Prague, Czech Republic Hotels and Apartments

The Residence Nosticova is a small, boutique hotel in the Mala Strana (Lesser Town) within about 5 minutes walk to Charles Bridge. The first alluring quality of this hotel is its location on a quiet side street. We were easily able to sleep with the windows open and not be disturbed by the traffic or noise as might have happened in other areas of this city. Also, within close proximity are a handful of cozy restaurants and cafes at which to have breakfast, lunch, dinner or just relax with a glass of wine in the afternoon. Not great for people watching, though, but the food is delicious and the service attentive. There is a great authentic Czech restaurant around the corner towards the bridge and down the street called U Vladare.

The other striking quality was the size of the room. Some of the decor looked a bit worn, but all antique with warm coloring. The bathroom was clean and amply supplied with towels, robes and aromatic vanity supplies (shampoo, conditioner, body wash and lotion). The beds were comfortable and there was enough closet space, drawer space, and hangers. There was a kitchen area with a small stovetop, refridgerator, sink and silver and glassware. The first day there was a bowl of fresh fruit on the dining table.

The staff was helpful despite some difficulties with language barrier and communication. When they did not understand they tried hard to overcome it. However, none of it was as polished as that you might find at a Hilton or Marriott.

Try the restaurant, The Alchymist, for a lovely, unique ambiance and culinary experience. We had dinner one night before the opera and had the back of the restaurant, and hence the staff, mostly to ourselves. That was nice!

They offer a taxi service from the airport for the equivalent of about 20 euros - very personalized and safe considering that taxi service in general in Prague is something to watch out for. For getting around from one part of town to the other, have the hotel hire a cab for you, which comes promptly and is cheaper than the hotel car service. The tram system in the city is another good option. This hotel is about 5 minute walk from the main tram line.

It\'s not the Old Town, but this hotel, along with this part of town, had some wonderful qualities not to be missed. We sure didn\'t miss the hustle and bustle of all the tourists at the end of the day.

We just got back from our first (6 day) visit to Prague and had decided to rent an apartment there rather than stay at a hotel. The Residence Nosticova met the requirements perfectly per the reviews we read on this site and what we learned on its own web site. The location is outstanding, within walking distance to all the sites, restaurants, bridges, and churches as well as the tram, bus and metro systems. The apartment was very spacious, quiet, safe, and beautifully furnished without being precious. Absolutely no sounds of neighbors; in fact, we never saw any of the other guest, probably because there are only 10 apartments and we were out early. The service is excellent. There were fresh flowers and a fruit bowl on our arrival and fresh flowers in the middle of our stay. We used the kitchen mainly to fix morning and midday tea, but could have cooked reasonably simple meals with the implements and pans. To us, the cost for the extra space and for housekeeping were well worth it. We cannot speak to the breakfast or dinner at the restaurant, but it is listed in several guides. Although the suite/apartment could have slept four (using the foldaway bed in the livingroom, we would not recommend this arrangement. The whole environment is perfect for a romantic stay for two.