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Czech This Out: Great Prague Picks for Fall and Winter

It was once the seat of the Holy Roman Empire until those conniving Hapsburgs move it too snootier Vienna. It's the only major European city that hasn't been obliterated in part or in whole even once by warfare, providing a stunning timeline of architectural styles spanning most of modern history. It's home to master puppeteers, cheap and spicy eats and even cheaper beer.

And although it spent a portion of this summer underwater, Prague has dried out, cleaned up and, except for portions of Kampa Island and the Old Jewish Quarter, has reopened for business. Now is the time to take advantage of some of the following packages to Bohemian capital.

New Jersey-based Paul Laifer Tours (www.laifertours.com, 800/346-6314) is offering an eight-day (six night) air/hotel package from as little $629 per person based on double occupancy. That puts you in the 210-room an Ibis Hotel in city center just south of Old Town. Daily departures are out of New York's JFK airport from November 1-December 10 and then again January 2-March 31. The price includes breakfast daily and a half-day escorted tour, but Prague is so manageable on foot, that after you spend a little time getting lost and reoriented yourself, you feel like a master navigator its streets and alleyways. Single supplements start from $150. Upgrades, extensions and additional cities (such as Vienna and Budapest) can be added on.

Go-Today (www.gotoday.com, 425/487-9632) has a similar eight-day (six-night) package for an even lower base rate of $549 per person based on double occupancy in the Vysehrad Hotel, a little further out from the city center just off Wenceslas Square. Daily departures are from either New York City, Boston, Newark or Philadelphia from November 1, 2002, through February 28, 2003, with Dec. 15 through Jan. 1 blacked out. Additional departure cities are available for extra fees. Extra fees (taxes and shipping) start from $95 per person.

An even cheaper air/hotel combo comes from Summit International Tours (www.summittours.com, 800/527-8664) with its seven-day (six-night) deal from only $529 per person. The single supplement starts at a much lower $45 as well for a stay in the Hotel Olympik, located east of the Old Town on a metro line. The price tag includes airfare, hotel, a half-day escorted tour and daily breakfast with departures out of NYC and Newark. Expect up to an extra $105 in fees and taxes.

To read up on the wonders of Prague, simply visit our free online destinations section, taken directly from our best-selling travel guides by clicking here.

Have you been to Prague and the Czech Republic or traveled there with these tour operators? Tell us about it in your trip report in our Czech Republic Message Boards.


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