General Travel News from Prague

Promising Spring in Prague

Walking over Charles Bridge at midnight recently, it wasn't difficult to see why Prague is considered one of the most beautiful cities in the world, a "Venice with steps". On Hradcany, the hill above the city, the pale walls of Prague Castle and the intricate spires of St Vitus Cathedral soared in the moonlight; the copper domes of churches dotted the ancient skyline along the river Vltava; art-nouveau lamps gave the mosaic pavements a golden glow; and from cobbled streets, buildings rose from across the centuries: medieval stone turrets, Italianate sgraffito'd walls, gilded baroque mansions, quaint macaroon-hued cottages.

But then, the City of a Hundred Spires (which, rather confusingly, is said to have more than 500) is one of the few European capitals to have escaped the ravages of natural disasters and war. It has been a seat of European power for centuries: first capital of the Holy Roman Empire and the Habsburg empire, then of the Czechoslovak Republic and, now, the Czech Republic – hence the pomp and glory of its architecture. Since the republic joined the European Union in 2004, its principal city has gained a number of similarly grand 21st-century palaces: five-star hotels, of which it already has 36.

Hotels in Prague - Prague Apartments - Luxury Apartments in Prague

Luxurious hotels are not reason enough to go to any city, but the prospect of a pampering escape does raise Prague's appeal – particularly after one has walked the city, taking in the great sights: the astronomical clock; the gold-and-cake-icing interiors of St Nicholas Cathedral and the soaring spaces of St Vitus Cathedral; the lavish treasury of the Loreto; and ornate baroque libraries with their collections of old globes at Strahov monastery. Having done all that, it's good to know there are suitably regal interiors into which to retreat – and collapse.

There are occasions, too, when one really does need to escape. For six months, Prague's main attractions are thronging with millions of tourists (more than four million in 2009), buying souvenirs, following guides' umbrellas, lurching out of old-fashioned beer halls. Thankfully, they are not everywhere. Quiet times can be had if you avoid the Eastern Old and New Town areas, where the crowds gather. Explore instead the Jewish quarter, with its ancient, sunken little synagogue and movingly crowded cemetery, its Bond Street-style boutiques and fashionable restaurants. Alternatively, stroll through the Little Quarter, with its churches, rustically appealing coffee shops and fine local restaurants such as U Modre Kachnicky.

Oddly, in a city in which there has been so much political repression (by Germans, then Russians, then Czech Communists), there is an infectiously light, romantic air about the place. Brides in mounds of fluff and ethereal veils parade the streets, stopping to be photographed beside national monuments. The sound of violins pours from windows. Churches all over the city host orchestral concerts, organ recitals, Smetana evenings. And then there are the bells: donging all over the place, at all hours.

The only reason I was even vaguely tempted to leave was because I was travelling home by train: the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express. It chugs from Prague just three times a year, its passengers treated to cocktails and fine meals, then cosseted in elegant cabins between crisp sheets, as pretty Czech countryside, then Frankfurt and Paris, go by. I've never returned from a city break so relaxed and so replete, with culture and cakes: for me, a sign of very good times.

Prague Travel Experience

Travel brochures regularly refer to Prague as one of Europe’s most charming cities. We find no reason to disagree
A janitor at the railway station was my first guide. He was followed by a ticketing clerk and then a student from Brazil I happened to chat with on the Metro. Together, they helped me find my hotel in a new part of town called Vysehrad—allegedly the location of the first settlement that later became Prague. It was no easy task, considering I had arrived at their beautiful city a little after 11 pm. Armed with the English language (now spoken by approximately 1.8 billion), I stood dazed, luggage in hand, grappling with the West Slavic Czech spoken by just about 12 million. For the first time in years, I felt unarmed. The funny thing is, it also felt mildly liberating.

The Russian owner of my hotel was the next surprise. As I staggered into his domain at midnight, he welcomed me with a shout. “Indian friend, I thought you lost!” All I could do in the face of his exuberance, despite the awkward grammar. A half -hour later, he was complaining to me about how corrupt politicians were ruining his country. I asked him, politely, to join the club.

Over the coming days, the list of surprises grew. Greeting people in basic Czech got me smiles. I was stopped on the street by a couple of strangers who had questions about India. Cobbled paths ended abruptly with views of the ancient river Vltava, populated by swans. And despite the fairly large number of tourists jostling for space at the more popular attractions, I still felt my jaw drop a few times at the sheer picture-postcard moments —featuring cathedrals, walled courtyards, and the odd tower tipped with gold—strewn liberally throughout the 1,000-year old city.

In retrospect, I realize much of Prague’s beauty came simply from the fact that, unlike many parts of Europe, it was relatively undamaged by the violence of World War II. The city centre managed to astonish tourists because it came across as an antique showpiece. It was like walking into a museum and being confronted by regular folk in homes that looked much like they did centuries ago. Nowhere was this more obvious than at the Prazsky Hrad (Prague Castle) or the Karluv Most (Charles Bridge).

Although the former was the city’s biggest attraction, it took me a while to locate it. Its spires were visible for miles, but the streets surrounding it held little information that could help. Eventually, all I could do was follow a few tourists. Currently the seat of the Czech president, the castle was formerly home to the King and was supposedly Europe’s oldest. It looked it.

Even better, however, was the bridge —located a short picturesque walk from the castle. Built in 1357 under the patronage of King Charles IV, it finished crossing the Vltava only by the beginning of the fifteenth century. Lining either side of it were baroque statues of saints. The thing I found most interesting — leaving aside the structure’s history, and its stunning Old Town bridge tower —was a legend that maintained its sandstone was enriched with eggs to bind and make the stone blocks harder. Apparently, recent laboratory tests had proved this to be true.

Thanks to the humble egg, the bridge had survived massive floods (the last as early as 2002, which came close to destroying parts of Prague), a 30-year war, horse carriage traffic, electric trams and modern vehicular traffic. Now here it was, crawling with twentieth-century tourists, populated by souvenir-sellers, popping up in music videos for Kanye West, and making appearances in Hollywood blockbusters like s. It was a rather strong argument for eggs.

On the day I was to leave, I walked through Vaclavske Namesti (Wenceslas Square), the cultural heart of the city. Named after the patron saint of Czech lands, it was a spot much loved by locals. Near a big statue of Wenceslas on a horse is where a student called Jan Palach set himself ablaze in 1969, protesting the Soviet occupation of Czechoslovakia. It was a reminder of Prague’s violent communist past. These days, the statue served as a meeting point. You could ask a friend to wait near the horse, apparently, or ‘pod ocasem’ —under its tail.
Later that day, after slinging my bags over my shoulder, I walked out of the Hotel
Vysehrad. “Come back soon,” my new Russian friend shouted. I nodded vigorously.

New Year's Holidays in Prague, Not Only Nigh Life, but much More to See and Experience!

To simplify, we can say that Prague prevailing four very different atmospheres. Four worlds connected by Charles Bridge, the first to walk.

     * Charles Bridge is the Golden Gate Bridge in Prague, the object of attention. Proud and elegant, this bridge spans the river Vltava with its sixteen arcs and thirty statues. You were supposed to know that we have very affordable Apartments just near Charles Bridge.

     * The impressive Prague Castle dominates the hill. Among other things to see churches, monasteries, squares, palaces, halls but also remember to check the flourishing Golden Lane, who hosted the alchemists, the goldsmiths and the home of Kafka. Perhaps also the wall of John Lennon? And if you admire such district, you could book one of our luxury Apartments near Prague Castle.

     * The Old Town is unique in the world, it is the original place of settlement of Prague. Connected to the Vltava River at both of its ends. Th Stare Mesto forms a succession of buildings Gothic, Renaissance, Baroque and Art Nouveau. Starometske Namesti is somehow the heart of the city, with city hall and astronomical clock. We guess you have already chose from our large scale of great Apartments in the Old Town of Prague.
       
     * La Mala Strana, "small side" under the castle, emits all the charm of the thirteenth century. You will explore it in a best way if you are staying in one of our Apartments in Mala Strana.

     * The new city or Nove Mesto on the right bank, has "only" six centuries! Its epicenter is Wenceslas Square, large and lively. If you prefer more live atmosphere then staying in our Apartments in the Wenceslas Square could be your choice.

      Visit Prague during Christmas or the New Year Holidays! This city is particularly pleasing in the period of the holiday season. Try the hot chestnuts, discover the typical Christmas meal you taste on the street watching trays of water containing carp ... In the new year, you'll be dazzled by the fireworks that brake out across the city.

Smile, you are in Prague!

Unique Christmas in Prague 

Of course, Christmas is a magical time in every city in the world, but in Prague there is a very special atmosphere between dream and reality. The charm of its snowy cobbled streets, its illuminations, these traditional markets, customs Christmas ingrained in Czech culture ... make Christmas in Prague unforgettable.

From the first day of Advent, the Christmas markets fill the streets of the city. The most important are on the streets of the Old Town and Wenceslas Square. Others are smaller at Namesti Republiky, Namesti Miru and Havelska Trziste.

You browse the aisles lined with small wooden cabins in search of the original gift. You will have the choice between traditional puppets and wooden toys, garnet jewelry, crystal glasses, cosmetics Dr. Botanicus. You'll also find all the typical Christmas decorations such as balls blown and hand painted, wooden garlands ... Do not forget to taste the many culinary specialties. Around Christmas markets you can discover all Czech traditions.

Music fills churches and theater in the city. Push down and attend a concert of sacred songs, classical music or a play about Christmas. Beautiful live nurseries are also represented.
Make sure that your apartment in Prague or hotel is located in the Old Town or at least at a walking distance to be able to enjoy all delicious moments during the evening with no need to harry for caching public Transport.

If you pass the Eve in Prague (Christmas or New Year's Day), be aware that many restaurants and castles organize evenings. 31, join local people and visit Charles Bridge at midnight to celebrate the new year. Fireworks are drawn around the city.

ApartmentPlan.es Born to Boost Apartments in Madrid and Barcelona

We have the pleasure to announce the launching of our new website ApartmentPlan.es dedicated for apartments in Madrid and Barcelona. After a successful experience of several years providing apartments in Prague with ApartmentPlan.cz, we are happy to expand our services for our clients in Spain. As a first plan, we focused on Madrid and Barcelona but more Spanish towns will follow in the near future.

Our user friendly website was designed with customers in mind and dedicated to help clients search for apartments in Barcelona and Madrid at a glance and free of charge. There are no registration fees or membership required and the same as for ApartmentPlan.cz, ApartmentPlan.es is also a safe and secured website for the privacy of our customer's data.

Are you looking for accommodation in Madrid or Barcelona? Apartments can offer you significant cost savings over hotel rooms with the advantage of space, equipment and flexibility.

If you are visiting Barcelona or Madrid for holidays or business, but you feel that the period is quite long for a stay in a hotel, you will probably be looking for an apartment which could be sometimes a hard task, choosing the right location, the suitable apartment and a good trustful landlord can be even more complicated. Better to rely on our holiday advisor and travel consultants to advice you booking the right apartment or you can simply search one of the several apartments in our online databases and book it, and if you are still hesitating just ask us and we will assist you and answer all your questions. This way you will be more covered and assured by the policies of our company as we always defend and protect our customers.

There is a large variety of short term rental apartments in Barcelona and Madrid for holiday travelers and businesspersons. One bedroom apartments are mainly suitable for couples but enough comfortable to accommodate up to 4 guests, two bedroom apartments are usually suitable for up to 6 guests, so families and groups of friends can find such apartments very cost effective. For larger groups we have many apartments in the same buildings, in both Madrid and Barcelona.

Our guests can enjoy the advantages of no reservation fees, no prepayment, 24 Hours/7 days assistance before, during and after the booking is done, guaranty of the lowest rates and the support of our multilingual experienced holiday advisors in English, French, Czech, Arabic and Spanish.

Related articles:

Why should you book your apartment in Madrid or Barcelona in advance

Booking Apartments in Madrid in Advance: The Advantages

Why to book an Apartment in Barcelona Instead of a Hotel room?

Apartments in Prague City Centre

To spend your holidays in Prague like staying at home, Pragueapartments are a good alternative to the small depressing hotel rooms.Prague offers a wide range of holiday apartments that can pleasetourists with different budgets. Prague apartments are an option to beconsidered mainly because guests want to spend their holidays inprivacy with their families or friends, which makes apartments inPrague their first choice instead of hotels in Prague. During the 90's, hotels were the only option for accommodation, tourists hadto pay a huge amount of money and in the mean time they had to respectseveral rules and regulations during their stay in Prague.

Prague holiday apartments business is growing as more and more Czechs are interested in renting their flats for tourists seeking short timestay. Prague has been always crowded with tourist during the whole yearand for apartments owners, renting their flats is the best way to makea good profit in a short period of time. The investment made on thereconstruction and renovation of such apartments is one time and onlysmall amount of money is required. Holiday apartments are usuallyoccupied as tourists are leaving the hotel option and seeking privateaccommodation in Prague, so better to book in advance to guarantee thegood choice of apartment at an affordable price.

Prague apartments are usually equipped with all the modern facilitiesincluding the high speed Internet connection air conditioning and fullyequipped kitchen. Apartments are usually cheaper than hotel rooms inPrague and are offering guest luxurious accommodation at an affordablerate. Most of Prague holiday apartments are in the city centre, nearthe main sights and historic monuments. Guests staying in these centralapartments can enjoy shopping as many shopping malls are at a shortwalking distance. We should also mention the fine dining and budgetrestaurants, pubs and theaters that offer great distraction for Praguevisitors. Reaching other Districts of Prague is also made easy with allcentral Metro stations and Tram stop nearby.

As per some recent statistics and travel polls, Prague is one of themost affordable destinations, mainly in terms of accommodationfacilities with a large scale of holiday serviced apartments, and over500 hotels.

Hotels in Prague changed into Apartments

Several apartments in Prague were transformed in the last decade into hotels, due to the economic crisis, they seem to return back to their original purpose and hotel rooms are changed again into apartments.

As per some estimations, 10 to 15% of about 560 Prague hotels will have to close soon. The number of hotels increased since the second half of the 90s to the middle of this decade by 30% more than in other Western Europe capitals. Therefore several a partment buildings owners rushed to the hotel business, but today with the first signs of te tourism crisis in Prague which began to show in the second quarter of 2008, occupancy fell year to year in Prague by -6% , some are even predicting a decline in occupancy below 50% which would be the first time in the history of the Czech Republic.

The accommodation capacity in Prague, created a big bubble, which must burst during the crisis with a large overhang of supply over demand. Hotel owners are often burdened with loans, that they cannot pay in time and instead, they sell their equipment or they use some refinancing loans to convert the hotel into luxury housing.

Another obstacle for Prague hotels is the big drop in prices that came with the lack of foreign tourists and the strong competition, while last year a night in a five-star hotel cost around 4000 crowns, this year is 20
percent less.

But hope is till here as per Hotel Info, Prague was placed fourth in the world rankings in the ratio of quality and price accommodation. Before Prague are Lisbon, Berlin and Tokyo

New Prague Travel Blog by King Wenceslas 

Last week we launched our new Prague Travel Blog on our main website King Wenceslas, we will try to post articles about Prague and other touristic cities in the Czech Republic, also as travel advices for accommodation in hotels and apartments in Prague.
As in our first article about "the best areas of Prague to stay in", we were trying to provide a detailed information and a good photo gallery about Prague Districts like, the Wenceslas Square, the Old Town, the Lesser Town and Andel also as other areas of Prague where tourists can find affordable and friendly accommodation. Each of our articles will be open for discussion and comments. That gives more interactive information about Prague and the Czech republic for tourists, useful before doing any wrong steps or decisions concerning Prague hotels or apartment booking in Prague .

We consider that promoting the tourism in Prague and the Czech republic using Blogs and discussion boards, is more logical and informative than spammy ads that confused and disappointed Prague lovers during the last decade.

The Old Town Square of Prague Winner of Lonely Planet Survey  

Prague Old Town Square has been voted number # 1 in the best town square poll of Lonely Planet guidebook.

Since the 10th century the Old Town Square has been the main public square and marketplace of Prague until the beginning of the twenty's century.
The Old Town features several architectural styles: Gothic, Renaissance or Baroque and the heart of the Square is marked by the famous Astronomical Clock and its Tower that offers a great panoramic view of the whole Old Town.
The Old Town Square is almost all year crowded with visitors from all around the world and a holiday market during Christmas and Easter holidays.

Results of Lonely Planet's Survey Of Best Old Town Square:

   1. Prague: Old Town Square - 26%
   2. Philadelphia: Rittenhouse Square - 19%
   3. Brussels: Grand Place - 16%
   4. Moscow: Red Square - 13%
   5. Rome: Piazza del Popolo - 8%
   6. London: Piccadilly Circus - 7%
   7. Krakow: Rynek Glowny - 5%
   8. Amsterdam: Museumplein - 3%
   9. San Francisco: Union Square - 2%
  10. Seville: Plaza de Espana - 1%

Few years ago, the Old Town of Prague was famous for its luxury and expensive hotels, most of travelers were obliged to find a bargain accommodation in the surrounding and travel to the centre by public Transport. Today things have changed, We have affordable apartments almost in each street of the Old Town of Prague also as Prague Old Town Hotels at bargain prices.

Czech Republic: The Fourth Edition of "Routes Europe" in Prague 

The fourth edition of Routes Europe, an event that brings together the leading figures and organizations in the aviation industry of the Old Continent, as well as major airlines and Airport authorities in the region, The meeting will take place at 5 star hotel in Prague.

This unique platform has allowed assistants to have discussions on the planning of routes, in a time marked by economic and financial uncertainty, and at a time when the aviation industry begins to pave the way for recovery.

Contacts and working meetings held between the delegates who attended Routes Europe to help them prepare for the celebration in Beijing, China, between 13th and September 15th the World Routes event.

Among those attending Routes Europe in Prague, more than 70 airlines, including Ryanair, EasyJet, German Wings, Wizz Air, in addition to agencies like the International Airport of Tirana (Albania), the Airport of Avignon (France), the Airport Sarajevo (Bosnia and Herzegovina) and the International Airport Blackpool (United Kingdom).

With a combination of citations, preconceptions and bilateral meetings between the attendees, the fourth edition of Routes Europe in Prague, attracted this time the largest number of attendees for an event of this kind.

Routes Europe is just one component of the annual agenda designed to promote the development of the aviation industry. It was the penultimate edition of the regional event, the only remaining is Routes Africa prior to the completion of the annual cycle in September, which is the fifteenth edition of World Routes in China's capital.