Aura Palace, Karlovy Vary

Advantages: Attractive setting,spectacular hot springs.
Disadvantages: Expensive.

...Karlovy vary is about an hour from Prague by bus. Bus transport is cheap in the Czech republic so a day trip is posssible if somewhat exhausting. The things you must see are the hot springs that spurt up to 100 feet in the air, the old hotel pup that serves a very civilised afternoon tea. and the communist era hotel in the newer part of the town centre.This builing is awfull in its appearance externally, but so amazingly retro internally that you can visualise Spock appearing in the bar having transported from The Enterprise. Prices for accomodation in Karlovy Vary are comparable and can be higher than Prague.The hotels above the centre are set in attractive grounds but their customer service doesnt seem to be on a par.We were questioned rudely by a hotel manager after a jaccuzi bath overflowed.The expectation seeming to be that we... Read review

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Advantages: Powerful, great spec for price
Disadvantages: Easily scratched

...Samsung may be better known for its mobile phones but it's had a wide range of notebooks for the best part of 5 years now and with the latest design refresh, the company has opted for a high-gloss finish that looks impressive and certainly feels cool to the touch. The design is called the "Aura" design and the R70 follows in this trend but as with other machines we found the lacquered lid can easily be scratched. So, if you're thinking of opting for this machine, you're best to invest in a slipcase to carry it around in, along with your backpack. That's the bad news out of the way, as the R70 delivers on almost every other front. Weighing in at 2.7kg, this is a machine you may well want to carry around with you at least on semi-regular occasions. We managed to get a little over three hours on average from the battery, which is... Read review

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Advantages: Easy to get to, cheap, and fabulous scenery, plus the spring water is good for you!
Disadvantages: The newer parts of town are not very welcoming

...Although you may not have heard of Karlovy Vary, it really is one of the most picturesque destinations in the Czech Republic. Prague grabs the headlines, along with the bulk of the tourists, and the only people who seem to have heard of this spa town are the Germans, who know it as Karlsbad. This is because it was founded by the Holy Roman Emperor Charles (Karl) IV in 1358, but the many Teutonic tourists are also drawn to this town to take the waters, and see the places that Goethe, Schiller, Beethoven and others frequented. Karlovy Vary is just 50km from the German border, and is very easy to reach – cross over at Cheb/Eger and just follow the signs! As you cross the border, be prepared for a bit of a wait, as this is just a dual carriageway and there is normally a long queue of lorries waiting to cross over, which can lead to... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful