Prague Hotel

During Communist times there was not much demand for hotels in Prague. Visitors who had families in the country would stay with them, or with friends, and there was not much opportunity to travel to Prague on business. There were pretty much just four prague hotel open to tourists. The Alcron hotel on Wenceslas Square was one of the few places a visitor from “the West” could stay. All phone calls out had to be made through the front reception desk at designated times, and you were required to leave your passport with the hotel staff, who would send them to the police to be stamped and registered.

The only other prague hotel at the time that could accommodate guests from non-communist countries were the Esplanade, Palace and Jalta. Anyone visiting on official party business, such as dignitaries from other Communist countries, stayed in completely different hotels – like the International – and pains were taken to keep these two types of visitors from crossing paths.

Historic Hotels
Many things have changed a lot since then. prague hotel have been opened in historic buildings that are registered with Unesco and are considerd national heritage treasures. After the flood of 2002, even more restoration was carried out on many prague hotel, bringing them to a much higher standard than ever before. But luckily, not everything has changed. Because the architectural heritage that makes Prague so special has been fiercely protected and guests who are looking for the ultimate Prague hotel now many choices that offer the best of modern convenience without sacrificing the medieval and baroque details.

Even after the communist era, when foreign investments came pouring into Prague, the government placed restrictions on construction in the protected Old Town area, so when the international chains wanted to build their skyscrapers, they had to go to the outskirts of town. That’s why there are no tall, unsightly hotels in Prague to block the view.

Standing on Prague Castle hill you can see the looming towers of Holiday Inn, and Corinthian Towers in the distance, and the beautiful view of Prague remains intact – nothing taller than a church spire. Hats off to the Czech who wisely kept development in check, and thus preserved their national treasure that is now the reason so many visitors come to Prague each year.

Deluxe Hotels
When you look at a city like Budapest, you find many large and deluxe hotels, but they are all big. Prague has a multitude of small but very beautiful hotels. Historic gems such as The Red Lion, Biskupsky Dum, and Zlata Hvezda, are hundreds of years old and although they have been renovated to the highest standard – brand new bathrooms and lifts – they retain wooden beam construction and old, warped stairs of centuries old wood. Ceilings are hand painted, four-poster beds look out onto ancient Nerudova Street. For many visitors, this is the appeal in coming to Prague, and it is this kind of atmosphere that makes for an unforgettable holiday. Prague has a Marriott, a Hilton and a Renaissance – but while these international chains have spacious suites and extensive conferencing facilities, they can’t hold a candle to the charm of these small, old hotels:

Alchymist: Just opened in fall of 2004, this former mansion has only 14 rooms, but each is unique and decorated with antique and art from the 16th to the 19th century.
U Prince: A supreme location in Old Town Square, this hotel again brings the best of the modern world and discreetly blends it into rooms fit for a princess. The rooftop café is absolute heaven on a sunny day, as you gaze out at the cityscape.

Certovka: A fantastic little hotel with loads of character, located next to the little stream that separates beautiful Kampa Park from the rest of Mala Strana. The restaurant offers waterside dining and the hotel is accessed by what is quite possibly the narrowest street in the world – there’s even a traffic light to alert people on foot when it’s ok to go.

Inexpensive Hotels
There are even some inexpensive three star hotels in Prague that still provide charm: Casa Edith Stein was a farmhouse and now is convent as well as a quiet, scenic hotel. There are no televisions in the rooms, so if it’s an old-fashioned get away you’d like, look no further. Then there is U Zlute Boty, slightly more expensive but still a three star – with just 7 quaint rooms and an excellent location near Charles Bridge. U Suteru has just 9 rooms – all with antique furniture and art chosen to match the whitewashed gothic vaulted walls and ceilings. These hotels are just three star hotels and range between 50 – 75 euro a night per person.

Of course there are also some large hotels that are very elegant and have lots of character, for example Hotel Paris, Palace and Le Palais which embody Art Nouveau grace and opulence, as well as the “new but very old” Iron Gate with 44 adorable rooms. But to really capture the spirit of Prague – romance, magic and an old-fashioned beauty – you could do no better than to stay in one of the small hotels with personalized service and a gateway into the past. These are the prague hotel visitors return to year after year.

Written by Eva Christiansen for Expats.cz