Help with hotel in Karlovy Vary

My husband and I are going to Karlovy Vary in October just for a couple of nights and want to find a clean, nice place to stay that is on the colonnade. We have been there 3 times before but the place we have stayed at has really deteriorated over the years so we are looking for a new place. Not looking for an expensive hotel like the Grand Pupp but also not looking for a %26quot;budget%26quot; place either. Somewhere in between that has breakfast included and a decent in-suite bathroom. Thanks anyone for your help.

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I can recommend you hotel Aura palace.We stayed there one week and all was ok.It is **** hotel just behind church Maria Magdalena. One travel agency recommended us this hotel and i must say it was really a good choice. I recommend you to use service of some local agency because we got many of our services cheaper than they was actually sold and they mannaged all our needs from airport transfer to hotel reservation.Enjoy your trip

Taxi from Munich to Kalovy Vary

hello

how can I arrange Taxi from Munich to Karlov Vary and what is the rate.

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I would ask in the Munich forum, but probably several hundred euros if you get a street taxi. There may be a local transport company, though. It takes about 3.5 hours driving.

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I think that much cheaper for you is to use some czech travel agency not taxi and mainly not german taxi!!!Their prices are horrible...Try to ask on marttour@email.cz for price.We used theyr services during our stay and there is nothing bad we can say about.

Reccomended Stopover when traveling from Vienna to Prague?

Hi guys,

My wife and I are planning on a trip to visit Vienna and Prague via train in early - mid November and have one day in the middle free so was wondering if anyone has any recommendations as to a possible stopover?

Was looking at staying a night in Salzburg or Cesky Krumlov before heading to Prague but I%26#39;m not if we%26#39;ll be creating more work for ourselves by doing so...anyone have any thoughts or other possible destinations?

Thanks! :)

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Getting to Cesky Krumlov from Vienna is tricky and time-consuming. You could do Salzburg - but it is quite expensive that way, and also quite time-consuming - €48 Vienna - Salzburg (buy on the day, no need to reserve), then it is 7 hours by train to Prague (from €29 - www.oebb.at)

Alternatively you could stop off in Brno scroll down to response no. 8 here tripadvisor.com/ShowTopic-g190454-i147-k3133… which is bang in the middle.

For a user-friendly overview of all times see www.idos.cz

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Hi exswoo,

Having one spare day and not visiting Salzburg would be a lost opportunity .Salzburg is a beautiful town worth visiting for its scenic beauty,its palaces and museums.Don%26#39;t miss it. ( I agree with GCEK that it is a detour and a bit costly.But again,are you going to come back to Austria in future ?Decide.

arvind

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Definitely you have to see Salzburg - if only for several hours. I did that a few years ago %26amp; I hope it still works. Buy a rail ticket Vienna/Salzburg/Prague; get it stamped in Salzburg that you are breaking the trip. After 4-5 hours get on the next train to Prague. In fact, if this %26quot;Break%26quot; still works, you could do it anywhere...Check the Austrian Forum as well...

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I would personally make a short (a few hours) stop at Tabor while travelling from Salzburg to Prague. Look at tabor.cz/en/…

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www.virtourist.com/europe/brno/index.html

The train from what I remember actually stops in Brno on the way from Vienna to Prague. Don%26#39;t forget there are more beautiful cities besides Prague in the Czech Republic that are worth visiting.

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Yes indeed - Brno is bang in the middle on the same route and nicer than Salzburg IMO. Also take a look on Google Earth.

Kings Court Hotel

DOes anyone know about the Kings Court Hotel?

It is a new (as in recently opened, the building is old) 5 star hotel we have booked through Expedia, which does not seem to have a review on here. It is on Namesti Republitski. We are staying there in early December

Here is the link to it:

preferredhotels.com/preferred_hotel/…

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The address is misspelled, but here it is...U Obecního domu 3, Praha 1

http://www.hotelkingscourt.cz/contact.html

The hotel is very well connected with Prague%26#39;s public transport. Metro and tram station, both called Namesti Republiky are about 50 m far from the hotel.- this taken right from:http://www.a-praha.com/hotel-kings-court

(great interactive map %26amp; description)

Hey, if I can google, so can you. Smashing Hotel by the look of it...

Public Transportation

Hello: What is the quickest form of public tranportation from the Prague Airport to the Hotel William in Mala Strada?

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Buy a metro ticket 26 crowns, cross the street to catch bus 119, validate it (yellow box on the bus), Dejvicka to Malostranska

guideprague.com/william/hotel-william-prague…

http://czech-transport.com

http://mapy.pampeliska.cz/ (aim at Prague, keep on clicking) to orient yourself

www.mapy.cz (similar maps)

myczechrepublic.com/prague/prague_metro.html

Metro Map: mappery.com/fullsize-name/Prague-Downtown-Me…

Also check other forums about transportation.

That should do it...

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Or you could also check the hotel`s page

williamhotelprague.com/Hotel_William_Prague_…

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They should update their page, some of the trams mentioned do not run anymore (23) and 26 is now on a different route.

from karlovy vary to prague aeroport

hello! what is the best way to get from karlovy vary to prague aeroport? thanks,m

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I think that a best way to get to airport is to use some travel agency and not TAXI!!!We payed nearly 300 us dolars when we came from airport to Karlovy Vary but when we was with one local travel agency on tour we found out that they offer same transfer for only like 120 dolars.I can send you contact if you wish.

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There is a direct bus www.studentagency.cz/express/vnitro/?%26en - it costs 110 Crowns (about 6 dollars) and is very comfortable with free refreshments, newspapers, etc.

Choose Praha Ruzyně Terminál 1 as your destination

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Sorry - I saw that was in response to a very old post, but if anyone else is thinking of doing the same - get a taxi or private car by all means if your pockets are very deep!

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I%26#39;m going to Karlovy Vary and Cesky Krumlov in two weeks, I checked the Student Agnecy URL you%26#39;ve attached but can%26#39;t find the fare from Praha to Cesky Krumlov. Do you know where I can find the bus fare? Thanks a lot!

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You have to fiddle with the above website a bit, i.e. trying to actually book a ticket. The price that I found was for next week and the cost was 110KC.

Give it a go.

Money

Should we take Euros, crowns, cards or travellers cheques?

How do I contact U Prince Hotel to request non-smoking room? (Forgot when booking) Anyone know e-mail address?

Any tips welcome

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Take your cashpoint card, and http://www.hoteluprince.com/hotel-en

Euros can be used in some places but at a poor rate of exchange, it will be expensive for you to buy Crowns at home (even more in the airport) and travellers cheques are useless.

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recepce@hoteluprince.cz

ATM=Bankomat, see other forums about that. Tell the bank you would be using credit %26amp; debit cards, etc., see other forums. Strange as it seems, the Travellers Cheques are popular again; good rate of exchange, if you get them free of charge (your bank decides..). Some banks now put a hefty fees on using ATM%26#39;s abroad. Check with your bank.

Prague Bachelor party

we are talking about trip in April to Prague. Anyone know if this would be a good place to do?

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Good cheap beer - but is the cost really worth it? You may have a cheaper alternative going to Myrtle Beach-some hotels charge only $58/night %26amp; may give you conference room free....Also, if one of you gets really out of control, it is harder to get out of trouble in another country. Other suggestions:

Ashville, Charlotte, Chapel Hil.

Sedlec Ossuary

Hi,

Does anyone know how to get from Andels hotel to Kutna Hora (Sedlec Ossuary) by public transit?

Thanks

Brian

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Metro from Andel to Hlavni nadrazi (central railway station) with a change at Florenc, then by train (circa 1 hour and about 100Kc per a single ticket)

jizdnirady.idnes.cz/vlakyautobusy/spojeni/

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http://www.cs.cmu.edu/~malin/pictures/kutna%20hora/khs.html

some pictures

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tripadvisor.com/ShowTopic-g274707-i96-k23092…

have a look at this link for some info on how to get to the bone Church from the train station in Kutna Hora,it really is very easy.

Kutna hora itself is a lovely little town and there is plenty to see and do to fill a whole day if you wish,some good bars too with prices a good deal cheaper than Prague.I have visited there twice in the last 3 years and enjoyed it very much both times.

tripadvisor.com/GoListDetail-i2106-Unclegus_…

this is a report from march 2006 ,most of the info is still relevant and there is a bit about my trip to Kutna hora and the Bone church,there are also several pics of the place in My Pictures ,some taken in late winter over three years ago some in early summer last year.

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I agree with UncleGus about Kutna Hora -- I wish we could have stayed longer. I was only there on a day trip, and it%26#39;s a pretty town. On the other hand, if you%26#39;re willing to rush through it, all the sights can pretty much be seen in a day trip.

The Ossuary is on the outskirts of town and is small (but still a don%26#39;t-miss!). The Santa Barbara gothic cathedral has some scaffolding on the outside, but if you%26#39;re creative you can get photos that don%26#39;t show it. :-) We were there a week ago.

Italian court (old mint) is also worth a tour. I think our guide%26#39;s name was Susan and she was good.

Trip Recap: Bike Trip from Prague to Dresden

My wife and I just returned from a six-day bike trip from Prague to Dresden. It was a self-guided tour, through the Greenways Travel Club based in the Czech Republic. Greenways provided the bikes, maps, a GPS, cell phone, and transported our luggage from hotel to hotel. The towns from Prague to Dresden were Melnik, Litomerice, Decin, and Bad Schandau.

The navigation was a little bit tricky, but quite do-able. If you are uncertain as to whether you can find you way, rest assured; you can do it. The whole trip was great fun. We were lucky with the weather, which was fabulous throughout.

The legs of the trip are short enough (15 to 39 miles) that there is time enough for site seeing and side trips. My wife and I are both quite fit, but we are in our fifties and do not ride our bikes regularly at home other than to get around town.

Other than in Prague and Dresden, we did the most in-town site-seeing in Melnik, visiting the cathedral and castle. Side trips included Tierzen and hiking up to see the natural bridge.

The bikes were of good quality and held up well. The luggage was always right on time, and the hotels were easy to find and high quality.

The company provided a lot of flexibility in the self-guided trip. We added extra nights in Prague, but we didn%26#39;t need a hotel in Dresden, because we were staying with friends. Neither the extra nights in Prague nor not wanting a hotel in Dresden was the least problem.

I would give the company high marks for its support.

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What a cool trip -- thank you for sharing! I have heard of that company. Would love to take a biking vacation -- I%26#39;ll file that one away for when I have some vacation built up again. :-)

Katlanta

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Wonderful report; you must be really fit... I know quite a few people who bike from Liberec/Zittau/Dresden, but I can%26#39;t imagine doing it from Prague...

I am surprised nobody commented....I guess we are all lazy...

First time to Prague trip report

My husband booked a short trip to Prague for my birthday. I found out I was going last Thursday, we left for Prague on Sunday and got home yesterday.

We had nothing but positive experiences and we are in love with the city.

My amazing husband booked the Golden Well Hotel and I have done a seperate review but it is just fantastic, I can%26#39;t say enough good things about it.

The highlight of our trip was a Segway tour, I would totally recommend it as a great way of seeing the city in a short time and then you can decide what to return to.

We are not museum fans but we enjoyed just walking round the streets, seeing the sights and enjoying the food and wine (Czech wine is very drinkable!) My favourite area was around the John Lennon Wall and the streets surrounding. If we had longer we would have gone to one of the concerts advertised all over the place.

We found everyone very friendly and helpful and the city very clean (I was a little concerned when I read there was a dog poo problem - we saw none) and the City is much cleaner than London with a relaxed atmosphere.

Definitely avoid the Charles Bridge in the middle of the day, it is crowded and frustrating particularly with the work being carried out (and the tour groups stopping in the middle of the bridge!)

The food was great, we ate at Ambiente Brasiliero and also at the Hotel Restaurant and both meals were great. Our final lunch at a local bar was also fantastic and just £15 for two with drinks.

We will definitely go back to Prague, it%26#39;s a beautiful city.

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Thanks for posting your report. As somebody who%26#39;s going for the first time over New Year, I really enjoyed reading it. Where did you book the segeway tour and was it a bus tour? I wouldn%26#39;t mind a tour of the city but not sure how to go about it. I wouldn%26#39;t want an open top bus as it will be freezing cold that time of year.

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We booked the tour from this website www.segwayfun.eu/en/index.php?what=home A Segway is like a large two wheel scooter that you control using your weight and the handlebars. It may be a bit chilly in the winter but still god fun!

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Nice report,can%26#39;t see myself on one of those Segways but i will have a look for the John lennon wall and watch out for the dog poo!

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Nice report and lucky you for having such a great husband!Perhaps you can return the favor for his birthday ..any excuse to go back!!:0)

TORII

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bevldavies - careful - the wine was almost certainly Moravian, not Czech :) (like calling Scotch Whisky English)

Pedantry over - good report and glad you enjoyed it!

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potsko

Trip advisor do not look kindly on self promotion and advertising especialy when it has nothing to do with the original post,I think your posts will be removed .

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Oops I didn%26#39;t look too closely at the wine label but was told it was local! It was still yummy though :-)

I do feel guilty - I took hubby to a restaurant and got him so drunk he doesn%26#39;t remember it and I got taken to Prague!!

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%26lt;%26lt;%26lt;I took hubby to a restaurant and got him so drunk he doesn%26#39;t remember it and I got taken to Prague!!%26gt;%26gt;

You sound like my kind of travelling companion LOL!

TORII

www.snowprague.com reviews?

Hi

Just wondering if anyone has used their services. I have never skied before apart from on a dry ski slope!

I%26#39;m planning to go in Jan and their prices seems pretty good for one/two day trips which is ideal for my needs.

Any good/bad experiences? can%26#39;t seem to find any reviews online

Cheers!

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From what I can see this company offers stays in Prague and combining the stay with skiing. Prague is not a ski resort and you would spend most of your day travelling. It seems a bit misleading to me.

Take a look through this for some more detailed information on skiing expats.cz/prague/…

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I can%26#39;t imagine where they%26#39;d take you which is half an hour from Prague (even though they probably mean Cerny Most). Probably some village slope with a single lift.

The only interesting offer which you may follow up is the one in Harrachov. Harrachov is a pretty decent resort in Krkonose, snow is almost guaranteed.

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Thanks guys!

Would not have noticed that myself. So it looks like the 2 day thing includes stay as well in the ski resort, will email to get more info now.

Thanks again!

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I would ask if they could provide me with a list of satisfied customers. Maybe I am skeptical, but Harrachov is definitely not half an hour from Prague. Even Liberec takes over an hour (quite a few people go there to ski, taking the student agy bus)...

Where should we stay in Prague!? renting an apartment///

I am going for a week; renting an apartment but need to know what the %26quot;hot areas%26quot; are in prague...I need to be close to the restaurants, the upscale nightlife, etc etc.... so is that OLD town? new town? where??? the condos will say where they are but where do i WANT to stay?

THANKS!

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Check a few maps

mapy.cz or google it

I would suggest Praha 1; generally speaking Old Town... but check several current forums; many links..

Prague is quite compact with excellent metro system - nothing would be that far...

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I%26#39;ve found the forum listing title:

Prague Forum: 3 guys in Prague need good bar and restuarant help

Great answers...

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http://www.appartamentipraga.cz/

Mala Strana below the castle--easy to get around by foot or tram

ask for their specials

also:

www.roomsinprague.com

one block over--not as fancy but as convenient

email Josef for specials

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www.happyprague.com

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not to staff off tripadvisor, www.happypraha.com is not my web page.

Its only my last apartement that i took my user name from...

Christmas Eve Prague to Salzburg

we (3) are hoping to take the train from Prague to Salzburg on Christmas Eve.

Can we just buy the ticket at the station there or should we pre purchase it on one of the web sites.

Any suggestions/ recommendations greatly appreciated.

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The only direct train which departs Prague for Salzburg leaves Prague at 7.14. You can buy this ticket for 19 euros from the Czech Railways website eshop 60 days in advance of travel. Tickets on any other trains don%26#39;t have a special price so might just as well buy it on the day.

However, should you search for departure on 24th december, you will not find any information because each year the timetable changes on about 13th December and will be implemented a couple weeks before this date.

The German railways website gets usually update much earlier than the Czech one, so you could look for any connections there

.http://www.bahn.de/international/view/en/index.shtml

www.cd.cz/static/eng/onlineservices2.htm

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There should be no longer any direct daily train from Prague to Salzburg, one will have to change in Linz. The afternoon train (arriving about midnight) should remain, but I%26#39;m really not sure if it will go even on Dec 24th/25th. Be careful about that date while travelling all over Europe.

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Yes, there may not be a direct train after 12st December, need to wait for the new timetable

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NB %26#39;Christmas Eve%26#39; as we know it, i.e. 24th December, is the equivalent of our %26#39;Christmas Day%26#39; in much of Central Europe.

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Many thanks for your help...I%26#39;ll keep a watch on the German rail site but might now also look at flying.

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Flying isn%26#39;t an option, unless you hire a private jet :)

privejets.com/airport_directory/…

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looking at the prices, maybe it was a private jet!! Think I%26#39;ll wait for the new timetable for after 12Dec and stick with the train.

$349 Euro for 1st class sleeper train.

My wife and I are going to be in Prague this July. We want to reserve an overnight sleeper train to Krakow, Poland during the middle of the week. RailEurope just sent an email saying that it would be 349 euro for two. Does this price seem right or could we get it cheaper buying it in Prague. We will only be in Prague for two nights and three full days so we have limited time to prebuy tickets if the train is full. Thanks for any advice.

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Leave raileurope well alone - they are an absolute rip-off and charge ridiculous prices. Tickets for this train are not available on-line, but you can buy it on the day, or if you want to be absolutely sure a couple of days before in Prague at the main station, with no problem. IMO There is also no need to go first class as the standard is very similar in second but a lot cheaper. They all arrive at the same time :)

If you get the day train (which IS available on-line) it costs €19 each. I reckon it should cost you about €60 each for a perfectly good sleeper compartment which looks like this www.vagonweb.cz/fotogalerie/CZ/CD_WLABmz.php

1st class shouldn%26#39;t cost more than €100 each but honestly, save your money!

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Excellent, thank you for the information. I think we will wait to buy all our train tickets once we get there. Again, thanks.

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If you want a sleeper book it at the first possible moment as they are limited and sell out. They may be a little more at raileurope but surely beat a seat in a crowded compartment with no space for luggage.

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You call €200 on top of the real price a little more? :)

The places on this sleeper in theory can sell out, but it would have to be exceptional - in addition to the sleeper car there is a couchette car, two 2nd class carriages and one 1st class carriage and so there is more than enough for all passengers. Did you have a particular experience with the sleeping berths being %26#39;sold out%26#39; on the night train?

And as for luggage storage, if you are unlucky enough not to get either a sleeper or couchette place (I can%26#39;t imagine such a scenario), the seating carriages are even less likely to be crowded and there is plenty of luggage storage space in the overhead racks. Just get to the station about 20 minutes before departure and you will find that the train is empty so you can choose a seat (and luggage storage space) at your leisure.

It is a different matter for the day train, though - tickets cost from €19 here https:/… and these can and should be bought in advance in order to get the best price.

As the night train tickets are not available on-line, the vast majority of potential travellers will book this a couple of

http://razeni.idos.cz/raz.aspx?cmd=cmdSearch%26amp;s=Praha+hl.n.%26amp;t=201%26amp;date=09.10.2009%26amp;idos=true

If you really want to get a ticket beforehand and do not want to pay Raileurope prices, contact www.polrail.com who only charge a small commission and can send you the tickets by post.

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Sorry, I missed a bit off there: %26#39;As the night train tickets are not available on-line, the vast majority of potential travellers will book this a couple of days in advance%26#39;

travel next week

This time next week I will be walking around Prague with my sister.

Got new passport - 10 years left on it (should be enough!!)

EHIC card - UK traveler

Currency already got.

Flights and hotel booked

Airport Transfers booked

Credit and debit cards coming with me

Have started to think about packing things but forecasts are currently very conflicting with some sites saying temps up to 14c and others saying 7c. Also some saying rain and others saying just cloud. Guess a reliable forecast is difficult to find. Just hoping that we dont get too much rain especially if temperatures are around 7c.

Janet

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Weather is fluctuating wildly - a couple of days ago it was 25C! Nobody is able to provide a totally reliable weather forecast.

Check the 10-day forecast here http://pocasi.idnes.cz/ but don%26#39;t count on it 100%. Looks like next week might be on the chilly side.

beware inspectors on metro subway

My friend and i have just returned from our first visit to one of the most beautiful architectual cities we have seen , Prague ,on saying that we encountered the most ruddest inspector anyone could wish to meet.We took full responsability that our ticket had elapsed by mistake, but the man in question would%26#39;nt let us explain and told us if we did%26#39;nt want to adere by the rules of the country we should nt visit.We are both pensioners and as we dont feel we should get any different treatment feel we should have been shown a little respect.The moral of the story is please check the times of your ticket or you will be fined a very large amount as we encountered and be very upset by the incident.

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Hello Eve and welcome to the Prague forums.

What a shame this has happened to you and thanks for bringing it to our attention again. There have been many posts on this subject in the past on this forum

and here is a link to one of them.

tripadvisor.co.uk/ShowTopic-g274707-i96-k166…

TORII

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Unfortunately Czech law is quite inflexible (at least inspectors have the discretion to be flexible but generally are not - much like wheel-clampers or traffic wardens in the UK). The same is true in all the former Austro-Hungarian countries - Austria is probably the worst of the lot.

They take the view that you have committed a crime and you must be suitably punished, and no explanations will be allowed - especially if you are a foreigner.

It is unfortunate that this happened to you - my mother has been caught about three times now when she comes to visit, but she will never learn... :)

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It is quite a common topic on here,and I always warn friends and family who are visiting Prague to make sure they have valid tickets for the trams and metro.

I have travelled to Prague on many occasions and at various times of the year always using the public transport system.I have never even seen an Inspector never mind been approached by one,maybe just luck on my part,but i have always had a valid ticket.

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Does a 3-day pass need to be validated?

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YES!,validatte it at the fist form of tansport you use.

that will either be at the entrance to the Metro,before you go down the escalator or on the machines on the trams,thay are all pretty obvious.

there is a picture of what the validation machines look like on this link.

www.prague.net/public-transport-tickets

you only need to validate (time and date stamp) it once and your time starts form the time of validation.

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Before you get a 3-day pass, think about whether you really will need one - will you be doing a lot of travel? Are you staying in or near the centre? If the latter is true, just get a couple of single tickets when you arrive as you will be walking for most of the time (unless you have any particular difficulties, in which case get a pass).

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Also consider that a three-day ticket costs 330 CZK as opposed to 100 CZK for the one day ticket. The former is only worthwhile if you want to take advantage of the clause that allows a child to accompany you on the same ticket at weekends and public holidays.

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Wow, thanks for the updates to our travel guides! Clearly there is no sense buying a 3 day pass. And we will decide each day whether we need a full day pass.

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Thanks for all this insight! We are visiting at the end of the month and it is very useful to know that kids can travel for free at the week-end when accompanied by an adult bearing a 3-day pass. Having said that, we will be staying just off Old Town Square and only be in Prague for 2,5 days which means we will have to focus on the main sightseeing sites. Do you think a pass is convenient or can we easily walk everywhere, e.g. from Old Town to Petrin Hill or Prague Castle? (please don%26#39;t laugh: I don%26#39;t have a clue about distances!). We love walking, but there will be 3 kids + a senior in our party... Any advice will be greatly appreciated!

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I don%26#39;t think you will need a pass - just a couple of single tickets will do if you are staying in the centre, which is quite compact and most of the major sites are within walking distance. The only thing is maybe getting up to the castle - there are a lot of steps involved, in which case there is a tram that goes around and up to close to the castle from Malostranská nos. 1, 8, 18 or 22 (18 Crowns adult, 9 for a child - 4 minute journey)

Brief trip report 2 nights in Prague

Thank you to all recent contributors on this forum as it made a big difference to the quality of our 2 night weekend in Prague.

Highlights of the weekend in no particular order were as follows:

1. Food - our meal at the Lehka Hlava (superb vegetarian food, wine and atmosphere).

2. Cafe – Slavia. Once per trip for nostalgia. Closely followed by Bakeshop Praha for its quality.

3. Hotel - Andel’s on Stroupeznickeho (careful as 2 very different hotels with similar names).

4. Funniest moment – deliberately waiting outside the Lehka Hlava looking at the vegetarian menu waiting for someone to leave the restaurant so I could ask if they enjoyed it, only when that moment arrived to be told it was ok but no meat – how wonderful! We went straight on in.

5. Best value - the transport network i.e. metro and trams. Very easy to navigate too.

6. Best view – Petrin Observation deck, terrace restaurant at Strahov Monastery.

7. A bit of fun – watching the people rather than the clock at the Astronomical Clock in Old Town Square.

8. Biggest surprise – the quality of food and beer at the stalls in Old Town Square.

9. Most used phrase – time for a drink as my feet are hurting.

10. Luckiest – weather was great as it did not rain (early October!).

11. Once only – the unconventional commentary from Isaac on the Sandemans free walking tour. I think the tour is a type of therapy for him! Fun, slightly eccentric, self-reflecting, entertaining, left me wanting more detail on the history and sights. Some people will love it and some will not. It was free and I had the choice to stay or leave. I stayed for three and a half hours as did nearly everyone, so big thanks to Isaac.

12. The 4 hours we spent at the Jewish Museum (with hindsight I would have bought a good guide book to keep rather than the expensive disjointed audio commentary).

I am sure I will return, despite the competition from Barcelona, Rome, Paris, London………

|||

Great report; I am glad you had a great time. As you liked the public transportation, please post it on the forum about the Inspectors....

|||

Nice report ,thanks for sharing.

TORII

|||

Going in couple of weeks-thanks for a great report-sounds amazing. Is the vegetarian resturant close to Old Town Square? Any good bars you would recommend? Do you need travelpass or is everything close enough? Many thanks

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Yes, restaurant is within 10 minutes walking distance of Old Town Square, but you will need a map to find as it is down a small side street. Put the address (Borsov 2/280, Prague) into Google maps. There are more reviews under %26quot; Prague Restaurants%26quot; section on this site.

The only place we drank beer in town was on the old town square because the weather was great. We went in a fair few bars between town and our hotel at Andel, Praha 5. We chose bars by the brand of beer we liked - Pilsner Urquell - and just went in asking for 2 beers please (in Czech, probably very poorly pronounced but understood as the beer turned up!). Paid between 33 and 40 Kc for 0.5litres. Wouldn%26#39;t have a clue what the bars were called. All bars we visited were smoking establishments (though veggie restaurant was non - smoking).

Travel pass depends on so many factors, such as where your hotel is, how you are getting from the airport to your hotel, whether kids/suitcases are involved, what you want to visit and where you are going! We used two one day passes at 100Kc each to co-incide with the airport trips at the beginning and end of our weekend. Probably didn%26#39;t do enough to make it cost effective but at that price, the convenience of not having to buy multiple tickets made it worthwhile. In between we walked - and we were not staying centrally. Always remember to validate your ticket on first use in the yellow machine at the metro entrance/on the bus. The ticket has arrows and a blank space for the time stamp so it is easy to work out what to do.

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http://www.lehkahlava.cz/en_kontakt.htm

Prague to Passau

Has anyone used a company to transfer from Prague to Passau? I%26#39;ve heard of discoverczech.com. Has anyone used them?

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Personally, I have never used them; prefer trains, but I know of somebody who used www.prague-airport-transfers.co.uk/passau.htm when she missed a train....Post it also on the other side....

|||

thank you. That website looks perfect for us. Do you recommend train service from Prague to Passau?

|||

Here%26#39;s a sort of similar post if you feel like being adventurous :) tripadvisor.com/ShowTopic-g274688-i1988-k266…

It%26#39;s not an easy place to reach from Prague, largely due to the lack of major roads, no railway and also the considerable forested highlands in the way ...

|||

sounds too complicated for me. I think we%26#39;ll stick with prague-airport-transfer. I read someone had trouble with them accepting credit cards. So we%26#39;ll just bring cash for that.

any other advice?

|||

GCEK is right; I guess the train schedules changed; it is now at least 6 hours 20 mins (for only 330 km?), fares from 48 Euros (on Deutschebahn). Changing trains, etc. Stick with a reputable co. Hopefully somebody else who used either of the 2 recently can advise..

|||

I forgot this web - some useful info.

http://wikitravel.org/en/Passau

To GCEK - interesting link you gave....

|||

http://prague-airport-shuttle.com/ - you might consider this company for Passau transfer.

|||

Here is another possible connection:

Student Agency coach to Regensburg 07.30-11.30 35€

Onwards with train 12.01-13.36 (one change) 20.50€

But its still 6 hours!

|||

No, Passau is not an easy or quick way to get to, even by car it is probably close to 4 hours, but a lovely town worth visit.

|||

I am guessing that you are going to get on a river cruise. Whomever you take, if you are planning to pay in a foreign currency be sure they give you the correct rate as some websites do not update their foreign currency prices and thus are a bit misleading. Be sure they take you via Freyung as it is a beautiful area.

Stadion Eden

Hi all. Heading to Prague next week for the football.

I just want to ask a few questions about the ground.

1. Is there bus links or tram links from the old town square to the ground and return late at night.

2. Is there any pubs, bars in or around the ground.

Thanks for the help.

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It has been a while since I was out in that area ,i was in the old stadium just before it was pulled down to make way for this magnificent new one.

Trams 6,7,22 and 24 should get you pretty close, ie within a couple of hunderd yards,maybe a local can confirm the tram numbers as my map may be a bit out of date.

Plenty of bars in the area from what i remember,nothing that I particularly remember ,but from my experience you never have to walk far in Prague to find a beer.

You should be able to get a beer in the ground as well,again hopefully a local can confirm this,certianly all the other grounds I have been to beer was available.

|||

From Staromestske namesti, it might even be the best to take the metro from Staromestska to Strasnicka direction Hostivar and walk to Slavia, about half a mile. Quite a number of watering holes on route.

Another possibility without a change is tram 24 from Masakykovo nadrazi, about 15 minutes walk from the Old Town Square. Or metro from Staromestska to Namesti Miru and change to tram 22... endless choice.

You probably won%26#39;t be able to get a drink inside the ground, Fifa rules I believe. But under the stands from outside is a Hotel which has a bar, so maybe there?? Also mcdonalds which are next to the hotel used to serve beer, not sure whether they still do.

There will be something open for drinks fear not!

idos.dpp.cz/IDOS/ConnForm.aspx?tt=pid%26cl=E5

|||

and as for the stadium, it is nothing special, just a concrete structure which could be anywhere in Europe. The old ground was special, this one...??

|||

Cheers for the info.

As for the ground i thought it looked good, but then iam used to Windsor Park in Belfast.

|||

as I said i was in the old ground years ago and it reminded me of the old fashioned 2nd division Scotitsh grounds,this new stadium looks amazing and I will hopefully be able to see a game there next year when i visit.

one thing to remember is to check exactly when the game is being played ,some start as early as 10.30 am and some as late as 5.00pm,the times can change at short notice

|||

hmm, 15 years ago I%26#39;d have been impressed with Eden, but as so many new stadiums have been built in Europe recently, it is the same blue print. No character, no history, although perhaps more family friendly and corporate.

|||

we used to say that about all the Scottish stadiums where we stood on the terraces to enjoy the match,but in fact they where dirty run down hovels with open air toilets and facilities that would have look bad in medieval times.

I must admit I enjoy vitisting Tynecastle stadium (Heart of Midlothian) much more now than i did nearly 40 years ago when i was a teenager.Mind you we still play cr*p football.

maybe it is just old age!

|||

I think the Eden stadium looks pretty magnificent in comparison, but then some people prefer windswept non-league grounds with a beer and a sausage and the salt of the earth, eh KVKFAN? :)

I used to support Oxford United in their sloping Manor Ground days when they played in the %26#39;proper%26#39; first division - now THAT was something ...

|||

You might then still enjoy Oxford City, the burgers are pretty good and the ground have not seen a coat of paint in years.

Downtown prague Hotel (Praha 1)

Hi all,

due to go to Prague on 3.11.2009, we are staying at the Downtown Prague Hotel, could anybody please tell me what Metro station to get of? also directions.

Regards

Oddjob

|||

www.mapy.cz

find Prague

find your street

find your hotel

find metro

|||

hotel-downtown.info/en/…map-and-directions

even easier!

|||

pragueexperience.com/travel_flights/public_t…

www.pragueexperience.com/maps/metro.asp

guideprague.com/downtown/hotel-downtown-prag…

Muzeum stop - if you take bus 119 from Terminal 1 or 2 to Dejvicka (last stop) then it%26#39;s 5th stop on B line.

Stop between Prague and Passau

Does anyone recommend a lunch stop between Prague and Passau?

|||

How will you be travelling? If by car then when you get peckish just stop off at any restaurant that you see and you can%26#39;t go wrong.

There seems to be a flood of Prague - Passau posts at the moment - as previously explained it is time-consuming and expensive to travel between the two places due to the geographical constraints, meaning no main roads or rail routes.

|||

From your earlier post I believe that you are hiring a shuttle? Then any driver worth his salt should be able to direct you to the best place to stop. As someone suggested previously, a good place to stop would be Freyung, just past the Czech/German border, about 30 kilometres north of Passau. But you would have been on the road for close to 3 hours by then and the food on the German side would be more expensive :)

|||

thanks for response. We are taking a shuttle and will ask the driver for restaurants suggestions.. We are looking forward to seeing the towns between Prague and Passau. Cruise lines are having discounts now and that might be why people are interested in seeing Prague before starting cruise in Passau.

|||

There aren%26#39;t many towns to speak of in between the two places - only Strakonice and Vimperk vimperk.cz/142/en/normal/vimperk-s-history/ - this one looks quite nice in Vimperk http://www.hotelterasa.cz/index4_en.htm but other than that there isn%26#39;t a lot of choice.

|||

Vimperk looks great. perfect for a stop. Thanks for helping

Simple instruction to withdraw money from ATM in Czech?

Hi, I don%26#39;t know too much about Czech (try to learn some simple words) Can somebody provide some simple instruction how to read and withdraw money from ATM by reading in Czech? or point me to the similar discussed thread. Thanks in advance!

|||

you will find several language options at most ATMs,just follow them.

I have used ATMs in Prague many times over the years without a problem

|||

The instructions will come up instantly in English in many cases, and then you just select the English button (the Union flag, rather than the stars and stripes - this is Europe, after all :) )

Couldn%26#39;t be simpler.

|||

If you see a sign for Bankomaty this is also an ATM.

TORII

|||

And if you are looking for one, that is the word to use %26#39;i.e. Bankomat%26#39;. %26#39;ATM%26#39; isn%26#39;t widely understood or used.

|||

Thank you all!

|||

The ATM%26#39;s instructions are similar to new Wells Fargo/Wachovia; known as Bankomaty. Call the 1-800 number to the bank that issued your ATM, let them know you will be travelling (which country), keep numbers of cr. %26amp; debit cards (scrambled or backwards) somewhere safe; same as passport numbers, etc. Good advice for any country...Have Fun (buy something or ask any bank to give you smaller bills..)

|||

good advice, thanks

Shopping.

Are small leather goods such as bags, purses, clutches and gloves cheap in Prague? I can´t find any information on the Internet concerning these goods :)

I have been told that I should stay away from the %26quot;yellow%26quot; market - why is that?

|||

I think you%26#39;ll find all sorts of prices, from quite cheap to stupidly expensive. It depends on what you want in terms of quality, design and brand.

My advice, check prices for those goods at home before you leave and then see what you find here in Prague. If they are cheaper, you buy some, otherwise, you buy it at home.

Na Zdraví!

|||

I%26#39;ve never heard of it referred to as such, but the %26#39;yellow%26#39; market probably means the numerous Vietnamese stalls - sure it is cheap, but don%26#39;t expect anything that is top quality.

What you should stay clear of, though, is the mafia market, i.e. most of the tacky souvenir shops, especially down Karlova, etc.

|||

There are a few shoe shops on Narodni Trida that sell cheaper shoes and theres also Tesco ,most of the other shoe shops and there are many are quite expensive,There is a nice bag and luggage shop on Ríjna .

TORII

|||

Yellow market is very derogotary term for small Vietnamese vendors. I don%26#39;t think it should be used here or anywhere else....

Purses, leather goods: the best ones I found a few years ago were in:

Liberec %26amp; small place Czech/Moravian border called Hlinsko v Cechach.

But you get what you pay for....

|||

quality leather shop

http://www.ceskakuze.cz/

near Palladium Shopping center

.........

probably cheaper here

www.bilalabut.cz

|||

Thank you! :D

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Do you know the U Prince Hotel in Prague?

This is an unusual request. Taking hubby for 60th birthday surprise next October to Prague and fancy the U Prince Hotel. Looking at the pic of the restaurant are there any stuffed animals on the walls as I have a phobia and will definitely not be booking this hotel if there are any!!! Please can anyone tell me who has stayed there.

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I cant remember any but I can tell you the chairs you sit on are covered in black and white cow hide..

TORII

|||

off hand, I don%26#39;t recollect any stuffed animals. (reminder that most of the castles here have hunting/trophy rooms.)

..

don%26#39;t forget to visit their terrace restaurant if the weather permits

|||

check the reviews on this site ,they are not great.ive had a good look around the place as we considered it for our wedding night ,it looks nice but seems overpriced ,the rooftop restaurant is a great spot but i have eaten there and didnt find the food anything special but top location though..

|||

Great Location, but if you are vegetarian or have a phobia, avoid. I recall hunting trophies rather than stuffed animals, but the eyes....

Also the conference room had the most uncomfortable chairs;

I would pick a different place...

|||

You will have no problem if you are a vegetarian at the U Prince there are choices for all and my daughter who is vegetarian was very satisfide.

TORII

|||

Thanks. It%26#39;s heads on the wall as well as the whole stuffed animal I%26#39;m frightened of!!! So will definitely avoid the U Prince. May go for the Cerna Liska although that has a basement cellar for breakfast as well!!!!!!

|||

http://www.grandhotelpraha.cz/en/

I don%26#39;t think they have stuffed animals, you may want to check. It is a very pretty hotel.

|||

Hi have booked the U Prince following friends recommendation. Do you know if the bedrooms are non smoking? If not does anyone know their e-mail address so I can request non smoking. Thanks

|||

Note to SuzyQ - don%26#39;t even think of going to Karlštejn or Konopiště if stuffed animals worry you :) Franz Ferdinand (not the band :) ) and his ilk single-handedly rendered the local wildlife extinct and stuck it on the walls of the aforementioned castles.

|||

did a walk by SAT, there are no stuffed animals in the bar/restaurant or lounge area....I doubt they have animals in the rooms, it wouldn%26#39;t go with the motif....a phone call re: rooms would be all it takes to verify

Dilemma Please Help With Your Advice

We will be coming from a river cruise in Passau to Munich.

DH wants to see Dachau and I want to go to Prague.

We get off the ship in Passau on Sunday morning and we have to fly home on Wed.

The ship offers an extension to Prague but since we would like to make a stop at Dachau we won%26#39;t be able to go with the ship extension.

My question is: Is Passau to Dachau to Prague doable in the time limits that we have? If so, how should we get around, trains, rent a car, etc? And how much will it cost?

Or should we skip Dahau and go to Prague and just take the ship%26#39;s extenion?

I%26#39;ve got to decide soon as I%26#39;ve got to book airfare. Thanks for your help

|||

It is possible but pushing it - I am sure that from Passau to Munich it is not a problem, and then it is a short distance from there to Dachau. From Munich there are direct trains to Prague which if you travel with the Bayern-Bohmen ticket and ticket from Plzeň it costs about €12 each (the bayern-bohmen ticket is valid for up to five of you, and you qualify for a group discount from Plzen to Prague)

To be honest Dachau is just a monument and a museum - it was mostly destroyed after the war - so unless you have some personal family reason to go there it is quite a big detour and would involve a lot of travelling if you want to see Prague as well. As in a recent previous post, getting from Passau to Prague is tricky in itself as there are no main roads or railways in between the places and it takes about 4 hours each way.

If you wanted to see Dachau, I would do Munich instead of Prague, otherwise just go to Prague, but bear in mind the difficulties getting there - from what I have seen the ship %26#39;extensions%26#39; are generally wildly overpriced, so would have to weigh up whether it is worth it to you - mind you, a private car transfer (there are no feasible buses or trains) costs in excess of $200, so their side trip might be better value...

Where are you flying back from? If from Munich, bear in mind it takes 7 hours by train from Prague - car would possibly be a non-starter as German rental agencies don%26#39;t always allow you to take cars into the Czech Republic, and it would not be advisable if it is your first time - both Prague and Munich are a nightmare if you are unfamiliar (andd even if you are familiar :) )

|||

Rented cars in Germany are possible to be taken across to Cz; not all companies like to do it, but we did it several times...

River cruise extensions are rip off (not personal experience, but a friend of mine swears by it)..

Cannot comment on Dachau, but Terezin is worthwhile visiting...

jewishvirtuallibrary.org/jsource/Holocaust/t… -

Come up with an itinerary with plan B or C.....due to time constraint, you may have to limit the number of places you will see...

Seat Selection on Train

Thank you for all the great information you have provided on booking train travel. I have not been able to find anything related to seating so hopefully I%26#39;m not repeating a post.

I will be booking a ticket from the Cd website this week for early December and have a question on seating. I will be traveling alone from Prague to Vienna on either the 8:30 Franz Schubert train or 10:57 Antonín Dvořák train.

I%26#39;m flexible on arrival time so is there any benefit to one of these trains vs. the other.

Also, I will have luggage and travel alone. Is there a particular car or seat that I should try to reserve?

Thanks for your advice.

|||

The 0830 is a normal express and takes 4.5 hours, and the 1057 is an express %26#39;Pendolino%26#39; train that takes 4 hours. If you want to have a couple more hours in Vienna I would get the early one.

As for reserving a seat it doesn%26#39;t really matter on the Pendolino as they are all the same. On the early one you can reserve where you like and if you don%26#39;t like the one that you have chosen, just sit somewhere else - you will find that very few people reserve on the train, it just happens that a reservation is thrown in on the on-line booking option.

If you are in a compartment (my particular preference, and only available on the early train), your luggage goes above your head in the rack. Otherwise in a coach car it goes in the luggage rack at the end of the carriage or in between the seats. There are also overhead racks.

One tip is not to take too much luggage with you on European trains as getting up on board can mean that you rely on others to help you as there are two or three steep steps up to the carriage - in 90% of cases this is not a problem, though. The other thing is that many of the older stations do not have lifts or escalators up to the platform so you have to lug your stuff around.

Travelling on your own can only be a positive thing - you have the chance to meet other travellers and exchange stories. I have made some very good and interesting acquaintances over the years travelling this way.

NB in early December they are due to start re-modelling the Vienna railway stations which may mean that you will have to get off at Wien-Meidling (which is sometimes better and quicker anyway if you want to get to the centre). They will let you know at the time, though - no need to worry about that.

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GCEC - Thank you for the information! I love traveling alone.

I try to pack light but in the winter I need a slightly larger bag.

I bought a new piece of mid-sized luggage last year and would recommend to anyone. It%26#39;s called a Spinner. It has 4 small wheels and you can roll it in any directions and roll flat. Works great on trains. You can roll flat with the skinny side facing you so you fit easy down the aisle. Also, we you roll flat on all 4 wheels you don%26#39;t have to support as much weight as when you tilt it on 2.

Thanks again for the information.

|||

Hi AnnedinVirginia, can I ask what website you booked this train. I am trying to orgainise my trip at the moment but cant find any websites that will allow me to book anything past the 12th December

Thanks

|||

https:/…

but give it a few more weeks - the timetables aren%26#39;t out yet, and work is going to start in Vienna on the new rail hub.

Don%26#39;t worry - seats are always available on these trains and you can book them up to three days before travel at the lower prices. Otherwise on the day they cost more.

|||

Thanks so much GCEK...

I have another question that you may be able to help me with. We need to make our way from Krakow to Kranjska Gora or a town /rail station close to it in Slovenia via a sleeper train, preferably a 2 bed sleeper. Do you know if this is possible and what the best route and is to take. How would the the best way to book this trip as well (internet, raileurope, at the station in Krakow)?

Also, Is the work being carried out in Vienna likely to disrupt these travel plans?

Thanks a lot, look forward to hearing back from you

|||

I don%26#39;t think Kranjska Gora has a rail link - from looking at a map Villach in Austria appears to be closest, but I don%26#39;t know what the links are like between the two places. There is an overnight train from Krakow to Vienna, which you will have to buy in Krakow as it is not available on-line, or contact www.polrail.com which will charge you a small commission, but is not nearly the massive rip-off which is Rail Europe - stay well clear of them. I had a look at the Australian RE website recently and it is a disgrace - full of untruths and misleading information (plus the hugely over-inflated prices).

From Vienna to Villach you can buy a ticket here www.oebb.at but you can just as easily buy this ticket on the day as it would cost the same and seats do not sell out.

As for the disruption in Vienna - I have no idea how it will affect things, but ask Mikey in the Vienna forum.

Bridal Wear

Has anyone (from U.K.) made a trip to Prague for the purchase of their wedding dress? I%26#39;ve been told that the selection of designs is fantasic %26amp; prices far less expensive over there, even taking into account the flight %26amp; accommodation compared tfor these.

Thanks - Mak

|||

Check this with Google Translate:

http://www.svatebnisaty.net/

Made to Measure wedding, prom, ballroom dresses...

|||

They also have Bridalwear in the Bila Labut store.

http://www.bilalabut.cz/index_en.htm

Which cities in January?

Planning a midwinter vacation. Only have time to visit two cities in Central Europe. Which two would you choose: Prague, Munich, Vienna, or Budapest?

|||

How long have you got, and where are you flying to and from?

|||

I like Prague %26amp; Budapest; depending on your time schedule you could do all 4...

|||

#1: I have about 5-6 days in total to spend. Flying in from London and returning there (for long-haul connection to Asia).

|||

In that case you can only do 2 cities. Perhaps Vienna %26amp; Prague. I would suggest reading other Czech forums, then post in the other ones, as well. Also look at some links to maps. Decide which city interests you most, then check distances, mode of travel, etc. E.g. if you really want to see Vienna %26amp; spend most of your time there, Budapest, as well as Bratislava or Brno are not too far.

http://www.mapy.cz

|||

First I would say Prague without question. Then, I would say Vienna or Budapest. Vienna is quite wonderful and has culture and musuems and wonderful food and it%26#39;s western europe and you will have to deal with the euro...and it%26#39;s price point. Budapest however is nice and has a lower price point but there is a difference between eastern and western europe. That being said, I think if I had not been to any of these cities, I would go with Prague and Vienna.

|||

Is your five days including the days you will spend in London transferring? Will you be flying to Prague from the same airport that you flew in to from Asia? If not then it can be an almighty hassle and expense getting from one %26#39;London%26#39; airport to another.

If you choose Prague and you really want to see another of those cities, then Vienna, but consider that it takes at least 4 hours to travel between the two places - ticket here https:/… €19

The two cities that are nearest to each other are Vienna and Budapest so logistically that would make more sense if you want to see two.

If I were you I would choose just one of them, and for that you can toss a coin...

Value of dollar after commission.

I am going to Prague in 3 weeks and I need to know how much I get for one dolar in the Banks or in exchange places after all the commission, Please help., my bank here give me 15 K. for one dolar including everything. I s this a good deal.? Thanks again

|||

The exchange rate is around 17CZK to the USD, if I remember well, but at some places you%26#39;ll get quite a bit less than that.

As for your question. 15CZK is quite low, but not much lower than what I reckon you%26#39;ll get at the airport once you arrive. So if I was you, I%26#39;ll exchange a few Dollars just to have enough cash to be able to get to your hotel and maybe buy something to eat. Then you can choose a place to change in the centre.

One piece of advice. ALWAYS ask how much you%26#39;ll get before changing.

|||

Thanks very much. I will follow your advice.

|||

Thanks very much. I will follow your advice.

|||

Thanks very much. I will follow your advice.

|||

You should get a better rate of exchange using an ATM (bankomat) - even after any bank charges have been taken off it is better than changing %26#39;on the street%26#39;, unless you are exchanging a lot, in which case you are in a better position to bargain.

|||

That actually will depend a lot on how much the bank will charge him for withdrawing overseas, which in some cases can be a lot of money. But it%26#39;s another possibility and rafran could ask the bank

|||

ATM gives the best rate of exchange even if they charge fees %26amp; % commission. If you have several ATM%26#39; Cards pick the one that takes less than 3%

Also, tell the bank that you are travelling to Czech Rep; the worst nightmare (which happened to me in Summer ) is that the bank thinks the card was stolen etc. %26amp; does not give you the money. Since the dollar%26#39;s %26amp; banks%26#39; collapse, I use ATM only once during my stay %26amp; now carry again the travellers checks. Like in the Olden days... But it really works the best.

Transport from Airport to Andels Hotel

We will be arriving mid morning and are looking for the cheapest and easiest way to get from the airport to Andels.

Dont mind using public transport as we will be travelling light. Any suggestions will be appreciated. Thanks

|||

Andels hotel is near the metro station Andel on yellow line B so the best way is to take the bus 100 or 179 from airport to metro stations Zlicin (bus 100) or Nove Butovice (bus 179) and then continue with underground to Andel. It will take approx. 40 minutes and will cost you one euro for public transport ticket. You can find more details at www.mapsofprague.com/prague-airport-ruzyne

|||

Thanks Pragaboy.

|||

Map showing Metro+hotel

http://www.andelshotel.com/en/location/

Buy the metro tkt at the airport (BUS METRO TRAM) kiosk just after you get you Czech crowns (koruna) from Bankomat ATM close by.. (no Euros here)

Don%26#39;t forget to validate it...

www.pragueexperience.com/maps/metro.asp

that%26#39;s metro map

Andel metro - make sure you take the right escalator %26amp; exit...should be posted there.Read other forums about transportation...

travel from paris to prague dec 2009

What is the best way to travel from paris to prague and surrounding countries if possible. Planning Xmas, New Years with children and grandparents! All advice is welcomed. Thank you!!

|||

If interested in %26quot;surrounding%26quot; areas, train probably. Perhaps checking with everybody first what they want to see, come up with an itenerary, checking trains, airlines. You may also want to read several other forums first to give you an idea. Everything depends on your family (age of grandparents, children, interests, how long you would have...).

|||

You can try looking at http://europetrainsguide.com for some train travel ideas ;)

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The %26quot;surrounding countries%26quot; cover half of Europe .... ?!?!??!

Booked for the 2010 Beer Festival.

Unclegus and his good mate Andy have booked up for the Beer festival.

we will be arriving on the 14th may mid morning,so presuming we have no delays should be there for the opening ceremony of the beer festival.We have booked the hotel Chopin on Opetalova whish is fine and handy for the red metro line to Letnany and the festival.

Looking forward to it already so be prepard for my usual daft questions.

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I hope Yekav is not reading this; you know how he hates daft questions...

I did not know about the beer festival; thanks for sharing.

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ceskypivnifestival.cz/en/about-festival.shtml

I was there this year and had a great time,see trip report.

tripadvisor.co.uk/ShowTopic-g274707-i96-k283…

We enjoyed it so much we decided to go back again and have already booked up.Hopefully some of our friends and relatives will also make it along.

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NIce one Uncle. How does it compare with Oktoberfest?

Smaller %26amp; cheaper obviously but I just wondered if you%26#39;d been to both and can throw some comments this way

Stoofer

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I was last at the Octoberfest (which funny enough is in september)over 20 years ago and even then it was a bit of a drunken brawl.I was there with several German friends as at the time I was engaged to a German girl.It has just got too big .

the main reason for returning to the Prague beer festival was to enjoy the much quieter more family friendly beer festival which is more about tasting the beers eating decent food,meeting people and having a good time .

I think Octoberfest is more about getting as drunk as possible as quickly as possible especially for the British contingen,just not my idea of fun.

I think the Prague Beer Festival will become very popular as more and more people hear about it,but hopefully it never gets to the October fest size.

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Sounds good.

You are right about the size of Oktoberfest, it%26#39;s become quite incredible and to be honest, though I%26#39;m in Munich every year when it%26#39;s on, I only take a short visit to the fest grounds and this year didn%26#39;t venture there at all, it%26#39;s not my cup of tea, I prefer being in the city beer gardens and halls.

That said, I%26#39;ve not seen much in the way of drunken behaviour in Munich, not offensively so anyhow. The Germans are always civilised but loud, the chavvy brits find it too expensive these days IMO so you don%26#39;t get too many total Brit idiots, most that come act accordingly. All in all, it%26#39;s a great party, loud, expensive but good natured, if you like dancing on tables and breathing in cigarette smoke it must be good fun :-) The smoke in the tents is unbelievable and another reason I don%26#39;t dwell.

It looks like I%26#39;m going to be in the geographic area by car when %26#39;your%26#39; festival is on, I%26#39;ll research a bit more and might even divert for a day to check it out and see a bit more of of the countryside.

Cheers

Stoofer

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How was the location of the fest - Letnany? I rarely get out that way. I%26#39;m lazy - wish they held it somewhere closer to the center.

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Likewise, we will be at the 2010 Beer Festival as I have a few Tolars left in me pocket! :-D We too have found the Munich fest a bit on the side of pandemonium but one has to see it at least once. We like the Stuttgart Cannstatter Volksfest because it is much more reserved and peaceful which appeals to us older folks. And their beer is every bit as drinkable including a few more styles to choose from, I think.

Letnany is bit of a go from the center however there is a nice new Metro Station and it%26#39;s just a moderate walk from there to the fest grounds. I just hope the weather cooperates next year as this years fest was sloppy and wet not to mention just plain cold. But the pivo was............. wonderful.

Steve

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Brewsta It was absolutley fine,it was on the last stop on the Red metro line and it was only a couple of minutes walk from there to the Festival site.It took us about 25 minutes from Narodni Trida with a change at Florenc.

this time we are staying just beside Hlavni train station which is on the red metro line,so no changes at all and will probably save 5 minutes or so each way.

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Steve hopefully we can meet up for a beer or two.

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Uncle Gus, that was my intention this past may. We arrived on the Thursday after you. We unpacked and went directly to U Medviku. I was going to mosey over to Hotel Pav and try to hook up with you but, if you recall, it started raining cats and dogs and turned really cold just as darkness fell so we just stayed put and kept drinking the best Budweiser on the planet. (We have a Budweiser over here but we refer to it as Butweiper!) And things went south from there as my son came down with the man flu so we only made 2 short trips to the beer fest.

Next May I will be happy to buy you a beer! :-D

Na Zdraví!

Steve

Rental car dropoff?

For a trip next month, are there any car rental companies that allow you to rent a vehicle in Prague and drop it off in Cesky Krumlov? (I know there is a dropoff allowed in Ceske Budejoice, with bus or train connections.)

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There are no car rental agencies in Cesky Krumlov, so Ceske Budejovice is the nearest.

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A very belated thank you for your help on this.

sightseeing in prague expensive?

hi there

does anyone know if sightseeing is expensive in prague io want to do the main stuff like the castle etc. and was wonodering if it is expensive as money is a issue

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It`s not expensive especialy compared to most capitals. But most of the must-sees are free.

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Prague is such a beautiful city and the trams are cheap to ride on (don%26#39;t forget to get your tickets before you get onto the tram - metro station or tram stops) there may be an extra charge for taking photos inside e.g church. We went to see the fab white tigers at Librece zoo bus fare return for 3 of us £16.00 and into the zoo approximately £3.00 each.

What is Vivaldianno?

We%26#39;re coming to Prague next week and are looking for music and culture. I saw a listing for Vivaldianno, but couldn%26#39;t figure out what it is - music? video? Anybody know? Thanks.

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no expert,but I would presume it is a concert of extracts of Vivaldi music.

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http://www.last.fm/event/1189114+Vivaldianno+-+Michal+Dvo%C5%99%C3%A1k+-+Friends

http://www.vivaldianno.cz/

Hopefully that%26#39;s it.

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That%26#39;s a czech group who mix vivaldi %26amp; %26quot;techno%26quot; music. I heard his album last year in prag and have never found it back to france. And that%26#39;s a very good group. you%26#39;re lucky to see them on concert.

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That%26#39;s the good website he gave you =%26gt; http://www.vivaldianno.cz/

Xmas time in Prague

I am thinking to spend a week in Prague during xmas week

Do the people in Prague celebrates Christmas....

Thanks

Anthony

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Yes

…kdykde.cz/slavnosti/praha/18384___tradicni-…

http://www.vanocnitrhy.cz/

Use Google translate

www.stopin-praha.cz/blog/czech-christmas (Click on Union Jack)...

You should have probably worded differently; after all, anybody can do his/her own research -perhaps the reason why nobody replied...

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Do they celebrate Christmas in Malta?

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Hi

Yes in Malta we celebrate Xmas and New Year in a fantastic way.

Few are the other countries i know,that celebrate the festive season the way we do.

Have a nice day

Anthony

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Likewise the Czech Republic - I think that you will be pleasantly surprised at how Christmas is celebrated there as well.

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We have been a few times to the Christmas market in the Old Town Square and the atmosphere is great plus the Christmas trees are fantastic. it is obvious by the effort put into decorating the place tourists are attracted to winter season Prague.

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Welcome back Anthony (Another satisfide customer :0)

How lovely that you are thinking about returning to Prague so soon after your return ,you have caught the Prague Bug !

Christmas is celebrated in exactly the same way as yours except the main day is 24th December not the 25th ,below is a link you may enjoy reading plus if you put Christmas in the above search box it will bring up more usefull threads.

guidingprague.com/mcomp/special_events/xmas

TORII

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Hi Torii

thanks for xmas link

I wish to tell you that though i planned and organised my club group tour to Prague i had to miss the the tour as i was rushed to hospital just few days before our holiday.

But now i am much better.

Still my group had a nice time in Prague.

Thats why i planning to visit Prague in Xmas time with wife this time.

Hope i will manage this time

Good night and god bless

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Hi Torii

if you brouse my club website and go to photo gallery you will find two albums with more then 500 photos that those in our club group took during their stay in Prague

Anthony

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Sorry Torii

forget to put link to club website

http://www.freewebs.com/msidaredstarsafc/

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So sorry to hear that Anthony after all your planning! I hope your club appreciated what you did for them ,will look at the photos tomorrow ,take care of yourself

TORII

Public Transport from Prague Airport to Na Knížecí

Hi,

Could anyone advice me how do I get from Prague Airport to Na Knížecí (Student Agency)?

How long is the journey?

Thanks very much!

Regards...

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idos.dpp.cz/idos/connform.aspx?tt=pid%26cl=E5

Find connection from Letiste Ruzyne to Andel

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Where are you going to? Some Student Agency buses also stop at the airport.

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I am heading to Cesky Krumlov.

I understand student agency does not have direct pickup from Airport to Cesky Krumlov.

As we will be arriving at Praha airport @ 0845h, and leaving for CK at 1100h the same day. We need the fastest and cheapest way to get to Na Knížecí.

Could you also advice will it take long to clear Praha%26#39;s custom?

Thank you.

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I gave you a link to Prague public transport and the names of the stations you should enter to search for your connection. Did you give it a go? There are a number of various connections to Andel (which is the nearest metro stop to Na Knizeci) about 5 minutes walk.

Or you can take a couple of buses which will get you directly to Na Knizeci. If you don%26#39;t know Prague and you are in a hurry, then bus and a metro are the most convenient rather than searching for a bus stop.

The journey will take about 45 minutes, cost 26Kc (1euro).

Normally the whole process from leaving the plane, getting through passport control, picking up your luggage, does not take more than half an hour.

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Hi yes, I just managed. Failed the first time. :)

Another question, do they allow luggages on board the public transport? We have 2 large luggages with a smaller one.

I%26#39;m considering taking bus 179/167 to reach Andel.

Thanks once again.

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that bus might be too early to catch, you%26#39;d be better off taking bus 100 to Zlicin, then take a metro to Andel.

You can take your luggage on public transport, but if it is too big, you need to buy a ticket for it. 13KC per luggage.

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Is there a money changer at the airport opens that early on our arrival?

We need to change to local currency to buy tickets...

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yes, one in the luggage hall, and some outside, I never use them, always get my cash from ATMs (cash points)

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Thanks, appreciate your help.

Have a great day!

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I%26#39;m back again.

I just wonder, since there are bus stops at Airport Terminals 1 %26amp; 2, can I catch bus 100 there instead?

Trip to Eastern Europe Dec 28 - Jan 6, 2010

My 21 year old daughter and I are planning a trip to Europe after Christmas. I have not been there in the winter and wanted to know if we should rent a car or take the train. I have driven in several European countries but only in August. We are flying in to Vienna ( Budapest was too pricey) but only want to spend one night there when we arrive and one night before we leave. The Euro is too expensive and I%26#39;ve been to Vienna before. We want to see Prague and Budapest and also take one day and night to go to northern Serbia where I was born. So basically our itinerary would go something like this. One night in Vienna when we arrive, 3 nights in Prague, 3 nights in Budapest, one night in Serbia and one more night in Vienna before we leave. Unless anyone can suggest something better. So should we drive in winter or take trains? Are 3 nights too many in Prague? or is 2 enough? Also any advice on inexpensive clean hotels in Prague and Vienna would be appreciated, close to the main attractions and safe because we are two females travelling alone. Any advice on what to see in Prague is appeciated too. One more thing...is it worth going to Bratislava for a day. I should add that I%26#39;m Hungarian with some Slovakian heritage and this trip is about showing my daughter her heritage and roots. She has never been to Eastern Europe before but I was there in 2006 (Budapest). Thanks very much for any advice. It%26#39;s much appreciated!

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Hungarian born in serbia with some Slovakian heritage .. nice mix :D

The best would be to arrive in Prague instead of Vienna but from what i understand that`s not possible. I think the plan is good. I don`t know why but accomodation in Prague is cheaper in Christmas rather than new year`s day so this will save you some money too.

Trains are very reliable and pretty fast. Besides you can travel also night so save some time.

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Thanks abfab :-)

Yes, our ticket is already booked to Vienna. We can%26#39;t change that. So do you think it%26#39;s better to travel by train rather than by rental car that time of the year? I%26#39;m not afraid of driving and grew up in Canada so I%26#39;m used to winter driving...just haven%26#39;t done it for a few years (about 8) since I%26#39;ve been in the southern US. But not sure about the roads between Vienna and Prague and Prague and Budapest.

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I think taking a train is a good advice, specially because it is winter and the weather conditions are unpredictable. The road from Prague to Budapest is mainly a motorway, the same from Vienna to Prague if you swing it via Bratislava.But there could be a heavy snowfall, ice on the road etc. The train will be more comfortable and probably advisable if you go to north Serbia (Novy Sad/Subotica?) as well.

But for 8 days it is one big whirl, and whilst it would be a pity to miss on Prague, perhaps you might want to stick with your rootes and stop in Bratislava for a day, and keep Prague for the next time.

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for railways timetable check

http://www.oebb.at/en/index.jsp

jizdnirady.idnes.cz/vlakyautobusy/spojeni/

http://www.mav.hu/english/index.php

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thanks KVKFAN! Yes we need to take a train from Budapest to Subotica. Do you know which railway that would be?

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look on the hungarian website - there is an English option, Budapest Keleti

to Subotica.

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I%26#39;d add that I%26#39;m bound to say, if you are in Budapest, you really should visit Belgrade :-)

It%26#39;s about 7 hour train journey and $30 USD.

Stoofer

Susta Strudl

Hello and How are you?

I am coming to Prague this November of 2009, and I very much would like to find out where %26quot; Susta Strudl%26quot; location would be. I will be staying at %26quot; Smichov %26quot; neighborhood. My hotel name is Ibis Praha Mala Strana, again in Smichov neighborhood. I would like to know if, there are any trams that directly will go to where the Susta Strudl is, and if not, how can I get there. I would really appreciate your response at your earliest convenience.

My e-mail address is : ani19732000@yahoo.com

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worldhum.com/travel-blog/…

the address is Jeseniova 29 Zizkov, if you search Prague forum for Susta Strudl, you%26#39;ll get directions how to get there.

swings and roundabouts?

We have just returned from Prague. The ongoing saga of the Charles Bridge is a pain, just how long does it take to finish the work on it for heaven sake, gave that a wide birth, again! Grafitti merchants making a right mess of the newly painted subway, but not so many homeless folk to be seen, could be because we saw police moving them on. Klobenova outdoor market/car boot could have seen us ripped off well and proper had not one of us been able to speak the lingo, if you do go then make sure you have a pen %26amp; paper/calculator to write down the amount you want to haggle for, some of the stuff was ok but most was shanny. Found the Anthropoid Monument very impressive and easy to get to, unfortunately if you don%26#39;t know the history behind what you are looking at too bad because all the info there is in Czech.

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I think it%26#39;s going to take many more years to complete the Charles Bridge refurbishment.

The monument you went to see, would you recommend to visit?

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thats the nature of old monuments,they take a lot of time to repair.

the Bridge was quite badly damaged during the great flood of 2002,I was there at the time and was quite suprised that the bridge was not destroyed completely.

Now if you want to see how to really mess up a city with massive works come to my home city of Edinburgh where we are havinga new tram line built through the city centre,already at least a year behind shedule and massively over budget,so we have at least another 3 years of unheaval before the work is due for completion.

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It took something like 500 years to build the bridge in the first place, so 12 or so years spent stopping it crumbling into the Vltava is pretty good going...

Glad you found the Anthropoid monument - as with most places all around the world (Britain not excluded), information tends to be given in the language that is used in that country however, as you rightly note, you need to read up on the history of a lot of places in Prague. If you are particularly interested in this event, then I suggest you see this film en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atent%C3%A1t_%28film%29

Hints on how to warm in Prague mid November!!!!

Given that we live in tropical Queensland, winter temperatures for us means we can no longer wear sleeveless clothing!!!!!! :-))

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My advice would be to wear layers that you can take off and put on as needed,as while it may be cold outside inside shops ,buildings,cafes etc it can get very warm.

TORII

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Being Greek winter is pretty much the same as for you i can honestly say Prague is not that cold in November. Sleeveless clothing of course may not be approrpiate but usualy i don`t even wear a jacket. I`d worry more about the rain rather than the temperature.

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abfab, you must be a tough guy - full winter clothing for me, and a raincoat is a must!

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i`m not the normal case :D I like cold weather and in my city the humidity makes a 10oC temperature feel much worst than the average temperature in Prague during November.

But the comment is not based on me rather than friends who felt pretty confortable with the Czech cold

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I was in Athens last weekend, and it rained for about 24 hours - most people had their full winter clothes including rainware - and it was about 18c -

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Thanks Tori for your response, I have the alyered clothing wardrobe organised. Really looking forward to our visit. :-)

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If you look at the link scroll right down you will see the weather for previous years. I have posted 2008 and there was snow ,you can go back further just change the year.

wunderground.com/history/…MonthlyHistory.html

TORII