Occidental Praha Five

We chose this modern Prague hotel because we were going to a concert at the nearby "Meet Factory," and the location worked perfectly. It's outside the center, but getting downtown by tram or metro is quick, with bars, restaurants, and food courts close by. The lobby feels contemporary and welcoming, with a bar, snacks for sale, and a TV showing sports. Our room was clean, with a modern bathroom and bathtub, a safe, and a large TV. The view was nothing special, though that didn't matter to me. I wasn't keen on the spring-like mattress or the pillows, but I still slept well, so it wasn't a major problem. We didn't try breakfast or use the spa or fitness area. Everything else went smoothly, and the hotel felt well maintained. I'd give it four out of five, mainly because of the bed.

The dining team made breakfast delicious and nicely presented, with attentive, efficient service. Robert clearly takes pride in the hospitality and quality there. Dasha at reception was also lovely, handling requests efficiently and making check-in and check-out easy with her warmth and professionalism. The whole place feels welcoming, and you can see Adela's professional, thoughtful leadership in how smoothly it runs. The hotel itself is modern, comfortable, and well located. Thanks to Adela, Dasha, Robert, and everyone else, I had a memorable stay and would happily return to Prague.

I was told the hotel has no smoking area, and that smoking would mean paying an extra €175 or going out onto the street. The receptionist was rude and unprofessional, and the way this was put to me felt disrespectful. There was also a payment issue: my reservation said “pay at the hotel,” yet €127 was taken from my account a day before the trip without warning. When I asked about it, I was told it might be a fake booking intended to obtain a visa. That explanation surprised me, since I live in Greece, within the EU, and the implication felt wrong. For a four-star place, the communication and service were far below what I expected. Smokers, or anyone expecting courteous, professional treatment, may want to look elsewhere.

We had to cancel and find somewhere else, losing a day of our holiday because of the check-in conversation. I had asked whether there was a smoking area, and Shuna, I think, told me it was a non-smoking hotel. I said Booking.com's description hadn't made that clear. She pointed to the mention of non-smoking rooms, but I explained that isn't the same as a non-smoking hotel. She then said I was disrespectful to other guests because of smoking. I wasn't planning to smoke in the room or common areas. I just expected a four-star hotel to have a proper designated place. Instead, she pointed to the street outside and said that was the smoking area. I said it was just a public street, with nowhere to sit or anything else, and not somewhere to enjoy a cigarette and maybe a drink. She said I didn't understand how things work in this country. I live in the EU and know the smoking laws. I wasn't trying to break any rules, just hoping for a comfortable honeymoon in Prague. She called me disrespectful again, and I told her not to take my smoking personally or speak so condescendingly. Her attitude was awful and completely unprofessional. I've travelled widely and never been spoken to like that. I expected better from a four-star hotel. I never saw the room, though the reception area looked a little run-down. We found an amazing, recently renovated place in the old town with very polite hosts, and it was even cheaper. This hotel also isn't particularly close to anything, so you'd need public transport or Uber. In the end, the issue was as much the way I was treated as the lack of a proper smoking space. I expect respect as a hotel guest. My advice is to stay away.