Wednesday, April 25, 2012

Walking tour guide

Can anyone recommend a group tour guide who speaks English? I read on this site some time ago one person%26#39;s name but can%26#39;t now locate. We will be in Prague on Thursday 18th December for 4 days. Do you think we should prebook tours and opera/concerts or are there plenty of seats? Hard to know what we%26#39;ll feel like doing on which day......




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Hi, I have heard nice things about Eva Trkalova, I am sure she will be happy to answer any questions you may have eva.trkalova@volny.cz.




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Thank you for your reply!



May I impose with one more question: Can you please recommend a good international cuisine restaurant near the Municipal House and as well one near the State Opera House? I imagine we would have to pay about 2000 koruna. Is that right?( entree plus main course plus wine for two )



Thanks again for your help. Don%26#39;t worry replying if you%26#39;re busy: I%26#39;ll post on trip advisor as well. We are so excited to be going to our dream city at last





Regards



Rosemary




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Removed on: 10:20 pm, September 15, 2009

Slavkov, Lednice...in winter?

As we are spending 5 days in Brno during New year%26#39;s holiday, we are interested for a short trips around Brno. We%26#39;ve already seen Bratislava and Vienna, so we olan to visit a interesting points near Brno. I%26#39;ve found very interesting Slavkov (Auterlitz), Lednice, maybe Telč. Is it possible to visit it during the winter season (castels there), or they are closed?




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What is really good in the winter is the Moravsky Karst, and the underground river (which is open throughout the winter - I have been when it was -20 and a metre of snow before)



www.moravskykras.net/en/moravian-karst.html





(look at the Punkva caves section in particular)





Your little one will probably enjoy it as well, and it is only about 20 minutes by train - you might need to call before and reserve a ticket as it is hugely popular, more so in the summer.



Here is some information in an earlier thread: tripadvisor.co.uk/ShowTopic-g274707-i96-k216…





As you are based in Brno itself it should be much easier - there are regular trains to Blansko. Check on www.idos.cz





Slavkov is all very well for the history, but there isn%26#39;t much there to keep you entertained - the site of the battle is, as you would imagine, just a very large field, and the town of Slavkov is a bit scruffy. If it is a cold and grey day, you might be a bit disappointed.



Lednice/Valtice - UNESCO world heritage sites, but I don%26#39;t believe the chateaux at Lednice/Valtice are open lednice.cz/en/…



In Brno itself there should be plenty to keep you busy - www.brno.cz/index.php?lan=en%26nav01=2222



such as the Špilberk castle, cathedral, etc. Otherwise there is the zoo www.zoobrno.cz which is next to the lake - usually frozen by now, but global warming and all that...




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I would definitely recommend Telc. It is a very pretty place with a majestic town square.





I was actually a bit disappointed with Lednice. Not that there is anything wrong with it - it just does not compare to other places in the Czech Republic in my opinion.




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I know what you mean about Lednice - coming from England it doesn%26#39;t really look that out of the ordinary as it looks a bit like an Oxford/Cambridge college, and isn%26#39;t a patch on somewhere like Blenheim Palace, for example. However in a Czech context it does seem extraordinary - Valtice is very grand, though. I think the fact that it is Europe%26#39;s largest landscaped gardens that got it onto UNESCO%26#39;s list.



It is really for a summer visit - the minaret is quite something, as is the story that goes with it.




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Thank you!



And I have a question about Mikulov - do you recomend it?



As we are travelling from south (from Zagreb, Croatia via Vienna), Mikulov and south Moravia is on our way to Brno. As I understood, it is a wine region. Is it worthed to stay in Mikulov and visit one of the wine cellars or do you have recomendetions for another place in south Moravia, where we could stay for lunch on our way back home?




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How could I forget Mikulov? It is a beautiful little place, right on the Austrian border. Stay at the Hotel Tanzberg …ubytovani-hotel.eu/accommodation-Mikulov.htm - excellent food and accommodation. For a small place there is a surprising amount to do - it has an ancient Jewish history so there is a medieval Jewish cemetery which is sometimes open to the public, and there is a synagogue/museum just opposite the aforementioned museum.



Otherwise there is the wine museum in the castle, the Dietrichstein Sepulchre and the %26#39;Svatý Kopeček%26#39; which is worth a walk up to the top - you need plenty of energy for that, though! Every time I go back I find something new - it is a great place.



www.mikulov.cz/tourism/monuments-and-sights/




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We shall stop in Mikulov, then, probably for 1 day on our way back home.



And if a can say, off topic, I really bealive in every recomandation about Czech Rep. because in every place we%26#39;ve been, which we were recomanded, it was really a great experience and we had a great time (Prag for several times, Plzen, Ceske Budejovice, C. Krumlov, Hlouboka/Vltavi, Olomouc, Ostrava...). Now we shall try Brno and trips around it (untill now, we were just passing near the town, but never entered it).



Thanks once again!






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Well I hope you enjoy it - I will tell you honestly that as probably with anywhere else, summer is the best time to visit, but I am sure you will have a great time. Keep your day trips simple - I would do the Blansko Caves and Mikulov in addition to Brno - maybe the zoo as well. All are easily reached by public transport - I am presuming you won%26#39;t have your car in Brno. If you do, park it at your hotel and leave it there except to do your day trips as a) you won%26#39;t need it as public transport is so good, and it is mostly all walkable and b) it is not a car-friendly city. You will see why when you get there. To do your day trips, Mikulov is about 1.5 hours by bus, or c. 40 minutes by car, and Blansko is c. 20 minutes by train, then another 20 minutes by bus to the caves - about the same by car. Telc is nice, but a but further - about 2 hours by car, but if you go there go through Třebíč, which is another UNESCO world heritage site.



Have fun!




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Removed on: 4:20 am, September 14, 2009

Going tomorrow!! Few last minute queries...!



Yippeeee! We are going tomorrow for our first visit to Prague and for our 1st wedding anniversary.





I would be very grateful for some last minute help please-





CEDAZ SHUTTLE



Do you have to sit and wait for ages for the bus to fill up or does it go pretty quick/fill straight away? How long is the shuttle journey from airport to V Celnici compared to a taxi journey? Sorry, not even sure how long the taxi journey would be anyway??!



Will they take suitcases. We only have one large-ish one between us.





MEALS



If we just want a relaxed casual meal on the first evening without particularly dressing up and with decent food, where would you suggest around Old Town Square area/Republic Square or near our Hotel - K+K Hotel Central, Hybernska??





We%26#39;ve seen loads of good restaurant reviews but still don%26#39;t know where to go for our anniversary meal. Any suggestions?? We like most food types (apart from me, I don%26#39;t eat fish but would eat a meat dish instead if offered).





Thank you for your help. Can%26#39;t wait to go.....better go on get on with my packing but will be back later!




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For first night...





Potrevino husa is good. Same side of the road as the Hotel, just walk away from the old town and its on the corner. Pub/bar with excellent food. Hardly any tourists, mainly Czech%26#39;s in the bar which says it all.





Needlehouse also good, opposite the hotel (slightly to the left as you come out).




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Excellent, thank you!





Off for a couple of hours sleep before our journey!





Will def try the places recommended.




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Potrefená Husa ...



A bit more expensive than the usual sort of local pub but mainly frequented by the more well-heeled/trendy younger set.




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MitchyKel,



CEDAZ is both speedy and efficient.



Yes you can take luggage and they will take you where you want to go very quickly.



Have a great trip



Martha




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Removed on: 8:20 pm, September 15, 2009

NEW YEAR 2008 in Prague. Where to spend the evening ?

Hello everybody,





We are gg to Prague end of Dec. 2008 to spend the new year eve there, and are a bit confused whether to plan it ahead or leave it for its moment .





We basically would like to have a nice dinner and some dancing and later feel the atmosphere on the streets. We would like a place near the center : Male Namesti Praha 1 .. we prefer a walking distance resto/club.





Q: where do the main fireworks on the new years eve take place?





Would appreciate your help.




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Welcome the forum. You might be struggling a bit to book anywhere good for dinner this late on - the best spots were booked up in August or September. Have a look at the Prague Experience website - they have a decent summary of some of the better restaurants offering NYE deals.





Fireworks are a not organised on 31 December, but people let them off in the streets all round the city.





The organised display is on Letna hill, usually 1800 on 1 January. Best viewing is near the Intercontinental Hotel.




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We stay on Loretanska near the Castle complex and can see fireworks going off all over the city because this is higher up.



The display begins in early evening and goes on until everyone is tired of setting them off.



Have a wonderful trip.



Martha




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Removed on: 5:18 am, October 17, 2009

where can I get food near my hotel?

I will be going to the Holiday Inn Prague Congress Centre this weekend and want some ideas on where to eat nearby. I would prefer to go out for breakfast (hotels usually charge way too much!!) and evening meals when I am feeling tired after doing all the touristy things.





I would also like to check on the best route from the airport to the hotel.



Any help would be gratefully received






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You should read this recent thread tripadvisor.com/ShowTopic-g274707-i96-k24011… .





I am sorry I can%26#39;t help you with finding a place for a breakfast.





Don%26#39;t miss a walk to Vyšehrad http://www.praha-vysehrad.cz/fsts.aspx?l=2 - it%26#39;s directly behind the hotel. There are some restaurants in that area.





The transport you can make surely less than 850 CZK, which is written at the sites of the hotel for transport by the hotel car from airport.





If you like public transport, you can do it by catching bus nr 119, getting off at Dejvicka (metro station, green line A), changing the line at Muzeum to the red line C, getting off at Vysehrad and going about 350 meters to the hotel (passing by the congress center and looking to nice view to Prague castle). Travel time is about 45 minutes, price 26 CZK (+ 13 CZK for every piece of luggage).





If you want to use Prague%26#39;s extensive and frequent public transport you should buy a day ticket, which is valid 24 hours, costs 100 CZK for adults and includes charge for one piece of luggage. (the 3-day ticket costs 330 CZK and includes fare for 1 child, so for you it%26#39;s better to buy two one-day tickets)





Info about Prague%26#39;s public transport fares:



http://www.dpp.cz/en/fares-in-prague/





Info about Prague%26#39;s public transport timetables:



http://194.213.60.4/idos/ConnForm.aspx?tt=pid%26amp;cl=E5




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Careful about the 13 Crowns for every piece of luggage - that only counts if you have an oversized piece of luggage with you (has to be quite large). Every normal ticket allows you to take a normal-sized piece of luggage with you free of charge.




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... and doesn%26#39;t your hotel throw in breakfast as well?




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Thank you so much for your help. I have plenty of ideas here to work on.





Unfortunately the deal we got did not include breakfast so I shall look around and see what I can find. I don%26#39;t normally fancy much anyway so I am sure there will be some cafes we can go to.




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FYI the word for breakfast is %26#39;snídaně%26#39; %26#39;snee-dan-yeah%26#39;




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Thank you I have noted the word down for future use!





I have taken on board the information about getting tickets for a day or more. Can I buy them at the airport?





If they can be bought at a tourist place or from a machine I shall be OK.





I assume that they will be OK for the journey to and from the airport... or should I buy a separate ticket? I know at Madrid you needs to pay a supplement because it is outside the city. I don%26#39;t want to get caught out and have to pay an on-the-spot fine.




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There is a public transport kiosk inside the arrival hall (open till 10.30p.m.) where you can buy your tickets, either a day (24 hour) ticket or individual single tickets. (or 3 day pass which is not worth buying unless you have children with you)



The Prague Ruzyne airport is within the city limits so whatever ticket you buy will be valid for a journey to/from the airport. The ticket becomes valid for the trip when you clip it inside the bus (just copy other people)and 26Kc ticket is good for a 75 minutes trip which will get you to Vysehrad metro stop.




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About breakfast,





You will have more luck in the centre, there are more cafés and restaurants that open early than in Vyšehrad. A good option is Louvre (http://www.cafelouvre.cz/en/) they open at 7.30 and their breakfast menu is pretty inexpensive, and the place is really lovely and quiet in the morning.



For evening meals, you%26#39;ll be better off catching a bite somewhere in the centre before heading back to the hotel, you will find tonnes of info in other posts. Otherise, you can check Brewsta%26#39;s blog http://czechoutchannel.blogspot.com/ or mine http://pivni-filosof.blogspot.com/



Na Zdraví!




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Removed on: 4:19 pm, September 12, 2009

Transfer from Airport.

Thanks to all who replied to my last post. All of the advice was appreciated.





Another more practical question I would love help with; Can anyone tell me how best to get from the airport to the Crowne Plaza Prague Castle Hotel. Would love to go by tram or bus rather than a taxi. Is it an easy prospect or are we better off getting in a taxi, being new to Prague?




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Mumbles,



Have a look at the Cedaz web site.



www.cedaz.cz



We use their point to point service when in Prague.



Good prices and reliable.



Martha




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Start from the tram stop close to your hotel, named Pohořelec.





Take tram 22 in the out of town direction, towards Bílá Hora. After two miles get off at stop Vypich (7 stops / 9 minutes).





Change onto bus 179 towards Letiště Ruzyně. After 6.5 miles get off at Terminál 1 (assuming you are flying directly back to the UK). This leg of the journey is 14 stops / 21 minutes.





You need a 26 CZK ticket which will cover you for tram and bus.




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I think the best answer would be that if you can afford to spend roughly £20 for a taxi then I would take the taxi. Otherwise Vaxaholic%26#39;s advice is perfectly good and cheap (about £1 per person). As regards Cedaz minibus, I think you may need to share with others, which may mean various drop offs on the way, and the price of 480CK is not much less than the cost of an individual taxi.




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Removed on: 6:51 am, December 14, 2008


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Removed on: 11:17 am, September 13, 2009

Basic travel info please

Hi,





I will be traveling to Prague from the US in April of next year. I have never been to Europe, so I apologize in advance for this question.





I%26#39;ve been researching my trip for quite awhile now and am confused when it comes to transportation throughout Europe.



Here in America, when going from city to city, your flight lands, you grab your bags and then you catch a taxi to the door of your hotel.



From my research, it looks like in Europe, you land at the airport, then you must find a specific bus number that will take you to a train or tram station, then you need to find another specific number or color of a tram that will then take you to a spot in the city where you must either walk a very long way, or catch another tram, taxi and/or bus to your hotel.





This seems like a lot of work to simply get from the airport to the hotel. Am I missing something, or can it be as simple as telling a taxi driver where you are staying and being dropped off at the door?





Thanks in advance for the help!




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Oh Panama City, if you are talking specifically about Prague, you need not do any of those described things, just grab a taxi at the airport, that%26#39;s what I do. Public transport and I are not the greatest of friends. However, it is more costly, so if you want to save some cash, you need to explore the joys of public transport. Hence the advice where to buy tickets, which bus to get, etc etc.




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That is good to know...thank you.





There will already be some confusion thanks to the language barrier, so I think I will take the easiest route and just grab a taxi from point A to point B.





The extra expence may be worth saving me the trouble of getting lost.




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There wont be a language barrier , We are put to shame by the amount of locals that speak English.



TORII




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as Penny says, we do have cabs (reputability aside) here, too. :) Flag one down, tell them the name of hotel and gett off. Do you want to make it a little more complicated? Get the public transport.




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nearly forgot, before you get in a cab AGREE ON PRICE, otherwise your first impressions of Prague may not be rosy, getting back to us here why we didnt warn you...




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xtremdelt8:





A little background on the taxis in Prague.





1) Unlike almost every large city in the U.S., the cabs in Praha can charge what they want. By law, they have to have the meter rates displayed, but the rates can be anything.





2) Taxis in Praha do not have the best reputation. IMHO, they are neck to neck with Athens in gamesmanship. That is not a compliment. %26lt;grin%26gt;





3) Some of the taxi companies have very GOOD reputations. I suggest you search the board here for recommendations (AAA is, I think, the largest taxi company and has a good rep.





While language will probably be less of a problem than you think, it is always a good idea to have the address and name of the hotel written down. I always do this when traveling to places where my attempt at the local language might not be clearly understood (Praha, Cairo, Mississippi, etc.)





Paul




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Thanks, Paul. I plan on writing EVERYTHING down.





Mississippi...very funny! I know what you mean.





Then again, as a southern Florida boy, you Minnisota people have a strange way of talking. My sister married a Golden Gopher and at their wedding, I had no idea what his family was saying half the time. :)




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The core of this difference in travelpatterns is probably the fact that the cities in Europe are built in a time when no one could eve imagine thousands of cars clogging the streets. London, Paris and Prague for instance, would be completely jammed if everyone was using taxis.





So every major city in Europe has dense networks of underground, trains and buses for transit.



And often train bus or underground to the airport.





But again there are always taxis. You cant beat the comfort of easy A to B travel, especially with luggage to haul.




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Americans have been raised from birth to think that cars are the only %26quot;real%26quot; mode of transportation. I may be strange, but I think half the fun of going to Europe is using the public transport. What a great network of trains you have! I can only dream that some day we can have the same kind of public transport infrastructure in the USA.




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tmynatt:





FWIW, I agree. My only exceptions to taking public transportation (when it is possible and reasonably efficient) are:





1) Arriving from a long flight. Sometimes it is worth the extra money just to get to the hotel NOW!





2) Physical limitations. Last year I did an around-the-world trip with one arm in a sling and needing to use a cane for walking. I did use more taxis that trip than usual. %26lt;grin%26gt;





For those not used to getting around via bus, tram, and light rail .... one word of caution. When crowded these are pickpockets%26#39; paradise. The problem is worse in some cities than in others (I think Barcelona is the leader right now), but one does need to be careful anywhere.





Paul

Suggestions on a great place to stay

Hi,





I am looking at meeting my boyfriend in Prague for his 15 day R%26amp;R in May (7th-22nd). While I have searched this site over and over and read many reviews I still haven’t been able to come across what I am seeking. We would like to stay at a place that is not far from attractions/restaurants etc. (however not on a noisy busy street), or not far from convenient transportation to access all the attractions. We would like to have a place that does breakfast each morning. Has a private bathroom in your room, and has a queen size bed. (Is it just me, or do all the beds in Prague seem to be 2 twins pushed together?? I mean by the time we meet up for this trip it will be 7 months since we have seen each other, we are not wanting to sleep on 2 twin bed.) We would like to keep our price under the $150/night range. Any suggestions on something nice and fitting for a romantic getaway are much appreciated.





Also, any tips on good restaurants? I am not picky about types of food and for sure we would like to try local cuisine and are drawn to the “little hole in the wall” type places more than the larger restaurants.





Thanks in advance…



Jessi




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How about here?



hotelsprague.net/hotels-prague/013-hotel-u-k…





TORII




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I%26#39;d go for the Hastal. Just off old town (about 5min walk) I%26#39;ve stayed there about 7 times in past 2 years. Its cheap but its a good 3 star. The rooms are nice and spacious with double beds!! private bathrooms too. breakfast is included and is the typical continental meats, cheese, toast and coffe. The location is great its also near the river and on a quiet little street opposite a church. If you book it on their website ask for a room like room number 10 (they have a name for these ones but it escapes me) they%26#39;re a bit bigger than the standard ones and not that expensive. Really is a perfect and comfortable base!!!




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oh and send me an email I might be able to get you a discount as I have for some of my friends. I%26#39;ll want a discount in Hawaii though!!




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Thanks for the advice! I really appreciate it. I will check into it and see what kind of availability they have for May.





Hawaii discount...we call it Kama%26#39;aina here. :) And sure why not? One good back scratch deserves another!





Thanks again,



Jessi




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tripadvisor.com/ShowUserReviews-g274707-d280…





check out my review




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TORII - Any idea for the room rate/night? Not available from that website. When I click the room rate, it show me the map of this hotel.





- Mint -




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lsw - Torii is probably shopping! On this website for your dates at the end of January, the rate for a double room is 89 euros per night.





http://www.u-karlova-mostu-hotel-prague.info/




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It is really hard to find a bed that isn%26#39;t two beds pushed together to make a queen/king not just in Prague but in Europe. Seems to be the standard. Sheets that pop off and mattresses that slide off. Waking up in the middle in Hammock style inbetween the two beds pushed together. Two places in Prague that have normal queen/king beds. Ventana and Iron Gates Suites. Both these hotels are tourist friendly, speak perfect English, and in Old Town. Down side they might be out of your price range you are looking for. Never hurts to check.




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Mint,



I usually use this company.



yeego.com/czechrepublic/…



TORII




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Penny - Thank you very much. From the website, this hotel look very attractive, but... out of our budget.





- Mint -

airport transfers - cost

Can anybody tell us how much we should expect to pay for a taxi into the city from the airport? We heard that the taxi drivers can be unscrupulous






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You can have a direct transfer to your hotel shared minbus [if you book return you get a discount]or the same company will drop you off in the city centre again in a minibus for a cheaper rate,



Have a look here



www.cedaz.cz/about-transport-services.php



TORII




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Removed on: 10:16 am, September 16, 2009

Trips out of Cesky Krumlov

My husband and I will be in CK and would like to stay there 2 nights. We would like to tour the countryside around CK one day but will not have a car. Do you recommend renting a car for the day or are there tours companies that run out of CK/






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tripadvisor.co.uk/ShowTopic-g274688-i1988-k2…





you might want to have a look at this recent thread.




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Thanks for the link. Is it easy to rent a car in CK?




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Last year when I asked about car rentals at the Infocentrum (the very helpful tourist information center) in the Main Square of Cesky Krumlov, they said the closest car rental office was in Ceske Budejovice (about 30 minutes north of Cesky Krumlov). The price quoted for the rental was not exactly inexpensive so get additional quotes before you arrive in Europe if you are seriously interested.





At …castleview.cz/renting-a-car.html there is a good article about car rentals in this area plus links to other helpful sites such as Rick Steves%26#39; articles, etc.





At …castleview.cz/suggested-schedule-for-cesky-… and at …castleview.cz/regional-day-trips.html are suggestions for side trips out of Cesky Krumlov with links to further information.




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Tim, in one of the links, there%26#39;s a suggestion re Hluboka, to %26quot;be sure to take the bus which stops at the castle.%26quot;



I guess this means that not all the buses which go to Hluboka will stop at/near the castle.



From the idos website, there%26#39;re a few different words attached to Hluboka, eg %26quot;kostelem%26#39;, %26quot;zamosti%26quot;... how do I know which bus stops at/near the castle? what is the key word I should be looking for?



Thanks.




|||



Zámek Hluboká je dobře dostupný dopravními prostředky - především autobusy.





Ve všední dny odjíždí z autobusového nádraží v Českých Budějovicích do Hluboké nad Vltavou téměř každou půlhodinu jeden spoj. Autobusy staví na Hluboké ve stanici pod Kostelem. Z této stanice je to na zámek necelých 500 metrů. O sobotách a nedělích je autobusové spojení podstatně horší.





Vlaková nádraží jsou v Hluboké nad Vltavou dvě, první na trati České Budějovice - Praha vzdálené 3 km a druhé na trati České Budějovice - Plzeň 5 km daleko.





This is what I found on the website - the nearest bus stop is Hluboka Pod Kostelem - 500 metres from the castle. The trains are 3 and 5 kilometres.




|||



It also says that on Saturdays and Sundays the links are considerably worse (which is a similar situation all over the country with buses) - but all buses that go to Hluboka will stop there.




|||



So all buses which go to Hluboka will stop near the castle? How far is the castle from the town?




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From the map at http://www.vachaasyn.cz/image/mapa1.jpg note that the Castle is very close to town %26quot;as the crow flies.%26quot; However because the Castle is near the top of a steep hill, the walk from the closest bus stop (just south of the church on the main road shown in yellow) is about 500 meters since one makes several turns.





The last time I took the bus there from Ceske Budejovice was about five years ago; apparently from the comments above and reviewing the schedules at jizdnirady.idnes.cz/vlakyautobusy/spojeni/ all of these buses NOW stop at the bus stop south of the church as mentioned above.





I would second the comments made above and suggest you avoid public buses on holidays, Saturdays, and Sunday unless you plan your day carefully to make sure it fits the often limited schedule on these days.




|||



Thanks.



Is that a lake on the left of the town?



What is the symbol for the bus stop?




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It is what is known as a %26#39;rybník%26#39; (fishpond). There are many of these in the area (and elsewhere as well), and they were once the main source of income for the noble familes in centuries gone by so as to enable them to build such grand castles!



There doesn%26#39;t asppear to be a symbol for bus stop on that little map, but as the description states it is by the church - symbolised in the usual way, from where there is a short walk up Bezručova to the castle



Site in English zamek-hluboka.eu/information-for-visitors/



Also look at www.mapy.cz as posted before to find Holašovice :) - this time choose Hluboká nad Vltavou from the list. No need for any special symbols.

Christmas dinner suggestion in prague

Are dinner reservations necessary for Christmas day dinner in Prague? If so, would be grateful for any restaurant suggestions that are not too pricey. We%26#39;ll be staying near Old Town in the Hastal area. Thanks for any suggestions!




|||



Va,



Try pragueexperience.com



at the bottom of the page they have a Christmas planner which links to restaurants open for Christmas.



Martha




|||



Thank you - will check it out.




|||



This may help



pragueexperience.com/events/christmas_planne…









TORII




|||



On Dec 24, we are eating at La Casa Argentina, and on the 25th, at La Provence. We made reservations for both. La Provence is in the Old Town.




|||



NB 24th December is the equivalent of the UK/US %26#39;Christmas Day%26#39;




|||



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Removed on: 4:17 am, September 16, 2009

Late January

Here in Alaska it is typically windy at the end of January so I tell visitors to be prepared for cold and wind. We%26#39;re visiting Prague the last week of January and I wonder if that is usually a windy time there as well. If so, I%26#39;ll pack differently because wind and cold are very different from just cold weather! Thank you!




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Who knows? You better check a week, ten days before with the weather forecast. Best is to dress in layers so you can adapt to short term weather changes.




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I do understand that weather prediction is impossible but there are %26quot;norms%26quot; such as it is normally windy here in Anchorage at the end of January so I advise people to arrive prepared for wind. Is there a norm for Prague? I%26#39;m having to pack my luggage more than 10 days in advance. Thanks.




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Really - impossible to say. Last year, for example, the temperatures ranged from +15 to -8 during January, but in 2006 it ranged from +4 to -16.



It will generally be cold, though and probably won%26#39;t be (but might be) windy. A bit of snow, perhaps, but then again probably not.




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Thank you - I take it that wind is not something you expect in late January but, of course, it might be windy. Here we expect wind - maybe 50-80 km per hour for about 10 days in late January. It makes the cold temperatures very cold indeed! We thin we are lucky if there is little or no wind!




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I can probably pretty safely say that it won%26#39;t be anything along the lines of Alaska, and you will probably be walking around in t-shirt and shorts wondering what all the fuss was about :)




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I%26#39;ll pack layers for temperatures below zero but with just a breeze so no really heavy layers or hats and gloves for extreme cold or much wind. Coming from here temperatures 0 C and above will feel nearly warm!



Thanks for your help.




|||



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Removed on: 8:16 am, September 16, 2009

CR and Poland

I%26#39;m going to be spending 2 weeks traveling through CR and Poland. I%26#39;m flying into Prague and traveling to Plzen and Cesky Krumlov. Where should I visit on the eastern side of CR on my way to Poland? Any specific cities/towns worth my time? Thanks.






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You should obviously visit Brno http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brno from where you should make your way to Olomouc, which is also well worth a couple of days http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Olomouc and from there there are direct trains to Krakow.





That is just the tip of the iceberg - there is so much more in that part of the world to keep you occupied, but as you only have two weeks unfortunately you can only do a whistle-stop tour :)





When will you be going?





Have fun!




|||



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Removed on: 4:26 pm, August 10, 2009

Train Questions

Is it easier/efficient to purchace a rail pass or to purchace the tickets to my next destination at the train station. Keep in mind I don%26#39;t speak any Czech. Thanks in advance.






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It is neither easier nor more efficient to get a rail pass (I am thinking of Rail Europe, for example - stay well clear). Otherwise getting a Czech Rail pass, such as they are, will require a certain amount of Czech language skills :)





Don%26#39;t worry about not speaking any Czech - many thousands of people have gone before you without any problems and you can always write down the name of your destination and show it to the vendor. The price will come up on an electronic screen and that is all you need to know.





It is very straightforward. Good luck!




|||



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Removed on: 5:17 pm, August 10, 2009

Czech Folk night or dinner cruise?

Although I am sure they are terribly %26quot;touristy%26quot;, I am thinking of taking one of those river dinner cruises or doing a Czech folk night which includes dinner and music. Has anyone ever done one of these? Can anyone recommend one of these or something similar? Or any other suggestions for an evening out for two mums travelling together to Prague would be greatly appreciated.





Thanks in advance!




|||



I have been to two different Folk shows on my many trips to Prague.



www.pragueexperience.com/places.asp…



http://www.folkloregarden.cz/



both were very good and agreat fun night out,ytansport ,food,drink and entertainment all for an all in one price.



i can%26#39;t fault either place,though I wpould say i felt the food in the Prague experince to be better than the Folklore gardens which was more rustic fare,but still very good.



Both floor shows were good but the Folklore gardens had a little more audience partiicipation which i enjoyed ,yes i was up dancing with the ladies.hospitallity in both places was excellent.the Folklore gardens picked us up and dropped us off at pur hotel,the Pragueexperience picked us up at our hotel and dropped us off in the center of town.both shows start about 7.30 and you will be dropped off around 10.30.



I would have no hesitation in reccommending either place. Another place I have been to is U Pastyrka



http://www.pastyrka.cz/



it is a resturant but very good ,food is cooked on an open grill and a small band plays Gypsy style music,a pleasant place for a meal and a drink.



I have never tried any of the river cruises,Unclegus just doesn%26#39;t go cruising.




|||



Thankyou for that in depth reply.



I too am looking to book a folk night and maybe a dinner cruise so found it very informative.




|||



I have not done the dinner cruise so can%26#39;t compare, but we went to a folklore dinner in Prague last week and it was a lot of fun. Great music and dancing, lots of audience participation, and I laughed a lot when one of the singers walked around with a wooden spoon threatening anyone who did not follow her instructions. It was kind of hokey, but in a good way. The food was OK as long as you accept that Czech food is kind of heavy with emphasis on potatoes and meat. There was unlimited beer and wine, both very good. I wish I knew the name of the place, but it was arranged by the group I was touring with and was outside of the central area. Also, given that it is really cold there now, you might be better off indoors than on a cruise. Whatever you decide to do, have fun!




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Jenjack,that sound a lot like the Pragueexperience place,quite a modern place and they serve the wine from long spouted carafes in a very elaborate fashion.



Yes I do remember being threatened by that spoon.



In the Fokelore place they have a dance with an odd number of participants ,at the start the %26quot;odd%26quot; person has to dance with a broom,when the music stops they drop the broom and eveyone has to change partners,to much amusment someone is left dancing with the broom.



I never had to dance with the broom but my mate did,i still ridicule him about it.



go with and open mind and a joyous heart and you will have a great time.




|||



Thanks to everyone for your input! It is much appreciated! We have decided on the pragueexperience.com folk night. We are looking forward to even more now that we have some recommendations!




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I hope you really enjoy it.let us know how you get on.




|||



We followed the Pastyrka recomendation by Unclegus and had the best night of our visit, very pleasant.



But it is %26#39;gypsy music%26#39; rather rthan traditional Czech folk.





Stoofer




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For real living Czech (well - they might be a bit insulted to call it %26#39;Czech%26#39;) %26#39;folk%26#39; you have to go to the villages of South Moravia during the wine harvest season (late summer) and you will see what it is all about. People will dress up in traditional costume, some of which has been handed down for generations, and they know how to have a party!



As Stoofer says, much of what you will see described as %26#39;Czech folk%26#39; will be gypsy bands with violins, dulcimer, double bass, etc - which is great, but slightly misleading.




|||



http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=89SsWzpWZFY




|||



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Removed on: 7:20 pm, September 15, 2009

Prague-airport -shuttle

http://www.prague-airport-shuttle.com/





We used this company for the first time recently and they have provided by far the best service of any airport transfer service we have used on our many trips to Prague.Their website is informative and when you contact them by email the information they provide is first class.



We arranged a pick-up for the 5th May 2007 with a return journey on the 12th May 2007.



The instuctions on the return email were very precise and they even provided a photograph of the meeting point,prices were included and how and when to pay the driver.you pay half going to your hotel and half on your return.



Driver Mike was waiting exactlly where we expected him and he quickly whisked us all out to the waiting car ,a very modern estate car (don%26#39;t know what type but I am not good with makes of car).Mike ( he speaks excellent English mainly because he is an American) drove to the hotel in an efficient and quick manner talking all the time about Prague ,places to go ,sights to see ,pubs to visit and gave excellent advice on using the railway system.



as we left the car we were given a card with the return pick-up time on it.



True to form Mike was there just before the appointed time to take us back to the Airport,even managing to avoid a traffic jam and get us there just before our check-in opened.



all in all an excellent service we have no hesitation in recommending.





I asked Trip Advisor to post this as a review ,but they do not allow that,but have allowed me to post this on the forum.



I have also sent a copy of this to Prague-airport-shuttle .




|||



Hi Unclegus



I%26#39;ve been asking TA to allow us to post reviews about ferries, perhaps they should start a section on all forms of transport other than flying. Airport transfers would also be very suitable for this.



By the way we used this firm once, we got the photo of where they would be, the precise instructions etc, but nobody was waiting when we got there. We had to phone the company who had double booked the car and so we had to wait about half an hour.



This was some 4 years ago, since then we%26#39;ve always used public transport.



Jackie




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We have used this company in the past and shall do so again in December.



TORII




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Ditto....we were two women flying in around midnight in November...it was so nice to see a friendly face..getting us to our hotel in a city neither of us had been to before. Will use them again.




|||



Same here again!





Prague airport shuttle has lived up to their reputation.



I%26#39;ve got a very good transport from airport to hotel and the other direction with them.



They are really credible company.




|||



I have just booked with this company today as we are going in December and as we will be 2 women and no men I thought this would be safer, hope they meet us!




|||



Thay are planned to pick us up this afternoon - Hope they are there!!!





Will report back when I return.




|||



1st class service by a 1st class company. Our driver Mike was really well informed, he gave us loads of tips and ideas, particularly times to visit places and where to eat. He was on time and waited for for us at the airport even though we were delayed for a couple of hours.





Definitely a company that I%26#39;d recommend to anybody.




|||



agree with everything gus said, would use them again as the service was very good in all aspects




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Have just returned from Prague and used prague airport shuttle.





Could not fault their service, we were travelling with elderly parents and teenagers so needed transport for 10 people.........no problem.





Their driver was there waiting for us holding up a card, we were whisked off promptly in a mini van to our hotel. He returned at the agreed time to take us back for our return flight, again no hitches whatsoever.





Only thing I would say is his english wasn%26#39;t good, and unlike some other posters to this thread, we didn%26#39;t benefit from insider taxi driver info.....................mind you I don%26#39;t speak chez, and do have access to this fantastic forum for my info!!





Cost was 3000 crowns for return journey - mini van for 10 people.




|||



DISCLAIMER: I own http://www.prague-airport-shuttle.com/





ete, thank you very much for your kind comments.



I do apologise that the drivers English was not very good. He is taking lessons! The bigger vans require special permits to drive and you need to take a written test in Czech thus I only have 3 drivers that have the qualifications and only one speaks perfect English.

Restaurants near Prague Imperial

Can anyone please recommend favourite restaurants/ bars in a range of prices/ cuisine/ atmosphere which are located near the Prague Imperial Hotel?




|||



I don%26#39;t know how far you%26#39;d be willing to walk, but one of my favourites is (for me at least) nearby, Pivovarský Klub …blogspot.com/2007/11/my-temple.html It%26#39;s got decent food, very good service and the best selection of beers in Prague, if not the whole country. It%26#39;s in Florenc, opposite Karlín Theatre and the bus station. From the Imperial hotel shouldn%26#39;t take much more than 5 minute walk.



If you want something a bit more upmarket, you have U Petrské věže http://www.upetrskeveze.cz/ and Červená tabulka http://www.cervenatabulka.cz/ both pretty much around the corner from the hotel.



Another alternative, though far from being one of my favourites is Celnice http://www.celnice.com/ in Nám. Republiky, about 150m from your hotel, this one is a poshed up traditional Czech pub, too pretentious IMO, but tourist friendly.



Na Zdraví!




|||



Thank you so much!!



Rosemary




|||



Thai



http://www.siamorchid.cz/





Music and food



www.czrb.cz/detail.asp?detail=9%26code=129





Music and food



http://www.prahaentertainment.com/met/





Fine dining



hiltonpragueoldtown.com/mazerestaurant-en.ht…





Pizza/pasta



www.ambi.cz/ambi_pizzanuova_kontakt.php




|||



Brewsta ,



Is the Metrapol attached to the hotel of the same name?



TORII




|||



The hotel has its own wonderful restaurant (Cafe Imperial). The atmosphere and the food is lovely.




|||



Torii I hope it%26#39;s not - somebody just asked how to get to Metropole Hotel and I directed them to Vinohrady!




|||



Sorry Penny there is no E on the end its opposite Tesco.



http://www.hotelmetropol.cz/



TORII




|||



Yes, made a mistake - good job spotted, I will now go back and correct it!




|||



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Removed on: 2:18 am, September 16, 2009

Travel to and from airport

Hello





We have booked prague for christmas and this will be our first time their.





We have booked the metrepol hotel. They have offered airport transfers for 730CZK which seems expensive to me.





Does anyone have better advise for getting to and from airport. Another option is bus and metro?





Thanks



Anthony




|||



Hello Papa - you are posting on Karlovy Vary forum, but you are staying in Prague? Correct?



730CZK is extortionate - do not take them up on this %26#39;kind%26#39; offer.



You can take www.cedaz.cz for 480 CZK from the airport to your hotel directly,or use public transport which is easy.However, you will have to walk for 5 - 10 minutes so depends how much luggage you are carrying.



You would take a bus 119 from the airport to its terminal station at Dejvicka which is the end stop of A line metro. Then take the metro for 5 stops to Museum and walk from there up Vinohradska. Look it up on www.mapy.cz and search for Vinohradska Praha.




|||



Thank you.




|||



Anthony, please come back, I sent you to the wrong place.



Your hotel is in Narodni Trida - so take the bus and tube but need to get off at Mustek - that%26#39;s 4th stop.



and then you need to walk about 5 minutes to Narodni.Use www.mapy.cz and search for Narodni Praha.





Many apologies for this.




|||



Not a problem. I think I will take your advise on the private transfer.





Thank you




|||



Thank you so much - take the cedaz it will save struggle with your luggage. And the cost is about £16. And you will get a discount if you use them on your way back.




|||



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Removed on: 5:20 pm, August 10, 2009

Beer on the plane

Once you land does it explode when you open it to drink it?



Does it fizzle out? Does it shoot foam all over the place??/







thanks





nando




|||



gatotabbi - your question made me laugh. I don%26#39;t know never that desperate!!! But probably.




|||



Are you planning on opening it right away? In which case it will probably shoot all over the place. Only one way to find out...





I know that with my son%26#39;s baby bottle the neighbours can get a bit of an unwanted shower, but that%26#39;s when you%26#39;re up in the air and there doesn%26#39;t tend to be any beer in it (not for a few years at least).




|||



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Removed on: 6:17 pm, August 10, 2009

What is Czech Fashion like?

among 25 year old women?





Just curious!




|||



I am no expert on young fashions (52 year old man here) but what i notice about the girls in Prague is that they all wear lovely shoes in styles i have never seen in Britain.



Actually this also applies to all the former communist countries that I have been to recently.




|||



hi there,



they seemed to be all in skinny jeans and coats when i was there..no different from english women i think.down at all the designer shops, you see some wealthy looking women wearing all the high end labels, but nothing outta the ordinary,



jacdav x




|||



It%26#39;s less about what they wear than what they don%26#39;t wear.




|||



And the way they wear it!



TORII




|||



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Removed on: 11:48 am, December 15, 2008


|||



I think she meant they wear it (or not) very well - at least from my experience that is the case :)



There was a time when the fashion police needed to be called in big time - men%26#39;s clothing in particular was especially dire. The usual business attire in the early to mid-1990s consisted of a burgundy jacket, peg-leg tousers, white socks, black slip-ons and a piano tie. There were even articles in the job pages of the daily papers telling people not to wear things like that and thankfully they have (mostly) listened. I can remember when the choice was very limited so you would get phases of people wearing the same t-shirt or shoes, for example, but women in particular tend to be very elegant nowadays (not to say that it wasn%26#39;t always the case - before it was a matter of making the best of a bad lot).




|||



I think she means they (ladies) wear it well.




|||



There you go again having a go you are really a nice person -not!



I think Czech women are very elegant and the men as well in there long coats and hats in winter especially in the buisness district of Prague.



TORII




|||



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Removed on: 7:17 pm, September 15, 2009

Prague on New Year's Eve

Dears,





We are two party Loving Couples, visiting Prague during 31st Dec- 4th jan and will be staying in an Apartment in Sokolovska, Prague.





We will be reaching Prague on the evening by 6PM. We were initially planning to take the Party Cruise but we are not sure if the flights will be on time and we will be able to manage to recah the cruise which starts at 8.





Can anyone advise us what could be the best way to celebrate the new year%26#39;s eve, other than the cruise?





Our budget is maximum 100 euros per person. Can anyone please suggest how we can have an rememberable new year eve in Prague.





Also during 2nd of jan, we intend to visit Dresden. Request views on that also.





Cheers :-)




|||



If you have a look on here



pragueexperience.com/events/new_years_eve_pl…



See if there is anything you like then come back and I am sure people will give you their views.



TORII




|||



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Removed on: 6:17 pm, August 10, 2009

26-28 December Restaurants

Hi there





I%26#39;ve arranged for myself %26amp; my boyfriend to go to Prague on Boxing Day. We will arrive around 16:30 and are staying in the Alchymist Grand.





I%26#39;m really struggling with trying to find restaurants and wondered if anyone could please help out.





I%26#39;ve used the pragueexperience website but I%26#39;m not sure which restaurants are within easy walking/staggering distance of the hotel.





I%26#39;d like to book us into a nice restaurant and don’t mind paying a little bit more, however, I don’t want to be ripped off. I would be equally happy going somewhere cheap and cheerful where the locals go (actually - I think we%26#39;d prefer that!!) and I would love for us to find the bars people talk about where the beers are v.v cheap.





Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thank you in advance.




|||



Once again have a look on here



pragueexperience.com/events/new_years_eve_pl…



If you see anything you like come back and ask for opinions on the ones you like.



also have a look at Brewstas blog



…blogspot.com/2008/01/prague-food-drink-blog…



TORII




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very nice right beside the hotel http://www.restaurant-david.cz/cz/





cheap and friendly, just down the street on left



expats.cz/prague/…





I love the restaurant in this hotel,



http://www.uschnellu.cz/en/index.html




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Removed on: 10:18 am, October 17, 2009

Mens Formal Suit Hire

I am hoping to be in Prague for four nights or so in February. I like to attend the opera, but in order to travel light on Easyjet and save the baggage charge, can anyone recommend a good mens formal suit hire place in Prague. Thanks




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http://www.kleinod.cz/en/mens-fashion



or



Or there is a shop called Panska Moda on Korunni, right hand side heading down towards Namesti Miru that may hire them.



TORII




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heres a bunch of places in Prague 1, sorrby but some are just in Czech





firmy.cz/Remesla-a-sluzby/…praha-1




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Removed on: 5:19 pm, August 10, 2009

one week - PRAGUE - Dresden - Berlin ... NEED HELP

Hi there.





Looking at flying into Prague (arrive (6/19) and spending 4 nights (too much?) at K+K Hotel Central (any feedback?). We%26#39;d like to get out of Prague and see castles (train or hire a driver?). Then taking train to Dresden for 2 nights (spend a day visiting castle or another city?). Then taking train to Berlin for one night and flying home next morning. 7 nights total. We will be two 40 year olds and one 10 year old boy. We really need help.





In the past we%26#39;ve done Paris/Normandy which was great but we wish we had taken a train out to Normandy and rented a car upon arrival rather than drive from Paris. Also we did Haarlem and Amsterdam - which was a fun trip. Soooo - we really need help. My boss is covering the airfare - we fly out of Newark. Husband wants to see Prague BUT we need help (did I mention we need help??).





Itinerary suggestions ..............




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I don%26#39;t think you need much help - your itinerary sounds very straightforward!





Which castles did you want to see? Here%26#39;s a little list for you to look at and then come back for advice on how to get there/whether it is feasible. Unless your budget is unlimited, stick to the trains.





Hope this helps at least a little :)




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http://www.zamky-hrady.cz/



better post the link




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thanks! I get all flipped out - want to make the right choices .... thanks again!




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so - if we%26#39;d like to travel outside prague and visit town/castle/hike - where do you suggest we go? Is there anywhere that is an easy train ride? We%26#39;d rather do that than hire a driver.




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If this is you first trip to these cities, I would certainly spend at lesast twice as much time in Berlin as Dresden. The %26quot;Pergamon Museum%26quot; (Hours Tues-Sun 10am-6pm but Thurs until 10pm) on Berlin%26#39;s %26quot;Museum Island%26quot; is one of my handful of %26quot;must sees%26quot; in Germany that I return to again and again. Note that it is closed on Mondays. When I first saw the %26quot;Pergamon Altar and Market Gate of Miletus%26quot;, I was stopped in my tracks. At aviewoncities.com/berlin/pergamonmuseum.htm is a summary and some photos. One can just imagine the effect of the tall and colorful %26quot;Ishtar Gate%26quot; several thousand years ago when the masses lived in drab, dusty, cramped squalor. Make a visit to %26quot;Museum Haus am Checkpoint Charlie%26quot; (Hours Daily 9am-10pm) for a hint of what it was like in Berlin when people would risk their lives to escape the %26quot;Berlin Wall.%26quot; Be sure to walk from the Brandenburger Tor (Brandenburg Gate) to Potsdamer Platz. Try to find photos of the way Potsdamer Platz looked when the Berlin Wall was in place (less than two decades ago) so you can compare it with the modern skyscrappers there now.



If you have never seen a Baroque palace, Berlin has its %26quot;Schloss Charlottenburg%26quot; (Palace Tues-Fri 9am-4pm, Sat-Sun 10am-4pm; museum Tues-Fri 10am-6pm; gardens (free admission) daily 6:30am-8pm); however many think that if you have seen one of these palaces in Europe, you have seen them all. If you like art, there is the famous Gemäldegalerie (Picture Gallery) with Hours Tues-Sun 10am-6pm (Thurs until 10pm). However if you saw the %26quot;Louvre%26quot; while in Paris, I would spend your limited time somewhere else in Berlin unless there is a particular painting you wish to see here.





In Dresden my %26quot;must see%26quot; is the inside of the %26quot;Frauenkirche.%26quot; See photos and details at en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dresden_Frauenkirche . At dresden.de/dmg/…frauenkirche_church.php are additional photos and links to the main sights, etc. Consider taking the early morning train from Prague to Dresden, perhaps leaving Prague at 8:40 am and arriving in Dresden Hbf (closer to the Old Town than the other Dresden train station) at 10:46 am.



Schedules at jizdnirady.idnes.cz/vlakyautobusy/spojeni/ . After checking into a hotel between the train station and the Old Town, one could easily see the Old Town in an afternoon and evening. (In mid June the sun %26quot;stays up%26quot; quite late). The next morning after breakfast one could take the train to Berlin and be there in two and a half hours. At www.bahn.de/international/view/en/index.shtml are the schedules with an English language option where you can investigate such discount programs as the %26quot;Happy-Weekend-Ticket, etc.%26quot; for considerable savings on German trains. The train prices in the Czech Republic are so inexpensive compared to Western Europe that it is best to buy them at a train station when in Prague.





In Prague my %26quot;must see%26quot; is the %26quot;chapel of the Holy Cross%26quot; in Karlstejn Castle since you are visiting this area between June and October. These are the dates that Tour #2 is available. Take a %26quot;virtual tour%26quot; at their website at www.hradkarlstejn.cz/virtual-tour/. by clicking the thumbnail of the next to the last photo at the bottom of the virtual tour selection. These tours, starting at 9:00 am and lasting about two hours, include the %26quot;Chapel of the Holy Cross,%26quot; the most beautiful room from medieval Europe with its gold and semiprecious stones on the walls. Reservations for this tour are needed in advance (see above website for details). English speakers often do not have their emails answered or their phone calls returned by such websites, especially if you do not indicate that you will take tour #2 in any language if English is sold out. When you arrive in Prague, your hotel receptionist can also call them to reserve your tour although sometimes you need to go to another Prague address to pay the reservation fee in cash if they are not willing to accept your credit card. I know this procedure seems like a hassle, but this tour is worth it! If Tour #2 is sold out in English during your visit, take this Tour in any language available. You will soon forget the words of the tour guides anyway, but the images of these rooms will last a lifetime. I think that a taxi could take you to the top of the hill to the gates of the Castle to save you some time. Afterwards the taxi or chauffeur service could take you to Prague Castle; there if you follow the directions mentioned in above paragraphs, you would have an easy downhill walk seeing the main sites of historic Prague on your way to Wenceslas Square. For much less money one can take a direct train from Prague to Karlstejn. If you use the train, take a detailed train schedule of that route with you, and sit in the front of the train so you will recognize when you reach Karlstejn and be ready to exit. Some of the stops that trains make in small towns are only for a minute and only have one station sign to tell you the station name. The Karlstejn train station is across the river from the Castle. After leaving the Karlstejn train station, turn to your right then cross the bridge over the river; then make another right turn and walk up the hill to the Castle. Be aware that the guided bus tours from Prague to Karlstejn take the MUCH less impressive Tour #1, and one still has to walk up the hill to the Castle unless one rents a horse drawn carriage at the town parking lot. This last paragraph was taken from …castleview.cz/day-trip-to-prague.html which has a suggested itinerary for seeing historic Prague in a day.





In summary, to answer your first question - yes, four nights is too much time during your short trip unless part of this time is spent in the Czech countryside. I would certainly move one of those nights from Dresden to Berlin with the reasons mentioned above.




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Also the %26quot;Five-Petalled Rose Celebrations%26quot; is in Cesky Krumlov from June 19th until th 21st, 2009. It is %26quot;a three-day Renaissance festival that takes the town back to the times of knights, noble ladies, magicians and beggars.%26quot; The town is more magical at night when lights illuminate the Castle and narrow streets; however lodging books quickly for this yearly event.



If you are interested, …castleview.cz/from-prague-airport.html gives detailed options about getting from Prague to Cesky Krumlov. The %26quot;Student Agency%26quot; Buses are the most cost effective means of travel on this route; however during such times these buses fill up quickly so if interested, make a reservation about four weeks in advance (as soon as the bus seats are listed on their website). This once a year festival also has fireworks and townspeople dressing up for the event. If you bring your own medieval costumes to wear, there is no admission charge to the town those days. See some festival and town photos at …castleview.cz/town-photos.html .





Another day trip from Prague would be to %26quot;take the waters%26quot; at one of the historic spa towns such as Karlovy Vary with its picturesque colonnades, mineral springs, etc. See www.karlovyvary.cz/index.asp… and http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karlovy_Vary for more details. The Moser glass factory there is an interesting side trip (while in Prague visit their downtown retail shop and drool). While in the town, be sure to take a quick look inside the lobbies of some of the world famous hotels such as the %26quot;Grandhotel Pupp%26quot;. They have a unique website at http://www.pupp.cz/ .




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Removed on: 6:17 pm, August 10, 2009

Apartment Valentyn Information

Hi



Im going to Prague for the first time in August for 4 nights and would be grateful for any information about Apartment Valentyn, Valentinska 11, Prague 1. I came across it on the abaka.com website offering a good rate but can%26#39;t find any reviews on it.



Many thanks



Jane




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Anyone?




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Hi Jane!





Did you go and how was it? I%26#39;m also interested in a stay for a few days in Apartment Valentyn.



Thank you in advance,





Vincent




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Hi Vincent



Yes, I did stay at Apartment Valentyn. The location is good as its walking distance to most attractions and the train station is in close promity. Due to the age of the lift it was out of order as it was being replaced, so we had to use the stairs. We didn%26#39;t mind the exercise of using the stairs but it might be a problem if you have a lot of luggage or small children. The place is quite spacious with a washing machine and clothes dryer. The photos on the abaka.com website are a good reflection of the apartment and the owner was very nice and most helpful.





We loved Prague and hope to return again one day. If you need any further info let me know. Enjoy your stay.





Regards



Jane




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Removed on: 6:19 pm, September 27, 2009

Hotel Ametyst - transfer

can someone tell me exactly how I can best get from the airport to this hotel?





Thanks




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The best would be by a taxi - be prepared to pay about £20.



The cheapest would be by public transport. Less than £1.



You would need to take a bus number 119 to its terminal station at Dejvicka, then metro for 6 stops to Namesti Miru. As you get out of the metro and look down the square (sloping) you need to take a road at the bottom left corner of the square (Belgicka), walk down and take 3rd turning on the right to Jana Masaryka. Your hotel is few metres down the road.



Look at this website and put Jana Masaryka Praha in the search box (you need to use the Czech expressions) and you will see where it is.





http://www.mapy.cz/




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What is best for you? Cheap or quick?



Maybe a cheap and quick transfer? :)





Well as Penny suggests you can take the bus that takes you to the metro station Hradcanska, then catch up the metro. Total expenses about 52 CZK.





...or, you can ask your hotel to arrange a taxi for you since almost all lodgings have contractual taxi drivers with whom they co-operate. The cost is around 400-650 CZK one way per cab. This price is a little higher than it might be through this





www.prague-airport-shuttle.cz/us/…





due to the contractual taxi drivers paying commissions to the hotel for recommendation.




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Dejvicka, not Hradcanska




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sorry, mea culpa, Dejvicka




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Thanks for that, the bus doesen%26#39;t sound too complicated.



From research done to date I guess I buy a bus ticket on the bus and a metro ticket at the metro station? 24 hour ticket or just that actual fare? I am around for 2 full days afterwards so I assume 24 hour ticket is best the following morning





Is it the same in reverse when I go back? especially the bus and will Sundays make a difference to buses running?





Thanks




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Newquygreen - please read my inside pages re Prague Public Transport.



You must buy your tickets at the arrival hall in the Public Transport Kiosk (opened till 10.30 p.m.)



You can buy as many tickets as you want and they will become valid only when you validate them on the bus/tram/metro.( a kind of stamping machine)



For your trip from the airport to Namesti Miru you will need a 26 Czech Crowns ticket per person. But for your other trips to the town centre, it will be enough to buy 18 Czech Crown tickets.




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You could buy a day ticket for 100Czech Crowns, but may not be worthwhile for you.




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Newquaygreen,



Another option is a Cedaz minibus. Door to door.



They have a kiosk on the right as you approach the airport exit doors ...close to the ATM machines.



The service is speedy and efficient for 480 CZK (or less if you purchase a round trip ticket).



Martha




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Hello Martha - that%26#39;s a very helpful advice, I thought that Minibus cedaz only goes to V Celnici.



Can you be more specific about this route. Did you say door to door anywhere in Prague?




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Yes Penny door to door if you go to their ticket office you can book and pay for reduced return transfer to pick you up at your hotel,very good service or you can book it all on line,



TORII

metamorphis

Hi all ,





just about to book the metamorphis hotel when i noticed there is a metamorphis excellent for an extra £20 / night , can anyone advise me if it%26#39;s worth the extra? I also noticed the cerna liska is owned by the same company and is a reasonable £53 /night on hotels.com (same as metamorphis) should i just pick a name out of a hat or spend another day trying to research which is best for a romantic break.





Cheers,




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What extras will you get for £20?




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What are the reveiws like for both cant you descide that way ? The Metamorphis is lovely the only thing that would put me off is the sports bar in the same courtyard ,could it get a bit noisy? If this isnt mentioned in the reviews I would go for it.



TORII




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tripadvisor.co.uk/ShowUserReviews-g274707-d2…





Tells you about the Excellent next door.



TORII




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The hotel is very nice, but the room located away from the court yard are the loud ones, TORII. There is this bar (forgot the name) on the corner, which is very busy. Very loud, lots of drunks. The sports bar in the court yard is not a problem.




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I know the bar Martina and I cant remember the name,in fact there are quite a few in the streets at the back plus a nice variety of restaurants.



TORII




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Plus of course the famous La Provence Restaurant with the bar above it which I think is called Banana Club.



TORII




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In your earlier enquiry HuricaneHigs - praguepivo suggested cerna liska as being a good choice and great location. (a month ago)




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I know , I was about to book the savic but with the credit crunch the price was slightly out of my range, me being from yorkshire %26#39;an all.



because its a birthday present for my girlfriend i want to get it right..and it doesn%26#39;t help that i%26#39;m obviously indecisive!




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Did any of our replies help you descide?



TORII




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as they say he used to be indecisive but now he is not so sure!! (very old and not so funny)





Go for Liska.Don%26#39;t worry about the credit crunch

a little concerned about the icy personal reception???

I%26#39;ve been reading about the %26quot;lack of hospitality%26quot;, I guess you can say, towards outsiders and I%26#39;m a little concerend. I was initially going on my own but I got two friends of mine to come with me in January to Prague. The reception doesn%26#39;t seem to be very warm. One of my friends brought up that we would definately stand out cuz we%26#39;re not white and ths might really mess up out trip. Any thoughts on this?




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You will have no problem ,Prague is a multi cultural city and it is the Czech way to be surly!



TORII




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in the city centre, no problem, trust me. In outside areas, you might be subject to curious looks since some Czechs are still not used to strangers of different skin color. Nevertheless this is changing to better.





The level of czech hospitality varies, of course. Youth working in this area tend to have better mindset and attitude since they do not carry the past (%26#39;glorious%26#39;) communist baggage.








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thanks!




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I spent this past October in Prague and found the locals to be friendly. Waiters were patient and helpful with my attempts to order in Czech, several people switched to english for me, every dekuji and na shledanou was returned in kind. I amused the lady I bought a Bohemia t-shirt from by asking for a shirt for a six-hour old instead of a six-year old; confusing hour/hodin with year/let. On the other hand, the lady at the decorative arts museum gift shop wanted me to buy a book with a damaged cover rather than a shrink-wrapped copy. So, I%26#39;d say people in general are hospitable but of course you can run into the odd cranky person.



I didn%26#39;t find Prague to be particularly multicultural, however. At least not as far as visible minorities go. I saw many Vietnamese in the city but only a few black people. On Charles Bridge, I saw a small tourist group of black men who sounded like they were from the U.S. and no one was paying them much attention. On the other hand, the darker-skinned people (i%26#39;m guessing gypsy) in Florenc station were the only one%26#39;s having their i.d checked by the police.



By the way, I%26#39;m white-skinned and my features allow me to %26quot;fit in%26quot; in Prague.




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hi there,



i found prague people who we encountered to be quite rude, and not very helpful mostly.they look quite miserable faced, just ignore and try to enjoy yourself!!



i saw quite a few black people in prague, and nobody seemed to be paying any extra attention to them.



however, i am english , white, and my hubbie and me were getting stared at quite a bit..we must look very english, ie smiling!!!or it could be our devastating good looks, ha ha,



jacdav x




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Surley can be down to culture, I really don%26#39;t think you%26#39;ll find it overtly racist.





Please remeber that a lot of Americans find European (not just Czech) service quite bizarre and rude. They can%26#39;t believe you have to call a waiter in Paris or that nobody smiles and says have a nice day in Rome. In LOndon people push and shuv you on the tube etc. So, in Prague people don%26#39;t smile so much, it%26#39;s no big deal IMO





The US is a service orientated machine, just remember that things here are different (not everyone would say worse) and don%26#39;t take anything personally. In a place like Prague, some will treat you like a nuisance that pays the wages others will be more smiley/friendly, it%26#39;s pot luck who you meet IMO.





When you meet a dodgy surly character, just smile be polite and then laugh at it when they%26#39;ve gone.



I met one really tough looking and mean guy behind the jump in a local bar, a real effort to serve me but I smiled. persevered, said a few bits of Czech and he later warmed. Maybe some get abused by rude tourists, it happens a lot in Rome where locals tend to hate tourists as ignorant and arrogant - just prove them wrong and you%26#39;ll meet more good than bad.





Stoofer




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I have just met an American, who said he can read in a person like in a book. Right after our fist meeting he told me that I am expressionless, my voice is as flat as the pizza service and I always look on the floor! (Yes, I know, this must be the newest way to seduce a woman)





Now, I am German, Northern-German and we are much more reserved than any reserved German. I am an ex hotel manager, that does look around to be in control of the situation, the room I am at. Otherwise I look people in the eyes! So I said to the guy, if he wants to read in my book, maybe he has to learn German (let alone opening the cover first...).





So, we all have our cultural differences. Czech are not at all outgoing, that%26#39;s the simple fact. I have two black friends and they have not mentioned any racist encounters here. Enjoy your trip, you%26#39;ll have fun!




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We%26#39;ve actually encountered several very friendly Czechs but mainly in rural areas. We found people to be a bit standoffish in Prague but not overtly so. I%26#39;d rather have that than people who are the opposite - too obnoxious and loud! We%26#39;ve been to Europe many times and just go with the flow. Each culture is a bit different and that%26#39;s just how it is.





You are sure to have a great time!




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Yes I imagine those used to the US smiles and extreme artificial kindness thinks Prague waiters are surly. Me dont.



But I feel a bit awkward in US when the waiter and waterboy comes around every two minutes to check if everything is alright.




|||



I agree with Anders.





When I mentioned difference in the service culture between Europe and U.S. I wasn%26#39;t suggesting the average U.S. experience is better, it%26#39;s just different.



Some love the OTT service others don%26#39;t, and visa versa when it comes to waiting 10 mins for a surly waiter.





Each country in Europe is different you just have to chill and adjust to the local nornm. In Prague I found srevice to be very prompt and efficient, not always smiles but they do the job. Some some places in Greece or Spain, you could have a sleep while waiting to get served but then they are full of smiles :-)





Strange world - so glad we are all different otherwise no point in travelling :-)





Stoofer