We have booked into the Castle View Apartments in Cesky Krumlov for four days (thank you to Chefathome for the advice) and looking forward to this part of our trip after reading all the wonderful reviews. We have two days to get back to Prague (which we will have already seen before our visit to CK) and looking for some advice about good places to stay and visit along the way during this two day trip.
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Be sure to visit %26quot;Hluboka Castle%26quot; about thirty minutes north of Ceske Budejovice. The outside looks like Windsor Castle in England; the interior woood carvings are spectacular. The website photos at http://www.zamky-hrady.cz/1/hluboka-e.htm do not do justice to the rooms. Note that at http://guide.travel.cz/479 the Castle is closed on Mondays, unless Monday is a state holiday.
If you want to taste the original %26quot;Budweiser%26quot; which is called %26quot;Budvar%26quot; here, visit the brewery on the northern rim of Ceske Budejovice (on the main routes between Prague and Cesky Krumlov). To get on a tour, the easiest way is to go to one of the main hotels off the Main Square in Ceske Budejovice and join one of their groups going to the brewery.
If you will be in the area between June and October, my %26quot;must see%26quot; is the %26quot;Chapel of the Holy Cross%26quot; (need advance reservations since groups are limited) in Karlstejn Castle just west of Prague. As one who has made trips to Europe for 35 years, this chapel is the most beautiful %26quot;medieval%26quot; room in Europe and certainly worth the half day to visit the Castle. See http://www.hradkarlstejn.cz/en/ for details. The basic tour of the Castle does NOT include the above Chapel and is less impressive. The Castle parking lot is at the base of the hill; most tourists walk up the hill rather than paying to ride to the Castle in one of the horse drawn carriages.
I assume you know that many super highways in the Czech Republic require that you purchase a special decal to use them; police love to catch tourists without the decal and fine them heavily on the spot. See details at http://www.uamk.cz/e-znamky-cr.htm or similar websites.
If you like unusual cathedral architectue (or a small church decorated with thousands of human bones), Kutna Hora east of Prague is an interesting half day trip.
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Thank you timkeane1 for your suggestions. I didnt know about the decals for the Czech highways. Does this apply to all the road or is it like a toll that we have in Australia and used on toll roads. Can we travel around without going on these roads?
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The last web link that I mentioned shows a map with the roads marked where the decal is needed this year. Since the fines are so high relative to the cost of the decal (price varies with length of validity), if there is any uncertainty about which roads you will use, it would be cost effective to get the decal.
Depending on your itinerary, it is usualy possible to travel on other roads to reach your destination. However some of these roads might take you much longer for your journey. Unless you are familiar with the Czech language, be aware that many tourists get on these %26quot;decal roads%26quot; before they realize it.
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And you also have top keep your lights on at all times and you must not break the speed limit. Otherwise, as above, the fines are disproportionatley heavy. The %26#39;decals%26#39; are generally only applicable on the main highways, and going to Cesky Krumlov this will apply on either the D1 highway or the R4 highway, so you should get one - they are on sale in most gas stations and they don%26#39;t cost much (220 Crowns for a weekly one) http://www.ceskedalnice.cz/znamky.htm - just remember to buy it at the beginning of your journey. Oh - and when you get the decal, you must write the registration number of the vehicle on the back and also on the tear-off tab, otherwise they will fine you as well. It explains it in English on the back. You could go on a route through the villages, but if you do that, get yourself a good map.
Outside towns driving is an absolute breeze, but once you get into a town, if you make the slightest error they are very keen at handing out on-the-spot fines. Not coming to a full stop at %26#39;stop%26#39; signs is a favourite.
Try not to drive in Prague if you can help it - you will soon find out why :)
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