I’ll admit that I was not looking forward to the flight from Barcelona to Prague. The only airline that offered non-stop flights was Vueling Air, a partner of Iberia Air. The reviews of the airline were pretty dismal—anything from unclean planes to missed schedules to strict rules for baggage and refunds. But it didn’t stop in Frankfort, so there’s that.

I found Vueling to be just the opposite—clean, on time, and with a boarding and deboarding process that I wish other airlines would emulate. No problems at all with the flight.

And as a bonus, the airports on both ends were models of efficiency—easy to navigate, spacious and airy, and well marked. The Havel airport in Prague has a deal with Uber as their “official taxi,” and the airport (along with Rick Steves and many others warn travelers of the possibility of taking rogue cabs. We booked an Uber when we landed, prepaid the fare, and the driver arrived in just a few minutes. Couldn’t be easier.

Hotel Ikona is a gem. It’s right at the end of Charles Bridge in the Castle Quarter neighborhood. The Prague Castle is just behind us. It’s a small hotel in a charming old (1708) building. We have a little private terrace and plenty of room. Up four flights of stairs and no elevator, but that’s no problem at all.

And Frankfort didn’t figure into the day at all.

Some images of the hotel and immediate environment: