Prague Day 1 - Missing a nice pop folk American gig
9:30 am
We headed to the Golden Sickle Hostel; actually it was just downstairs. The Golden Sickle generously offered us complimentary rooms for our stay. We started the interview with Katja Prazakova, the actual manager of the place.
It was a pleasure for me to finally meet her after having spoken to her so many times on the phone for about a year. She was as sweet as usual. We started our meeting on time, although Katja and her staff seemed a bit lost and didn’t know how to handle our presence; she obviously didn’t have much time for us.
We sat around one of the bar tables, placed in the big paved courtyard of the hostel with a coffee and our first cigarette. I was actually surprised by the weather, 25 degrees for the end of September is not bad, and the forecast seems in our favour for the whole week, we’ll see about that. After checking their backoffice together and having them explain to us about the history of the hostel, Caterina who had joined us, took me on a tour in the different rooms of the hostel meanwhile Jovita was getting T shirts for the Girls and gathering the info for the next properties for us to visit. This place is HUGE… Not so much with the number of beds…only 104 …but huger in a matter of space. All rooms are very spacious and are obviously apartments turned into dorms. Therefore we find most of the big dorms having bathroom and kitchen inside. They also have private rooms and apartments.
All the rooms have oak wooden floor, which I think is the best because the floor remains clean and the material is durable. Unfortunately the owner is thinking about putting carpet on it. Most of the rooms are clean, although a touch of paint wouldn’t be a bad idea. The smell of moisture is here but not that strong. Their customers are backpackers, groups but also long term residents who are staying in apartments. But only 2 of the apartments are taken. Caterina told me they’re not so happy about it because they can be very noisy sometimes. After the tour of the Hostel Jovita and I say goodbye to Theresa who’s been in Prague since Sunday and who’s leaving for I don t remember where. We say goodbye to Katja and get on our way to the next property. Also there is just a small sign on the front door saying Golden Sickle Hostel. The sign is so small the past night we were not sure we arrived at the right place. Also I have to salute the free internet and computer use. It comes in very handy especially when writing this report.
11:15 am
After a 30 minutes walk in the beautiful old Prague, we found ourselves in front of the Apple Hostel entrance. It is located in an old building right in the centre of the old Prague. Really great location, it has about 350 beds so is pretty big and very good for individual or groups. I finally get to meet Martin who is the manager and owner of the place. It is funny how you imagine people on the phone. I am always so surprised to realise how different people can actually look. This time it was a 30 years old man that we were meeting. I actually start to realise, due to my previous experience with visiting hostels in Berlin, that most of the hostels managers and owners are actually pretty young (between 30 and 40 years old) for such experienced and successful business people. The hostel has 5 beds to 8 beds dorms with shared facilities. Only two rooms are private and two are private ensuite. This hostel is clean, cheap and in a very good location. After a very brief interview and confused indications from Martin to get to the next hostel we head out.
12:30 pm
Well, things didn’t quite stick to the plan. It is only after talking to Mareck, the manager of the place that we realised we were not at Sir Toby’s Hostel which was supposed to be the next hostel on our list but the Old Prague Hostel. The contact information page mentioned the wrong address. Mareck, the manager was surprised to see us coming in so early and just had time to finish his sandwich. What a shame!! For once we were early…it was not even the right hostel!! While I was interviewing Mareck, Jovita is taking pictures of the rooms. With a rating of over 84 percents on our website, Mareck knows what he is doing, I believe it is a nice hostel, although I have seen only the reception which reflects a real backpacker hostel with flags and T shirts from all over the world on the wall and so on…I think the pictures and the ratings will speak for themselves. Mareck loves backpackers and groups but doesn’t quite like stag groups. Although agrees to take them, realising that he needs them as well. Same story all around Europe I guess…Clean and centrally located, this place is great for backpackers.
2 pm
We finally arrive to Sir Toby’s Hostel entrance where we are stunned by the design first from the outside,,,1930 s black and white pictures in the windows…a kind of art deco logo stating the name of the hostel. In the inside there’s wood everywhere. More than clean, at the same time it looks brand new and ageless…very stylish…with black and white pictures on the wall…rusty boxes used as ashtrays, outside only, no smoking inside. This place reminds me more of a very cosy artistic home rather than a hostel. Pure quality is the word to describe this place I would say. All the details are worked at their best. From floor to ceiling, not to mention the beds, each one having its own light, so you don’t bother others you share the room with, and big lockable suitcase wooden boxes underneath the bed so you have a big safe space for your big suitcase. This hostel is really cosy. They have a beautiful kitchen so you can cook your own food, and believe me, even if you’re not up for cooking, the act of being in that kitchen and smelling others’ dinners forces you to bring up your best recipes. Let’s not forget to mention the kittens in the backyard who are learning how to fly from grapevines and make Jovita fall on her knees.
Although the location is not the best, it’s no surprise if they are fully booked most of the year round.
4 pm
After finding our way through the Tram traffic, we manage to find the A and O Hostel quite easily. We meet Sebastian, the manager, who directs us straight to the basement for our chat. They use the basement as a bar. He guesses we’re over coffees and offers us a large panel of fruit juices…I go for a mix…Banana, orange and cranberry, oh…I know…what should I say…let s go crazy…we live only once…he tells us about the history of the building which is over 200 years old…the hostel of course is only few years old…A and O Gmbh are actually renting the place since last august 2005. It has been completely refurnished…the whole hostel is brand new, or at least looks like it.
During the meeting Sebastian bring up pertinent technical questions and ideas. Like putting a link icon for Prague next to the other icons for New York, Sydney or Paris on our main page, Also he wanted to know how our group booking system was working and was delighted to hear it is a free service. He was disappointed with one particular website which he paid a fee of 2000 euros for, only to get enquiries from groups which he doesn’t even have availability for. He also mentioned the ratings. Jovita explained it to him. Finally, he asked if we had any records of booking cancellations so he could study how much the terrorist alerts in airports influence periods of massive cancellations. We then headed for a tour of the rooms. They have some private and some dorm rooms. Some shared some ensuite. For the future, Sebastian wants his property to become a Hostel/Hotel. This hostel is very clean and perfect for groups as well, although not very central. Once again the A and O’s hostels have demonstrated a very warm welcome to Hostelbookers.com. Sebastian even invited us around tonight at 9 pm for a nice pop folk American gig at their bar, something that I am not doing now because I have to write this report.
Comprehensive list of Prague Hostels
For more information on getting around Prague go to Prague Public Transit Co
Hello, very nice site!