Prague as a whole has a reputation as a tourist destination devoted to cheap booze and drunken stag parties but that was not the Prague I experienced on my recent visit. My hosts, Prague Saints treated me to personal guided tours of cultural and historical Prague by day and Gay Prague by night.
Saints Bar with its friendly, multi-lingual staff is located in the heart of Prague’s emerging gay quarter – Vinohrady; a trendy residential area ten minutes from Wenceslas Square, populated by ex-pats and more affluent Czechs.
My Best of Prague Tour incorporated historical Prague from as far back as the 9th century including magnificent Prague Castle which lords over the city affording the unique view of all the City’s 100 spires. Quaint Golden Lane; tiny brightly coloured cottages including Franz Kafka’s is within the Castle walls. My qualified guide (cute gay Czech) Marek escorted me across the grand Charles Bridge with its 30 sculptures, mostly of Saints and told me the city’s legends and gave me historical details on request.
We saw the astronomical clock in the Old Town Square then discovered we share a passion for chocolate so we went to Art Nouveaux Café Louvre in Wenceslas Square for the most delectable hot chocolate ever! Nothing like the drinking chocolate we’re used to, more like a hot chocolate mouse, in a variety of flavours! Café Louvre, established in 1902 was once the hub of the Czech women’s emancipation movement and is popular for pre-opera dinner.
The Saints tailored their gay Prague by Night tour especially for me; we started with dinner at new vegetarian restaurant Lehka Hlava (Clear Head); a delightfully decorated 15th century house with a philosophy and menu to clear your head and sate your appetite. We continued to Friends bar followed by Jampa Dampa club, a popular lesbian haunt. There’s plenty of other bars and clubs in Vinohrady, and virtually all welcome women but after a hard day’s sightseeing the comfort of Saint’s cosy lounge bar was more appealing.
Prague Saints is British gay owned (Paul was once a diplomat in the British Embassy) and can book you into 3, 4 or 5 star hotels in Prague as well as their self-catering apartments and a choice of honeymoon options – they also cater for hen party groups. They host, and will tailor make, a range of affordable private professionally guided tours, including vintage car tours or a sunset ride in a hot-air balloon. They can also arrange a treatment package at nearby Karlovy-Vary Spa, ideal for pre or post civil partnership celebrations. They’ll even pick you up from the airport … in a limousine if you like!
With so many low cost flight options; taking approx two hours from all over the UK, I can’t fault this short break destination, whatever your budget.
Pictures courtesy of Prague Saints - visit their website at www.praguesaints.cz
