Golden Tulip Hotel Diplomat - Prague, Czech Republic     

It is in a residential area, but it is only 100 metres walk to the metro which is very easy to use. You can buy tickets at hotel reception and they were very helpful in informing me how to use it. The metro stations for Wenceslas Square and the old part of Prague are only 2-3 direct stops away and you can be there within 10 minutes of leaving the hotel. And generally the staff are very helpful. OK that is the good bit.....The hotel is very shabby and not what I would expect from a 4 star hotel. I only stayed two nights there but would not have wanted to spend any longer. Firstly the hotel seemed to want to squeeze every last penny from you. I had SIX items put on my mini bar bill which I had not used (lady on reception did not seem surprised and took it immediately off my bill). Service charge for room service is a whopping 5 English pounds / 6.5 Euros per order !!!! My Wiener Schnitzel was ?18 (plus service charge....) which I also found on the high side (although it was very good,) Currency exchange commission is 10%. Secondly my room was quite shabby, dirty carpet, tea/coffee stains on the wall (though how they got a cup of tea of coffee I do not know, as there are no tea making facilities and it would have been too expensive to order room service....), the room was just generally grubby and old. Also a complete dearth of power points, there was one only, which was so low down that my Blackberry charger with the adaptor could not fit on it. Shaver electric point did not seem to work. Mini bar was not working. The public areas also were just generally shabby, the bar was pretty dirty, scratched tables, just completely non atmospheric and in need of an overhaul. How it could be classed as 4 star is beyond me.

The Hotel is supposed to be 4 star but I don't think so. The main problem is the cleaning of the room, in fact the non-cleaning of the room. The "zimmermaedchen" only changes the towels (not sure about that either) and empties the garbage. Floor carpet was never cleaned (we stayed for 4 days!), dust is everywhere present (all furniture, closet, TV, bedside tables, etc) , sheets had hairy stuff probably from the previous guests. Other problems: - you have to pay for luggage keeping!!! and no receipt is given even on request - if you ask for a taxi they arrange the trip with the hotel cars with incredible high tarrifs, they then try to bargain and then they are rude and ironic - breakfast table clothes are not changed, the remainings of other guests are simply wiped to the floor - in the brekfast plates (especially with the croissant like stuff) you will see remainings of other guests, even bitten pieces if you go after 9:00 - non-english speaking in breakfast area but also some night shift receptionists Some good things are the metro being close, the concierge office very polite and helpful, the breakfast (buffet) had a good variety, the room size is OK, the elevators come often (although they are 400 rooms). All in all, if you want to pay for "that" and have plans to leave in the morning and return late for a quick shower and spleep, then it's OK. About Prague, it's a wonder! Loved it! Take the AAA Taxi if neccessary, excelent service.