Prague, Czech Republic Hotels and Apartments

Recently stayed at Best Western Hotel Kampa in Prague. Quite expensive but excellent location near park and river Vlatava. Be aware - some construction work going on at present on flood defences following floods, but noise not an issue.
Hotel courteous, rooms comfortable, if slightly cramped. Excellent range of food for cold / cooked breakfast to accompaniment of live pianist playing romantic standards. Heraldic decor / suits of armour etc a little overwhelming. Be prepared to dine in other hotel dining rooms as quite popular for business conferences etc. Found the housekeeping staff more friendly than reception staff, although all helpful, efficient, good standard of English spoken. Just a touch \"Teutonic\" in manner - a little remote / \"distant\"- heavy German emphasis in papers available / TV channels in bedrooms etc.

Prague wonderful city but be prepared to do lots of walking, and cobbled streets tiring on feet in the high temeratures whilst we were there (late May). Visit Castle area during week (Monday for us) to reduce number of tour groups encountered. If you do not like crowds / queues avoid trams / Charles Bridge and streets around the Old Square. Since previous visit in 1999 prices have increased considerably, but still fair for a European capital city. Hotels in centre very expensive in relation to facilities / deal, but it is a \"seller\'s market\" with huge interest in city.

Beware exchange booths, particularly those located along overcrowded streets between Charles Bridge and Old Square and near the Bridge. The rates of exchange they show appear reasonable but there are hidden commissions taken out, leaving residual cash much less than expected. Better rates obtained on exchanges located on Narodni (ie off the main tourist rat-runs).

BE VERY VERY careful NOT to be tempted to exchange currency with touts stood nearby exchanges and main tourist centres. They will either follow you and pickpocket your wallets etc, OR will offer better exchange rates taking good currency in return for some smaller used Czech notes and convincing, but FORGED, higher Czech currency notes. Police have not got this matter in hand in these areas, possibly because Russian Mafia gangs may be involved, and some corruption in Czech Republic is commonplace - cf: bribery scandal at present implicating Czech footbal teams.

Best prices for eating are in the more local Czech areas, outside inner ring road area. Souvenir shops all stock items from same wholesaler (or so it seems). Market stalls offer good value, but if shopping elsewhere haggle. Less evidence of this than before because the hen / stag and organised trips have brought tourists to Prague, who are more gullible / less discerning, and this has made stallholders complacent.

Some bizarre contortions performed by beggars but these seem more \"professional\", less genuine hardship cases, than five years ago when genuine instances of destitution were more apparent.

Generally felt safe throughout but beware over-drinking habits of some tourists. Cheap beer prices helps encourage worst excesses of behaviour, but only evidence of violent behaviour we saw was near Namesty Republic in late evening, by group of Czech (?) \"neo-fascists types\" amongst themselves.

Parking in Prague is heavily police enforced so expect tickets / fines and \"Denver boots\" if you infringe the regulations / overstay timings etc by small margin.

If intending to venture outside the capital be prepared for more typical communist housing apartments in the suburbs ,and a very active graffiti artist who swears well, even in English!

Bus station is quite overwhelming. Make sure to check coloured paper timetables posted on notice boards, and be sure that there are return buses available back into Prague. Timings favour early morning / rush hour early evening, but little during day / evening. Do not fall into our trap of reading obsolete guidance in Frommers for a non-existent bus from a deserted bus platform. Never did get to Kutna Hora so cannot say whether it is worth visiting. Organised trips - \"Martins\" kiosks seem to be everywhere, but leave very early, at 9.00 am, for many trips and this can prove a problem. Also some trips (eg river) are only offered if adequate demand, even if you turn up. Refunds given though without problem.

Great city for music - U Stare Pani jazz club particularly popular and diverse range of styles offered in their programme. Eating indoors in restaurants often more comfortable than under street umbrellas because less crowded / more attentive service.

Overall - excellent city, becoming a little more exploitative in parts. For true Communist ethos take funicular to top of park overlooking city. Excellent old style glaring and staring, with minimum of customer involvement / compassion. Institutionalised and contemptuous of capitalist tourist \"swarm\" - but they keep to a timetable, it is all spotlessly clean, and it is cheap. On a hot day better than toiling up a steep hill. Try to get away from the tourist traps if you can - you will find the true Czech people helpful, law-abiding, good-humoured and eager to practice their English. I cannot imagine many groups of locals who would be so tolerant to to the loss of their city and way of life for nine months of the year.

hotel in ottima posizione, silenzioso, discretamente pulito e in ordine, il servizio è buono, ottimo buffet. Abbiamo avuto un inconveniente con la serratura elettronica, che non è stat aggiustata per tutto il periodo di soggiorno (si poteva essere + solerti, ma forse lefestività). Neo importante poco controllo notturno su chi ai piani faceva baldoria: per 3 ore a fila ragazzi in un pianerottolo hanno gozzovigliato con birra e spumante, rumoreggiando senza che qualcuno facesse nulla... forse bisognava insistere di più alla reception!

Bon état général, rien à dire, typique.