7 Unusual Ideas for Weekend Rentals

Spend the final weekends of summer in a retro houseboat, hobbit house, or sci-fi TV tower

Ryan Scott

Written by Ryan Scott Published on 11.08.2014 14:55:57 (updated on 11.08.2014) Reading time: 5 minutes

Summer is winding down, but there is still time to for a weekend trip or two before autumn hits. If the beach is out of your reach this season, you will appreciate these affordable and fun options, may of them not so far from Prague, for a last-minute summer escape. 

Restored Historic Water Mill

7 Unusual Ideas for Weekend Rentals

Built in 1649, Opárno Mill (Opárenský mlýn) was reconstructed as part of a joint Czech and German initiative. If you’re looking for a place to stay with a group of friends that is secluded, this place is ideal. The mill has 22 beds with space for an additional 10 people on sleeping mats. A sleeping bag is essential. Down the road is a pub. The region itself has good opportunities for hikes and in the evening the large kitchen area makes a good communal space to share a meal, sit by a warm stove, and enjoy a sing-along.

Price: On request from the mill

Getting there from Prague: A train from the main train station to Lovosice and change to another train Oparno. The mill is a short walk from the Oparno station.

Texas-Style Cattle Ranch

7 Unusual Ideas for Weekend Rentals

Angusfarm steakhouse restaurant specializing in organic beef raised on-site is part of a larger bed-and-breakfast with rustic (though luxurious) rooms and opportunities to visit the cattle farm. The delicious beef dishes, selection of regional wines and setting amid the rolling hills of Western Bohemia makes this a perfect weekend getaway for families or couples.

Price: Rooms start at 900 CZK depending on occupancy.

Getting there from Prague: A bus from Prague Na Knížecí runs daily; or take a train to Nepomuk. You will have to hire a taxi to the pension

800-year-old Monastery

7 Unusual Ideas for Weekend Rentals

If you want some history mixed in with your luxury, consider the Hotel Klašter Teplá located in West Bohemia. Visiting nearby spas is just one of the many enjoyable possibilities while staying in one of the 65 rooms at this 800 year old monastery. The near ancient building is located beside a pond where you can go fishing and there is a historical park to enjoy a stroll. Golfing enthusiasts, or those or simply fancy a putt, can enjoy a reduced entry fee at the Klašter Teplá Golfklub which has a driving range and putting greens.

Price: Double room 1,490 CZK

Getting There from Prague: A train to Mariánské Lázně and then a second train to Teplá.

Guard Station at Křivoklát Castle

7 Unusual Ideas for Weekend Rentals

Perhaps a monastery is too modest for your tastes. In which case, consider a night or two in a former guard’s quarters in Křivoklát Castle. The castle’s history also goes back 800 years and is connected to Otakar Přemyslid II and Václav IV. Located west of Prague, the castle lies within the Křivoklát Protected Landscape Area, so once you’ve explored the castle you can enjoy some of the wilderness.

Price: 380 CZK per person per night in the high season.

Getting there from Prague: A train to Rakovník and change for a train to Křivoklát.

If you’re up for more of a splurge check out our article Czech Castle Summer Escapes.

Sci-Fi ’60s TV Tower

7 Unusual Ideas for Weekend Rentals

Getting in touch with nature doesn’t mean staying in an old cottage or a tent. On clear days, Hotel Ještěd, located in a hyperboloid-shaped transmission tower atop Ještěd Mountain in Liberec, offers views which stretch over most of Bohemia and into Germany and Poland. A trip to Liberece presents ample opportunities for hiking the Jizera Mountains and don’t forget to visit the Aquapark Babylon and Liberec Zoo with its white tigers.

Price: A double room 1,800 to 2,300 CZK.

Getting there from Prague: A train or bus to Liberec then the tram no. 3 to Horní Hanychov, which is a short walk to the cable car.

Retro houseboat

7 Unusual Ideas for Weekend Rentals

Why not leave dry land all together? Půjčit Hausbot offers small water voyages on one of three house boats – Stand, Comfort and Premium. The boats leave from Podolí and go to either Slapy or Orlík, both of which are not too far from Prague. The Standard sleeps up to seven and the Comfort five. It’s important to call in advance to make reservations and to arrange your pickup at the destination.

Price: From 2,000 CZK per day.

Getting there from Prague: Easiest by car.

Further a field in Moravia, Hamboot Půjčovna Lodí offers eight houseboats to rent for trips down either Baťa Canal or the Morava River. The boats themselves range from the more traditional houseboat design to sportier looking models and they have a catamaran too. A journey along either waterway will take you through historical towns such as Kroměříž and Uherské Hradiště. The canal and river wend through wine country too. The owners are more than willing to suggest sights in the area.

Prices: from 7,200 CZK for a weekend. Shorter and longer periods are also available.

Getting there from Prague: A train to Otrokovice and a bus Spytihněv. The starting point is a bit of a walk from the station.

Czech Hobbit House

7 Unusual Ideas for Weekend Rentals

Somehow we don’t think Bilbo Baggins’ digs were equipped wtih WiFi and a mini-bar, but the twee cottages of the Fairy Tale Village at Hotel Podlesi in the Bohemian-Moravian highlands offer all that and more. The larger resort houses a restaurant and an indoor pool and neighboring attrations include the UNESCO-protected Pilgrimage Church of Saint John of Nepomuk.

Price:
 Currently offering all-inclusive weekend packages for about 900 CZK (includes breakfast and swimming).

Getting there from Prague: Buses run from Florence to Vysočina three times daily. From Vysočina take a local bus to Podlesí-Sněžné.

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What are your tips for weekend trips in the Czech Republic?

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