Information & booking

Prague has a surprisingly diverse profusion of renovated or brand-new hotels, from medieval, family-run inns to giant, corporate-owned multi-star hotels. Though accommodation in Prague is still pricey compared with dining or entertainment, there are ways to beat the system: many hotels give discounts to groups and for longer stays (normally around ten days or more); rooms are generally 20-40 per cent cheaper in the off-season, roughly December to March; and many moderate and expensive hotels give 10-20 per cent discounts in July and August when business travel dwindles. Smaller places may offer a significant reduction for cash payment – or a massive credit card surcharge. Try to establish this, preferably with hard-copy confirmation, before you arrive.

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Service is streets ahead of what it was a few years ago. That said, travellers are still prey for various scam artists. At the better class of hotel, you can get hit with ludicrous charges for both local and international telephone calls. Watch out for the taxis that cluster around the hotel entrances: for these hustlers, a taxi metre is a slot machine that always pays off. If the hotel has its own fleet, it's a safe bet, although the charges are double those set for regular city taxis. Prague's hotel star rating system is voluntary, so no official agency certifies that a four-star hotel is any better than a three-star. As the number of rooms increases each year, so, it seems, does the demand. If you come to the city in peak months without reservations, expect to pound the pavement for hours before you find a clean, well-lit place. Even off-peak, it's still wise to book. Most of the more expensive hotels have English-speaking staff; those at cheaper establishments may struggle, though you can usually make yourself understood. Many hotels can arrange airport pick-ups for a fixed price, which will save you time, money and hassle.

Prices & classification

Hotels are classified below according to their cheapest double room; prices include breakfast, unless stated otherwise. Note that these prices are usually only available in the off-season and also be aware that some of the more upmarket hotels fix their room rates in German marks or US dollars. For ease of use we have converted all prices into Czech crowns, but exchange-rate fluctuations may affect these.

All rooms in the 'Luxury' and 'Expensive' categories have an en suite bathroom. This also applies to the 'Moderate' category, unless otherwise stated. Facilities in other categories vary – it's always best to check exactly what you'll be getting when you book. Longer-term accommodationas well as hotels particularly welcoming to gay people are listed in other chapters.