Hotel Review: Augustine, a Luxury Collection Hotel, Prague

Overview of the Augustine, a Luxury Collection Hotel, Prague

The Augustine Prague features seven historic buildings that were built in 1284. It was once a brewery and monastery, and it now contains many architectural features from the period. The vaulted stone ceilings combine with modern and stylish décor for an otherworldly feeling.

Despite the labyrinthine layout of the property, it retains an air of serenity and elegance. Visitors can lose themselves in the array of modern art pieces peppered throughout the grounds.

There are 101 guest rooms in the hotel, which are spaced out in seven attached buildings.

It’s a large, sprawling hotel, but there’s a boutique vibe here due to the separate buildings. It is rare to run into other guests outside of the lobby and breakfast.

The hotel caters more toward couples and singles, though families are definitely welcome. All guests are welcomed with open arms and first-class service.

How I Booked the Augustine, a Luxury Collection Hotel, Prague

I booked three nights in a Classic Guest Room with 1 King using three certificates from various Marriott cards that I hold: two 50K certificates and one 85K certificate. I had to pay an additional 12,000 Marriott Bonvoy points to cover the additional cost of over 50,000 points for the two nights I used those certificates.

We specifically chose to book the Augustine because we wanted to find the highest value redemption we could that worked with our travel plans. I also applied three Suite Night Upgrade awards to my reservation and was upgraded to a Classic One-Bedroom Suite with a queen bed.

Marriott points can be earned with the following credit cards and many of the cards offer certificates valid for a complimentary night costing anywhere from 35,000 points to 85,000 points:

• Marriott Bonvoy American Express Card
• Marriott Bonvoy Bevy™ American Express® Card
• Marriott Bonvoy Bold® Credit Card
• Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card
• Marriott Bonvoy Bountiful™ Credit Card
• Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card
• Marriott Bonvoy Business® American Express® Card

Marriott allows you to increase the value of your certificate with up to 15,000 additional Marriott Bonvoy points from your account, so you may not always be able to book the Augustine with a 35K certificate plus a top-up, but you should typically be able to book the hotel with 50K certificates plus a top-up, or with an 85K certificate.

Augustine, Prague Location

The Augustine Prague Hotel is located in the small, historic district of Lama Strana, near the Prague Castle and Charles Bridge. You’ll find it on a cobblestone street, and there’s a tram that goes directly in front of the hotel.

The Augustine is in a pretty touristy area. It’s possible to visit many of Prague’s sights on foot, though you can also easily hop on a tram that stops less than a five-minute walk away. Uber is also available in Prague.

Best Parts of the Augustine, a Luxury Collection Hotel, Prague

I really enjoyed the Augustine Hotel. Here are a few of my favorite parts:

• Delicious Breakfast—As a Marriott Titanium elite, I had breakfast included as part of my status. The breakfast offered great variety, including delicious mimosas.
• Great Customer Service—You expect to be treated like royalty at a hotel, and that’s exactly what I got. When I first arrived, I knew I was in for a treat, and the staff was accommodating at every turn.
• Unique—Many hotels try to make things unique, but they often fall flat. The Augustine Prague was one of the most unique hotels I’ve stayed at because it was converted from a Monastery. There is something charming to see around every corner.
• Spa—The spa offers a great way to relax after a busy day of sightseeing. I only wish I had visited it more often during my stay!

Augustine, a Luxury Collection Hotel, Drawbacks

Most of the things I noticed about the Augustine Prague Hotel were great, but I did find a few drawbacks. It’s important to make note of them if you plan to stay there yourself:

• Steps in the Room and Awkward Bathroom Location—When designing the hotel, they were working with an existing building, so I understand that some of this couldn’t be avoided, but the bathroom was on the far side of our suite from the bedroom, and we needed to walk up two or three stairs to get there.
• No Bedroom Door in the Suite—Our suite did not have a bedroom door. One of the things I like the most about having a suite is having two separate spaces. It’s helpful because my boyfriend and I both work online and sometimes have meetings. This room didn’t give us those two separate spaces which was somewhat disappointing for a suite.
• Somewhat Cramped Space—I think if I’d have stayed in the Classic room, I’d have felt cramped. Though there were windows, they were quite small. Overall, the Classic Suite offered enough space, but it wasn’t as big as many other one-bedroom suites I’ve stayed in.

Getting to the Augustine, Prague

If you are coming directly from the Prague Airport, you can take an Uber or a taxi or save some money and take a bus to the tram.

The check-in process was easy. There was a bellhop who offered to carry our luggage up to the room after we were checked in.

When I got to the check-in desk and gave my name, someone looked me up on the computer. Immediately, they thanked me for my loyalty and mentioned my upgrade to a Classic Suite with a queen bed and a courtyard view. Because of my Titanium status, the hotel offered free breakfast and a welcome drink.

The Classic Guest Room was roughly 35 square meters in size, and it came with a marble bathroom, oversized bathtub, bidet, lighted mirror, mini fridge, complimentary bottled water and much more. The upgraded Classic Suite with a Courtyard View is 50 square meters in size with the same amenities.

The Room at Augustine, a Luxury Collection Hotel, Prague

When you first walk in, you see the contrast of the room against the concrete outside. I felt like I had traveled back in time because of the design of the rooms and building.

Though everything fit neatly and was nice, it still didn’t give an over-the-top luxurious vibe because overall the hotel is quite simple. Which, after thinking about it, really is fitting considering that the building used to be a monastery.

The first room inside the suite was the sitting area. It had a large couch, a coffee table and a few decorative pieces. The bathroom was located near the entry door to the suite. To the left of the sitting area and down a few stairs, there was a writing table and chair and then the bedroom. My only complaint about the room was that there was no door between the bedroom and living room.

The bedroom had beautiful arched ceilings and a large, comfortable-looking bed with two lamps on either side of it.

The bathroom was not large, but it was nice. At the entrance was a stone door that opened to a sink surrounded by marble. Inside, there was a combined bathtub/shower.

There were also complimentary slippers and a bathrobe. We had access to a mini fridge, air conditioning, a minibar, a tea/coffee maker and free high-speed internet. There’s even a safe in the room, an iron/ironing board and a 49-inch LED TV with cable or satellite hookup.

Because of the hotel’s history, every room is unique. My classic suite was different from other classic suites. I would love to go back to this hotel again and again to experience the different designs of the rooms.

Food and Drink

Most of the time, I avoid the restaurants at the hotels where I stay. However, I did eat my complimentary breakfast at the Augustine. We ate in the courtyard and ordered off of the a la carte menu for breakfast. Since we stayed for three nights, we were able to try quite a few of the breakfast items, and all of them were good! In addition to the a la carte menu, there’s a small buffet.

There’s also the Refectory, which is found in the monastery’s hall, and offers a view of the garden square. You can get light snacks, St. Thomas Beer and seasonal cocktails. We were given a complimentary craft beer tasting (which truly was just a small taste of the St. Thomas Beer) when we checked in.

If you want to dine elsewhere, you have many options, such as:

• Café Creperie Pod Vezi—This café offers the tastes of France, and it’s just a few miles from the hotel.
• Pork’s—Pork’s restaurant has, as you probably guessed, various pork dishes, accompanied by horseradish and sauerkraut, if you wish.
• Malostranska Beseda—This restaurant, located in the center of the city, has a bar that serves various European and Czech dishes. It offers vegetarian and gluten-free options.

Amenities

The amenities were typical of many luxury hotels:

• Fitness Center—The fitness center features top-of-the-line equipment including yoga mats, cardio equipment, elliptical machines, free weights, exercise bikes, rowing machines, strength equipment, stair climbers, treadmills and more. You can also enjoy steam and sauna rooms which are well worth a visit.
• Spa—There’s a spa in the hotel. You can indulge yourself in many of the signature treatments and thoroughly connect with the history of the space. There are many options, including the Augustine Time, which is 90 to 120 minutes. You’ll get a personalized treatment plan based on your needs. Likewise, you have the monastery spa ritual, which lasts 120 minutes and includes a facial, candle back massage and foot ritual. I would have liked to try a spa service, but as with many nicer hotels in Europe, the prices were a bit too high for my taste.

Augustine, Prague Family Friendliness

When I was at the Augustine Prague Hotel, I didn’t see many children. Overall, I would say it’s not an overly kid-friendly hotel because it doesn’t contain most of the amenities kids like. For example, there’s no pool, and the hotel doesn’t offer child-only programs and activities.

Final Thoughts on the Augustine, a Luxury Collection Hotel, Prague

If you like unique hotels, the Augustine is a great use of your Marriott points or free night certificates. You won’t feel like you’re in “just another hotel.” Still, it’s relatively standard as far as amenities and luxuries go and may not feel as luxurious as you might expect for the price.

Overall, I’d say that the Augustine Prague isn’t designed for kids. It focuses more on the quiet monastery life and even features a few places to drink. You’ll find it enjoyable and relaxing.

Though the hotel is on the main tourist path, you can enjoy some peace and solitude here.