| Family Travels Czech Republic |
| Travelling to the Czech Republic was quite an experience. Prague was a gem. The building architecture will leave you in awe as each building soars and tries to outshine the other. The city was impeccably clean. The transportation was easy to use. The alphabet and language are impossible to master in a short time...but luckily, most service or tourism staff spoke English (abet reluctantly) The food is a cross between German and Austrian and if you like meat, gravy, cream, bread dumplings, potato dumplings and don't mind gaining five pounds in three short days... It is heavenly. The beer is fabulous. Legal drinking age seems to be open to interpretation much to the delight of my 20 and 17 year olds. Even my 13 year old was offered a glass. Our biggest shock was our reception. As a country emerging from the dark clouds of Communism you would think they would embrace tourism with open arms and smiling faces. Uh....Don't expect that. Unfortunately, poor service, rude dismissals, unwillingness to engage in conversation, and down and out tourist rip-offs are the norm. Questions are often met with a shrug and a roll the eyes. Waiters ignore you and pad the bill. Merchants overcharge and give incorrect change. Even grocery store clerks will "mistaken" ring items twice or ring "special" tourist prices in. (read below for a more in depth review of our challenges) Sounds depressing. Well...we figured out that they even treat Europeans and in fact, their own countrymen in the same way. Just roll with the punches. Review all bills. Be firm in refusing to pay ripoffs. Be kindly insistent that someone answer questions. And truly enjoy Prague....I think you will find that you will want to return again and again. It is beautiful and a wonderful city. |
| Special Challenges in Traveling the Czech Republic **Ticket vendors at tourist sites often speak very reluctant English. They will insist that they do not speak English...but somehow you can muddle through. However, they get easily frustrated and more than once we were overcharged admission price trying to negotiate student/family discounts. Once in Chesky Krumlov we simply gave up trying to visit the Old Theater because we simply could not communicate with the desk clerk and it ended loudly and badly. **Confirm taxi fares--upfront and firm...for the entire trip...for the number of passengers....and pieces of luggage... Taxis in Prague at the airport and train station are notorious for tourist rip-off...Rick Steves calls them a band of thieves Read our travel comments on airport to hotel transfers offered by mini bus--a safer solution. ***Restaurants--the bills are often hand written....and in their language and alphabet....good luck trying to translate. We were overcharged 100% of the time......each lunch and dinner. When ordering, try to sub-total in your mind an approximately cost of the meal...If the bill is within 10-20%--Don't fight it. ***All restaurant bills include tax.......if the tax is added as a separate line item.....it is being added twice. Insist that they take the tax off. ***Tipping and Gratuities--You may have to fight this. Some places even included a service charge....even though they already added a separate "bread and cover" charge that IS the service charge ***Even grocery stores and mini markets will charge you for items not purchased....ring items twice....or charge a "special" price just for tourists. ***Merchants... Most are willing to negotiate a little. There is always a cheaper price to be had. But always be aware of the amount of currency you paid with, how much you expect in change....and then count your change. Don't let children handle their own money. Vendors love dealing with teenagers....two of mine were ripped off. WOW!... and we were only there for three days. It actually seems part of their lifestyle. Ripoffs and padding the bill are the norm. It seems that after the depression of Communism, everyone is after the Capitalist Buck AND Tourists are the TARGET. Do we seem paranoid......not really, we spoke with at least four other American/English tourists with the same experiences and opinions. Czech Republic is beautiful....being a tourist there is a challenging experience. |
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| Date Visited -- 2008 |
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Train Station Hlavni Nadrazi hlav-NEE NAH-drah-zhee Old Town Stare Mesto STAH-reh Myehs-toh Old Town Square Staromestke Namesti STAR-roh-myeht-skeh NAH-myehs-tee New Town Nove Mesto NOH-vay myehs-toh Jewish Quarter Josefov YOO-zef-fohf Castle area Hradcany HRAD-chah-nee Wenceslas Square Vaclavske Namesti VAH-slawf-skeh NAH-myehs-tee Charles Bridge Karluv Most Kar-loov most The River Vltava VUL-tah-vah |