Tag: solo travel

Hostel of the Day: DREAM HOSTEL PRAGUE – Stylish & Budget-Friendly Backpacker Hostel in New Town

Another day, another hostel to feature! My recent Going Solo in Europe posts showed the places I visited around Prague, Kutná Hora & Český Krumlov in Czech Republic. I spent 4 out of the 17 days in Czech Republic & I stayed in a stylish & budget-friendly hostel named DREAM Hostel Prague. This backpacker hostel will be today’s hostel of the day feature. This is also my 3rd European hostel after staying with Generator Hostel in Amsterdam & Sleep Well Youth Hostel in Brussels. Allow me to share some facts about this lovely Prague hostel & how my stay with them went.

Welcome to today’s Hostel of the Day feature – the cheap, cozy & central DREAM Hostel Prague 🇨🇿

Czech Republic was the 3rd country I visited during my 19-day (flights included) solo trip to Europe last October to November 2019. I started my journey in the Netherlands & visited Amsterdam, Utrecht & North Holland. After a few days, I went down to Belgium & explored Brussels, Ghent & Bruges, I flew to Czech Republic & walked around Prague, Kutná Hora & Český Krumlov. The last leg of this 2.5-week trip was Denmark. I decided to just spend the last few days around the beautiful Copenhagen. If you want to know the details about this Euro trip of a lifetime, check out all the posts under the Going Solo in Europe category.

Dream Hostels & Dream Hostel Prague

DREAM Hostels is a new generation of backpacker hostels located mainly in Ukraine & Central Europe. DREAM Hostels provide budget-friendly & cozy (hotel-like) accommodation, have nice & engaging staff & feature a solo-traveler friendly hostel atmosphere. DREAM Hostels are mainly found around Ukraine (Kiev, Lviv, Poltava, Zaporozhye, Odessa, Rakhov) but also have international branches in Czech Republic, Poland & Slovakia.

I stayed in their Prague property for 4 nights last November 2019. Their hostel in Czech Republic is named DREAM Hostel Prague – a stylish & budget-friendly hostel in the center of New Town Prague. Know more about this hostel in the specifics below.

One of DREAM Hostel Prague’s chairs in the communal co-working space & lounge near reception.

Location & Access

DREAM Hostel Prague is located at Ve Smečkách 23 in New Town Prague. It is in one of the streets off Wenceslas Square, one of the famous & lively squares in Prague. The nearest metro stations are Muzeum & Můstek Stations. It is accessible to both subways & trams. It is near restaurants, cafes & shops. Old Town Prague is 15 minutes away by foot while Národní Muzeum (National Museum) is 5 minutes away by foot.

Václav Havel Airport Prague is about 12 kilometers away from the hostel. A trip from the airport to the hostel or vice versa can take around 35 minutes to 1 hour by taking the bus & the metro. DREAM Hostel Prague’s location is excellent. It is in the center of New Town Prague, in a very quiet but accessible street off Wenceslas Square.

Room Options

DREAM Hostel Prague offers various room & dormitory configurations to its guests. Those travelling on budget can stay in their 8-bed mixed, 8-bed female, 6-bed mixed & 4-bed mixed dormitory rooms. Couples, families or those travelling in small groups can opt to stay in the double or twin rooms, triple & quadruple rooms. Selected rooms have private amenities while most rooms have access to common toilet & shower areas. Rates per night vary depending on days & season. Peak seasons like summer & Christmas holidays cost more than the ordinary / off-peak seasons.

This is my bed in the 8-bed dormitory room. The bed was clean, all made-up & comfy to sleep on.

I booked my stay with Booking.Com & paid 1,880 Kč (₱4,030.14 including credit card charges in local currency) for 4 nights. It cost me around 470 Kč per night – ₱1,008 in local currency. The nightly rate includes a bed in a mixed dormitory room. All beds have curtains for privacy. Rooms have air conditioning & heating systems. Each bed has a plug, reading light, a personal shelf & a locker. Guests share toilets & bathrooms per floor.

I personally think the nightly rate was alright considering I booked my bed 2-3 months before my intended stay. The hostel’s rates are way cheaper than those I paid for Generator Amsterdam, Sleep Well Youth Hostel & Steel House Copenhagen.

Tip: It’s cheaper to book with them directly. Book early to get the best rates on your room of choice. Check out the rates on your planned stay here.

Guest Perks

DREAM Hostel Prague has a long list of perks guests can enjoy during their stay. Check out the list below:

Free Wi-Fi Access – Wi-Fi access is free for all guests of DREAM Hostel Prague. The wi-fi password is found in your key card holder & in the signage all over the hostel. Their connection is fast & reliable!

Affordable Breakfast Buffet – DREAM Hostel Prague offers an affordable breakfast buffet every morning from 8:00 am. The buffet costs 145 Kč on the day itself but is 20 Kč cheaper at 125 Kč per person if you buy it at least the day before. The buffet spread includes bread, jam, cereals, salad, ham, cheese, potatoes & sausages. Drinks such as coffee, tea, fruit juice & water are also included in the rate.

Stylish Indoor Communal Areas & Co-Working Spaces – The hostel has well-designed communal areas & co-working spaces. There is a long wooden table in front of reception for those who want to do some work. There are also couches & comfortable seats around.

Outdoor Garden & Sun Terrace – The hostel has an outdoor garden & sun terrace outside the kitchen & dining area. It is a perfect area to get some sun or to have some quiet time in the morning.

Communal Kitchen & Dining Area – Hostel guests have access to a communal kitchen & dining area. They can buy ingredients from the supermarket & cook their own meals in the kitchen. Once done cooking, guests can enjoy their meals in the spacious dining area beside it.

Clean & Well-Maintained Shower & Toilet Areas – DREAM Hostel Prague’s showers & toilets are some of the cleanest & well-maintained facilities I’ve seen in Europe. Staff clean them every morning & do checks at random times. It’s also the only hostel which has a bidet! I am one happy Asian!

Hostel Dog – One unique thing I found in this hostel is Sam, their hostel dog. This doggo walks freely around the hostel common areas during the day. This dog is nice & friendly. Don’t worry, he doesn’t bite.

Free Luggage Storage – The hostel offers free (yes, free!) luggage storage for all its incoming & outgoing guests. Luggage can be stored in the storage room at the back of reception area, just before the lifts. Make sure your bags have their own locks.

On-site Café & Bar – DREAM Hostel Prague has an on-site care & bar called MATES Café. They offer snacks, drinks & even alcoholic beverages for reasonable prices.

24-Hour Reception – The hostel’s reception is open 24 hours every day & 7 days a week. There’s always someone in reception to help guests out at any time of the day. No need to worry if you need to check out early or check in during the wee hours of the morning.

Friendly Multi-Lingual Staff – The hostel’s staff are very friendly & accommodating. They welcomed me with the best smiles & even gave recommendations on where to go or what to do during my stay. Some staff are multi-lingual, they speak a number of languages.

Amenity Shop & Rental – The hostel as small shop where guests can buy or rent travel essentials such as toothbrush, shampoo, etc.

Laundry Facility – DREAM Hostel Prague has a laundry facility in the basement. Guests may use it too. Make sure to ask reception for details / costs.

Secured Room Entry – All guests are given electronic key cards which only has access to their specific rooms. This ensures that no outsiders can randomly go inside the guest rooms.

Free Walking Tours & Anti-Tours – DREAM Hostel Prague has partnered with SANDEMANs New Europe for a daily free walking tour. A tour guide picks up hostel guests daily at 10:00 am for the 11:00 am free walking tour. The hostel also has anti-tours for those who want to know more about Prague. You may approach reception for more details.

Free Use of Board Games & Puzzles – Guests can play with the board games & puzzles for free while killing some time. These games & puzzles are found in front of the café / reception area.

Lift Access – Guests, especially those with large suitcases, can take the lift up to the rooms without having to carry them.

Experience

I had a lovely 4-night stay at DREAM Hostel Prague. Coming from the expensive cities of Amsterdam & Brussels, I feel like I had some relief paying for an affordable hostel at least in one of the cities I visited. The hostel’s facilities are great. I like the set-up of the common areas & the co-working spaces near the reception – stylish & very pleasing to the eyes. This area is also guest-friendly – a fun place to meet new people who are also travelling. I quite a good bunch of people in this hostel.

This long table in front of reception was probably my most favorite part in the hostel. It’s so cozy!!

The hostel’s location is a winner. It’s located in a quiet street off the busy Wenceslas Square. It actually is in a street of strip clubs & bars but the hostel is safe. I didn’t even hear any noise from those establishments during night-time. The hostel is near the highlights of New Town Prague & is also 15 minutes away by foot from the Old Town highlights. It’s also very accessible to public transportation.

I stayed in an 8-bed mixed dormitory room for 4 nights. The rooms were spacious enough. The beds had curtains for privacy & even positioned in such a way that all guests don’t face each other when sleeping. The beds were spacious & comfortable to sleep in. The shower & toilet beside our room was well-maintained & spot clean.

The hostel paid breakfast was superb. I enjoyed having the sausages (with ketchup) & fried potatoes every morning. The drinks selection was also great. The hostel staff were nice & friendly. They entertained all my questions & even helped me find the best & cheapest way to Český Krumlov. To be honest, I can’t think of a bad thing to stay about this lovely hostel. I mean it!

DREAM Hostel Prague is not the cheapest (but still cheap) hostel option in the city. There are other properties which are cheaper but noisy & less private. This hostel is a perfect example of a property that offers clean & well-maintained facilities, guest privacy in rooms, cozy common areas & excellent guest services for an affordable price. It may not be super duper mega cheap (but it is still very cheap in European standards lol) as the others but it surely gives worth to every money spent in the hostel. I would love to go back in DREAM Hostel Prague again in the future!

Here are the hostel’s contact details for future reference:

DREAM Hostel Prague
Address: 600/23 Ve Smečkách St. Prague, Czech Republic 11000
Phone Numbers: +420 601 576 992 / +420 222 522 650
E-Mail Address: prague@dream-hostels.com
Website: www.dream-hostels.com/en/prague
Facebook: www.facebook.com/DREAMHostelPrague
Instagram: www.instagram.com/dream_hostels

What do you think of DREAM Hostel Prague compared to Generator Amsterdam & Sleep Well Youth Hostel? I will choose DREAM Hostel Prague every single time. The other 2 hostels are also great but this just gives you more than what you actually pay for. It’s also way cheaper than the other two. Do you have any questions about today’s hostel feature? Drop them in the comments section below. I’ll answer them later. Do you have anything to ask about Prague, Kutná Hora, Český Krumlov or Czech Republic in general? Send them to me via email to contact@thewkndtravel.com & I’ll make sure to answer you in no time.

If you want to know more about my Europe 2019 trip, check out the posts under the Going Solo in Europe category. You’ll know more about this trip of a lifetime. Oh, can I ask for a favor? Can you help me out & follow me on my social media platforms – Facebook & Instagram? I still have a lot of travel-related content to share so please watch out for them.

Thank you for joining me in today’s hostel of the day feature. Until next time!

PS. Photos were taken using my HTC U11.

Going Solo In Europe: ČESKÝ KRUMLOV – Czechia’s Quaint Fairy Tale Town

After spending a wonderful day around Old Town Prague & Prague Castle & an interesting walking tour around Kutná Hora, I decided to visit another Czech town down south called Český Krumlov. I initially thought of going to the spa town of Karlovy Vary but I figured Český Krumlov is the better option. Join me in today’s photoblog as I show you the beauty of Czech Republic’s quaint fairy tale town in the south of Bohemia.

Here’s a glimpse of how Český Krumlov, CZ looks like.. The river on the lower left is Vltava River 🇨🇿

In case you missed it, I went on a 19-day journey from the Philippines to Europe last October to November 2019. I flew to The Netherlands via Singapore & visited Amsterdam, Utrecht & North Holland. I also spent a few days in Belgium – around Brussels, Ghent & Bruges. I flew to Czech Republic & visited Prague, Kutná Hora & this town, Český Krumlov. I spent the last leg of the trip around Copenhagen in Denmark with a friend. If you want to know more about this trip, check out my Going Solo in Europe Series in this website.

Český Krumlov

Český Krumlov is a small Czech town 170+ kilometers down south of Prague by the Vltava River. The town rose as a settlement of the Vítkovci family in the early times. When the family line came to an end, King Wenceslaus II handed the town to the Rosenberg Family. The prominent Bohemian noble family built the castle in the 14th century. They also promoted trade & development in town where both Germans & Czechs live.

In the 1600s, the Rosenbergs sold the town to Habsburgs of Austria which was then handed to the House of Eggenberg. The Eggenberg Family ruled the town for a century until the family line came to an end. The town was then handed over to the House of Schwarzenberg. This Bohemian (Czech) & Franconian (German) aristocrat family owned & ruled Český Krumlov until the end of the world wars. The Czech government expelled the town’s German population after the World War II. The government took control of the town since then.

In 1992, the Historic Centre of Český Krumlov made it to UNESCO’s List of World Heritage Sites. Today, Český Krumlov is a popular tourist destination to holiday makers. Big part of the town’s economy comes from tourism. The town’s main attraction is the Český Krumlov Castle. It also has museums, galleries, breweries, shops, restaurants & old buildings which tourists can visit. The best way to explore the town is by foot. The town is so small; one can literally walk to the other side of town in 20 minutes.

Planning to go to Europe once everything goes back to normal? You don’t have to worry about the Schengen visa. It’s easy to apply for one. Check out my blog on how to get a Schengen tourist visa on your own.

Prague to Český Krumlov

I took the subway to the bus terminal.. This is how Prague subway stations look like. Old & unique!

There are different ways to go to Český Krumlov from Prague. The easiest way is to rent a car & drive south for about 2-3 hours. If you don’t drive, you can opt to take the train or bus. Český Krumlov & Prague are linked by a direct train service that takes close to 3 hours per way. Several bus companies operate between these 2 places several times a day. The bus is the cheapest option; the bus trip takes about 3 hours per way.

  • Seats have personal entertainment screens!
  • Comfy leather seats for a 3-hour trip.

I took the bus on both ways just because it’s cheaper & more comfortable. I booked with RegioJet & paid 368 CZK (about ₱750 return). I took the 7:00 am trip from Prague & arrived in Český Krumlov at 9:45 am. I left Český Krumlov at 5:00 pm & arrived back in Prague a few minutes before 8 in the evening. The bus had comfortable seats, on-board personal entertainment screens, charging & power outlets & a lavatory. I’m glad I took the bus on both ways – it was the cheapest & most comfortable option.

Wiseman Free Walking Tour

You guys know that I’m a fan of free (well tip-based) walking tours. I took these free walking tours in Amsterdam, Brussels, Ghent, Bruges & even in Prague. Český Krumlov also has its own free walking tour in the name of Wiseman Free Walking Tour. Just like the ones I before, this walking tour uses a ‘donation-based’ system where joiners give tips or donations after every tour.

The walking tour starts in front of the Tourist Information Center on the Main Square (Náměstí Svornosti) in Český Krumlov. The tour takes about 2 hours & walks the guests around Český Krumlov, from the old buildings, churches & halls to the Český Krumlov castle grounds & breweries while sharing the story of how the town developed & survived through the years. Our group had a great walk with Libor that day. He gave us a lot of information about the town’s history, way of living & culture. He also answered our questions about the town.

Libor, our guide from Wiseman Free Walking Tour, took us around Český Krumlov for 2.5 hours!

This free walking tours occur ever day at 10:30 am & 2:00 pm from April to October & 10:30 am only from November to March. Just look for the guide wearing a red shirt with a red umbrella in front of the tourist information office.

Allow me now to share with you the photos I took during this DIY day trip to Český Krumlov.

This is Český Krumlov‘s main square – it’s not your typical busy & crowded European town square.
  • Such a beautiful street!
  • Inside St. Vitus Church in Český Krumlov
Český Krumlov Castle from the Vltava River somewhere in in the town. A magical place to visit!!!
A random beautiful & colorful street in Český Krumlov. You can have your photo shoots anywhere!!
The view of Český Krumlov town from the eastern part of the Český Krumlov Castle. Stunning, eh?
Český Krumlov‘s draft beer! Of course I had to try it – this 500 ml pint was priced 46 CZK / PHP 43!
This is Czech’s National Meal – Roast Park with Dumplings & Cabbage. Tbh, bothing fancy there.

I hope you enjoyed the photos! Český Krumlov is a lovely place to visit especially on a sunny cold autumn day. It feels like a fairy tale come true walking around the old houses, the castle & the cobble stone covered streets. The town’s quiet & relaxing. The locals are nice & cheerful. Český Krumlov is easily one of the favorite small towns I visited in this Going Solo in Europe trip.

One last look at Český Krumlov town from the castle grounds. Beautiful town – felt like a fairy tale!

What do you think of Český Krumlov based on the photos above? Is it a town you’ll visit when you go to Czech Republic in the future? Share your thoughts in the comments section below. Do you have any questions about the town? You may also send them to me via e-mail to contact@thewkndtravel.com & I’ll answer them soon.

Thank you for joining me in Český Krumlov today. Unfortunately, our time in Czech Republic is soon coming to an end. Watch out for the upcoming blogs on the Going Solo in Europe Series. For the meantime, you may follow me on my social media accounts – Facebook & Instagram.

PS. Photos were taken using my HTC U11.

Going Solo In Europe: KUTNÁ HORA – Day Trip To Central Bohemia’s Medieval Silver Mining Town

Before coming to Europe, I already knew about the Church of the Bones in Czech Republic. I didn’t know it is in Kutná Hora until our tour guide Katerina told us that they offer a day tour to that site. I got excited upon knowing it & immediately booked a tour for the following day.

After spending the day walking around Prague Old Town & Prague Castle, knowing about the city’s history & culture, I decided to take a day trip to Kutná Hora. Let me share with you the interesting photos I took during this trip outside Prague.

The main altar of Sedlec Ossuary – The Church of the Bones – in Kutna Hora, Czech Republic. 🇨🇿

Did you know that I went on a 19-day trip to Europe late last year? I flew to Singapore then to Amsterdam via Singapore Airlines. I went around The Netherlands & visited Amsterdam, Utrecht & North Holland. I also explored the cities of Brussels, Ghent & Bruges in Belgium. I flew to Prague, Czech Republic after then onward to Denmark before flying home. You can find the posts about this Europe trip under the Going Solo in Europe series category.

Kutná Hora

Kutná Hora is a small medieval town located 70 kilometres east of Prague. This town rose to economic power being the center of silver mining during the 13th century. The town produced a big part of Europe’s silver market at the end of that century.

One of the many quiet streets of Kutna Hora. The town is almost deserted – not much people out.

The town almost completed with Prague in terms of political & economic power for centuries until it succumbed to natural (floods), health (plague) & man-made (wars, invasions) factors. These eventually led to the downfall of the silver mining industry. The town was also affected during the world wars.

In 1996, UNESCO recognized the town as a World Heritage Site. Since then, the town attracts thousands of tourists every year. It has become one of the famous day trips from Prague.

Planning to make your Euro-trip dreams come true? Getting a Schengen tourist visa is easy! Check out my post on how I got my tourist visa without any help from any agency.

Day Trip To Kutná Hora

Kutná Hora is not that easy place to go from Prague. SANDEMANs New Europe offered the day trip for €38 per person. The day tour rate includes transportation in a comfortable coach, entrance fees to all sites & an English-speaking tour guide. Lunch is at the guest’s expense. The tour company has already reserved seats in a local restaurant & took lunch orders (menu provided) in the bus on the way to Kutná Hora. Sandeman’s rate is affordable compared to the €50 half day tours I saw online & in tour agencies around Prague. I forgot to mention this tour is offered in English & Spanish languages.

Our tour guide, Nicolo, met us in front of Cartier shop in Old Town Square at 9:45 & walked us to the coach. We left Prague a few minutes after 10:00 & took close to an hour trip to Kutná Hora. We first went to Cathedral of Assumption of Our Lady & St John the Baptist then to Sedlec Ossuary (the Church of the Bones). After spending a few minutes in the church, we all went to St. Barbara’s Church in town & walked down to the town center. We had our lunch at Restaurace Dačický (I ordered the wild boar goulash with gingerbread dumplings & the Kutna Hora dark beer) & continued the tour around the old town. We went to the Italian Court & St. James Church before walking back to the bus. We left Kutná Hora at 16:30 in the afternoon & arrived back in Prague at 17:30.

Let me share with you the photos I took during this day trip.

This is outside the Cathedral of Assumption of Our Lady & St John the Baptist in Kutna Hora CZ 🇨🇿
One of the main pieces in Sedlec Ossuary – made from bones of people. Interesting place to visit. 🇨🇿
St. Barbara’s Church in Kutna Hora – a Gothic-style church that took hundreds of years to finish.
I ordered wild boar goulash with gingerbread dumplings & Kutna Hora dark beer for 258 CZK. 😋

It was an interesting day trip to Kutná Hora! I am happy I finally saw the Church of the Bones in person. It felt weird at first going inside the church but it eventually became interesting when Nico told us why there’s a church like this. The other sites in Kutná Hora were extraordinary. Taking this tour with SANDEMANs New Europe was a big relief. Our tour guide was informative & very engaging.

One last photo of the Sedlec Ossuary – The Church of the Bones in Kutna Hora in Czech Republic 🇨🇿

Would you have the guts to go to Kutná Hora & visit the Church of the Bones? Are you planning to include this in your future plans in Czech Republic? You should! Do you have any questions about the town or the tour? Feel free post them in the comment section below. You may also send them via e-mail to contact@thewkndtravel.com & I’ll get to them soon.

Thank you for joining me in Kutná Hora today. Next up is a fairy tale town in South Czechia called Český Krumlov! Watch out for that post.

Don’t forget to check out my other Europe posts under the Going Solo in Europe category. Please don’t forget to follow my social media platforms – Facebook & Instagram.

PS. Photos were taken using my HTC U11.

Going Solo In Europe: PRAGUE – Europe’s Most Beautiful Capital City

After exploring different cities around Netherlands & Belgium for a week, I took a 65-minute Brussels Airlines flight to Czech Republic. My time in the Dutch & Belgian territories are over; it’s time to move to the next country, time to explore the famous & most beautiful city in Europe – Prague. People I met during the trip often asked me why I chose this city over the usual Paris or the near ones Cologne or Luxembourg. Well, I’ve always wanted to see this city & I promised myself I will include this in my first ever trip to Europe. Let me share with you in this post what this amazing city has to offer.

This is a random street in Prague. The city is so beautiful. Each side or area can be a photo subject!

In case you missed it, I went on a 19-day trip to Europe late last year. I flew to Singapore then to Amsterdam via Singapore Airlines. I went around The Netherlands & visited Amsterdam, Utrecht & North Holland. I also explored the cities of Brussels, Ghent & Bruges in Belgium. I flew to Czech Republic after then onward to Denmark before flying home. You can find the posts about this Europe trip under the Going Solo in Europe series category.

Prague

Prague is the capital & the biggest city in Czech Republic. The city is dubbed as the political, economic & cultural center of Central Europe. Located by the Vltava River, the city flourished during the medieval period being the seat of the Kingdom of Bohemia as well as the base of Holy Roman Emperors. Its most notable ruler, Charles IV (whom the Charles Bridge & a lot of things in Prague are named after), built the city into an important city in Europe. The city survived wars, invasions & natural calamities over the years & rose into a famous tourist destination in central Europe. It was the capital of Czechoslovakia until the state was dissolved in 1993. Prague’s old town & historic center was included in UNESCO’s World Heritage Sites in 1992.

Czech Republic is one of the Schengen states & is a member of the European Union. The country doesn’t use Euro (€) as official currency. It still uses Czech Korunas (CZK) with a conversion rate of around 24-27 CZK for every €1. Prague or Czech Republic in general is relatively cheaper to travel compared to other Schengen countries. Prague is one of the famous holiday destinations in Europe & it attracts millions of visitors every year. Majority of its citizens know how to speak English but their local language (Czech) is still the main language all over the city. In my opinion, Prague has more beautiful buildings & heritage structures compared to the other cities I’ve been to.

Planning to make your Euro-trip dreams come true? Getting a Schengen tourist visa is easy! Check out my post on how I got my tourist visa without any help from any agency.

Brussels To Prague

Brussels & Prague are about 900 kilometers away from each other with Germany being in between. The fastest & cheapest way to reach Prague from Brussels is by plane. I checked the train & bus options but it’ll take me a little over day. I took the 65-minute afternoon Brussels Airlines flight & paid €67,40 one-way including baggage allowance. Know more about this flight by checking my flight report on SN 2811.

Going Around Prague

Going around Prague is easy. The best way to explore the city, especially the Old Town area, is by foot. Every corner of the city is so beautiful, so picturesque. You can walk around all day, stop at every corner, admire the beauty of each side & take lovely photos. You won’t mind getting lost in the city, its beauty is mind-blowing.

The 90-minute ticket I bought in the airport station; I used this to go to the city via bus & subway.

Aside from just walking around all day, you can also go from one place to the other using the subway, trams & buses. The city’s transportation system runs on a uniform time-based ticketing service. Tickets can be used on any mode of public transport as many times & with as many transfers as you like during its validity period. A short-term ticket that’s valid for 30 minutes costs 24 CZK (Czech Korunas). The 90-minute ticket costs 32 CZK, 24-hour ticket costs 110 CZK & the 3-day ticket costs 310 CZK. You can take the bus, tram & subway within 30 minutes for only 24 CZK. Tickets are purchased in ticket vending machines inside the stations or inside the trams.

Václav Havel Airport Prague, or commonly known as Prague Airport (PRG), is located a few miles away from the city. The cheapest way to reach the city is by taking Bus 119 to Nadrazi Veleslavin Station on the Green Line, transferring to the metro & getting off in Můstek of Muzeum Station. Trip takes about 30 to 45 minutes depending on traffic. It is recommended to take the 90-minute ticket which costs 32 CZK.

Prague Walking Tours

If you’ve read my previous posts about Amsterdam, Brussels, Ghent & Bruges, you know that I am a fan of walking tours. I believe these walking tours are the best way to know the city from tour professionals at a small cost. I joined 2 tours in Prague – both organized & ran by SANDEMANs New Europe, the same tour group I joined in Amsterdam & Brussels.

That is our friendly tour guide, Katerina. walking us around Josefov – Prague’s old Jewish quarter.

I joined the 3-hour Prague Walking Tour led by Katerina. She walked us through the old town, told us the history of Prague (from the early centuries, the Bohemian times, Nazi invasion up to the post-war times), showed us some unique sightings (Astronomical Clock, Jewish Cemetery, Charles Bridge) & gave us tips on where else to go & what else to do in this fascinating city. This English & Spanish tip-based walking tour happens every day at 10:00, 11:00, 12:00, 14:00 & 16:00, starts in front of the Cartier in the Old Town Square (look for the red umbrella with the SANDEMANs logo in it) & ends at Jan Palach Square.

This is our Prague Castle tour group with our guide Brandon who walked us around the complex.

On that same day, after the walking tour, I joined the Prague Castle Tour led by Brandon. This €12 x 3-hour tour took us up to the Prague Castle, around the Castle district & in various churches in the area. Brandon shared to us the history of the Prague Castle & the nearby buildings, the stories of the Kings, Dukes & Emperors who lived there & even showed to us the changing ceremony of the castle guards. This tour happens at 14:30 every day plus 10:00 schedules every Saturday & Sunday. Tickets are available online or during the free walking tour break. Tour goers need a 30-minute ticket worth (24 CZK) for the tram ride up to the castle grounds; tram tickets can also be purchased during the walking tour break. This tour starts at Jan Palach Square in front of Rudolfinum (look for the red umbrella with the SANDEMANs logo in it) & ends right outside the castle grounds.

I strongly recommend taking these walking tours with SANDEMANs New Europe in Prague. The guides are professional, informative & accommodating. I can’t thank Katerina & Brandon for these 2 fun tours. I learned a lot in 6 hours of walking around Prague Old Town & Prague Castle.

Places To See Around Prague

Prague has a long list on interesting places to see. Check out the sites I’ve been to during my visit.

Old Town Square

Old Town Square, Staroměstské Náměstí in local language, is the historic square of Old Town Prague. It is between the Wenceslas Square & Charles Bridge. This is one of the most famous places to visit in Prague; it is also the meeting point of all walking tours in the city. the Prague Old Town Hall, St. Nicholas Church & Church of our Lady before Tyn surround this big town square.

This is the other side of the Old Town Square, this time during night time… It’s still busy at night!

Charles Bridge

Charles Bridge, Karlův Most in Czech language, is the most famous historic bridge in Prague that crosses the Vltava River & connects the old town to the Prague Castle. This bridge was built during the reign of Charles IV. The bridge is decorated by around 30 statutes on both sides – most of them are saints & images from the Roman Catholic faith. Charles Bridge is one of the most famous & crowded landmarks in Prague.

Tip: Visit the Charles Bridge at least 3 times during your Prague visit – one in the morning during sunrise, one during sunset & one in the evening. It appeals differently at each time of the day. Also, beware of pickpockets in this area.

Prague Astronomical Clock

Prague Astronomical Clock, Pražský Orloj in Czech language, is a medieval astronomical clock found in the walls of the Old Town Hall. It is one of the oldest astronomical clocks in the world & the oldest that is still working.

Tip: The astronomical clock features an hourly ‘Walk of the Apostles’ show. Make sure to get a good place at least 10-15 minutes before every start of the hour to see the show from the best angle.

Old Town Hall

Prague’s Old Town Hall, Staroměstská Radnice in local language, is one of the oldest & the most visited buildings in the old town. The building served as the council’s seat in the old times & was converted into a tourism office, a museum & an exhibition space. It also has a tower which gives a nice view of the Prague Old Town. Access to the Old Town Hall Tower comes with a fee.

Church of our Lady before Týn

The Church of our Lady before Týn, locally known as Kostel Matky Boží Před Týnem, is a Gothic-style church found in the Prague Old Town Square. This church can easily be noticed because of its 2 tall towers. The church entrance is found at the back of the restaurants & commercial spaces in the Old Town Square.

Old Town Bridge Tower

The Old Town Bridge Tower, also known as Staroměstská Mostecká Věž, is the tower that connects Prague Old Town with Charles Bridge.

Republic Square

Republic Square, locally known as Náměstí Republiky, is the city square between the Old Town & the New Town. This public square has commercial spaces, shopping malls & restaurants around it. This is the square near the Powder Tower.

Powder Tower

The Prašná Brána or Powder Tower is a Gothic-style tower that separates the old town from the new town. This tower is one of the old gates of the City of Prague.

St. Francis of Assisi Church

  • View from the outside
  • Inside the church

St. Frances of Assisi Church, locally Kostel Sv. Františka z Assisi, is a Baroque-style church in Prague. It is near the Old Town Tower Bridge & functions as a concert hall.

Prague Castle

Prague Castle, locally known as Pražský Hrad, is the office of the President of Czech Republic. This castle complex was built in the 9th century has become the seat of power of the kings, emperors & presidents that served Czech Republic. This UNESCO World Heritage site has different buildings & structures which have different architectural styles.

Tip: Take the Prague Castle Tour with SANDEMANs New Europe to know more about the Prague Castle.

St. Vitus Cathedral

  • View from outside the cathedral
  • Inside St. Vitus Cathedral

St. Vitus Cathedral, locally known as Metropolitní Katedrála Svatého Víta, is a metropolitan Catholic cathedral found inside the Prague Castle grounds. This cathedral is the biggest & the most important church in Prague. It is also the seat of the Archdiocese of Prague. This Gothic-style church is the place where royal events happen. It is also known for its beautiful stained-glass images.

This is one of the many stained glasses of St. Vitus Cathedral – the depicted images are beautiful!!!

St George’s Basilica

St. Georges Basilica, Bazilika Sv. Jiří in local language, is the oldest church building found in the Prague Castle complex. This church dedicated to St George functions as an exhibition space, a concert hall & an art gallery.

Wenceslas Square

Wenceslas Square, Václavské Náměstí in Czech language, is one of the famous squares in Prague New Town. The square has many commercial establishments including shops, restaurants & bars. It is also a cultural square where past mass gatherings & celebrations happened. The square was named after Wenceslas I, the Duke of Bohemia.

The night view of Narodni Museum, or Czech Republic’s National Museum, from Wenceslas Square.

Narodni Museum

Narodni Museum or Národní muzeum in local language is the National Museum of Czech Republic. It has everything about Czech Republic – its history, arts, culture & government. This building is found at the end of Wenceslas Square. The nearest subway station to the museum is Muzeum Station.

Josefov

Josefov is an Old Town quarter occupied by the Jews since the 10th century. Notable structures such as the Old New Synagogue (Staronová Synagoga – Europe’s oldest functioning synagogue) & the Old Jewish Cemetery (Starý židovský Hřbitov) are found here.

Rudolfinum

Rudolfinum is a 19th century concert & exhibition hall in Jan Palach Square.

New Town Hall

Prague’s New Town Hall, locally known as Novoměstská Radnice, was built after King Charles IV created the New Town. This historical building has witnessed cultural & social activities & still continues to host exhibitions & social events in the city.

Dancing House

Dancing House, Tančící Dům in Czech language, is an office building located by Vltava River. This building became famous because of its unique architecture. Commonly known as Fred & Ginger, this building is dedicated to a famous American dance duo.

Havelský Market

Havelský Market, locally known as Havelské Tržiště, is a local urban market in Havelská Street. It is the only preserved & functioning market place in the Old Town. Market stalls sell fresh fruits & vegetables for locals & souvenir items mainly for visitors.

Statue of Kafka

The Statue of Kafka, locally called Hlava Franze Kafky, is an outdoor rotating sculpture of famous Bohemian writer Franz Kafka found outside Quadrio Shopping Center in Prague. The sculpture was made by David Černý & was installed in 2014.

Prague is Prague. It is a must visit city in Czech Republic & in Europe in general. There’s no city in Europe like Prague – historical, beautiful, unique & affordable. I’m happy I went out of my way to visit this wonderful city. I may have seen a lot but I still dream of going back to this magnificent city. It is easily my favorite city in Europe so far!

Have you been to Prague in the past? What do you think of the city? What was your favorite spot around the city? Are you planning to go to Prague in the future? If yes, please include this city in your first trip. You won’t have regrets visiting the beautiful city – I promise. Share your experiences or plans in the comments section below. Do you have questions about the city or place mentioned above? You may also send them to me via email to contact@thewkndtravel.com & I’ll answer as soon as I can.

One of my favorite sights in Prague – St. Vitus Cathedral’s main facade during sunset. Beautiful!!!

Thank you for joining me in Prague today! Next up is a small town east of Prague called Kutna Hora. Stay tuned for that post. Don’t forget to check out my other Europe posts under the Going Solo in Europe category. Please don’t forget to follow my social media platforms – Facebook & Instagram.

PS. Photos were taken using my HTC U11.

Hostel Of The Day: SLEEP WELL YOUTH HOSTEL BRUSSELS – Eco-Friendly City Center Hostel with Excellent Free Buffet Breakfast

Hello & welcome to newest hostel of the day feature! After sharing with you my experiences around Brussels, Bruges & Ghent, it’s time to give details about Sleep Well Youth Hostel – the hostel I stayed with while in Belgium.

Sleep Well Youth Hostel is one of Brussels’ leading hostel. It started out as a youth home which eventually accepted young travelers. Through the years, it catered to more & more travelers & thus became to what it is now. It is an eco-friendly hostel in the center of Brussels. It offers affordable accommodation to those travel in a budget at the same time caters to those who want some privacy during their holidays. The hostel makes sure their operations have minimal impact to the environment by practicing environment-friendly measures. They also play an active role in the socioeconomic development of Belgium & its citizens.

I stayed with Sleep Well Youth Hostel for 4 full days & 4 nights after spending 5 days around Amsterdam, Utrecht, North Holland & The Netherlands in general. Oh, make sure to check out Generator Hostel Amsterdam – the hostel I stayed with while in Holland. Today, allow me to share with you details about this amazing hostel in Brussels. As always, I’ll run you through the hostel’s location, rooms & its amenities. I will also share bits about my stay in the hostel.

In case you missed it, I went on a 19-day Europe trip to Europe last October-November 2019. In these 19 days, I went & explored The Netherlands, Belgium, Czech Republic & Denmark. If you want to know the details of this Euro-trip, feel free to check out the posts under the Going Solo in Europe series.

Location & Access

Sleep Well Youth Hostel is a short-stay hostel in the center of Brussels. It is located in Rue du Damier 23, a street off the city’s shopping street. Rogier Station is the nearest metro station to the hostel. Brussels North Station & Brussels Central Station are about 10 to 15-minute walk away from the hostel doorstep. Brussels South Station is a metro ride away to Rogier Station. The nearest metro station exit to the hostel is Rue Nueve exit. Brussels Airport is 30 minutes by train from both North & Central Stations. Brussels Charleroi Airport is an hour bus ride from Brussels South Station. All means of going to Brussels go through these main hubs. You’ll easily find your way to this hostel.

The hostel’s location is perfect. There is a restaurant beside the hostel, a shopping center a few meters away & even more restaurants & food places 5-10 minutes from the hostel doors. Guests don’t need to take the metro or taxi to the important sights since most of them are walk-able from the hostel. Grand Place, Brussels’ most beautiful place, is 10 minutes away by foot.

Accommodation Options & Pricing

Sleep Well Youth Hostel has 3 types of rooms that cater to all kinds of travelers. Those who are in budget can stay in their dormitory rooms. These dormitory rooms have 3, 4 & 6 beds & are split between males & females. Rates per night are as follows: €26 for the 6-bed, €27,50 for the 4-bed & €31 for the 3-bed dormitory room. Those travelling in pairs can stay in the twin room at €36 per night. Solo travelers who want privacy can book the single room for €56 a night. These rooms have private shower & toilet but do not include towels & toiletries.

Sleep Well Hostel also offers upscale accommodation options for those who want to stay in a hotel-like room. Details about Sleep Well Star & Sleep Well Duplex accommodation options are found here.

I booked my stay directly with the hostel & stayed in a 3-bed male dormitory room. The room had single beds, a small work table, separate shower & toilet spaces & lockers (bring your own padlocks). The room had a big window but no air conditioning or fan – which I didn’t mind because it was cold during my visit. Each dormitory bed had sheets, a pillow & blanket, a reading light & 2 USB ports. I paid €122,00 for 4 nights with breakfast every morning. That’s 30,50 per night & around ₱1,800 in our currency. The hostel’s rate isn’t bad at all considering it already has breakfast buffet included. The nightly cost is standard in terms of European rates – at least it’s cheaper & of greater value than Generator Amsterdam’s.

Guest Amenities & Perks

Guests of Sleep Well Youth Hostel enjoy the following amenities & perks:

Free Wi-Fi – All guests have access to the hostel’s fast Wi-Fi connection. Access is given during check-in; the log in details are in the key card case.

Excellent Free Breakfast – Guests can have breakfast hostel’s dining area from 7:00 to 10:00 in the morning. This is where this hostel sets the bar from any other hostel I’ve stayed with in this trip. Their buffet breakfast includes bread (with butter & jam), pasta, egg, cheese, cold cuts, vegetable salad, fruit mixes, cereals, yogurt & a variety of drinks – coffee, tea, juice, milk & water. I loved Sleep Well’s extensive breakfast choice for a hostel. On top of that – it’s already in the nightly rate you paid, unlike most hostels in Europe where you pay extra for breakfast.

Private Toilets & Shower Areas – All rooms have private & separate toilet & shower areas. Guests don’t need to line up for whichever area they need to use as these can be done simultaneously. Showers have both cold & hot water.

On-site Bar – The hostel has an on-site bar at the back of reception. The bar has an extensive list of Belgian beers to try. There’s not much vibe in the bar. From memory, it’s only open until 12 midnight.

24-Hour Reception – The hostel’s reception is open 24 hours a day 7 days a week. Check in time is at 3:00 pm & check out is at 11:00 am.

Nice & Helpful Staff – Sleep Well Youth Hostel’s staff were nice & helpful. There was a big group checking in when I arrived & one of the staffs immediately helped in checking in. They also gave recommendations on where to go & what to do during my stay.

Indoor & Outdoor Communal Areas – Another thing I loved about this hostel is the presence of indoor & outdoor communal areas. Guests can sit down & chill in almost every corner of the hostel. There are relaxation places by the reception area, right outside the breakfast area & even by the lifts.

Guest Kitchen – Guests also have access to the hostel’s communal kitchen. Those who want to prepare their own food can do so in this area.

Vending Machines – There are vending machines near the reception area in case one wants some drink or snack while in the common area.

Free Computer Use – Guests are welcome to use the desktop computers by the common areas. They can use this to book their onward tickets & hostels or even plan their daily itineraries while in Brussels.

Luggage Room – The hostel also has a room dedicated for guests’ luggage after check out. Please ask reception on where this is found.

Games Area – Those who are travelling in groups can kill time & play in the games area. There are table football & ping-pong tables to play with.

Laundry Facilities – Laundry facilities are available for guests who want to wash their clothes during their stay. Please ask the reception on how to avail this service.

Bicycle Rental & Tour Desk – The hostel reception offers bicycle rental & several guided tours around Brussels. Details available with reception.

Meeting Rooms – The hostel has meeting rooms for rent for private functions & meetings. I didn’t see where these rooms are located but the staff can surely help you with this when you ask them.

Secured Hostel & Room Access – Guests are given key cards that only work on the main hostel door, your specific floor in the lifts & in your room doors. Reception activates these key cards upon check in & deactivates them after check out.

Lift Access – The hostel has 2 lifts mainly to reach the rooms on the top floors. It also helps those with big luggage.

Lock-Out Times – The hostel implements a lock-out time for all dormitory rooms. Guests cannot stay in their rooms from 11:00 am to 3:00 pm because it’s the staff’s designated cleaning time. Note that room key cards do not work during these times.

Experience

My 4-night stay with Sleep Well Youth Hostel was great. It’s not the most social & eventful hostel but at least it lived up to its name. Check-in was fast. The other guy from reception entertained me upon arrival & processed everything in a few minutes. The lifts worked well but can only fit 4-5 people max; or even 2 people with big luggage. The key cards didn’t work for a while when I arrived. We got locked out of our rooms. Glad the hostel manager came & fixed it after a few minutes.

As mentioned above, I stayed in a 3-bed dormitory room. The beds were alright – nothing fancy. The rooms were spacious & clean. The toilets & shower were well-maintained. Thank God they have hot shower! Too bad the lockers were small – it only fit my laptop. I guess the lockers were only for the guest’s valuables. I met some nice people in my room. They were from Ukraine, Pakistan, Canada & Spain. I found the hostel too quiet but at least I had these people to hang out with at night.

The hostel’s location was perfect. It is in a small & quiet street off the busy area. It was accessible to public transportation. There were few homeless people / beggars staying in the street near the hostel. They made me feel a bit unsafe specially when going back to the hostel at night. It’s long list of amenities were amazing – the common areas were cozy, modern & spacious. In my whole stay in Europe, this hostel had the most diverse crowd I’ve experienced – most of them were families on holidays. I still prefer Generator Amsterdam’s crowd.

The breakfast was excellent! It was free & had an ‘extensive’ selection for a hostel. This is what really stick to me about this hostel. It was great for the value I paid. This hostel was definitely cheaper & of better value than Generator Amsterdam. Will I go back to this hostel? Definitely! It was worth every euro I paid.

Here are the hostel’s contact details for your reference.

Sleep Well Youth Hostel
Address: Rue du Damier 23 1000 Brussels Belgium
Phone Number: +32 02 218 50 50
Fax Number: +32 02 218 13 13
E-mail Address: info@sleepwell.be
Website: www.sleepwell.be
Facebook: www.facebook.com/SleepWellYouthHostel
Instagram: www.instagram.com/sleepwellyouthhostel

Do you have any questions about Sleep Well Youth Hostel or Brussels in general? Feel free to post them in the comments below & I’ll answer them. Do you know a hostel which is worth a feature here in my site? Shoot your suggestions via e-mail to contact@thewkndtravel.com. Don’t forget to follow me & please please please also help me in promoting my social media channels – Facebook, Instagram or Twitter.

Thank you for joining me in today’s hostel of the day! See you in the next one.

PS. Photos were taken using my HTC U11.