Charles Bridge Palace

On a traditional cobbled square with a rear view of the Charles Bridge, the hotel is in the heart of Prague's Old Town. Its yellow-painted exterior is impressive, while period interiors with carved ceilings and antiques are featured throughout -- think chandeliers, Renaissance-style ceiling frescoes, antique rugs, and lots of gold patterned linens. Room keys are stored old-school style, in cubbyholes behind the front desk, while indoor plants and wall-mounted gilded mirrors add decorative touches. There's a small seating area in the lobby, and the only other common space is a breakfast room featuring camel-colored chairs with carved-wood frames, simple tables with decorative artificial flowers, carved stone archways, and gold sash curtains. Travelers will either find the old-fashioned look charming or dated, though regardless, some worn furnishings could use a refresh. Also note that past guests have reported insufficient air-conditioning throughout the property. Travelers are primarily vacationing couples and groups.

The hotel is on a quaint square in the Old Town, just two minutes on foot from the Charles Bridge, and a bus and tram stop, plus five minutes from the Staromestska metro. Younger guests may find the opposite Zlaty Strom nightclub a bonus, but noise from it travels to rooms. The square is mostly quiet and occupied by residential homes, although it has some small cafes and shops and plenty more are a few minutes away. The Old Town Square, Wenceslas Square, and old Jewish quarter Josefov are all within a 10-minute walk, while the Palladium shopping mall is just five minutes farther. The hotel has no restaurant, but recommends La Marsa at partner hotel Residence Bologna a few minutes away, but plenty of great Czech eateries can be found nearby, including Mlynec Restaurant. Vaclav Havel Airport is a 25-minute drive or 45 minutes by public transport.

Rooms are a good size and have charmingly classic baroque decor, although surfaces are worn, fabrics faded, and guests have found slippery rugs on over-polished floors to be hazardous. Twin or king-size beds with white linens get golden accents from the same patterned linens on wood-framed chairs, throw pillows, and drapes. Intricately painted wooden headboards are lovely, as are parquet wood floors, antique desks and armoires, and framed landscape artwork. Rooms offer charming views of the Charles Bridge, Prague Castle, or if you're less lucky, the hotel's courtyard. All rooms have a large flat-screen TV (with limited English-language channels), full-length mirror, minibar, safe, and kettle. Bathrooms are old-fashioned, and come with walk-in showers, small mirror-fronted cabinets, hairdryers, and toiletries.

Junior Suites can sleep four and split-level Duplex Suites have exposed wooden beams giving an attic feel, extensive living areas, and dining tables. At 70 square meters (753 square feet), the Royal Suite can sleep six. 

Features at the Charles Bridge Palace are limited, as the hotel lacks a full restaurant, bar, and wellness facilities of any kind. Breakfast, however, is included, and consists of buffet-style continental and hot items. A meeting room has a 120-person capacity. Nearby local parking is free and secure off-site parking is at a fee. Wi-Fi is free throughout, but don't count on it being the fastest.