Hotel Seneca - Cesky Krumlov, Czech Republic     

This is a neo-Renaissance hotel very stylish modern and tastefully designed. It is one block beind the main square; making it very convenient (though the Old Town of Cesky Krumlov very small and you can walk from one end to another in 15 minutes). Breakfast is Continental - deli meats and cheeses, cereal, rolls, yogurt, fruit, coffee, tea and juices. This si a sister hotel of The Leonardo about 50 meters down then block. ** NOTE: While I was there the hotel Sences reception was NEVER open - so to check in/out, you had to go to The Leonardo, which isnt' so bad unless like me you are a single traveller (so couldn't leave my suitacse at the door whiel I ran to get the keys) and dragging your luggage over the thick cobbletsone steps is a drag). Also, the Leonardo is closed from 12-1PM, so if you arrive then, well you are getting yourself lunch while you wait fro it to open. The Leonardo has free internet, while Seneca does not. Upon check-in, they jusst told me of breakfast and how the keys worked: not about the interent in the other hotel nor that the Sencea has a spa! The Positives: wonderful styled modern room; mini-bar with reason prices; flat screen TV (though NO english stations, so that it a negative as well); amazing location; charming. The Negatives: the step-child to the Leonardo, relying on the Leonardo for everything, as above. Overall the room was wonderful and in a great location. There was no "service" really since no one was ever at the hotel. Even at breakfast, you rarely saw peoepl re-fresh the food service. I spent most of my time wandering through the gorgeous town, so didn't spend a lot of time at the hotel. A great value. Thw town of Cesky Krumlow is charming; if a bit entirely tourist run....

We spent two nights in Cesky Krumlov as part of a longer multi-stop trip between Salzburg and Dresden. Hotel Seneca was booked via the excellent website of Prague-based Athos Travel ([----]), who also arranged the transfers by taxi between Ceske Budejovice and Ceke Krumlov (we were traveling by train). The latter proved to be the only hiccup of the stay: we were told to wait on the platform to await the pickup, whilst the driver waited at the station entrance. On the return journey, the taxi didn't turn up at the requested time (possibly related to language difficulties, which I should have double-checked). However, in both cases, a call to the Athos office sorted the problem and, on the return, some skilled driving by a different driver got us to the Prague train with a couple of minutes to spare - against the odds and my expectations. In booking the hotel, I had originally requested the Hotel Leonardo. This proved to be full and we were offered the alternative of the Seneca at the same price, by a very efficient return e-mail. All subsequent correspondence was similarly dealt with efficiently. It turned out that the Seneca operated essentially as an annexe to the Leonardo, just up the road. The key to the front door and our room was left for us at the Leonardo, and it turned out that we had the place to ourselves that first night.. Breakfast was served at the Leonardo - no inconvenience at all. Everything was as stated on the tin: descriptions on the web-site were an accurate representation, with the hotel being very thoughtfully and tastefully refurbished and clean, and located right in the heart of the old town (but not on one of the busiest streets). Our room was spacious, the only minor quibbles being that the double bed consisted of two imposing singles pushed together, and the room looked out onto an small enclosed courtyard between the closely packed buildings. The latter was not a disadvantage for us, since this also meant that the room was quiet. The bathroom was spacious and excellently refurbished with tiles. The contact that we did have with staff was entirely friendly and helpful. Food in Cesky Krumlov is no problem at all - there is a wealth of eating places within a five minute stroll. Being there for only two nights didn't allow of an extensive sampling of these, but we were well satisfied with what we did sample in terms of cost, quality and quantity. The town was not particularly crowded whilst we were there - so it was possible to have a restaurant to ourselves. We would thoroughly recommend the Seneca for a stay in Krumlov.