Having heard so much about the city of Prague, I've always associated the Czech Rep with stag nights and hen weekends. So when my boyfriend booked a surprise trip, I really wasn't sure if it was going to provide us with the romance we were looking for.
To save some money, he'd booked non-direct flights, which I do not recommend. To our dismay, each flight was delayed. That's KLM for you).
Prague itself is like no other city I've been too. Full of churches and Gothic buildings, you could be forgiven for thinking you're in Gotham City. I was expecting hoards of bats to ascend on the city when it got dark. Always feeling the cold, the winter was really not a good time to go. Wrapped up warm in my two jumpers, trousers and tights, gloves, hat and a scarf wrapped around my head like a balaclava, i still felt cold. The air is so icy that I could only manage an hour maximum in the outdoors before diving into one of the many coffee shops, just to thaw out. The ground was constantly like an outdoor skate-park. Heels are not recommended unless you allow hours to tip toe to your destination.
The metro is incredible easy to use. the trains are wider than the London tubes and a weekend pass is a lot cheaper. This makes staying in a cheaper hotel away from the centre ideal, as you can travel in. We were 20 minutes from the Old City: my favourite part of the city. Full of boutique shops and back alleys, it's a great place to browse and bimble away at least half a day. Once you've had enough of walking, step into the main square for some local delights. A great place to buy Christmas presents that are cheap and unique. Sellers aren't pushy and unless you approach them, you won't walk away with anything you don't want.
Having never learnt the lingo, I was worried I might not be able to communicate and may end up with food that I hadn't ordered. I needn't have worried as Prague is such a cosmopolitan city that the people speak really good English. Overall, I had a great time and definitely recommend it for the romantic getaway.
