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The Prague Marriott - great hotel
I stayed in the Prague Marriott for 3 nights in late November, 2005, accompanied by my husband and 2 children. We had toured Italy for 1 week, and wrapped up our vacation in Prague. The Marriott was a welcome haven for a little relaxation during the times we were not sightseeing.
As you approach the hotel, the area seems extremely business-oriented and lacking in charm. However, from we stepped out of the taxi, we felt welcome at this hotel. The doormen were charming, especially with my children. Check-in was very smooth and efficient.
I had reservered a standard room with 2 double beds. The size of the room was quite comfortable, even with the 2 beds. The room felt very modern. The furniture, carpets, and linens were clean and in excellent condition and the room had the standard amenities. The satellite channels were limited for English speakers, but there were a number of pay movies available. (Who goes to Prague just to watch TV?!) The bathroom was not large or luxuriously-appointed with marble and the like; however, it was modern and extremely clean. There was no "dingy" or "grubby" feeling to the room.
The mini-bar was well-appointed. We had room service twice, and while the choices were not gourmet, they were more than adequate and fairly tasty. The room service menu also had a good number of choices on the children's menu. Our package also included a buffet breakfast. The choices were standard (eggs, omelette station, pancakes, bacon, breads, pastries, fruits, and cereals). While nothing special, the choices were well-prepared, and none of my family had any problems finding selections we enjoyed. One note - my daughters ordered hot chocolate, and it was beautifully presented in glass goblets with whip cream. The girls loved that particular touch.
The concierge was helpful in organizing tours. One of the tour companies pick-up stop was less than a 2 minute walk up the street from the hotel, which was very convenient if you did not organize with a company that had hotel pick-up services. Also, I had ordered ballet tickets in advance of my stay, and the concierge had them on hand when I approached the desk regarding tours. I did not even have to ask for the tickets. They also arranged for car service to the National Theatre for the ballet, and had a Marriott car waiting for us when we came out of the theatre - very convenient and reasonably priced. We were able to charge this service to our room, along with a car back to the airport.
The hotel location was excellent. 5 minute walk to the old town (3 minutes past the tour group pick-up stop). A number of tours end in the old town, and you must make your way back to your hotel from there. Therefore, the Marriott's location is even more convenient if you are one who likes to tour versus doing it on your own.
Prague city center is so small, however, that you do not need to take a lot of tours. We walked from the Marriott all over the old town, and to the Charles Bridge. However, with the kids, tours were much more convenient for us, and a blend of self-tours and guided tours struck the right balance.
In sum, if you are looking for a hotel ripe with Czech charm, this is not the hotel for you. However, if you are looking for modern comfort, then consider the Marriott. While not opulent or luxurious, it has more than enough amenities to allow you to relax at the end of a day of sightseeing. I am a picky traveller, and I would stay here again.
