The famously beautiful Prague in the Czech Republic has been growing in popularity day by day.  And as a reaction to this growth, many are weary of visiting Prague, worried they won’t be able to grasp the romanticism of the city.  But you need not worry anymore.  There may be large crowds of tourists throughout the city streets in the summer, but you will find Prague is much less crowded in the winter season.  The popular season in Prague is the summer months, mainly March, and the off-season is winter, mainly February.  If you travel here in February you will experience a crowd and tour-free, much more budget-friendly stay.  In the off-season you can avoid the crowds, and the high prices, as hotels are around 60 Euros less in February than in March.  Also, the weather in these months is very similar to the weather in places like New York, with daytime highs in February averaging 36 degrees, and lows averaging 27 degrees.

 In winter you can discover some of the city’s newest attractions before word gets out.  Such as the Meet Factory, which is an industrial building that is currently being turned into artist’ studios by Czech sculptor, David Cerny.  This public gallery, bar and performance space is opening in several stages this winter.  Also, the more historic and classic tourist spots in the town wont be congested as they are in the high seasons.  You can take a walk down historic Nerudova street in Mala Strana without running into tourist groups, or visit Prague Castle and it’s photogenic Novy Svel lane.  Also among popular spots are the Basilica of St. George and Archbishop’s Palace.

You can also go to the popular Gordon Ramsay’s Maze.  This restaurant, which opened in November, is growing very popular since its opening, but is fairly low-key in the off-season with many tables available.  Once here you can delight in their Central European menu that features dishes such as glazed pork belly and spiced lentils.  Also popular is the pan-Asian restaurant, Angel which is just a few steps from the Spanish Synagogue.  Or the pub U Kocoura, found at the bottom of Nerudova.  And a familiar sight for New Yorkers will be the Bars and Book’s Corner Bar and Bistro, which offers cocktails, single malts, fine cigars, snacks, sandwiches and salads.  This bar is found in the Vinohrady neighborhood, east of the city center.

Also throughout winter you can view many operas, ballets and orchestra programs that run in the winter time.  Some of which are:  Prague Winter, which features regular performances almost nightly throughout the season; State Opera, which celebrates its 120th anniversary with a gala concert of Camille Saint-Saens’s “Nuit Persane”; and many others at Prague’s National Theater.

 The hotels will also be less crowded, and will therefore have lower prices.  The new Icon Hotel features 31 stylish rooms and suites with high-tech touches such as Skype phones, iPod docks, and biometric safes that open with a fingerprint.  Also popular is the Mandarin Oriental, which has deals in the off-season such as getting a 3rd night free with a 2 night stay.

 The Czech Republic holds at least 12 UNESCO World Heritage Sites, even the center of the capital City, Prague, was declared a UNESCO site due to the architectural diversity among its buildings.  Prague’s beauty and history have been drawing visitors to this city for years, and the hotels are growing and advancing to accommodate you even better.

 The Hotel President is located in the heart of the city on the Vltava River.  This hotel is ideal for groups and offers 130 guest rooms along with plenty of meeting space, the hotel can accommodate up to 200 people for meetings.  Though this hotel is perfect for business travelers, it tends to feel more warm and leisurely rather than like your standard business hotel.  High end travelers can splurge and stay in one of the three senior suites.  These suites include a spacious separate living room, beautiful views of Prague Castle, and a large terrace.  Also they offer the presidential suite, which consists of a big bedroom with a king bed, a parlor, kitchenette, three bathrooms and a large terrace, and a Jacuzzi bathtub in the master bathroom.  This room also offers panoramic views of Prague Castle on the Vltava River from the bedroom, the parlor and the terrace.
 
 The Four Seasons Hotel Prague is known for its extensive art collection, which ranges form old lithographs of Prague to extreme Czech modernism.  You will be treated to castle views right from your window when staying in the one-bedroom suites, as most of them have floor-to-ceiling windows that face the west and south.  The living room is separate from the bedroom and consists of a sofa, coffee table, chairs and a writing desk equipped with high speed internet access.  Also included is two TVs and a CD and DVD player, a luxury marble bathroom in the master room.  Found in the master bathroom you will find deep soaking tub, separate glass-enclosed shower and built –in plasma TV, also a guest powder room is located off the living area.  Their one-bedroom superior suite has breathtaking views of the Vltava River, Prague Castle, the Charles Bridge and the Mala Strana neighborhood.  Another perk of the Four Seasons Hotel Prague is their twice named best restaurant in the Czech Republic by Zagat, Allegro Restaurant.  This restaurant offers great views of the river and Prague Castle, and they serve lunch and dinner menus which offer Italian, Mediterranean and Continental Cuisine alongside Bohemian specialties.

 The InterContinental Prague is located in walking distance from the Old Town, the Charles Bridge, the Jewish Quarter and Prague Castle, putting you right in the thick of it.  Through the hotel you can also arrange an “in the know” package, which includes plans such as a private tour of Prague Castle, or a private architectural tour of the city’s most beautiful and famous buildings and monuments.  When it comes to choosing a room, consider the presidential suite on the eighth floor.  This suite offers views of the river and Old Town, and consists of a large living room with a bar, a fully equipped office, a bedroom, kitchenette, private sauna and a Jacuzzi.  They also offer five family suites which offer two king-sized beds, and the Golden Prague Residence, which is a group of 27 apartments adjacent to the hotel.

 If you are looking to spend the day in the city and retire to your room, you can stay at the Centralni Lazne Spa Hotel.  This hotel is located outside Prague on the western part of the Czech Republic, near the German border, and right in the center of the beautiful countryside.  Near here you will also find a large concentration of natural mineral springs.  Centralni Lazne consists of 108 standard rooms, and their spa.  The spa is less like an American spa, and more like a medicinal retreat.  The spa experience includes a visit with an on-premise doctor, who will prescribe treatments besed on a patient’s condition.  Treatments range from healing skin conditions and helping to recuperate after a surgery.

            As one of the busiest sites of construction in Europe and one of the world’s hot spots, Prague is a city rich with history and beauty, and should be a spot you destine to visit.

            This beautiful city speaks of times past and times to come, with its beautiful architecture, historical sites and a society of people keeping tradition alive.  When visiting Prague , you will want to take a trip along the city visiting the sites that make the trip worth while.  Start at the Charles Bridge , which is set over the Vltava River .  This 600-year old landmark connects the Prague Castle and Stare Mesto ( Old Town ).  By day you will find many local craftsmen and painters selling their creations to tourists and locals alike.  By night, you can gaze upon the 30 glowing baroque statues, one of which brings good luck.  Rumor and tradition has it that by placing your hand on the brass plaque of St. John of Nepomuk and making your wish, you will be granted good luck.  Next, pleasure in the beauty of the Vltava River , which you can row, pedal or go on a fast tour boat down.  Across the river from Old Town is the Prague Castle , which is the biggest ancient castle in the world.  This castle has been home to royalty and Nazi’s alike.  Travel further to the castle’s gothic St. Vitus Cathedral, and gaze on its stained glass windows, and the famed Golden Lane , where Franz Kafka once lived. 

            Now you can journey further into the history of Prague and into it’s darker past.  Heading back to Old Town , you can visit Josefov, the largest Jewish ghetto in Europe , and what was once home to over 55,000 Jews before the Holocaust.  Another spot worth mentioning is the 14^th century Old Jewish Cemetery – the oldest cemetery in the world.  The true history lies in the cemetery’s Memorial Hall, where you can see drawings sketched by the children imprisoned at the Therein concentration camp during WWII.  And then comes the Pinkas Synagogue, a monument which includes the names of almost 80,000 Holocaust victims.

            Due to Prague ’s deep history and overall breath-taking beauty, tourism and population have been readily increasing in Prague .  And due to this increase, they are growing to accommodate travelers and locals alike.  Just beyond Old Town you will find Nove Mesto (New Town).  There you will find many five-star hotels, business districts, and the Wenceslas Square .  This city square easily holds 400,000 people during both festive and political occasions for over 750 years.  The Wenceslas Square is the spot for the city’s best luxury hotels, such as the Palace Hotel, which has hosted a temporary home for well-known people from Josephine Baker to Prince Charles, and the 120-year-old Evropa Hotel, with it’s gold exteriors and its renowned Titanic café (which served as the model for the dining room of the ocean liner, Titanic).

            Though Prague still holds deep an untouched history and architecture, you will still find the luxury of five-star hotels within its memorable squares.  For more information visit www.prague.cz