Location – In the heart of Prague 1, the tourist area. Very walkable. Very convenient, but expect tourist prices for meals out. Albert supermarket and Billa supermarket are on Republic Square, just 8 minutes’ walk. Prices for food, beer, and liquor are local Czech prices, so you can eat and drink cheaply if you cook your own meals. Prague Castle is a 23 minute walk away. Only 13 minutes to Charles Bridge.
Driver – Monika arranged for Petr to pick us up from the airport for 650 Czk, which is good value considering waiting time and parking cost. Petr also took us back to the airport (same cost) when we departed. Petr is an interesting fellow to talk to. He has travelled the world, and has even worked in Australia and New Zealand.
Seniors approved - Just one easy flight of stairs. The apartment is on the second floor (European 1st floor = North American 2nd floor), so there is just one wide gentle stairway to climb.
Quiet –Though the apartment is in Prague 1, it is situated on a quiet single-lane one-way street. All windows are double windows, one inside, one outside, with foot-thick walls. Though there is an Irish pub across the street, we didn’t hear any noise from it.
Spacious – The apartment is exactly as pictured. It is large, with two big bedrooms, a huge living/dining room, a large modern kitchen, plus a kitchenette in the studio suite, and two stylish bathrooms.
Clean – Clean as a whistle.
Comfortable beds –Bonus, both beds are king-size and both were very comfortable.
Heating/air conditioning – Each apartment has a large built-in air conditioner. We didn’t need them, because the weather was unseasonably cold and damp (May2-15, 2019). Fortunately, the heating system was modern, and very efficient. There are two thermostats, one behind the door in the main bedroom, one at the entrance door of the studio suite. First thing in the morning, and before taking a shower at night, I adjusted the thermostat upward a degree (Tap “house symbol +” button, then tap “Save”.) In just five minutes the modern radiators heat up and warm the apartment, especially the bathrooms and their towel warming racks. Be sure to return the thermostats to their original settings a few minutes later.
Fireplace – There is a gas fireplace in the living room. Great for atmosphere, but it does not produce much heat.
Wardrobes – There is ample room in both bedrooms to hang all your clothes. Lots of hangers too. There’s also a chest of drawers in each bedroom.
Laundry –There are two washers, two dryers, two drying racks, a T-Fal iron and a deluxe ironing board. A cup of laundry powder (each enough for four loads) is supplied for each washing machine. Dryers are not vented, so be sure to empty the water removal reservoir after drying clothes.
Kitchen/Kitchenette – Well-equipped. Two kitchens, each with a dishwasher. (Bring detergent pods. Only three were supplied for our two-week stay.) There are several coffee makers, including a French press, two drip coffee makers, and a deluxe built-in AEG cappuccino machine. Very convenient to get our own breakfast before heading out for the day. Enjoyed coming home to a cold beer. Cooked the occasional supper for convenience.
Showers/baths – On-demand gas hot water system provides an unlimited supply of hot water so the whole family can have a hot shower. Our major disappointment came with the shower in the main bathroom. The floor of the shower stall is level. It does not slope downward to the drain. If you use that shower, you will spend half an hour afterward, mopping the lake that has expanded from the shower stall to half the bathroom. Fortunately, an industrial janitor’s mop and bucket are stored in the bathroom for that purpose. (See photo.) After just one such episode, we used the shower in the studio suite. Bath towels are on the thin side. A hair dryer is provided in each bathroom.
Extras –Television has about ten English nature channels, plus Netflix (if you have an account). Stereo has iPhone dock which will charge your phone too. (Bring double-ended earphone cable to play music from Android phones.) Two electric adapters and a USB charger/adapter are provided. A white noise generator (surf or waterfall) is provided in drawer of night table in main bedroom. Lots of books, especially tour books of Czech Republic. Be sure to have a look at “Prague, Then & Now” in the drawer of the coffee table.
Advice – Credit cards are widely accepted, with the exception of small family-owned restaurants. We took just 5000 Czk cash from home, which was more than enough for two weeks. The exchange rate offered by credit cards, is better than the exchange rate offered by banks, both in Prague and at home. As of May, 2019 Visa charges a 3.5% fee on foreign transactions, MasterCard charges only 2.5%.
Albert supermarket is just 8 minutes away beneath Kotva Department Store in Republic Square. (The entrance is an outdoor stairway beneath a yellow awning. It looks like a subway entrance, but isn’t. The subway entrance is at the far side of the Square.) There is also a Billa supermarket across the Square at the rear of the Palladium Shopping Mall, though it was under renovation when we were there. Albert supermarket has two floors, with a good selection of food, beer and liquor. On the third floor of Palladium, a food court and free public restroom come in handy. There is a second, smaller Albert in the basement of Palladium.
30 second walk to Zabka convenience store, across the street at the right corner.
One minute walk to Food Lab, an excellent sidewalk café and bistro, with a beautiful dining room in the back, and an upscale piano bar/comedy lounge on the lower level. It’s across the street from Zabka. Check their website menu.
3 minute walk to Lokal, a modern version of a Czech beer hall, with tank beer and communal seating. Just down the street from Food Lab. Check their website menu.
3 minute walk to Bakeshop Praha, perfect breakfast shop with superb coffee. I recommend a large ham & cheese croissant with a double Americano or a Cappuccino. Head down the street to the right, across the square, at the end of the block, on the right. They also have a small deli section, and excellent (but pricey) packaged sandwiches if you’re planning a picnic.
Suggested – Watch Janek and Honza on YouTube! Two Czech young men have produced over 50 five minute videos highlighting Prague and a few of the surrounding cities. Search for “Honest Guide Prague”. This is absolutely required viewing to fully enjoy your holiday. Be sure to watch their video “Learn Czech in Five Minutes”. If you try to use even a few words in Czech, you will be greeted warmly by the locals.
Recommended – Install mapy.cz, a Czech map program on your phone, and download the map of Prague. We liked it better than Google maps because it is fully functional without a mobile data connection.
Seniors – Show your driver’s license when buying tickets for museums, art galleries, castles, and palaces for discounts of 15-50%. Prices are even lower, if you’re 70 or better. We went to the Prague Zoo which I prefer over the San Diego Zoo. Carol as a Senior, got half-price entrance for just 150 Czk. I, having just turned 70, was awarded the outstanding bargain price of just One Czech Crown. THAT’S ONLY SIX CENTS FOR A WHOLE DAY’S ENTERTAINMENT!!!
The transit system is also a bargain for seniors. If you’re 70 or better, transit is totally free, but you must show your passport or EU National Identity Card. Driver’s Licenses are not accepted. If you’re 65-69, transit is half price, but you need a transit photo ID card. Take a recent passport photo to a transit info office, and for Czk 120 they’ll make you an ID card on the spot. We were in Prague for just two weeks, and didn’t bother to get the discount, as we walked everywhere, and only used transit twice, to the Zoo and to Vysehrad. Even the regular fare was only Czk 24 (Cdn $1.44) one way.
National Technical Museum – We walked here on a rainy day, and really enjoyed the displays of everyday relevant items, everything from a sewing machine to a locomotive. We ran out of energy after visiting five of the seven floors. Check out their website.
Prague Zoo – Of the fourteen days we spent in Prague, our most memorable day was the day we went to the zoo. It is a first-class zoo, perched on a hill. Animals are in native enclosures. Lunch at the cafeteria was excellent, and Czech-priced! Not over-crowded or over-touristed! An easy subway and bus ride for just 24Czk from Republic Square. Check out their website.
Letna Park – We enjoyed our walk around Letna Park, with its Prague Metronome, so much that we came back on a second day. Great view of the city below. They also have a beer garden if you get thirsty.
Alphonse Mucha Museum – A waste of time and money. You’re better off to borrow “Alphonse Mucha“ (ISBN 9788857232430 from Palazzo del Vittoriano, Rome) from your local library.
Petrin Hill – Take the funicular to the top, walk around, and enjoy the view. Then walk down to the halfway point of the funicular, where there is a good upscale restaurant with a great view of the castle. Budget 1100 Czk (and up) for lunch. Then walk on down the hill. Be aware, the standalone public restroom at the top of the hill is a total rip-off at 20 Czk. Use the restroom in the base of the Eiffel Tower replica instead, but you’ll need exact change 10 Czk because it has an automated turnstile. Always keep a few 10 Czk coins with you for that purpose everywhere you go.
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