Certovka Hotel, Prague, Czech Republic
Hotel Information
Recent Price: £78
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Hotel Description:
Certovka Hotel is superbly located in Lesser town, close to the Charles Bridge. loading...
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Certovka Hotel Reviews
Hotel Certovka is in a fantastic location, right next to Charles Bridge in the Mala Strana area of Prague (Castle side of the bridge), making it quieter than staying in the Old or New Town areas. There was very little traffic around the hotel.
A metro station (Malostranska) was 3 minutes walk from the hotel and there were tram stops next to the metro station and in Little Quarter Square.
Charles Bridge was just a few steps from the hotel, with access via a ramp or steps. Kampa Park was a 2 minute walk, going directly under Charles Bridge. A 3 minute walk takes you into Little Quarter Square, where there are plenty of restaurants and the magnificent St Nicholas Church.
It took 10 minutes to walk to the funicular station if you wanted to take the easy option of ascending Petrin Hill! It was around a 20 minute stroll up-hill to the castle and cathedral.
It took about 8 minutes to cross Charles Bridge, but we were told it can take up to 30 minutes to cross it in the summer months, due to the larger crowds on the bridge.
Old Town Square was 15 minute walk from the hotel, 20 minutes to the sights of the Jewish Quarter and 25 minutes to Wenceslas Square.
ACCOMMODATION: 10/10
The hotel itself was a beautiful 4* hotel. Decoration and furnishings were superb. Our room was on the top (3rd) floor with stunning views of Prague Castle, St Vitus Cathedral, and the dome of St Nicholas Church in Little Quarter Square and to the left we could see part of Charles Bridge.
Upon entering, there was a lobby area with coat hooks, a full length mirror with mahogany surround, a double wardrobe (safe inside) and doors leading into the bedroom and into shower room.
The shower room was small, but decorated with beautiful tiles. Some rooms did have a bath, but a shower was perfectly adequate for our needs. A hairdryer and shaver point was located in the shower room.
The bedroom was large, bright and airy. It had a double bed with bedside tables, a mahogany cupboard with TV above and mahogany desk, containing the minibar.
There was a bay window with a small table and two chairs placed to take advantage of the beautiful views.
BREAKFAST: 9.5/10
Breakfast was available between 7am - 10:30am, giving you the choice to get up and out early to make the most of your stay in Prague or to have a sleep in if the previous night had been a late one!
The breakfast buffet itself consisted of a selection of breads/croissants, a selection of preserves, cold meats, and 3 varieties of cereal, yoghurt, fresh fruit and soft boiled eggs.
There was a choice of items from a cooked breakfast menu including various omelettes, egg (scrambled or fried) and bacon. There was also a choice of fresh fruit juices, tea and coffee.
We only sampled the cold buffet, so I am unable to comment on the quality and quantity of food from the cooked breakfast menu (which is why I have rated it as 9.5 rather than 10 out of 10); however, the food from the cold buffet was of excellent quality.
OVERALL:
An excellent choice of hotel. Staff were pleasant and helpful. The hotel was very clean with lovely smells everywhere. There were also rooms available on the ground floor, making it easier for disabled guests.
However, there were about 3 or 4 shallow steps up into the hotel from the street, so disabled guests would need to be aware of this. There was also a lift providing access to all floors.
The hotel provided us with superb value for money. We paid £146 in total for 2 adults to stay 3 nights on a bed & breakfast basis in February.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ABOUT PRAGUE:
TRANSFERS:
On arrival at the airport, we had already pre-booked a transfer to the hotel. We booked this online at http://www.praguetransport.com and paid CZK600/£15 one way.
They were waiting for us when we arrived and the instructions they had given us of where they would be waiting were spot on.
They provided a friendly transfer, giving us various pieces of information about Prague on our journey to the hotel and answered any of our questions about the city.
On departure, they were at the hotel early, but waited until we were ready to depart. Again, it was a friendly transfer which cost us CZK600/£15. I would recommend using this transfer company.
Transfers into the city can also me made via the metro and a transfer company called CEDAZ. These transfers cannot be arranged in advance and as far as I am aware, they stop running at around 21:00. This was too late for us to use as our flight didn't land until 21:15, which is why we opted for a pre-booked transfer.
You can also use local taxis for your transfer. We didn't use any taxis while in Prague, but were advised that you should only use AAA Taxis and always agree a price before getting in.
BARS:
We expected Prague to have bars on every corner due to its popularity for stag/hen nights. However, we really struggled to find a bar on our first night there. They aren't obvious as they are in many other cities.
We tended to drink at JJ Murphy's Irish Bar at the corner of Trziste and Karmelitska in the Mala Strana area. It was 1 minute from St Nicholas Church.
There was a gentleman standing on the corner of Karlova and a side street (Old Town area) - just near the Clementinum - inviting people to try another Irish Bar in that area, although we didn't actually see it.
Bars were slightly more obvious in the Old Town area and we did notice a few on Wenceslas Square. Most bars were open until 1am, but some were open until 4am.
Beer was cheap. The local beer, of which there are many brands, cost CZK40 for 0.5litres. This was approximately £1. A glass of wine was around the same price, as were soft drinks. Imported drinks were more expensive.
RESTAURANTS:
Prague has plenty of restaurants to choose from at a range of prices. There is of course McDonalds, where you know exactly what you are going to get.
A Big Mac Meal was around CZK150, approximately £3.75 but they tended to throw in extras, such as muffins and cheese bites. Keep your receipt if you intend to use the toilets, otherwise you will have to pay!
We tried a Czech restaurant on Mostecka, just near St Nicholas Church in Little Quarter Square. A steak (pork) with beans, bacon, a side order of fries and a beer came to about CZK350/£8.75. Service and tax were not included. This came to about an additional £1.30.
The place where we mainly ate was JJ Murphy’s, the bar mentioned above. They had a huge menu, which included Czech, Irish and Italian/Mediterranean dishes. They were between CZK170-300/£4.25-7.50. A typical meal for 2, consisting of 2 main courses, 2 deserts and 4 beers came to around CZK800/£20.
Bars are a much cheaper alternative to eating in a restaurant.
There are road-side food kiosks dotted around the city, but we didn't hear very good reviews of them, other than the fact that they were cheap!
SIGHTSEEING:
CASTLE/CATHEDRAL: 10/10
Top of our list of sightseeing was the Cathedral/Castle complex. It is at the top of a hill, known as Hradcany. There are various routes up the hill, including the old and new castle steps.
We opted to follow the road up and walked along Nerudova from Little Quarter Square, then turned into Ke Hradu, which brought us out right at the main gates of the castle complex.
We saw the changing of the guard at these gates on 2 occasions. The change takes place every hour on the hour, but at 12noon, it is accompanied by a brass band with a big fanfare.
Well worth timing your visit to be there for that! The crowds gather 10 minutes or so beforehand, so get there in time to be in the front row for photos!
There is a charge to get into the castle complex of around CZK800/£20 for 2 adults and a camera (you have to pay to be able to take photos). A family ticket (2 adults + at least one child worked out cheaper).
The ticket enabled you to access all the sights of the castle complex, including the Royal Palace, but there was a small additional charge to enter St Vitus Cathedral.
CHARLES BRIDGE: 10/10
This is a pedestrian bridge. We were warned to take care on Charles Bridge as it is a prime location for pickpockets. The bridge itself spans the Vltava River, joining the Mala Strana area with the Old Town area.
It took us about 8 minutes to cross the bridge, but we were told that it can take 30 minutes in summer due to the crowds. The bridge has statues of saints and Kings along each side and is a beautiful piece of architecture.
Stalls line each side of the bridge, where you can buy pictures, classical music CD's or have a portrait painted. There are also buskers and beggars on the bridge. At the Old Town side of the bridge is a tower, which you can ascend for good views of the bridge, towards the Castle. We didn't go up the tower, but there was an admission fee.
OLD TOWN SQUARE: 10/10
This is the heart of Prague. It is a beautiful, bustling square, filled with fascinating old buildings, gift shops, restaurants, hotels, churches, and the Old Town Hall with its exquisite astronomical clock.
We paid to go to the top of the tower of the Old Town Hall. It is accessible through the entrance to the tourist information office, housed within the Town Hall.
It cost CZK60/£1.50 each and was well worth the fee. This is one of the few sights in Prague that is truly disabled/wheelchair friendly.
An internal glass lift takes you up to the 3rd floor, where you purchase your ticket for the remainder of the ascent. There are around 10 stairs after that, but a stair lift is available for disabled visitors.
You then enter the tower, which has a ramp twisting its way to the top, or another glass lift for disabled visitors/wheelchair users. At the top of the tower is a glass room with views across the city. This is as far as wheelchair users could go.
For everyone else, there is a door leading onto a narrow balcony, which gives you views in every direction. Be sure to go to the top of the Town Hall on a clear day for the bet views.
WENCESLAS SQUARE: 7/10
This didn't quite live up to our expectations. It is long and rectangular in shape, rather than a square. Major department stores line each side of the square, along with hotels (including the famous Grand Hotel Europa), bars, restaurants and casinos. At one end, it goes up-hill slightly to the National Museum. Trams pass through Wenceslas Square.
JEWISH QUARTER: 5/10
Again, this didn't live up to our expectations. There was an entry fee of about CZK800/£20 for 2 adults and a camera (you have to pay to be able to take photos).
Which enabled you to access the Old Jewish Cemetery, the Old-New Synagogue, the fabulous Spanish Synagogue, the Maisel Synagogue, the Pinkas Synagogue, the Klausen Synagogue and the Ceremonial Hall.
However, although you paid extra to take photos, you were only allowed to take photos in the Old Jewish Cemetery.
Most of the synagogues were being used to display various artifacts, which only the Old-New Synagogue still appearing to be in use for its intended purpose. The Spanish Synagogue was very elaborate inside and worth a visit.
CHURCH OF ST NICHOLAS, LITTLE QUARTER SQUARE: 10/10
Breathtaking!
From the outside (other than the dome), this baroque church doesn't appear to be anything too special, especially from the front entrance. There is an admission fee of CZK60/£1.50.
Once inside, the building just takes your breath away. It is built from pink marble and is highly decorated with ornate carvings and gold. The ceiling and dome are covered in exquisite frescos.
Its one of those places where you just don't know what to look at. I literally gasped when I walked through the door! If you don't go into any other places of worship, this one is a must!
PETRIN HILL: 8/10
Petrin Hill is in the Mala Strana area of Prague. It reaches a height of 1000ft/300m above sea level, but there is a funicular to take you to the top! It is a great place to chill out, and I can imagine it will be a welcome escape from the hustle and bustle of the city in summer time.
There is plenty to do on Petrin Hill, including churches to visit, an observation tower, a mirror maze, gardens and various other attractions.
However, we went for the views of the city and a bit of time-out, so didn't take advantage of everything there was to offer, hence the lower rating, as I am unable to comment on any of the attractions up there.
GUIDE BOOK: 10/10
We took the DK Eyewitness Travel Top 10 Prague, which cost £6.99, ISBN 1-4053-0797-8. This book was an invaluable source of information and contained excellent street maps.
It had detailed information and plans of the main tourist sites and was never out of our hand!
ON THE DOWN-SIDE:
Prague is covered in cobbles. The pavements as well as the roads are cobbled and this makes walking pretty tough going. I don't think it would be a suitable location for anyone with walking difficulties and it isn't a particularly wheelchair friendly city.
We are fit and able, but found 4 days of walking on cobbles (much of it up-hill) from morning until night was very tiring. We ached in muscles we didn't know we had!
Dog owners in the city are very careless about cleaning up after their dogs, so you need to be careful where you stand.
You have to pay to use public toilets, which, in itself isn't a problem; however, some toilet assistants won't change notes, so you must ensure you keep some small change handy for whenever nature calls (usually around CZK5/£0.12)!
TO SUMMARISE:
Prague is a beautiful city with plenty to do, whether your interest lies in culture, sightseeing, shopping, eating or drinking. The locals keep themselves to themselves and don't pester you to buy, etc.
Prague has a rich and colourful history which is well worth exploring if you are prepared for the cobbled streets and sometimes steep entrance fees.
Prague is a city with a great deal to offer, and we will most certainly be going back!