Prague, Czech Republic Hotels and Apartments

We stayed at the Hotel Waldstein for 4 nights in September 05 for our 1st wedding anniversary and had a wonderful stay. Booked through Easyjet hotels and paid £100 a night, rather expensive but enjoyed ourselves there.
We were worried by reviews on this site but they proved unfounded. We had a lovely room on the top floor, really large with a separate bathroom off a small entrance hallway.
Breakfast was in a beautiful room downstairs and we would recommend this hotel.
Very easy to walk to all attractions in Prague but in a quiet area.

I booked a 5-night single-room stay through hotels. At first, I felt a little apprehensive about using a 3d party booking service, because of reports I read of over-booking and room-switching. I\'m happy to report that my concerns were allayed as soon as I checked in. I was shown to a commodious semi-suite in the wing adjacent to reception. Check-in time was 1:00 p.m., which is on the early side for small hotels in Prague. I appreciated that, since I arrived by train just about that time.

Although reserved as a single room, the bedroom could have accommodated a couple or even (in tight quarters) a three-person group. The bedroom faced the courtyard, which made it a little dim, but there were enough lights in the room to make up for that. There was a separate room (something of a glorified corridor, but separate from the bedroom) with a table and chairs, which accommodated my needs for a writing/work space; it had a front view, so more natural light. The bathroom (opened to the corridor) was clearly a modern addition (since the building dates from the 1700s); it was small but clean and satisfactory.

My room was one flight up from ground floor. There didn\'t appear to be an elevator. I was helped with my heavy suitcase without having to ask, so the walk-up was fine with me.

The breakfast room was a highliight of this hotel. It is in the basement and appears to have been a storage space as some time in the building\'s history. It\'s a barrell-vaulted stone and brick room with as much charm as one could hope for in this old quarter of an old city. The room\'s been renovated with good lighting and other amenities, and the breakfasts were very generous, enough to get you through to dinner time. Talking with other guests, I had the impression their rooms were even nicer, so I would consider my experience representative.

Reception is open 24 hours a day and helpful with currency exchange and arranging taxis, tours, etc. The English-language fluency of the staff varies, but they are accommodating, courteous, and neat.

The hotel\'s location cannot be surpassed. The Mala Strana district is one of the historic centers, and with the Prague Castle up the hill, it is lively and walkable. A metro station is within a five minute walk. Walking to the center city (Old City or Jewish Quarter) is also an easy jaunt over one of two bridges. The hotel neighbors the Wallenstein Palace, which is the current home of the Crech Republic Senate. Palace grounds and garden are open to the public at set times. The street leading to the hotel has several embassies. Continuing further leads easily to the restaurants and shops of the squares on this side of the Charles Bridge.

The hotel has a computer with Internet access available to guests in a loungue sort of room. Caution - the computer runs on Linux, so using it to send files posed a technical issue (solvable if you\'re a computer nerd like me).

The price of my room, booked about 3 weeks earlier on hotels.com, was about US$95 a night, including all charges. Breakfasts are included in the room charge. I found it an excellent value for what I received.

All in all, the Wallstein Hotel is an excellent choice for travelers seeking an \"Old Workd experience.\" If you\'re looking for a modern hotel with all the 21st Century amenities, book elsewhere. But if you\'re looking for a good value and authentic Prague experience, as I was, this was a superb experience for me.