Ask MetaFilter posts tagged with prague

Pragobanky?

DLWM — Tue, 21 Oct 2008 14:48:07 -0800

Any bank recommendations in Prague? I need to open a Czech bank account so I can get direct deposit from my Czech employer. My main bank account is in the U.S., so the Czech one would be for checking only -- savings not required. Anyone have any experience and suggestions?

All I'd be using this for is simple checking... withdrawing cash at the ATM and using a check card for purchases. Being able to check my account online would be a major, major plus, though. And of course I want to keep monthly fees and ATM/check card usage fees as low as possible...

Oh, and in case it's not clear: I'm physically located in Prague. Using the account outside of the country would be nice, but isn't that high on the priority list.

My family and I are looking for sechs

sagwalla — Fri, 10 Oct 2008 03:58:15 -0800

Our family will be travelling to Prague, Berlin and Munich later this month, with three days in Prague, four in Berlin and two in Munich. The kids are 6 and 4. Any suggestion for don't-miss Central Europe for families? We're flying in and out and will get between the cities by train; our travel and accommodation are booked.

Help me see some of Europe!

bDiddy — Mon, 29 Sep 2008 11:07:06 -0800

I need advice for planning a trip to Europe next summer. The wife and I are looking to see some of Europe next summer. Neither of us have ever gone. She wants to see Prague and I want to drink beer in Brussels. So, here's what I think is the best plan, but I don't know. This is where I need advice.

Fly into Prague and spend a few days there. Take the train through Germany, spending a night in some of the cities the train goes through. (Berlin, maybe Koln?) Then continue on to Brussels for a few days there. Then, if time permits maybe continue on to France.

So, as I've never planned a trip like this ever, I have a few questions.

Is it easier to fly in and out of the same city or can I land in one city and depart from another? Would it be significantly cheaper to do it one way vs the other?

Should I book train tickets in advance or when we're there? I've seen the seat61.com site so I know the Eurail pass isn't always the best bet, but maybe it will be for us.

Is it worth renting a car in Belgium? I want to see more than just Brussels. I'd LOOOOOVE to see some of the abbeys and some of the smaller breweries there. And getting up to the coast would be nice too.

How early should I be looking at booking this? And would a travel agent be any help to me? I've used a travel agent twice and I find them somewhat helpful, but not sure if it would be worth it for a trip like this.

Any other advice is welcome. Thanks in advance.

Bupapest to Prague Cost?

robabroad — Wed, 20 Aug 2008 06:51:02 -0800

Help me settle a debate. Can anyone give me the cost of a 1st class ticket by train from Budapest to Prague (mid-week)? A precise number would be cool (recent travel anyone?). However, even a range would be helpful. There appear to be two direct trains to Prague. EC 278 (Jaroslav Hasek) and EC 170.

My travel companion thinks the ticket would cost over $200 a person. I've checked out the Hungarian and Czech train system web sites. I can find the schedules, but they don't list fares. However, I've found some references online that say the cost is between $35 and $70 (USD).

I think he'd prefer to fly (it's $230 and only 1 hour). But, even though the train is 7 hours, my guess it's going to be less of a hassle and a lot cheaper.

Prague, Vienna, Barcelona: what to do

jeather — Mon, 18 Aug 2008 07:40:04 -0800

I am going to Prague, Barcelona and Vienna. What should I do there? A friend lives in Prague, so she'll have advice for me there, though the more ideas the merrier. I want: walking tours, museums, and in Barcelona, beach. Reasonable restaurants would be nice, though I'm perfectly happy picking up stuff from street vendors or a grocer. I like good coffee, and I eat fish but not seafood. I'll probably just search out hostels in Barcelona and Vienna (staying with the friend in Prague).

A Gaudi walking tour would be excellent. I don't have the vaguest idea what to request for anywhere else.

I am leaving Thursday. I'd prefer not to bring guidebooks since I need to bring books to read and have weight restrictions, so I'm hoping there is web-based stuff I can print out.

What's a good gift from Prague?

23skidoo — Wed, 13 Aug 2008 08:19:53 -0800

My sister's going to Prague. She said as part of a belated birthday gift, she'll pick me up something. What should I ask her to get for me? I am a guy. I'd like something inexpensive (less than $30, ish), not particularly flashy, not particularly big, not a touristy tchotchke thing, yet something that I couldn't really get in Austin, TX. Bonus points for something that is Prague specific.

What city should I visit in Europe?

jeather — Tue, 05 Aug 2008 06:30:23 -0800

I am going to Europe for about 12 days at the end of August. I am spending a few days in each of Prague and Vienna, and looking for a third city to go to. Which one should I choose? I'm not against Budapest, but people with whom I share travel sensibilities say I should go elsewhere. I need it to be easy to travel between this city and the other ones I am going to, either by bus or by those inexpensive airlines. I'd love it if it used the Euro, but this is not necessary. I'd like to spend about 3 days wherever it is.

People have, with no real level of detail, recommended Athens, Istanbul and Croatia. (Also Poland, but I do not want to go to Poland.) I'm not tied to these options, nor am I against any of them (except Poland).

Things I like: cities, museums, beaches (but not so much lakes).
Things I don't like: clubbing and associated items.
I am not hugely social.

I will be alone, I'm a 30 year old woman, I speak English and French and can get by in Spanish, so mostly I'm going to be working off guidebooks and dictionaries. Hostel or inexpensive hotel recommendations would be lovely. (I know hostels are full of people who will be out all night, but I am a sound sleeper.) I'm happy to hear recommendations for what to do or where to stay in Prague and Vienna as well.

Please do not recommend I spend longer in Prague and/or Vienna. This is not, for various reasons, an option.

cheapest Koruna

vegetableagony — Sun, 01 Jun 2008 20:21:07 -0800

Best US bank for cheap atm withdrawals in Prague. I am going to be in Prague for 6 weeks and have heard the best way to get money is just to use atm machines. I currently have a Bank of America account and a Chevy Chase Bank account, but I wondered if there is some other bank will save me enough in atm fees that it is worth opening another account.

People in the Czech Republic have clean underwear, right?

_Mona_ — Sun, 04 May 2008 07:14:16 -0800

Later this month, my boyfriend will be going to Prague on business for two weeks. Instead of packing two weeks worth of clean clothes, he'd like to take less and do laundry while he's over there. The big question is how? Are there public laundry facilities there? How do you find them? Specifically, he'll be at the Corinthia Towers Hotel. And, hey, as long as you're here: Got any general travel tips for the area? He travels internationally so there's no "OMG! I'm leaving American soil!" freak-out going on. This just happens to be a place he's never been so: should he get a phrase book, is it relatively easy for foreigners to get around, what should he make time to see, etc?

Honeymoon hotel in Prague?

Ms. Next — Fri, 07 Mar 2008 08:17:17 -0800

Can you help us find a nice, but not too expensive, hotel in Prague for a honeymoon? We've figured out a honeymoon location for June of this year: Prague. Flights are not a problem, but there's so much choice in hotels that I'm rather lost now.

We've never been to Prague, and so far, our budget for the hotel, for six or seven nights, is 700 dollar / 500 euro in total (not per night, as a lot of the 'honeymoon packages' would like us to pay). Dear hivemind, are there any hotels in this price category that you could recommend? Or do we need to seriously rethink our budget?

Some background information: We've never been to Prague, so far, and are travelling in the last week of June.

Looking for a European holiday apartment.

DirtyCreature — Thu, 03 Jan 2008 15:54:09 -0800

Where is a good place in a European city for a non-European to buy a small but nice two bedroom apartment for holidays? Looking for a city environment. How much would I need to spend? Are there any regulatory hurdles? Where do I find them? I was kind of leaning towards Paris but am fairly open. I am also open to Eastern Europe in safe areas and don't want to have to worry too much about the apartment when I am not there.

Christmas in Prague?

Lylo — Thu, 25 Oct 2007 22:34:18 -0800

Christmas in Prague? I am considering going to Prague for the first time over the Christmas holidays with my husband and college student daughter. I don't know that much about Prague but it intrigues me and I would love to go before the currency changes to Euros. I have traveled in Europe but neither my husband nor daughter has ever been abroad. We normally go someplace warm with a beach over the Christmas holidays, but if you've seen one beach resort you've seen them all! Is it worth the trip to go to Prague for 5 or 6 days (air time not included)? what is there to do? What do you love about it? why would you recommend or not recommend our going ahead with this?

Current Events in Prague/Poland

Raichle — Wed, 25 Jul 2007 11:30:09 -0800

I will be in Prague tomorrow morning and I was wondering if anyone knew of anything special going on there, Krakow, or Posnan in the next few weeks. I looked through the old Prague questions on AskMe and took note of the places mentioned but I was wondering if any locals knew of any special events in the area they could tip me off to. Thanks!

Two Nights in Praha

spicynuts — Thu, 07 Jun 2007 08:57:46 -0800

Suggestions for a fun, relatively cheap hotel/area to stay in for two nights in Prague in August. I'll be staying in Prague for two nights with three friends in August before heading to Bucharest for a Habitat for Humanity gig. I was wondering if anyone had suggestions for a hotel in a fun area for late 20s/early 30s types who like to hit the town and do some drinking/hanging out. I've never been to the city before so I don't know what other details to offer about what I need other than I don't want to be stuck in the periphery or outskirts of the city.

Also, if anyone has any information on trains from Budapest to Bucharest re: how long it takes, how often they run, how much it costs, etc, that would be helpful too.

Summer Vacation: Prague, Barcelona, or Puerto Rico

blapst — Mon, 04 Jun 2007 19:32:30 -0800

VacationFilter: The ladyfriend and I are going on vacation for a week this summer. Most likely in July. Maybe August. The leading options: Puerto Rico, Prague, and Barcelona. Which place rules the most? We prefer, if possible, to spend less than $150/night on hotels, and enjoy cheap eats as much if not more so than the fanciness. And we don't really rock the late night club scene.

getting from Berlin to Prague and back again

jare2003 — Fri, 18 May 2007 10:34:56 -0800

I will be in Berlin in mid-June for work. I am looking to meet a friend in Prague, leaving Friday night from Berlin, and leaving Prague on Sunday night (a short time I know). What's the best, cheapest way to get there. An overnight ride isn't a problem, though shorter is always better. I can arrive in Prague on Saturday morning, and back in Berlin on Monday morning. I'm assuming the best way is to go by train, right? Die Bahn seems to have one that would work well (leaving at 6:45 at night on Friday), but they want me to put in credit card information before ven showing the fair. Is there another good train or bus option? Or would flying work well too?

Sorry, I'm so totally in the dark about all this...

Help me get off the beaten path in Prague

Kevin A — Tue, 26 Dec 2006 14:31:34 -0800

Help me get off the beaten path in Prague. I'm heading to Prague tomorrow for a few days, and I"m looking for suggestions of bars, cafes and neigborhoods that are off the beaten path. Nothing ultra-quirky - just local. Help me get out of Prague 1 (or if there's a cool place in Prague 1, at least help me get away from the tourist hordes!) and see where the natives play. I'm particularly interested in

- classic coffee houses
- places with DJs spinning chill music
- good wine bars
- good local beer houses

The fewer tourists the better!

Things not to miss in Prague and Budapest!

gramcracker — Thu, 07 Dec 2006 13:06:19 -0800

Heading to Prague and Budapest in a combined trip in a week. Have guidebooks, but what other shopping/sites should we definitely hit? Other tips? Going with a friend, both in our mid-20s. Already have hotels. Obviously the castles and churches are a must-see, but are there any shops or sites that might not be mentioned in your basic guidebook that we should definitely hit? (Cool smaller museums/neighborhoods, cafes/parks, or reasonably-priced shopping that's not all over the US like Zara, Celio, etc.) Thanks!

Help me find cheap tickets to Europe

Fidel Cashflow — Wed, 09 Aug 2006 12:49:56 -0800

What is the best website to use to get cheap airline tickets to Europe (specifically Amsterdam or Prague)? I used to know two really great websites for getting deals on foreign travel, but I lost all my bookmarks recently when a hard drive died and I can't remember them. Any ideas?

Where can we go from London for a few days in Europe?

k8t — Thu, 20 Jul 2006 14:24:43 -0800

[EuroTripFilter]What European city can we go to CHEAPLY for a few days from London? I lived in London for a year, but now I'm back in the States. I'm going back to London for 10 days [September 8-18]. I'm bringing my never-left-the-US twin sister with me. I know that this may very well be the last time that she ever travels at all. As such, I'd like us to leave London for a few days to see something on the continent. Paris or Brussels via Eurostar is the obvious destination, but I was there just last month, so I'm not all that interested. I'd love to go to Rome, Florence, or Prague. She does want to see Paris though. (And I'm willing to do 24 hours there.) So, Hive Mind, how can we get from London to Paris and then onto Rome (or Florence or Prague) cheaply? Would taking the Eurostar to Paris and then flying or taking the train to the next city work? Should we just skip Paris altogether and wait for cheap flights to other European cities? Which would be cheapest? Advise for cheap travels preferred!

Hotels in Prague, Bratislava, Budapest, or Ljubljana?

rumbles — Sun, 23 Apr 2006 12:48:01 -0800

Hotel-Filter: Prague, Bratislava, Budapest, Ljubljana.... In May I'll be travelling with my parents (60ish) and my S.O. to Eastern Europe. We (i.e. mom) won't be interested in hostels (at least not loud, dorm-room-ish ones). We will, however, be interested in quaint, reasonably priced, and very clean / tidy places to stay. They needn't be in the city center. Pensions, B&B's, etc. would be swell as well. Any thoughts on any of these cities will be most helpful.... In sum, we won't be "backpacking." But we will be hoping for some charming abodes to lay our four heads. BTW, we'll be travelling by car.

Local music from Denmark, Germany, Czech Republic and the Netherlands.

evadery — Mon, 17 Apr 2006 08:44:48 -0800

Looking for amazing local music from Denmark, Germany, Czech Republic and the Netherlands. In a week, I'm taking off on a whirlwind tour of Europe incuding stops in Denmark, Germany, Czech Republic and the Netherlands. As I've done in trips to other foreign lands, I love finding a small music store and finding some of those local musical treasures that wouldn't necessarily make it across to me in Canada. So, I was hoping AskMe may be able to point me in the direction of some excellent local bands...

Since I'm sure it'll be asked, I'm a fan of your general indie fare with a penchant for more mellow folkie stuff and cheery pop music, but I will give anything you love a chance, from harder rock and psych music to rap and country or whatever you can throw at me. Basically, if you think it's good, I'd love to hear it.

(A side note: Any good places or stores to find music/wander around in Copenhagen, Prague, Hamburg or Amsterdam? Let me know...)

how to find work at a hostel?

Lisa S — Sat, 01 Apr 2006 06:41:32 -0800

I'm graduating from college this summer and have the travel bug. I'd love to work at a hostel somewhere wild and interesting, like Prague or Amsterdam. How does one even go about getting a job there? And any advice from anyone who's had the experience?

Flying on the cheap from Prague to Amsterdam?

phoenixc — Mon, 30 Jan 2006 14:59:38 -0800

Discount airlines from Prague to Amsterdam....? My plan is to fly from London to Prague to Amsterdam and back to London the week of April 9th. I'll be spending 3 nights in Prague with my friend and will then fly solo from there to Amsterdam to visit family over the Easter weekend. Does anyone know of any discount airlines that service these cities?

Smart Wings, a czech-based airline, flies this route but I haven't heard anything about them, nor was I able to find any real reviews of their service online. The flight would be just over an hour, so how bad could it be? I would assume that they would fly out to Schipol, but do not know for sure. Has anyone flown with them before? Or could recommend any other cheap options? (I don't know if going by rail would be cheaper, but it's not a real option since I only plan on being overseas for a couple weeks.)
Thanks.

Sightseeing in Prague

Sagres — Sun, 22 Jan 2006 13:51:21 -0800

Sightseeing in Prague. Heading to Prague next month; Any recommendations for sightseeing and restaurants would be appreciated.