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First Guests Seem to Worship Prague's New Buddha Bar Hotel

Where: Jakubska 8, Prague, Czech Republic, 11000

We caught wind of the Buddha Bar Hotel planned for Prague last August and, last we checked, they were travelin' full steam ahead for a pre-2009 opening. Unlike many deadline-missing hotels, the Buddha Bar got its soft opening in just before the calendar turned, officially opened on January 2, and since then has been impressing the hell out of guests — at least if the first guest reviews are anything to go by.

The staff and the service they provide get a ton of compliments, as do the ultra-luxury rooms. The "amazing" bathrooms get plenty of thumbs-ups too — they also include a TV, but one guest warns us that the remote control is only splashproof, not waterproof, so we shouldn't drop it in the bath tub (good tip).

The center of Prague — the Old Town Square — is just a short stroll from the Buddha Bar Hotel, and the famous Charles Bridge is not much further, so you definitely can't complain about the location. There's also a spa on site and the hotel even includes our favorite must-have amenity: free WiFi.

A hotel this good can't be cheap, so don't expect to get away from it without spending a fair swag. The cheapest guest room goes for €444 ($580) a night and the especially gorgeous suites start from €1,225 ($1,590) a night.

Tags: Hotel Openings / Prague Hotels / Kempinski Hotels / Hotel Opening Rates / → All Tags

Kempinski Ramps Up World Domination Plan Starting in Prague

Where: Hybernská 12, Prague, Czech Republic, 11000

The German Kempinski chain looks like they're starting up a plan of world domination.

This month they opened the Kempinski Hybernská Prague, but there are so many more on the way.

First things first: the new Prague Kempinski has normal nightly hotel rates going but also have a lot of one and two-bedroom suites that you can rent for longer stays, so the business market is obviously top of the list here.

But tourists won't mind being close to Prague's coolest way to cross the river, Charles Bridge, either. The tech side is good too with free WiFi and a "media panel" where you can hook up your iPod.

They've got opening rate specials around a hundred euros cheaper than normal rack rates; a superior room, for example, is going for €238 (US$320) now but €304 (US$410) later.

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Tags: HotelChatter Flickr Pool / Prague Hotel Reviews / → All Tags

HotelChatter Flickr Pool: Hotel Cerna Liska

Where: Mikulasska 2, Prague, Czech Republic, 11000

This is the latest addition to the HotelChatter Flickr Pool.

Thanks to Biggest Mac, we have a mini-review of the Hotel Cerna Liska in Prague. And Biggest Mac made use of the Flickr notes where you can point out certain elements of your photos. Or as our contributor did, circle your hotel room.

The other note (which we couldn't screencap) mentioned that a daily market sets up in front of the hotel. Biggest Mac also writes:

Wonderful accommodation, great location (Old Town Square), super food! PLEASE COMMENT IF THIS INFO IS HELPFUL OR IF ANY QUERIES!

Judging by the all-caps, he means it too, so help a brother out.

Don't forget to add your own photos to the HotelChatter Flickr Pool. It's as easy as second stint in a celebrity rehab center!

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Tech Exec's Hot Hotels

Where: Place de l'Eglise, Carcassonne, France, 11000

Valleywag is a new tech industry gossip rag from the creators of Gawker. Tech industry gossip?  Sounds like a bunch of dorks talking about the latest iPod rumors, right? Nope, not at all.  So far Vallewag has been dishing the dirt on the personal lives of everyone who is anyone Silicon Valley.

Why does all this concern us?  If you look closely at some of the Flickr photos Valleywag points to you can find some of the hottest hotels in the world.  After all, who better to point us to killer hotels than monied up tech execs with new young wives to impress...right?

For instance, the Flickr photographic evidence suggests that Yahoo! exec Toby Coppel, and his wife, stayed at the Hotel de la Cite in Carcassonne France late last summer.  What kind of place is Hotel de la Cite?  Well according to one recent visitor:

OK so let's be clear - I didn't go the whole hog and book the carlos fandango have your own sitting room kind of suite - I opted for the cheapest internet special rate but it was glorious. Best location - right in the city walls, gorgeous garden -including a pool with a view and staff who just couldn't do enough (rather unusual in itself - let's just say I don't look like a major tipper). The room was giant....double sinks in marble bathroom, antique French furniture, posh, sweet smelling toiletries, fluffy bathrobes - you get the picture.

We hope Toby sprung for a carlos fandango suite.

Related Stories:
·   Hotel de la Cite Reviews [TripAdvisor]
·   Toby Coppel's hot wife [Valleywag]