THERE?S SOMETHING TO BE SAID FOR standing firm in the face of opposition. Interestingly, most of the best stock decisions have come at times when the mainstream is saying precisely the opposite. Predictions like these can be valuable if one is to build an investment strategy around their view of the world.

The appraisal by the minority over the past few years that inflation would return (while most of Wall Street was bemoaning DEflation) has proven to be true. As we?ve pointed out in the past, it can be readily observed in oil prices, real estate, and dozens of other commodities where no source of cheap imports is available.

As Steve Forbes remarks in Forbes Magazine?s May 23rd commentary, ?oil became expensive because the Fed has been printing too much money.? In an earlier article, I mentioned that what we?re really seeing is just the effect of a falling dollar, rather than rising oil prices.

Some might wonder how we think of the dollar as a falling currency, because it certainly seems to have been rising against the Euro in recent months. Still, it may be more accurate to think of the Euro as simply falling faster than the dollar. Indeed, now that both France and the Netherlands have voted to reject the EU Constitution, the entire structure of the EU may be called into question, and while we don?t foresee the collapse of that institution, we do believe it will weigh on the currency for a time. As we have said in the past, the attempt at unification is itself no more than a grand experiment, and the currency that accompanies it can be viewed as no more stable than the underlying structure.

Still, none of this makes us view the dollar as necessarily strong. In a world where the Indian Rupee, Romanian Leu, South African Rand and other historically undependable currencies are rising steadily against the dollar, its silly to think of our currency as anything but weak.

In real estate, many suggested in the past that a real estate bubble may be developing, but also that much of the rise in prices may be coming from inflation as well. Indeed, if any price collapse does occur, it may be some time from now, and some regions may hardly feel it. The gap in price between the large California cities and mainstream America is reportedly wider than ever before. It’s best to use caution in the red-hot markets in Cali, NY, and Mass., but the rest of the country seems fairly priced. One should not be too worried about prices that have risen no faster than the price of oil. While others have predicted (endlessly, it seems) that homebuilders ought to fall apart any day now, a few have continued to recommend some of the best ones and seen sizeable profits result for our readers.

Recently, a few financial managers have decided to take a position on Harley-Davidson stock that differs from most of the investment community. While Harley?s quarterly earnings were indeed below expectations, the minority rejects the investment community?s hysterical suggestion that this is the end for the motorcycle maker. In fact, they firmly believe this will turn out to be a small blip in the longterm upward trend.

It is decisions like these that set these advisors apart from much of the investment world. It seems that many of the writers in ?investment-land? are content to parrot the projections of corporate lackeys and government bureaucrats, without so much as a scintilla of independent analysis. Alas, as the demand for investment advice has grown, it may have outstripped the supply of quality analysts, both in news reporting and in the investment industry itself. This would explain the quantity of drivel coming from multiple sources these days.

We can occasionally find kindred spirits in the media: while it is invariably best to disagree with Business Week, Fortune, and most of the TV business news-trivia reporters, a few ? like Forbes, Barron?s, or TV?s Louis Rukeyser or Paul Kangas ? still provide thoughtful commentary from time to time. Overall, though, the U.S seems to have reached a distressing time in investment reporting.

Most reporters and publications are content to simply repeat what they?ve heard, play on emotions, and call it complete coverage. I suppose it makes sense that eventually coverage of business news would descend to the same level as broader news coverage.

In times like these, it is important to select a few good sources of quality information. It is just as important to wean ourselves from poor information sources. If your newspaper, magazine, or broadcast station has ceased offering thoughtful analysis, stop wasting your valuable time. Utilize your time more productively on the few meaningful sources of information.

In light of so much fluff in the media, it is increasingly important to stand apart from the mainstream. You need information resources that are willing to do so, as well. Contrarians (investors who have bucked the trends) have fared well in the investing quandary. Today, contrarians? biggest advantage is that they are willing to stand out and avoid falling for the latest hype. Mindless followers, in an age of meaningless information, will eventually get slaughtered by following mediocre advice once too often. Don?t tolerate lackluster information resources. Seek out quality.

To send comments or to learn more about Scott Pearson’s Investment Advisor services, visit http://www.valueview.net

Scott Pearson is an investment advisor, writer, editor, instructor, and business leader. As President and Chief Investment Officer of Value View Financial Corp., he offers investment management services to a wide variety of clients. His own newsletter, Investor’s Value View, is distributed worldwide and provides general money tips and investment advice to readers both internationally, and in the U.S.

In today’s world who doesn’t want to be rich? There are several ways of making some quick dough; one is to queue up for one of those reality shows on television and the other more viable one is to put your money in some smart investment.

If you explore the investment market, you will find several options that can make your money grow for example savings accounts, trusts and property market.

But none of them is as lucrative as the share market. Now if you are wondering as to why you must invest into stocks, here are a few reasons:

. No other investment promises such big and quick returns as the stock market.
. Shares are liquid assets, which can be easily sold or bought, and you can even sell a portion of it. Moreover, this entire process of selling and buying shares doesn’t take more than a few seconds especially with online stockbrokers available.
. You can easily determine the worth of a particular share investment by checking the share market results in the daily newspaper. The entire activity is not half as hassle prone as getting your property valued.
. In most cases shareholders also enjoy great tax benefits on the profits they earn.

Now that you are convinced about the worthiness of a share investment, you must now strategise as to how you will go about investing your hard earned money into the stock market. With so many online stockbrokers now available, you no longer have to queue up outside a stockbroker’s office. You can sell or buy shares online also.

As an online stock trader, your homework is to first analyse your own savings and risk tolerance and then study the stock market for a potential investment. A good online stock dealing strategy is always simple and practical. With consistent study, you will be able to gauge the buying and selling signals with ease and reap good benefits out of your share dealings.

One smart way of dealing in stocks is by spreading your money over several types of investments. This reduces your risk to a huge extent, because if one type of investment doesn’t do well, then you can always bank upon the other.

Despite the fact that shares yield great returns, still at the end of the day it is a gamble. So, before you invest into it you must first assess your immunity to risk and only after thorough study of the stock market should you venture into it.

Seek.uk
Nidhi
http://www.seek.uk.com

Yesterday I received my monthly issue of MONEY magazine. This issue has the special feature called ?The Ultimate Investment Club? that highlights their picks for the top mutual fund managers. Let?s see how their members made money for their shareholders.

My readers know that the only thing that counts in my book is performance and performance means they make money and do NOT lose money so I went back to preview their record since these experts took over. When you see the results of this club you will be glad you did not go on any camping trips with them. Here are six who manage stock mutual funds.

As we go along you must keep in mind that fund managers get paid for the amount of money they have under management and not on how much they make for you.

MONEY magazine has given them titles. I will not mention their names, but will give you the fund along with the stock exchange symbol so you can look it up on the Internet at www.bigcharts.com.

?The Survivor? who manages Seligman Communications Fund (SCICX) since it was founded has seen the share price start at $35 and rise to $54 only to fall back to $15 today. He is surviving with your money, but you are not.

?The Value Master? of Legg Mason Value Trust (LMNVX) sure doesn?t know when the value has run out. Under his tutelage the fund has gone from $45 to $78 to $43.

?The Maverick? of CGM Capital Development (LOMCX) has been thrown by his horse. Share price in 1976 started at $10, went to $43 and is now $18. Tough ride for the shareholders.

Now we come to ?The Bargain Hunter? who took over management of Oakmark Select (OAKMX) in 2000 when the market was at its peak. It was $22 and went up (!) to $37 and is now trading at $32. He is the only winner in the group. Congratulations.

Another loser is ?The Opportunist?. This guy should be getting his buy recommendations from cab drivers. He could not do any worse for the Strong Opportunity Fund (SOPVX). It started at $45 and has nothing but a downward journey to its present $29.

For the Brandywine Fund (BRWIX) we have ?The Growth Guru?. The only thing that grew fat was his wallet off of your money. He took over in 1998 at $45 and it went down to $22 in 1999, then up to $53 and is now $20. Actually he can only be given credit for the advance from $45 to $53.

In all fairness to these losers I did not include any capital gains or dividend payouts which during the few good years they had may have been very good, but probably not good enough to keep you at ?even?.

There are all kinds of clubs you can join, but obviously this is not one for you. When you see advertising for various mutual funds or how wonderful some fund manager is please look beyond the hype and check out the performance.

Al Thomas’ book, If It Doesn’t Go Up, Don’t Buy It! has helped thousands of people make money and keep their profits with his simple 2-step method. Read the first chapter at http://www.mutualfundmagic.com and discover why he’s the man that Wall Street does not want you to know.

1-888-345-7870; al@mutualfundstrategy.com

IT?S REMINISCENT OF THE OLD children?s tale about an old Chinese farmer who tells his friends his story, and they enjoin with ?That?s good? or ?That?s bad? on alternating lines:

Farmer: My horse ran away.

Friends: That?s bad.

Farmer: She came back with a majestic stallion by her side.

Friends: That?s good.

Farmer: My son tried to ride the stallion and broke his hip.

Friends: That?s bad.

Farmer: The emperor came through town that week and took every able-bodied young man away to war. My son was spared.

Friends: That?s good, et cetera.

Recent market trends bring this story to mind. On this emotional roller coaster, it?s hard to know whether to laugh or cry. For all practical purposes, the war is over. That?s good. But the battle to win over Iraq has just begun. That?s bad. The markets in the U.S. have been cheered by the quick success. Good. The Japanese market has hit a new 20-year low. Bad. We could go on. It?s been a wild month for news.

Fears of the SARS epidemic have hit economies in East Asia and Canada and further injured an already-weakened airline industry. A bigger question is how devastating the epidemic will become, and will it hinder an already weak recovery, or worse yet become a worldwide epidemic. Embezzlement charges caused a temporary bank run among recent immigrants who weren?t aware of FDIC insurance at Abacus Federal Savings Bank in New York?s Chinatown. Earnings news is rather positive, despite a few negatives. Many big names have provided surprises on the upside, while fewer companies are disappointing analysts, it seems.

Despite the recent uptrend in U.S. markets, most investors aren?t particularly cheered. Most still wonder how long it will take to recover what was lost in the past few years. That focus, however, won?t make the recovery come any sooner. We need to be happy with 10% growth, a substantial positive trend for those who aren?t carrying any baggage. Too, for those who put their money in, instead of following the crowd and taking it out, 10% growth ought to compensate for twice the losses. The real question is whether individual investors will continue to run for the exits, hold their ground, or redouble their efforts to save and invest more.

I?m continually amazed how investors put more money in when markets are topping out, and pull money back when markets are at or near bottoms. Described in that way, virtually no one would do it, but when we add the emotional component, it is really quite easy to understand. Market bottoms come after drops, which often come with reduced portfolio values and emotional turmoil. In addition, drops come when the economy is weak, and many people need to use their money for personal or family needs while income is temporarily reduced. This underlies the primary weakness of the buy-and-hold strategy. This solid strategy is only successful if held to consistently. However, most people cannot or will not follow through on it in difficult times. Thus, it may be less effective than we traditionally imagine. No, the strategy itself is not flawed, but practically speaking, it may not be viable for real life.

Each investor needs to consider his/her own investing patterns. If you are inclined to disinvest during downtimes, a thorough re-evaluation may be in line. Re-evaluate both your strategy choices and your ability to maintain them. If you are unable to keep focused or are likely to have circumstance which prevent you from following your strategy when its most important, you need a different approach. There?s no benefit to having a wonderful game-plan that you can?t follow. Imagine a basketball coach whose plan includes putting in Michael Jordan when the team gets behind, but Michael Jordan isn?t on the team! If you are unable to follow a buy-and-hold strategy, your ability to profit in downtimes is severely restrained. Sadly, this is when the greatest opportunity is available. Thus, a compensating strategy must be developed.

Investors must realize, however, that increasing returns often comes with higher risk. Thus, if one cannot buy and hold when one finds it unpleasant, the other alternatives involve taking on greater risk. No one really wants to hear that, but it is hard truth. High returns require higher risk, and if you are unable to ?weather the storm? in times like this (what I call easy risk), you?ll need to take larger short-term risks (hard risk), or else consign oneself to lower returns.

Easy risk is a long-term safety play. We risk that valuations will fluctuate, but over the long term we have confidence that they will be relatively stable. We give up our ability to observe high valuations, knowing that what we own is still the same.

Hard risk involves taking real, serious, short-term gambles. It is not a strategy that I advise, nor is it the wisest approach to investing, but it is a corner that people sometimes paint themselves into. That?s bad!

We continue to advise our readers to stick with the buy-and-hold strategy. While there is obviously risk of fluctuating prices, these tend to balance themselves out in the long-run. If you have a long-run focus, buy-and hold is still the safest approach. That?s good!

To send comments or to learn more about Scott Pearson’s Investment Advisor Services, visit http://www.valueview.net

Scott Pearson is an investment advisor, writer, editor, instructor, and business leader. As President and Chief Investment Officer of Value View Financial Corp., he offers investment management services to a wide variety of clients. His own newsletter, Investor’s Value View, is distributed worldwide and provides general money tips and investment advice to readers both internationally, and in the U.S.

Jack and Jill went up the hill to fetch a bucket of ?money. Money? They are continuing to fill their bucket with stocks without any consideration to the value of these equities. They are not worried at all as they are buying ?safe? mutual funds.

Everyone knows mutual funds are safe. Jack and Jill know they don?t know how to pick good stocks so they leave that to the fund manager. He is an expert.

When you look at the long term record of 99% of the mutual funds you will see that expertise has been sadly lacking. I hate to remind you of the 2000 to 2003 period, but I must. In fact I must tell you it is going to happen again. Now you want to know when?.and so do I.

And that is the problem with almost every fund manager. As long as the market is going up they can?t do much damage to your account, but when it rolls over and heads down they have no idea how to invest when a bear market is in progress. Not a single one of them will acknowledge that cash is a position.

Cash is a position? They are in shock. Of course they are. If brokerage customers put their money in a money market account while the market is falling it means they do not make any commission at all and if they recommend this to their customers the brokerage manager will fire them because he won?t make any money either. ?Keep your customers fully invested or I?ll show you the door? is the manager?s comment.

You must learn when to sell. Any fool can buy, but it is the wise man who knows when to sell. To see the condition of the overall market one of the best indicators is the SP500 Index. Your broker compares everything he does with the SP500 because it is a broad base of 500 stocks that are widely traded.

The finest indicator is the SP500 Index. Draw a 40-week chart of the closing prices. If you don?t know how ask your broker. He will tell you. Write it down and save it. It is very simple. Have him set up a 40-week Simple Moving Average to appear on that chart. Look at 5 years worth of prices. Immediately you will see that if you are in the market while the 40-week MA is going up you are making money and if you are out of all your positions while the index average is going down you will not lose money. It doesn?t get any easier that that.

Jack and Jill can fill their pail as the market is going up and need not spill their accumulation while they walk confidently down the hill holding their bucket full of cash not equities.

Al Thomas’ book, If It Doesn’t Go Up, Don’t Buy It! has helped thousands of people make money and keep their profits with his simple 2-step method. Read the first chapter at http://www.mutualfundmagic.com and discover why he’s the man that Wall Street does not want you to know.

Copyright 2005

A long time reader wrote in asking if you get more bang for the buck buying an out of the money option, or a deep in the money option on a stock that makes a big move. Interestingly the answer isn’t perfectly cut and dry. Let’s look.

If you buy an in the money option, that option will indeed track the movement of the underlying stock more closely than an at the money option. The Delta or measure of value is much higher, so when the stock moves, the option tends to move also.

If you buy an out of the money option, the stock can actually rise a bit, and yet your option could actually fall. How? When an option is out of the money, the entire value of the option is simply based on time. For instance, lets say the XYZ company is trading at 50 bucks a share. The September 60 dollar call options are 75 cents. That 75 cents is all time value considering the fact that XYZ is still ten dollars shy of the strike price.

So, it’s quite likely that XYZ could move up to 52 dollars a share, which is a two dollar move, and yet the September call option falls to 50 cents. Why? We have come closer to the expiration day, and some of the time value has eroded.

In a deep in the money option, a 2 dollar stock move could be as high as a 1.95 move in the option. So, looking at it like that, standard theory says that deep in the money options will move more on a big stock move and for the most part you can consider that to be true. But there is always the exception, and if you look at percent returns, that’s where things really get screwy.

Let’s say you bought September 25 dollar calls on XYZ. You paid 29.00 for them, considering that XYZ is 50.00 a share, you are already 25 bucks in the money and they are charging a 4 dollar premium over that for time. Now, XYZ announces that it’s cured cancer and runs to 90 dollars a share. Your call option is going to soar. At very minimum it’s going to be worth 65 dollars, and more likely over 70. So, you’re return is quite nice right? Right. In fact you’ve made somewhere north of 124%.

But, lets say you had those XYZ out of the money 60 dollar calls for just 75 cents. If XYZ ran to 90 those calls would be worth a minimum of 30 bucks, if not 35 ( depending on how much time was left) Now look at the percent return. It’s 3,900 percent.

So, here’s the deal. For the most part, deep in the money options will reward you more frequently and with more gains than at the money or out of the money options. But, in those rare events where a home run gets hit, an out of the money options bought for pennies will far outperform any in the money options.

You’re better off buying deep in the money and using smart trading strategies. But occasionally it’s a lot of fun to be able to say I made 2000 percent on my latest trade! Think about it.

The Stocks2Watch? newsletter has been published since 1998.

For a FREE report on HOW TO TRADE FAST, enter your email address at:

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The cyclical bull market, which began in March 2003 (or October 2002 by some estimates), within the structural bear market, that began in March 2000, was fueled by monetary policy. The FOMC began an easing cycle in January 2001 when it lowered the Fed Funds Rate from 6.50% to 6%. The FOMC continued to lower the Fed Funds Rate, until it reached 1% in June 2003, and kept there for a year. In June 2004, a tightening cycle began. The Fed Funds Rate reached 5.25% in June 2006 (to neutral from accommodative), and then the FOMC paused in August for the first time in over two years. Consequently, there has been a great deal of speculation that the tightening cycle is over (a restrictive stance won’t be taken) and perhaps an easing cycle will begin in 2007.

Below is a daily chart of NYSI (red line and right scale) and SPX (black line and left scale). NYSI made lower highs, while SPX made higher highs over the cyclical bull market. Currently, NYSI is near the top of the downtrend line, which indicates SPX is near an intermediate-term top, although NYSI pinpoints lows better than highs. Below the price chart is the NYMO 50-day MA, which is at a level similar to recent SPX intermediate-term tops. However, sentiment indicators, including the CPC 50-day MA (above price chart), which fell from an all-time high, and AAII and ISEE (not shown) show a great deal of pessimism, which is SPX bullish. It seems, almost everyone is expecting SPX to fall.

So, monetary policy and intermediate-term technical indicators are market bearish, while sentiment indicators are market bullish. Also, mid-September through much of October is historically the weakest market period. Consequently, there are major mixed signals. Nonetheless, the intermediate-term uptrend will turn into a downtrend at some point before the end of the year, if it hasn’t turned already. Given December and January are bullish months, there may be an intermediate-term downtrend in September through November. However, sentiment indicators suggest an SPX trading range, although a quick rise to 1,350 and/or a capitulation below 1,200 shouldn’t be ruled out. Unfortunately, there’s little clarity at this point.

Free chart available at http://www.peaktrader.com Forum Index Market Forecast category.

Arthur Albert Eckart is the founder and owner of PeakTrader. Arthur has worked for commercial banks, e.g. Wells Fargo, Banc One, and First Commerce Technologies, during the 1980s and 1990s. He has also worked for Janus Funds from 1999-00. Arthur Eckart has a BA & MA in Economics from the University of Colorado. He has worked on options portfolio optimization since 1998.

Mr Eckart has developed a comprehensive trading methodology using economics, portfolio optimization, and technical analysis to maximize return and minimize risk at the same time and over time. This methodology has resulted in excellent returns with low risk over the past four years.

With the advent of the modern Internet it has never been easier to find the best life insurance policy to fit your needs. Online you can investigate dozens of different companies and even get free quotes without ever leaving the comfort of your own home or have to talk to a sales person.

Even with all of this information available right at your fingertips you still need to use some common sense and have a little bit of knowledge to find the best solution for your unique situations. The information below should help prepare you for finding the insurance policy that best fits your needs.

The very first decision you will need to make is to decide if which type of insurance will best fit your needs. The two most common types of insurance available today are whole life insurance and term life insurance.

Whole life insurance, just as the name implies will remain in affect for your entire life. Provided that you continue to pay your premiums or that the policy has enough cash value to sustain itself. Whole life insurance will almost always cost more for the same amount of coverage than term life insurance. There is a cash value aspect associated with whole life policies. The cost of the monthly payment in excess of the actual amount required to cover the actual cost of the monthly premium is invested.

Since whole life premiums will have a cash value under certain circumstance it can be possible to take a loan out against the value of the policy. You need to keep in mind though that if you take a loan out not only will you be losing any potential interest that you could be gaining with that money you could also incur tax liabilities. You might also have to pay taxes if the value of the policy is higher than the premium.

Term life insurance is only in affect for a set period of time, this time period is known as the contract period. You will find that the premiums for term life insurance will be significantly cheaper than the premiums on a whole life policy for the same amount of coverage.

A term policy will never have any cash value, it is worth the amount of the coverage if the insured person dies during the contract period. If the contract expires with out the policy being exercised then there is no value and no benefit is paid out.

Term life insurance is often used by people with families to cover the expenses of raising children if one of the parents were to die unexpectedly. It is purchased to cover the time period when the children are still dependent on their parents for financial support. For many people after their children are grown and independent they find that the level of coverage they need to carry is reduced.

Once you have determined which type of insurance is most suitable for your situation the next question is to determine how much coverage to purchase. Coverage amount will be discussed in the next issue of this series.

Get your free Term Life Insurance Quote at http://www.term-life-4u.com

Barcelona has been dubbed La Gran Encisera ? the Great Enchantress. With its medieval romantic style, it?s hustle and bustle and the history and art; it?s a great destination spot for travelers.

Many of the historic hotels are located in the Gothic Quarter, a stretch of streets with a romantic gothic style, making the hotels? locations convenient to sight seeing areas.

Tip to a Better Rate in a Historic Hotel in Barcelona

If you find yourself in Barcelona in a time that it is not busy and your hotel is not so full, you can usually bargain for a better rate. Business travelers can often get up to forty percent off the suggested price. Talk with the hotel attendants; don?t be afraid to ask for a discount.

Suggested Historic Hotels in Barcelona

While there are many beautiful historic hotels in Barcelona, one of the most convenient ones is the Hotels Condes De Barcelona. With over 150 guest rooms, each with an avant-garde style, the hotel is uniquely situated in a historic Nouveau building. The artistic beauty is astounding and each piece inside the hotel is customized specifically for the hotel. Located in the center of the city, it offers the convenience of public transportation for guests and is within walking distance to some of the city?s most popular destinations.

Another grand hotel is the Hotel Gotico. The deluxe hotel is a short distance from El Prat Airport, it is located in the heart of the city center and the Town Hall and the Palice of Autonomic Government. With it?s location right in the middle of the commercial district, a traveler will find everything they could want to see near by. With renovated soundproofed rooms, you?ll get a good night of sleep and the history of the hotel will keep the adventure of visiting Barcelona alive. Ask for a complimentary tour or ask about suggestions of sights to see in the city. The staff is knowledgeable and helpful.

For a moderate priced hotel, the Mes?n Castilla offers a Castilian fascia. For the best atmosphere this small hotel offers a convenient position to shops. It offers attractive views of the city and modest sized rooms. Its antique filled interior offers a history of its own.

How to Pick the Right Historic Hotel in Barcelona

When you travel to Barcelona, picking the right hotel for you may be important. If you are going to be in Barcelona for a short while, it would be better to select one that is closer to the areas of the city you plan to see. Having your hotel closer to your sightseeing destinations makes it convenient to get there and back from your hotel.

If you plan to stay longer and see much more of Barcelona, you might consider reservations at two hotels, one on one side of the city for the first part of your trip and another hotel on the latter part and on the other side of the city. This lets you enjoy two different hotels within the tourist areas of Barcelona, making it even more enjoyable.

For more historic hotel suggestions, contact your travel agent or visit Turisme de Barcelona.

Fionn Downhill is President of Four Corners Hotels offering hotels in cities around the world. To find out more about hotels in Barcelona visit http://www.fourcornershotels.com/index.php/ES–Barcelona

If you are planning a visit to Prague there are many excellent, top quality hotels to chose from. Five star ratings abound in this historic city.

The Hotel Le Palais is one of the five store properties in Prague. This beautiful property is a fine example of belle epoch architecture and has been lovingly restored with historical accuracy. Several portions of the structure are classified as historical buildings. This fine example of 19th century design will provide a lovely backdrop for your luxury visit to Prague. There are 60 rooms, all with updated bathrooms for your enjoyment. Another 12 elegant suites are available, and all have the most modern equipment available. The d?cor is tasteful, elegant, and true to it?s roots in the belle epoch style.

The stunning Hotel Ambassador is a fine example of Art Nouveau style and is located on the scenic Wenceslas Square. This wonderful five star hotel features outstanding rooms, each with a private luxury bathroom, jacuzzi tub and shower. Located at the center of the city on it?s most famous square, the Hotel Ambassador is a treat for the discriminating traveller. It is close to everything, beautiful, and boasts one of the finest addresses in the city.

The five star Iron Gate Hotel, located in the middle of Old Towne, is a charming 43 suite property. Most rooms feature antique furniture and several have authentic 14th century frescos on the wall. Located near the world-famous Astronomical Clock, this wonderful hotel is ambience itself. The building dates from the 14th century and has several fine restaurants featuring local delicacies.

If you?d prefer to stay near the castle, you might want to consider the Hotel Savoy. This hotel is grand, luxurious and prides itself on outstanding service. It is also convenient to the airport, monuments and sightseeing attractions. The 61 suites are elegantly appointed, feature complimentary mini-bar and breakfast buffet and access to the ?relax center?, a unique facility with a sauna, jacuzzi, steam bath and fitness center. One of the premier five star properties in Prague, the Hotel Savoy is a favorite choice of the veteran traveler.

The Mala Strana, or Little Quarter, is home to the new Hotel Aria, one of the first boutique hotels in the world. Not only is the property beautiful and well-appointed, the boutique theme adds an interesting twist to your stay. There are four floors of guestrooms, each dedicated to a different musical genre. Accordingly, the floors are called Jazz, Opera, Classical and Contemporary Music, and each of the guestrooms on the floor feature a different musical artist or composer in the genre. This unique concept makes each stay enjoyable and inspirational. You may want to choose one of the deluxe suites: the Crooner Suite (honoring Frank Sinatra), the Elvis Presley Suite, called the Rock ?n Roll Suite, or the Bach Suite. The remaining 48 suites honor other artists and types of music. The Hotel Aria is a truly musical experience.

The Hotel Pariz has been a fixture in the old center of Prague for over 100 years. This hotel has been owned by generations of the family, and the love that they have poured into the property is reflected in the fine amenities, outstanding service and five star rating. There are 86 fully appointed suites and several world class restaurants on site. Conveniently located near shopping areas, the Municipal House and historical sites, the Hotel Pariz is a gem in the heart of Prague.

If you?re visiting Prague, treat yourself to one of the outstanding 5 star hotels that the city offers.

Jay Moncliff is the founder of http://www.ofertashoteles2005.com a website specialized on Hoteles, resources and articles. This site provides updated information on Hoteles. For more info visit his site: Hoteles