Looking for private local guide for Budapest and Prague

[moatenote]

Four of us are cruising on the AMA Prima next month from Budapest to Prague. We're interested in hiring a private guide in those two cities and would appreciate any recommendations from previous travelers. Do you think it's worthwhile to get a private guide or just wander on your own??

[ReturnCruiser]

Four of us are cruising on the AMA Prima next month from Budapest to Prague. We're interested in hiring a private guide in those two cities and would appreciate any recommendations from previous travelers. Do you think it's worthwhile to get a private guide or just wander on your own??

 

During our Danube River cruise, we used Katerina Svobodová (www.praguewalker.com) to arrange two half-day walking tours of Prague. These tours were great. We started around 9am from our Hilton Hotel or a pre-arranged location and ended at a recommended lunch spot. This was our post-cruise stop and we actually shared the tour with a couple we met on the river cruise and split the fee.

 

For Budapest, we arranged pre-cruise city tours through Andrea Makkay (www.privateguidebudapest.com). Again, we scheduled two half day tours. The first was a tour with a vehicle so that we could easily visit more distant city sights. The second was a walking tour. Our tours started at 9am from the Hilton Hotel.

 

Each half-day tour included enough time for browsing sights. We did not spend any time on shopping nor extended food breaks. Both guides were referenced in Rick Steves' guidebooks - though we were assigned colleagues of the above named guides. The two city tour guides were excellent. We enjoyed the half day tours as it gave us the afternoons for additional wandering around on our own.

 

Have a great trip.

 

[sippican]

Based on our expereinces during many other trips, I can vouch highly for the value of a good private guide. They will enrich your expereince immensly.

 

I have provided links to reviews of the guides we have booked.

 

Eva Trkalova in Prague:

http://www.tripadvisor.com/Attraction_Review-g274707-d1633679-Reviews-Eva_Trkalova_Prague_Private_Tours-Prague_Bohemia.html

 

Andrea Makkay in Budapest:

http://www.tripadvisor.com/Attraction_Review-g274887-d3207803-Reviews-Private_Tours_of_Budapest-Budapest_Central_Hungary.html#REVIEWS

 

We are not cruising until July and we booked both of them months ago. Even at that time, when I was researching, some guides were already booked. Most guides have colleagues they can recommend if they are not free on your date.

Happy planning.

Edited April 8, 2014 by sippican

[stretchcruz]

We loved our private guide in Prague so much, her name is Jana Hronkova. We are going back to Prague next April and she is blocking her schedule for us, we have 2 other couples coming with us. She now does Rick Steves tours, she is a guide for him, but she's going to be sure she is with us again. She is such a wonderful person, and so worth the (not very much) money.

Her email is Janahronkova@hotmail.com

Tell her Dobie sent you!!!

[waldgreen]

We had the most wonderful guide last year. Her name is Jana Kratka. Jana@personalpragueguide.com

Very passionate about her country. Enjoy your visit. You will love Prague.

[ent704]

We used tours by local. And had Andrea g. She is fabulous ,!,!!! Not only experienced and knowledgeable, she goes above and beyond to show you Budapest. She is very knowledgeable in Jewish history and the Jewish district. She will modify any tour and take you wherever you want to go. We've recommended her to many pele who have been very happy with her.

[caviargal]

In Prague, I highly recommend:

 

Andrea Reznickova

Licensed guide in Prague and the Czech rep.

Andrejka2002@seznam.cz

 

We have very much enjoyed our time with her during two separate visits to Prague.

 

In Budapest, we spent a day with:

 

Andrea Makkay

Private Guide - Budapest

+36 20 962 9363

amakkay@t-online.hu

 

We booked Andrea Makkay with a driver as we had a lot we want to see.

Edited April 27, 2014 by caviargal