Hotel Balkan

We have just spent 3 nights at the hotel across 4 rooms as family flew from the UK to spend time together. This is an excellent hotel and the location is brilliant for pretty much everywhere you might want to get to, whether the old town or the lesser town. Trams are close by with plenty of cafes, bars and the shopping centre just a few blocks away so something to suit all tastes. The 3 reception staff we met across the 3 days were excellent and so helpful and friendly. We didn't eat at the hotel this time but would next time we stay. The rooms have everythign you need inlcuding hairdryer and toiletries and the shower is hot and powerful. If you are in a room facing the front it is natural that you may hear some traffic or the trams but take ear plugs if you are a really sensitive sleeper! This didn't interupt our sleep and the beds are so comfortable and all of the family group commented on this. Exellent value for money overall and a lovely friendly and welcoming atmosphere. Thank you for a lovely stay and we will definitely be returning! (We had rooms 27, 26, 14 (14 on the side of the building and the others facing onto the front) and 18 during our stay).

The Hotel Anette is located relatively centrally on the west side of the Vltava and is therefore generally well suited for a trip to Prague. The immediate surroundings are rather dingy compared to the east side, there is a brothel opposite, graffiti on the walls of the houses, rubbish on the street - not really nice. The nearest metro station (Andel) is about a 5-minute walk (350 m). Parking spaces are scarce, and finding one can take 30 - 45 minutes, as the hotel itself does not have its own parking spaces. There are rooms facing the street (very noisy) and the inner courtyard. The latter are quiet, but the view from the window into the inner courtyard is rather dreary. In addition to the fact that my room (No. 11) was very dirty (cobwebs in the door frames, brown splashes under the toilet seat, strangers' (pubic) hair on the "fresh" beds, several cm thick layer of dust in the radiator), the room was clearly in need of renovation: - The carpet is stained and partially torn - Stains on the walls, hastily painted over - Paint is crumbling from the wall - Exposed cables in the door frame - Mattresses saggy, sleeping almost impossible or only with back pain - No bedside lights - Window cannot be opened - Musty smell in the room - The walls are so thin that you can hear your roommate peeing + other body noises. - The sink drain smells terrible at times - The toilet drain pipe is only roughly sealed with duct tape - Halogen spotlight in the bathroom hangs from the ceiling because the lamp is not suitable for the intended opening - Electrical installation is adventurous and dangerous (risk of short circuit/fire) - Breakfast: Cheese and sausage roll up because they are not refrigerated. The "service" concept of the lady in charge that day was to respond to my complaints with excuses and insults to other guests: The mattresses are so saggy because the guests are too fat. (Original quote!) The room is so dirty because the cleaning staff don't have enough time. When I asked what she could do for me because of my complaint, she generously offered to have the room cleaned. I would have expected that before I moved in. Payment must be made at check-in before you see the room. All in all, I cannot recommend the hotel, it was one of the worst travel experiences I have had in over 30 years.

We stayed in a 4-bed room on the top floor, there was a lift but also stairs. Breakfast costs an additional €10 per person, but we didn't use it, instead we looked for cafes nearby. Great location, as it's in the Smichov district, which has everything you need, from supermarkets, bars and cafes, to good S-Bahn connections. So it's not too crowded with tourists and you get a good impression of authentic life here. The hotel was very clean and cheap, the rooms were well equipped with a small fridge, TV and all kinds of cupboards. The bathroom was very large and clean. It got a bit hot at night, but there were windows that you could open, as the air conditioning is only switched on in summer. The staff were very accommodating and friendly, we would come back again and again!