Corinthia Hotel Prague

Corinthia was the newest hotel built for senior party comerades, managers and STB spies, just before the fall of the communist regime. (ca 1986-88.) Much is still dark wood panels, glass and big sofas. Once this was a center for Communist party high life - pretty Czech girls, Beluga caviar, goose liver, streams of vodka and Krim Champagne. We did not see much of this 30 years later. Today it would be to expensive with 200 g Beluga Malasol. There is a spa at 23th floor with a view. It has been renovated to more modern, comfort, without destroying the old style and feeling. The lobby area is cool and nostalgic, good remembrance. Breakfast is rich, but a bit disorganised, so it takes time to find what you need. The parking spaces are built to accomodate big cars as Tatra 613 and GAZ 14, I remember when it once was full of black limousines. LIfts were now working perfect, not as in old communist times were they used to break down. Nearby one can find genuine Czech resturants, with good food and beer to reasonable prices $10 pp for a roast duck meal with 1/2 liter beer and desert. Nice view over Praha from 20th floor as the hotel is situated on a hill. Location is good, easy to find as the hotel is located at the Prag conference center. 3 km from the old town and Moldau river promenade. The Light rail (subway) is located 100 m from the hotel. It is very easy to get into the old city in 10 minutes Staff was very friendly and helpful, quite different attitude from old communist times. We got free international newspapers as FT and Die Welt all days. Fast Internet, much better than in Germany. They pretend to have removed all the Kyocera fibre optics spy cameras in rooms for foreigners, as they told us. Hope it is true.

The breakfast buffet is frequented by bus loads of tourists from Communist China. They eat as they expected that this was the last meal in their life - before they would be shot. All plates are need replenishment all time. A hard task for the kitchen to keep up. The breakfast room was rather noisy, difficult to hear. Even executive rooms were rather small, compared with other five star hotels. Parking was rather expensive. €25 day.