Buddha-Bar Hotel Prague — Hotel in Prague

Far from five star, and not worth the price. A mildly disappointing visit descended rapidly into a disastrous fiasco led by appalling service and insulting indifference by hotel management. There are plenty of other excellent hotels in Prague and I strongly warn anyone thinking of staying at the Buddha Bar Hotel to reconsider!

Pros Excellent central Old Town location Spacious and nicely designed rooms with a comfortable bed and well-appointed bathroom Decent breakfast buffet if included with room rate (though not worth an additional cost) Efficient check-in

Cons Insulting mishandling by management of a critical hotel issue (more on this below) Housekeeping was lacking, with soap dispensers left empty, coffee machine left uncleaned from the previous guest, items swept under the bed Poor maintenance of fittings: lamp and bathroom television were not working L'Occitane toiletries are decidedly mid-range and the Provençal brand is disconnected from the oriental theme of the hotel No on-site fitness facilities Insensitive use of severed Buddha heads as ornaments (though decor like this is to be expected from a hotel with a name such as this, bodyless Buddha head statues are usually seen as highly disrespectful by those who practice Buddhism)

We were notified near 7pm by the front desk that the hotel's boiler was broken and could not be fixed until the next day at the earliest, meaning there would be no hot water for the night. While such mechanical failures perhaps cannot be helped, the hotel management's handling of the issue was rude, unapologetic and insulting. The options presented were (i) a 30% discount to one night's room rate or (ii) a rebooking into an alternate hotel, which would mean a downgrade to a 4* property with a substantially lower nightly rate, with no other compensation offered and no refund for the difference in room rate.

I have encountered hotel problems not dissimilar to this in the past, and the bare minimum that I would expect from any hotel's management (let alone from a purportedly 5* luxury property) would be one of (i) 100% discount to one night's room rate or a proportional discount to the overall stay, and hot water transported to rooms or introduction to nearby facilities, (ii) arranged alternate hotel with either a higher room rate or a refund of the difference, with additional compensation and arranged transportation, or (iii) assistance with rebooking into a hotel of choice, with a full refund of unused nights, additional compensation and arranged transportation.

For a hotel of this price bracket to even suggest a downgrade to a worse room in a cheaper hotel with no compensation for the inconvenience, no assistance with transport, and no refund of the difference in room rate, is frankly unacceptable. When pressed, hotel management claimed that the downgrade was due to there being no availability in hotels in the area, which was patently false as I managed to arrange alternate 5* accommodation nearby through my credit card concierge (of course, no help offered or provided by Buddha Bar staff with this).

The general manager seemed to think just a refund for the unused nights was enough compensation for uprooting us late into the evening (rather than the legally required minimum). Front desk staff did not even offer to call a taxi, let alone arrange complimentary transport as would be expected in such a situation.

I have never experienced such appalling service nor such galling indifference from a "luxury" hotel. What would have otherwise been a style-over-substance overpriced stay is now cemented as one of my worst hotel experiences in all my years of travel across...

I'm conflicted and would struggle to call this 5, good 4 yes but of course this was not reflected in the price. The reception is not 5* but room was beautiful and comfortable. Slippers, bathrobe, toiletries were nice. Bath was stunning, unfortunately I was sick for 3 of the 5 night stay so spent the majority of time in the room in bed and did not use the bath, which was a shame as it was very inviting.||Housekeeping wasn't great, we stayed 5 nights and we had completely run out of toilet roll, we had to ask for more when completely run out (which is embarrassing) and even then it took until the next day/late afternoon (in the mean time we had to pinch one from a trolley that we found) on one of the days, at approx. 3-4pm housekeeping came in, I was having an afternoon nap (being unwell and taking sleepy medication), normally you would expect a return visit an hour or two later but never returned. Another day, they took some of the used towels, but did not replace them. ||On arrival the receptionist was lovely, gave us a welcome drink and let us into the room early (as we had travelled through the night, arrived at approx. 11am and was exhausted) the porter rushed to get the bags from the taxi, showed us around the room, etc. so that was nice but on exit, no attention, take the bags yourself attitude which was surprising given the attentiveness on arrival. ||Room has ceiling speakers from the TV, push button curtains, generally high end within the actual room.||What did bother me was when I went to book a couple of their trips from leaflets that they gave us at the reception on arrival and was told that I would have to pay an additional 10% - what a cheek, never have I experienced this. I refused and asked them to help me book and I would pay the venue directly. Certainly not the behaviour of a 5* hotel.||Breakfast was hit and miss, every day we ordered food, myself from the paid additions and only once did they get it right - on the first breakfast, it was so simple, no chilli oil but they just kept getting it wrong - either you get a completely plain dragon eggs or chilli oil or plain butter rather than garlic and brown butter. Meat in the scrambled eggs even though we requested no meat, etc. no apologies or words for that matter, just whipped it away, bring back another version, which again was wrong but we couldn't be bothered to say anything at this point. Ask for sweetener, but every day, you have to ask several times. The only nice breakfast staff member was a gentleman on one of the days. ||It was supposed to be a special trip for our 25th anniversary, when booking with British Airways, they requested a free upgrade if possible, I also again emailed the hotel directly, with the same request, now I am not saying that they have any obligation to do this but a reply would have been nice, i.e. sorry we are fully booked but we can provide xyz to the room (to make it special) for an additional cost. NO they completely ignore the email altogether which is simply rude.||For the cost and issues mentioned above, I would have to really think twice before returning, which is a real shame given the room was lovely and location was great.||Buddha-Bar, just to say, the little things make all of...

Shortly after check in we met Robbie who not just take luggage’s, tell you all about your room 37 or suite 22 so you can make most of your stay and fill your jacuzzi correctly while okaying music during bath time, he make all the reservations happen despite taking ages to listen to all special requests and wishes and making multiple bookings they make me feel like queen that I am the only customer that matter in the whole world even when super busy. the Eqypt prince and king of Guest relations during any of your Prague stay. He knows everything, everyone and what’s happening where!!! Most incredible human - if he is a human - (who is here incredible many years and its shocking and should be reviewed by all directors and both owners why his badge does not say IN-HOUSE GUEST SATISFACTION MANAGER) - I have never ever met someone so attentive, superb and with smile the second we walk thru the door. He remembers customers and conversations with them and go above and beyond!!! If I need next GM for my hotels I have in London I would love to steal him or to find someone so rare and incredible like it. One of the best stays we ever had. We had a lovely stay! Our room was comfy, clean and we had service every day. The receptionist team was very friendly and professional especially Ondra and night lovely lady with glasses. The breakfast and service was nice and fast with super delicious options. I would highly recommend this hotel but only if the team stop changing so much as the ones there are truhly incredible and credit to company. Thank you for everything! We can’t wait to be back!!! You make just “another hotel in the world” to be extremely special. I am absolutely lost for words how incredible this place is But it use to be the one you can’t get into… its only the team who makes it still “alive “ hope that you guys are treated with diamonds like royalty or most of us would never come back. Its more beds in Prague more comfy than incredible staff… all the best and...