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The NYT Digs the 'Chill Out' Vibe of The Buddha Bar Hotel

Where: Jakubska 8, Prague, Czech Republic, 110 00

Forget all those new hotels opening up in the paper’s own backyard; this Sunday the New York Times went hotel hunting in the Czech Republic. Lured by the groovy chill-out tunes and “sultry” restaurant chain of the same name, the NYT checked into the new Buddha Bar Hotel in Prague.

We’ve seen hotels sprout out of fashion labels, so why not restaurants and music? Judging by the NYT’s response, the Buddha-Bar folks have produced a fine accompaniment to their brand, attracting scenesters who are “good-looking, well off and ready to party” (British boys, Middle Eastern royals, and wealthy local couples). Overall, the Times writer's affection for the place bodes well for the other Buddha-Bar properties set to open—in Budapest, Sal Hasheesh, Paris, Panama City, Abu Dhabi, Milan, and New York—between now and 2011.

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Tags: Prague Hotel Reviews / → All Tags

A Different Kind of Prague Hotel

Where: Politickych Veznu 12/913, Prague, Czech Republic, 110 00

Hotel Yasmin is a new design hotel in Prague that opened in March. Situated around the corner from the Wenceslas Square, the hotel has 198 "luxury designed rooms"  which are very modern and minimalist and yes, a bit space age. Most rooms face the courtyard but a few face the street albeit with some noise. Yasmin is even in on the anti-smoking trend as 120 rooms are reserved for nonsmokers.

However being a design hotel you are bound to find some weird things there, like the orange "monsters" found throughout the hotel, tree "people" in the lobby and just in general, a whole lot of dizzying mint green and yellow decor. Also, the Yasmin flower is the hotel's logo and it is plastered all over the place from the floor to the walls.

Still guests enjoyed the spot, namely for the location, spacious rooms and breakfast at the restaurant Cafe Noodles, which is included in the room rate (about 260 Euros during the high season.) However, watch the extra charges at the hotel:

Dont use the hotel's taxi service as we found it was about 30% higher than other reputable firms; dont use the telephone in your bedroom - we were charged £4 for a two minute local, yes local, call.

Related Stories:
· Hotel Yasmin reviews [TripAdvisor]

Tags: Prague Hotel Reviews / → All Tags

Relive the 80s at the Four Seasons Prague

Where: Veleslavínova 2a/1098, Prague, Czech Republic, 110 00

The Four Seasons Prague hotel on the banks of the Vitava river, has some of the largest rooms in the city. And with three historic buildings that make up the hotel itself - the Classical Building, the Renaissance Building and the Baroque Building - all united by the modern Main Building, the rooms have some of the choicest views as well.

You can choose rooms facing the river, the Charles Bridge, the Prague Castle, the Monastery of the Knights of the Cross or the other surrounding historic buildings.

The location of the Four Seasons is pretty choice too--just one block from the Charles Bridge and like the Hotel Le Palais, the Four Seasons has a black Mercedes on hand to take you wherever you need to go. At the hotel, there's the restaurant Allegro which was voted top by Zagat for the entire country, a workout facility stocked with new equipment, and the concierge service gets some of the highest praises from reviewers.

Sadly, all this greatness seems to be marred by the uninspiring decor or as another guest called it, "the tacky 1980's American decor."

Walking through the hotel up to the room felt like you where on a TV set for Dallas in around 1986, a million miles away from Prague with its world famous architecure and rich local culture in 2006!  Overall this hotel has great potential and could be a real gem, but lacks flair for a 5* joint and is marred by tired decor and furnishings reminiscent of a Marriott in the US 20 years ago.

Ouch. The Four Seasons better consider an extreme room makeover since a luxury chain should not be compared to a Marriott.  This room picture above doesn't look too bad but if you want a closer look, the hotel website allows you to zoom in on the room pictures so you can inspect the bedspread and the curtains for yourself.

Rooms start at 330 Euros and a fourth night stay is free.

Related Stories:
· Four Seasons Prague reviews [TripAdvisor]
· Hotel Le Palais: Great Hotel, Rough Bum Wipes [HotelChatter]

Tags: Hotels / → All Tags

Prague's Hotel City Centre

Where: Revolucni 4, Prague, Czech Republic, 110 00

Trip Vlogs has sent us a video of a tour of the Hotel City Centre in Prague. The three-star hotel is in the middle of the Republic Square and be forewarned the rooms look a little cramped.

A recent guest stayed there with 10 family members a year ago and had this to report:

It's extremely well located and clean. There was no real lobby to speak of. The rooms varied in size from large to rather small. The decor was all right, the bathrooms had all been redone and were lovely. The elevators didn't necessarily stop on your floor. That is, if you were on the fifth floor, it only went to 4 and you then had to get your luggage to the fifth via the stairs.

Whether you stay there or not, the video can be informative on how to navigate small spaces.

Related Stories:
· Hotel City Centre [TripVlogs]
· Hotel City Centre reviews [TripAdvisor]