About the Czech Republic

Official Name: Ceská republika
Area: 78 864 sq. km (30 450 sq miles)
Population: 10 265 231 (05/31/06)
Official Language: Czech
Bordering Countries: Germany, Poland, Slovakia, Austria
Capital: Prague (Praha) - Population: 1,213,800
Country's First President (1/93-2/03) : Václav Havel
Current President: Václav Klaus (elected 1/3/03)
Prime Minister: Mirek Topolánek

Crime Rate:2000

Total Crimes: 391,469 (down 8.2% from 1999)

Violent Crimes 1999: 23,250

Homicides 1999: 313 country-wide, 64 in Prague
(43 in 2003)

Currency: Czech Crown (Kc)
Approximate Exchange Rate:

U.S.$1 = 20 Kc

EUR = 19 Kc

Cash Machine Locations: (Mastercard, Eurocard, Eurocheque, VISA)

Cirrus/Mastercard (more common): (800) 424-7787

The Plus Network: (800) 843-7587

Lost credit cards in Prague:

Visa, Diners Club: 24-12-53-53

MasterCard: 24-42-31-35

American Express: 24-21-99-92

"The ubiquitous "Exchange" outlets around Prague tend to charge much higher commissions (and beware - the maps such outlets "give out" are not free). Some of these rates prominently display the rate at which they buy Czech crowns rather than the selling rate, making it appear that they offer more crowns per dollar, pound, mark or franc than they actually do. But if you need money at, say, 10pm on a Saturday, you might find no alternative to these bank-in-a-box operations." (The Prague Post - weekly)
"Growing numbers of private exchanges, especially in Prague, are convenient but take the highest cuts; some advertise low commissions but invent their own lopsided rates." (Lonely Planet Travel Survival Kit: Czech and Slovak Republics, page 58)
"In the past 4 years, the bureau de change business has turned into one of the most profitable enterprises in Prague. ... The usual bureau rate is 8% commission, but it's sometimes possible to beat them down to 5%. Most banks ... charge a much lower commission - usually 1 - 3%." (Time Out Guide: Prague, page 5 - 7)
"We used to have a quote about ChequePoint, a chain of bureau de changes, but they didn't like what it said and threatened to sue us." (Ivan Sever & Philip Greenspun, 6/96)

Postage

Postcard to U.S. 9 Kc

Letter to U.S. 12 Kc

Postcard to G.B. 7 Kc

Letter to G.B. 9 Kc

(Stamps, pay-phone cards and public transportation tickets can be purchased at "Tabák" outlets)

CUSTOMS:

Tipping: Round the restaurant bill up by about 10%

You have to pay to use public restrooms: Drop 2 Kc in the attendant's dish and take the strip of toilet paper. There's none inside.

STORE HOURS:

Generally 9-6 (some with lunch breaks). Large wholesale supermarkets are open 24 hours.

Banks may close at 3:30

Saturday: most stores close at noon

Sunday: almost none are open

Time zone: GMT+1 (April-September: GMT+2)
Voltage: 220V/50Hz
Video System: :PAL

Telecommunications:

THE COUNTRY CODE IS 420
NOTE: "Starting in the Fall of 2002, all telephone numbers became 9 digits long. The first 2 digits determine geographical area and no special prefix is needed for calls anywhere within the country."

Country's Telephone Code: 420

Local pay phone calls: 3 Kc

"Most pay phones use telephone cards. They can be bought at larger post offices, airports, railway stations, metro stations, big department stores, kiosks and hotels, and different monetary amounts are available."

For all international calls from the Czech Republic: dial 00 first.

Call to North America: 42 Kc (first minute)

AT&T Operator: 00-420-00101

MCI Operator: 00-420-0011

Sprint Operator: 00-420-87187

Bell Canada Operator: 00-420-00151

"Calling card from pay phones will ALWAYS be the cheapest - cheaper than SIM in a GSM phone. I use http://www.idt.net/products/debit/gc/Default.asp, where you can recharge any time using a major credit card, but a quick Google also yielded http://www.phoneshark.com where you can pick and buy your card online, according to where you're calling from and to. It shows rates for CR to UK from 27c/minute."

Cellular Telephones: "A fully digital cellular network is now available. The system uses the European GSM standard and is operated by Eurotel, Paegas (T-Mobile) and Oskar"
"Current price of 1 unit (30secs) on GSM phones is 9 Kc (US$ 0.30) for EuroTel cellular phones and between 2 Kc (US$ 0.07 - from 22:00 to 6:00) and 8 Kc (US$ 0.28 - 12:00-18:00) for T-Mobile phones."

Beeper services are available in the Czech Republic through:

Radiokontakt Operator a.s.,Skokanská 1, 169 00 Prague 6, Tel:[420-2] 341-004, 323-434 (Czech only!)

Some Internet service providers in Prague:

Cybeteria: Stepanská 18, Praha 1 http://www.cybeteria.cz (about US$ 3.50/hour + the cup of coffee)

POPSHOP: Stefanikova 46, Prague 5-Smíchov (Ph: 5732-5128)
"It has coffee too, internet, computer rentals for DTP and word processing, plus they do faxing, color and B&W printing, scanning, and can take a digital photo of you to send home via email--it's 110 Kc per hour right now. They are on the west side of the river, straight south of the castle, within walking distance."

Bohemia Bagel
"Pleasant place, you often have to wait."

The internet cafe in the Obecni Dum (Municipal House)
"I think its one of the nicest internet cafes I have been to. Ask for receipts, and you will probably be asked for less money."

"I would NOT recommend the internet cafe in Lavka... I found it cramped and uncomfortable."

DRIVING:

4-lane highway:130 km (80 mph)

open roads: 90 km/h (55 mph)

build-up areas: 50 km/h (30 mph)

Speeding fines: 500 Kc (payable on the spot)

Seat belts: Compulsory

"The cheapest way from Canada or US to rent a car: I booked a car from Sixt (49/89 744-44-0) through my travel agent. I got a voucher for the rental, flew to Frankfurt, Germany and picked up the car at the airport. I paid with a Gold credit card so I didn't need the Insurance Waiver. (They tried to sell me additional insurance.) I always used "The Club" Steering Lock and always parked in a well-lit place."
NOTE: to get the low prices, you must prepay in your country of origin.
(Not every rental agency allows all of its cars into former Eastern Bloc countries. Ask them when you book!)

Motorists who wish to use the Czech toll-road must prepay ahead of time. The toll (900 Kc - about US$ 40), is good for one year. Shorter term permits became also available: currently 2 week and two month permit are available. (Trucks and busses cost more, motorcycles are free.) The fine for not displaying the toll sticker on the windshield may be up to 15 000 Kc - about US$ 650. The stickers are available at border crossings, gas stations, post offices and other retail outlets.

Beginning June 2006, Daylight Driving Lights become mandatory. Passengers under age 18 and 150 cm (about 5 feet) will be required to use seat belts. Cell phone use while driving (except for hands-free-systems) will be banned.

"Gas/petrol (benzín) comes in both leaded and unleaded, called "natural". Both may come in 2 "flavors" as well: Super and Special. (Diesel fuel is called "nafta" and is often served from different pumps for trucks/lorries and for passenger cars.) The APPROXIMATE cost of 'benzin' is around $3.25 per U.S. gallon "

Emergencies:

Police (tel. 158 or 2121)

Ambulance (tel. 155)

English/German Speaking Doctors in Prague:

FIRST MEDICAL CLINIC OF PRAGUE:
Praha 2, Vysehradská 35
Mon.-Fri. 07:00-19:00
ph: 9000-0686, ph/fax: 29-22-86, 29-89-78
24-hours on-call service, ph: (06) 0122-5050

National Holidays:
Jan. 1, Easter Mon., May 1, May 8, July 5+6, October 28, November 17, December 24-26

Weather: (Prague)
Average Maximum Daily Temperatures:

Jan: 2C (36F) May: 19 (66) Sep: 20 (68)
Feb: 3  (37)  Jun: 22 (72) Oct: 13 (55)
Mar: 8  (46)  Jul: 24 (75) Nov: 8 (46)
Apr: 14 (58)  Aug: 23 (73) Dec: 3 (37)

5-Day Forecast for Prague

Some Airline Connections:

Czech Airlines

(U.S. & Canada): (800) 223-2365

(London): 44(071) 255-1898

Delta (800) 241-4141

More Travel Info:

Czech Tourist Authority:

1109 Madison Ave, NY; ph. (212) 288-0830

Tatra Travel:

212 E 51st St. NY ph. (212) 486-0533; fax: (212) 486-1150

Rail Travel:

"Traveling Vienna/Prague/Frankfurt, this was the cheapest way: In Austria, I bought a ticket on the train, in Euro, to the border. Then, in Czech crowns, I paid for another ticket to the German border. When I got there, I bought a ticket from the conductor in Euro again for the rest of the trip."

"Or you can remove the hassle of buying tickets altogether and get the European East Pass for unlimited five days of train travels within one month for $155 - 220. The 2nd. class cars may be a bit more crowded, but they offer a better opportunuty to meet the local people."

"Getting there from Germany, I would suggest the direct overnighter Cologne (22:36) to Prague (10:15 next day) with its well refurbished sleeper and couchette cars, rather than the Frankfurt - Prague night train, which still consists of old Czech cars."

Frankfurt to Prague on a budget:
- for one person
Buy a regular ticket from Frankfurt to Kahl (EUR 5,90)
Use a Bavaria Ticket Single from Kahl to the Schirnding (EUR 15,-)
Buy a regular ticket from Schirnding over the German/Czech border to Cheb (EUR 3,40)
Use a normal Czech ticket from Cheb to Prague

- for 2-5 persons
a) on a weekday
Same instructions as above.
b) on a Saturday or Sunday:
Use a HappyWeekendTicket from Frankfurt to Plzen or Chomutov (EUR 28,-)
Use a normal Czech ticket from Plzen or Chomutov to Prague.

* You can buy your tickets from the conductor, but there is a 10% supplement.

Get all the connections here, selecting "only local transport" instead of "all products."
Don't forget that you can use faster trains from Cheb/Plzen to Prague, so make 2 inquiries.

"If you want to bring gifts for relatives there, bring a 'boom-box' with a CD player or a portable CD player. These are expensive over there."

"f you want to buy gifts to bring back with you, one of the largest crystal factories in the CZ is in Svetla nad Sazavou, about 90 miles southeast of Prague, near Havlickuv Brod. They have a factory store in the town and also one next to the factory with 'Czech', and not tourist prices."

Addresses in Prague:

U.S. Embassy: Trziste 15, Mala Strana (420-2/2451-0847)

British Embassy: Thunovská 14, Mala Strana (420-2/2451-0439)

Canadian Embassy: Mickiewiczova 6, Hradcany (420-2/2431-1108); Fx: (420-2/2431-0294)

The Czech Chamber of Commerce: Argentinská 38, Praha 7, ph: (02/6679-4111), fax: (02/6671-0805)

The American Chamber of Commerce: Karlovo nám. 24, Praha 1 ph: (02/299-887, 296-778), fax: (02/291-481)

Main Post Office: Jindrisská 14

Some Czech Embassies:

US: 3900 Spring of Freedom St. NW, Wash. (202) 274-9100, fax: (202) 966-8540 or 244-2147

Consulate General of the Czech Republic: 10990 Willshire Blvd., Suite 1100, Los Angeles, CA 90024 Tel.: (310) 473-0889,9713 Fax: (310) 473-9813

Canada: 251 Cooper St., Ottawa, Ontario, K2P 0G2 Canada; Tel. (613) 562-3875; Fax: (613) 562-3878;

Some visa requirements:

U.S: Up to 30 days not necessary (with valid passport)

U.K: Up to 180 days not necessary (with valid passport)

CANADIAN CITIZENS: - VISA NO LONGER REQUIRED! -

N.Z. CITIZENS: VISA NO LONGER REQUIRED!

Australian citizens: - VISA NO LONGER REQUIRED!

Entering foreigners must prove by request they have 1000 Kc (about US $30) a day available for visits up to 10 days, or a fix amount of around $370 for visits lasting longer than 10 days. Foreigners under the age 18 must possess half of these amounts. Presumably, the requirement is waived for citizens of the neighboring countries.

To obtain a trade license, at least one person in any company must speak Czech fluently. (This person must pass a proficiency test). Existing companies must comply within one year. A failed test can result in loss of the trade license.