Recently I returned from Prague. The days spent in this city were so beautiful that I decided to open an "off-topic" in which i will present the steps you must follow if you want to visit this city. There are many useful informations that will help you plan a trip to the Czech capital.
I will structure this presentation (Chapters - the title of which is bolded), so jump on what interests you most:
Contents:
1. Planning (only for Romania)
2. Agency (only for Romania)
3. Money
4. Czech Airlines
5. Ruzyne Airport
6. Transportation
7. Hotel
8. Prague card
9. What we eat?
10.Where we serve a beer?
11. What I recommend in particular
12. Souvenirs
13. All attractions
1. Planning (only for Romania) together with my girlfriend I decided to visit a major European city this spring. I wanted to go to Barcelona or Rome, and from these two cities Prague won :). I searched several offers from different travel agencies. We focused on city-breaks offers (3 nights at a 3 star hotel with breakfast included) and transportation by plane (round trip), all for 170-190 euros / person - offers are valid for Extraseazon (we was between 25 to 30 April). Because we decided too late these offers have been exhausted, but luckily I found an offer "Prague Romantic" where I included plane transportation and 4 nights accommodation at 4 star hotel - breakfast included (265 euro).
2. Run to the agency - We presented the agency chosen by us where the two girls there were a little overwhelmed (did not know clearly if they have that offer). In the end everything was ok, we paid and we signed the contracts. A week before leaving the the agency contacted me to notify me that I can come to pick up airline tickets and voucher (which we presented at the hotel) from them. First tip: Tell them to send you mail them, although they mentioneza this up phone, so I asked them and they sent me mail, saving me from the road more.
3. Money - although it is very easy to make the trip with money card (I understand a fee of 0.5% from the amount withdrawn from ATM + 2,5 euro) we had Kč with us. We had almost 8,000 Kč with us (+ 200 euro reserves). The exchange rate is:
* 1 Kč = 16.737 USD
1 Kč = 26.919 GBP
1 Kč = 24.270 EUR
Everywhere I saw in Prague to offer 25 koroane the euro - at the exchange and wrote great commission 0% (but still be careful, because they are cheaters - better ask for an amount as will provide and calculate and be carefully before you sign anything). What amused me is that at KFC during their 23-koroane / euro.
4. Czech Airlines - have recently entered our market with a very good offer: 100 Euro Bucharest-Prague-Bucharest. Should be kept in mind that are not low-cost company. While flying for the first time I had no emotion with them (very smooth takeoff and landing without shakes). The only bad feeling I had after take-off was caused by the fact that after a few seconds the plane turns sharply enough to fit the optimal path (rather much sloped, normal for passenger with experience, but for a novice like me, annoying ). Personnel on board unfortunately does not speak Romanian, but you can easily understand them in english or even signs - from what I saw. We were excited about their flights program (7:20 am departure - arrive in Prague at 8:15 (local time) and went back to 9:35 and arrive at 0:25 in Prague in Otopeni) - so, full days for visits. What to say about the flight? They offered us food, gave us a morning croissant with jam and your choice of drink water / cola / wine / tomato juice / orange juice and gave us back, along the same drinks a consistently sandwich that was welcome.
5. Ruzyne Airport - after landing at either 30 minutes I was waiting the bus in the station. Everything went very quickly, landing / take-off is at Terminal 1. Everyone knew well english at the airport so I had no problem. Also at the airport we found two very important things. Even near the exit are two "kiosks" with one travel information - where you can buy "Prague Card" - I come back later with details about him and the other with information and tickets for public transport.
6. Transportation - there are tickets machines everywhere in Prague (most, besides the bus station / tramway, as well as in hotels). If you're at the airport buy them from the ticket office, where you can get the map routes too. From here you can take tickets available for 75 minutes or for a day (You can buy several because they are activated when they stamped and are valid 24 hours from that time). What I recommend: Prague is very compact and the distances are short between objectives, you can do this city on foot, we traveled only 3 /5 days with transportation and we have not complained about the distance. Be careful not walk without a ticket (we met with controllers on the last day - you can not identify them by their clothing) and do not forget that they paid ticket for large luggage (not if you have the one day ticket).
Prices: - ticket for 24 hours - 100 koroane / 4 euro
- valid for 75 minutes - 26 euros koroane/approx. 1 euro
- valid for 30 minutes or 5 subway stations - 18 koroane / 0.72 euro
- Large bags - 13 koroane / approx 0.5 euro
Their common transport is well organized. Trams come often in 2-3 minutes, but best check in station program exposed. Here you will find each transportation route and arrival time at the station. If you want to plan your route from your computer I recommend the following site: http://idos.dpp.cz/idos/connform.aspx?tt=pid&cl=E5 - helped us very much.
From the airport go up in 119 and go all the way (Dejvická station) where you can take another bus or subway. I recommend you walk by surface transport because all the city is great . From Dejvická you can take the 180 bus which it will leave you close to the castle. From this point you can hop the 22 tram route which is great. With it you can reach Old Town and New Town.
A short off-topic. Everywhere in Prague you can find vintage car that you can walk, but the price is a bit steep: 1200k.
7. Hotel - although here I can not provide information on all hotels in Prague recommend that before you reserve your hotel room to pull the eye here: http://www.tripadvisor.com. Here you will find certainly the target hotel and read the reviews section (each hotel has a score given to those who stayed there, a fine hotel has a 7-8 score, the more, the better) . Read the comments - to give an example if 10 people are complaining that the disco is to near and at night is too much noise it is so clear that you will find this problem there and is better to avoid this hotel and look for something better. I can give you information if you ask about the hotel where we stayed - Pyramid.
(in construction)
