szg

Maybe the 241 promotion works on these days ?

HCruiseMike

Well, Czech isn't on the Euro.
And then, I don't see what our President has to do with hotels in Czech setting up policy.

vsevolod4

Exactly. Political diatribes should stay where the belong, which is not on these boards. You have OMNI and other boards where on can spout any drivel imaginable.

Many factors go into exchange rates. Some countries (especially China) love having their currency undervalued because it stimulates exports and deters imports. Of course, when people travel from those countries, they feel like paupers. Clearly, the "purchasing power parity" exchange rate is not $1.37 ... it should be more like 1 dollar = 1 euro.

My advice for traveling is ignore the exchange rate. You're not flying to Prague just to be cheap.

The Czech currency (koruna) is getting pegged to the Euro in anticipation of eventual joining the EMU, so tends to move lock-step with the Euro.

As for charging more for double rather than single occupancy, this happens in a number of European countries and Japan. Rationales:
a) some rooms have tiny single beds; if you have 2 people you need a bigger room.
b) breakfast is included in some rates in some hotels; 2 people, you pay for the second breakfast.

Best advice for the IC in Prague is, if you haven't already, to join the IC Ambassador program. $150 and you get a "buy one get one free" coupon, a probable room upgrade, fruit/mineral water, free movie, etc. As long as you're staying there on a Friday and a Saturday night, or on a Saturday and a Sunday night, one night is free. And your average rate will fall below $300!

mphall

thank you. Finally, a non political comment I can relate to.

TRAVELSIG

Maybe- but I don't think in conjunction with this rate...

andyandy

Hi all,

I'm looking at booking a 3 night stay at the IC Prague in May and would appreciate any feedback from folks who've stayed there recently. I've reviewd the RA experiences thread and e-mailed the hotel re: ambassador benefits there. It seems that none of the paid rates (including "executive") include lounge access and that they honor RA benefits on award stays. Award stays are booked into classic rooms and upgraded to at least "executive" rooms.

Compared to the Advanced purchase rate, booking on points I'd be getting .5cents per point. Not great, but not terrible. And it won't impact my RA benefits. Since I can't get lounge access for a paid executive booking, the only benefit would be a bump up in room upgrade. I'd also considered booking the Luxury Weekend Rate for the breakfast.That said, is there any benefit to paying for a room here if I have the points for an award stay? I don't really see any.

Thanks,
Andyandy

deneru

HJad the same dilema last december and finally booked the luxury weekend and was upgraded to a suite facing the square.

Here I posted a video of the view in a Time Lapse mode.

Breakfast is good.

andyandy

Hmm. Just logged in to ichotelsgroup.com through e-bates and ran a search for rooms at the Prague IC. The cheapest room is now showing as "standard suite", not "classic room". That's odd. I'm going to book and see how it shows up in my upcoming reservations. Anybody ever seen this before?

Bah. Shows up as classic room. All excited for nothing...

andyandy

Hi,
I've a question for those with experience with this IC. Mrs. Andyandy and will be there on a 3 night stay. First night was booked in an executive room at the luxury weekend rate. Second two nights are stays on points. My reservation now shows all three nights upgraded to "Jr. Suite." Before making my reservation, I was told that reward stays for RAs were upgraded to "executive rooms."

Is there actually any difference between the executive rooms an the jr. suites? According to the website, they are both 38sqm. If there's no real difference, then it seems that this is a bit of a dodge. I'm trying to decide whether I should e-mail the reservations manager to inquire or just try my luck at check-in. Any thoughts?

Andyandy

BTW: I've booked the IC's (slightly overpriced) car service from the airport. I don't see any posts reviewing it, so I'll do so on our return.

caz312

your post prompted me to check my booking - had booked 2 nights flex executive room and intend to use BOGO for 2nd night...seems we have been moved to King Executive Suite...now wondering whether that will change when we checkin and hand over the voucher

Not stayed there before but we had a stay in IC Singapore 1 night on points and booked a club room for the paid second night fully expecting to have to move rooms (arriving late did not justify the additional cost to the points booking) but they put us in the upgraded room for both nights (although club was only for the 2nd day)

johnfboston

I haven't seen any recent posts (anything after 2007) about the general quality of this hotel. I am considering booking here for three nights in June via FHR and wonder if anyone who has stayed recently could give their views.

Thanks.

andyandy

John: Just completed a stay here. See my review in the RA experiences thread for full details. Shoot me a PM if you have any specific questions and I'll try to answer them.

The car service was helpful and I don't feel too bad about the inflated price (900cKr), but I probably wouldn't book it again. Our driver was waiting in the exit area of the terminal (in a crowd of other drivers) and holding an "Intercontinental" sign. He was a pleasant older gentleman with good English. Car was an E-class Mercedes in good shape. Nothing particularly special about the service, though.

Given the inflated price, I ordinarily would have gone with AAA taxi, but in this instance, the fact that I could charge the car to our room made the difference.

briantoronto

Stayed at the IC Praha in early June of this year for two nights. Booked via Amex Plat FHR and used a BOGO cert. Given my late arrival, I booked a car via the hotel. Driver was waiting for me at PRG, and was driven to the Hotel rather sportily in a typical E-Class black car.

Hotel is an ex-communist pile, about three blocks from the town square and the Charles Bridge.

No one at the door to help with baggage, so lugged it in myself to check-in.

Check in agent taps away, says "You need a better room than this", and switches me to a river view suite.^ Welcome gift arrived within 5 minutes of checking in and was some fruit and a bottle of wine, which was not terribly good.

Room itself was very nice, with large sitting area, dining room table, two bathrooms, and a Jacuzzi tub.

The FHR rate came with an 80€ credit at the roof-top restaurant, which was closed for a private function. They transferred this amount to room-service, which was very good.

Breakfast was also included, and it was popular. A good mix of European and North American options.

As mentioned, the hotel was well situated, in the Jewish Quarter. Close to the Charles Bridge and to the town square.

Here are some photos:


Welcome Gift



http://gallery.me.com/briantoronto/1...12800979680001
Views from the window

Kathabene

Is that a Junior Suite or a Executive Suite?

caz312

looks like the Exec suite as mentions that there are 2 bathrooms and Junior suite just has the one