The Grandhotel Pupp. I would describe it as the fortress and centerpiece of Karlovy Vary (KV). In reading travel books, this hotel seemed to be “the place” for an overnight stay. Every year Karlovy Vary holds an International Film Festival in July. It is one of the oldest in the world with its first competition in 1948. We planned our trip right around the time of the film. The hotel was actually booked the 5 nights prior to our stay. When we arrived, the film festival had just ended, and it left the city very calm and quiet. I booked our stay online without any difficulty. There are many choices of different types of rooms. I chose the Superior Plus Room because it was the most “esthetically” pleasing to me in the photos. Our total for the evening was under $250 and included cancellation up until 24 hours prior in addition to free breakfast.
To put it simply, I really loved this place. It is charming and classic. I don’t think we would have fully experienced KV without our stay at Grandhotel Pupp. Most of the individuals at the hotel speak English, which was a relief. At check in, we were informed that breakfast was included in addition to access to the spa facilities. They have a steam room and sauna that open at 1pm every day. In addition, they have an incredible indoor pool that I will share photos of.
I found our room to be rather “grand” and large in size. Our front windows/doors opened up with breathtaking views. The ceilings were tall adding to the regal feel with a beautiful chandelier. The bathroom was modern and updated with products from Manufaktura, a Czech company that sells organic bath and skin care products.
We spent a fair amount of time in the hotel. The city does “shut down” relatively early. After we finished dinner, we walked around inside the hotel exploring the casino, dining areas, etc. The bar just adjacent to the lobby did stay open relatively late compared with the rest of the town. We enjoyed a glass of champagne and some Becherovka here taking in the amazing atmosphere. This is the same area that they serve breakfast in the morning. It is a two story grand room with comfortable and spacious seating. The breakfast spread is quite extensive. They have everything from fruit, pancakes, breads, hot items, and the list goes on. In addition, they do have their own brand of sparkling wine available for you to serve yourself. I loved this!
I cannot leave out a discussion on the spa. We did not purchase any of the spa services. For those staying at the hotel, the amenities include access to the pool, locker rooms, steam room, and sauna. The steam room and sauna, as I mentioned previously, open at 1pm every day. For that reason, we were not able to actually see them. We almost skipped looking at the pool because we figured it would be nothing out of the ordinary. That would have been a mistake! This pool is gorgeous. It has four different “rooms” on the outside with everything from a flower bath to a whirlpool. The different enclosed areas have varying temperatures and functions. The pool itself has lights and water features that turn on. I wish we had more time to enjoy the pool. We went in the morning prior to checking out of the hotel. During that time, we had the place entirely to ourselves, which I thought was just fantastic.
Overall, this hotel was one of the highlights of the trip for me. I would go back in a heartbeat. This city is truly a hidden gem, and I am so glad we had the opportunity to visit.
