aimlessly, trying to find somewhere to eat – sometimes too much choice is harder than too little! However the lights of the Kampa Park, together with the restaurants on either side tempted us across the Bridge one final time – and I am so glad that they did.

We arrived fairly late, well after 8pm without a dinner reservation on a Friday night. We were advised that we could not be seated outdoors for at least 30 minutes. We decided we would wait, at which point we were told that we could be seated inside immediately. As the view of the river and the city from the terrace is such an integral part of the dining experience we decided to hedge our bets and wait 30 minutes, at which point we could eat inside and so we made our way to the bar area.

There was a comprehensive range of beers, wines, and particularly cocktails that would appeal to all tastes and nothing was more than about £4 equivalent, even the cocktails. Not being a particularly adventurous drinker, I opted for a glass of Chilean Sauvignon which was on promotion.

The Bar area was very contemporary with dark woods and chrome, and was very low lighting. The kitchen exit was close by, and we quickly knew from the quality of the plates going out that we were in for a special treat here. Sure enough within 30 minutes we were offered a choice of tables outdoors, including one directly on the edge of the water, which we snapped up.

Despite it being spring, the terrace was well heated with patio heaters and so it didn’t feel that cold. Each chair has a blanket so should you get cold later on, you can wrap up a little and continue to enjoy the food, the ambience, and watch life on the river below. This was a really nice touch and one which I did find myself using as it got later (and cooler).

Onto the menus, and the choice was mouth watering. I opted for Peking Duck Spring rolls and hubby chose Dim sum. Presentation was perfect, with my four spring rolls being presented on a bed of leaves on a long narrow oblong plate. Presentation means everything where food is concerned and these were simply heavenly as was the Dim Sum. Starters averaged around 500-600 CZK (approx 40 CZK to £1).

We were given two wine lists – the regular one and the uber expensive one. Wine by the bottle, particularly imported wine does tend to be expensive in Prague. For comparison, a bottle of Jacobs Creek, which is a cheap wine in the UK, averaged around £29 in a Prague restaurant which seems crazy. I was struggling to pick a wine but as I had enjoyed the glass in the bar we asked for a bottle of that and I was relieved to see that the bill was a mere 700 CZK which is affordable for restaurant prices. I would need to sell my house or work for quite a while to afford some of the others on the menu…!

On to the mains, and I opted for a Chicken Breast surf and turf, which consisted of chicken breast with a king prawn through the middle on a bed of Spinach and with gnocchi. It was extremely enjoyable and the home made oversized gnocchi was simply devine. Hubby opted for a Tuna dish which was served on a bed of wasabe mash potato, and again was extremely well prepared, well presented and delicious. In contrast to the starters, the main courses were not much more expensive, and both our mains were less than 600 CZK, however some of the more expensive meat options are over 800 CZK.

Service was attentive but not intrusive throughout dinner, and the food, the restaurant ambience and the location truly made this one of the nicest restaurant meals I can ever remember.

We looked at the pudding menu, as it would be rude not to, but we were feeling comfortably full and decided we would not indulge. We both had regular coffees and we did find room to stay and enjoy a couple of champagne cocktails each before we head back over the bridge to home.

Our final bill was approximately 3500 CZK or around £80. We had settled our initial drink bill separately as we were required to do so but for a two course meal for two, a bottle of wine, coffee and two rounds of drink and one of the best views in the city, I think that represents exceptional value for money.

If I ever go back to Prague I will be visiting Kampa Park for sure!


http://www.kampagroup.com/en/

The Eurostars Thalia hotel in Prague was recently our home for a five night break in the city. Picking a hotel had been a challenge in itself – there is that much choice in Prague and it is so easy to pick a lemon. I eventually selected the five star Thalia for its value for money, location and contemporary design – I wanted something a little out of the ordinary, however I didn’t quite have the budget to stretch to something totally indulgent.

Like most hotels the Thalia yields its rates on a daily basis, depending on its occupancy etc, and my nightly rate did differ from night to night, with the three cheapest nights being €180 together with rates of €199 and €219 for the most expensive night – the Friday night. At a little over €900 Bed and Breakfast for five nights in five star, this seemed reasonable value for money, and certainly a few hundred Euro cheaper than others on my shortlist.

These rates may seem high, and indeed the hotel does offer rates from a very reasonable €99 per night, however I managed to pick a week which included two public holidays and the city was extremely busy, and can only presume this is why my rates were that bit higher.

The reservation process was very efficient and effective, and extremely responsive. I had an email response within no time at all and my reservationist continued to follow up promptly throughout. You can of course book direct from the website or indeed from any of the myriad of third party websites offering accommodation. I also asked the hotel to arrange a taxi transfer from the airport for me, which they advised would cost 800 CZK. (There are about 40 Czech Koruna or crowns to £1 Sterling at the time of writing).

Unfortunately, the aforementioned taxi did not materialize at the airport, for reasons unknown, so after hanging around for ten minutes or so we hired a cab and made our own way to the hotel for a cost of 650 CZK. Our initial impressions of location in particular were delightful, literally only a couple of minutes walk for views of the Castle, river and only one bridge away from the magnificent Charles Bridge.

The website had several pictures of the hotel interior and exterior, and it was exactly as shown in this regard. The lobby area was bright and airy, with a contemporary cocktail bar area and its eclectic mix of seating on the ground floor. The corridors to the room were well maintained and fresh as was the room itself. The bedroom was furnished in a fairly minimalist style but there was adequate storage area for clothing with a double wardrobe and plenty of shelving for two guests. The four piece bathroom suite was extremely well designed and very modern and trendy with an excellent supply of hotel branded toiletries including toothbrushes and combs, should you forget to take yours. The TV was the flat screen variety and was hung from the wall, which gives the room a feeling of space. The room itself was not overly large but was of adequate proportion and most double rooms are in fact king bedded.

We arrived late on in the evening, too late to grab a Czech beer in one of the adjoining hostelries so we made our way to the cocktail bar where we enjoyed two rounds of drink (beer and wine) for a very reasonable 350 CZK total – I was expecting at least double that.

Breakfast is taken in the restaurant which is situated on the lower ground floor. The menu was a buffet style and it did vary a little every day, which is always good when you are staying for several nights. The restaurant is absolutely huge for the size of hotel (125 beds) and it was always easy to find a set table. There were always several staff on duty, and while they did not interact particularly with any guests, they did a good job of keeping supplies topped up and tables cleaned. There was a range of hot and cold buffet items with a heavy emphasis on cheese and hams and quite a bread and cake range every day, including a "death by chocolate" type cake – not something I can face at any time of day but definitely not for breakfast.

We actually had very little interaction with the hotel staff, as we were often out for 12 hours a day or even more on some days and only had drinks in the bar on the one evening. My overall impressions of the hotel were that it was comfortable and I would stay here again, and the location was ideal, however it didn’t feel that "special" given its five star rating.

However the way the hotel dealt with our request for an iron clouded my view of them totally. We were surprised that we did not have an iron in a room (I cannot remember staying in many places without an iron..it seems like a fundamental traveler request after a bathroom!) and we rang down to reception to request one. We were told on the phone that they didn’t have irons, which we found a little bizarre. We went down to check with reception who advised they did not loan them out to guests for "security reasons". This seemed a little bizarre – most people who can pay five star hotel prices do not need to steal five dollar irons! We were advised they had an ironing service, which needed to be paid for. I asked to speak to the Duty Manager who did not acknowledge my issue at all – I didn’t need a professional laundry service _ I just wanted to iron my trousers so I could go out! Eventually she relented and said housekeeping would iron for me for free and she would send them to me to collect the item. I told her I was going out in ten minutes, and yet when the housekeeper arrived she said I couldn’t have the item back until that evening….she eventually said 20 minutes and she took 20 minutes – but by this time it is nearly two hours since our initial request. I did fill in the "60 seconds to give your opinion" card, and asked for some feedback before I checked out, but heard nothing. As a customer with a bill of almost €1K in a five star property, I feel this was extremely poor from both a service and a policy point of view.

During our stay the hotel staff would assist with tourist information, making bookings etc and I would have rated them higher had it not been the slip up with service over the iron – particularly the fact that once it was pointed out, it was not rectified to a satisfactory standard. As it is I would give them six/seven out of ten.

Overall, I do recommend the hotel. It is very comfortable to stay in and has adequate facilities for most guests and the location cannot be faulted. If you are reading this as you have booked here, or are thinking of booking here, I am sure you will have a very comfortable stay, and if you can get the €99 rate then this is exceptional value for money. Just don’t expect to go out looking well pressed – especially if you have flown in from afar!


Eurostars Thalia Hotel
Narodni Trida 13
Prague

www.eurostarshotels.com