ALCHYMIST GRAND HOTEL AND SPA
I checked in at the Alchymist Grand Hotel and Spa. This 47-room luxury boutique property is beautifully designed in Renaissance and Baroque style. The Italian owner has given the interiors a Mediterranean feel � except for the Asian Spa downstairs, which features Indonesian d�cor, a sushi bar and seven Balinese masseuses. Besides a variety of massages, a pool and workout room are available at no extra charge. The rest of the hotel is staffed by locals. I found the service similar to shops and restaurants I visited all around Praha. The Czechs seem a bit cold or distant at first, but they warm up if you smile and don't behave like an obnoxious tourist. I loved my room at the Alchymist. It included free high-speed internet, a flat screen TV, DVD player, air conditioning, and a plush marble bathroom with a tub, firm shower, bidet and fluffy towels. Breakfast was very good, and was included in the daily rate which begins at 180 euros ($230) a night. Alchymist Grand Hotel and Spa, Tr�i�te 19, 11800 Praha 1; tel.: 420-257-286-011.

AMERICAN EMBASSY
The hotel was conveniently located across the street from the American Embassy. On the other hand, all cars driving past get searched for bombs, so I'm not sure how convenient it actually is -- unless there's been an international incident, or you have a passport problem. I needed more pages added to mine, so one rainy morning I decided to take advantage of the proximity. After going through airport-like security and leaving behind all electronic devices at the front desk, I found the line for U.S. citizens (it was much shorter than the other line). The "more pages for passport" form took only two minutes to complete. I discovered that adding pages to a passport at an embassy is much easier, quicker and cheaper than mailing it in. The entire process took only 25 minutes, and I did not have to part with my passport for the normal two weeks. The U.S. Embassy, Trziste 15, Praha 1 (tel.: 257-530-663), is open Monday to Friday, 8 to 11:30 a.m. and 2:30 to 4 p.m. Helpful link: U.S. Department of State: How to Add Extra Pages to Your U.S. Passport.

ALTERNATIVE HOTEL
I was traveling with two childhood friends, Matt and Mike. Mike and I have traveled a bunch of times to Europe together, but this would be the most special trip of all because at our final destination -- to be revealed in a later newsletter -- he's getting married. That's going out in style! The only problem traveling with three adults is that most European hotel rooms are small, and/or have laws requiring no more than two adults per room. So squeezing Matt in was not an option. He was fine with that, because he had decided to come with us at the last minute, and actually prefers not staying in swanky hotels. If you're looking for a 3-star hotel for under $100 a night, Matt recommends Hotel Koruna. He wrote a brief description of his experience, which can be found here. For more click HERE.