Czech Inn

The Czech Inn is a hotel/hostel hybrid with a fun, youthful vibe and trendy interiors that attract flashpackers (upscale backpackers) and other budget travelers. The Inn is situated in a beautiful 19th-century building with a gray facade and elegant window details. The refurbished interiors pair original architectural features like arched ceiling beams and floor-to-ceiling windows with minimalist decor. There's a vaguely industrial, hipster vibe -- think green pleather armchairs paired with concrete walls and wood-plank desks. The lobby has lots of natural light and features a trendy little coffee bar set against a dark wall mural, with cafe seating and a shelf full of travel guides. The hotel's other common area is an atmospheric basement bar with exposed-brick walls and arched ceilings. The space is a popular hangout spot with its inviting happy hour deals, musical guests, DJs, movie nights, and other events. This is one of the top hostels in the neighborhood and draws a youthful crowd that's ready for a party or a night on the town. The hostel is safe, secure, and clean with some nice upgraded room options that make it reasonable for couples or groups, but travelers should note that there's no quiet hour, so noise can sometimes be an issue.

The Czech Inn may be outside of Prague's tourist center, but it's situated on a main road in the hip, youthful Vršovice area, right around the corner from the popular Krymská Street. The area is a new hipster hangout and full of trendy bars, cafes, and restaurants as well as music venues and nightlife. For guests who want to stay in the neighborhood, Czech Inn is exceptionally well-located. Access to central Prague is pretty easy, too -- the Krymská tram stop is just down the street (a one-minute walk), operates 24-hours, and can take guests to the heart of Old Town in about 20 minutes. The hotel can arrange airport transfers for an extra fee.

• One-minute walk to Krymská tram stop
• 10-minute walk to Havlíckovy Sady park
• 11-minute walk to Náměstí Míru Square
• 12-minute walk to Riegrovy Sady park
• 25-minute walk to Wenceslas Square (15 minutes via public transport)
• 20 minutes to Old Town Square via public transport
• 20 minutes to Olšanské Hřbitovy cemetery (Franz Kafka's burial site) via public transport
• 22 minutes to Charles Bridge via public transport
• 25 minutes to Vyšehrad Castle via public transport
• 30 minutes to Prague Main Railway Station via public transport
• 40 minutes to Václav Havel Airport Prague via public transport

Rooms at the Czech Inn tend to be simple and pleasant, with a modern vibe, light-wood floors, white walls, and either a colorful accent wall, a wall mural, or a piece of hanging art. Most rooms have large windows finished with curtains, though some rooms are in the basement. Rooms vary significantly in size, layout, and amenities. They range from 36-bed dorms with bunk beds to much smaller dorms (including two-person dorms) with in-room kitchen amenities. Dorms include female-only, male-only, and co-ed options. Private rooms and apartments are also available -- these have private bathrooms, extra amenities (coffee/tea facilities), and more stylish decor (upholstered chairs, chandelier lights). 

Rooms include towels, linens (including oversized pillows), daily housekeeping, and free Wi-Fi, though this can be spotty in certain rooms. Bathrooms are simple with concrete walls and wet-room style showers that feature rainfall showerheads. Dorms may include in-room sinks or mini-fridges, but they don't usually have TVs or tea/coffee facilities. Dorms also include storage boxes (padlocks are available for purchase in the lobby). Rooms and bathrooms are clean and well-kept, but they can be noisy, especially in the dorms where there's no particular quiet hour. As of our visit in early 2016, rooms lacked air-conditioning, though the hotel plans to install AC this year.

The Czech Inn's amenities are aimed at security and socializing. The hotel has a small lobby cafe and a moody basement bar, which serves up small plates and local beers along with exceptional happy hour deals. It's also host to musical guests, DJs, movie nights, art shows, trivia nights, and other events. A buffet breakfast is also served here with standard fare like cereal, bread, and cheese, in addition to make-your-own pancakes, but it costs an extra fee. The basement bar also has several computers available for guest use. Wi-Fi is free, though service can be a bit spotty in some areas.

The building is secure with key-card entry for the luggage room, elevator, and rooms. Reception is open 24-hours and offers laptop storage and sells tram tickets. They also sell luggage locks for in-room safes. Guests get free maps, and the staff are pleasant, multilingual, and helpful. Guest can do their own laundry on-site for an extra fee. The hostel has no fitness area or restaurant, and while some dorms have kitchens, there is no communal kitchen available for all guests.