I intend to get some local currency from an ATM upon my arrival at the airport. Is that the best way to do it? I will have only euros and dollars on me.
On the issue of personal safety, I have been getting somewhat conflicting opinions from posters in another forum. One said that %26quot;no way should I go walking around by myself at night%26quot; and another said she had never had any problems in all the years that she has been visiting Prague. I will be staying at the Maximilian with a traveling companion but on the last two days I%26#39;ll be on my own. Is there any reason I should be concerned? I know I should watch out for pickpockets, having traveled extensively in Western Europe.
Any advice would be much welcomed.
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Yes, ATM is the way to go for cash.
I also stayed at the Maximilian and walked all over by myself, including back to the hotel close to 1am and had no problems. I never felt unsafe in Prague, but I wouldn%26#39;t walk by Wencelas Square at night, that%26#39;s supposedly full of strip bars and stag parties.
Just be aware of your surroundings at all times and you%26#39;ll have a wonderful time!
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I lurked and saw lots of negative posts regarding Prague but have to say it seemed to be a city like any other in terms of safety.
I think the pickpocketing and loutish behaviour reported is also overststed, just stay away from the stag haunts and you%26#39;ll be fine.
If you have traveled as you say, you%26#39;ll relax within 5 mins of arrival.
Stoofer
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Just back 4 weeks ago after a few days visit. I%26#39;m female and travelled on my own. I must say that I had concerns because a lot of sites posted warnings about pickpockets etc. I kept my money in a thin money belt around my waist with some small change in my pocket. I walked around the old city, the castle area and the new city up to 2am and never once felt in any way threatened. It was March and there were fewer tourist around so maybe the pickpockets come out in droves during the summer. There was only one beggar - a young teenage Roma gypsy boy - on my second last day in the Jewish area begging and he was a bit insistent but I%26#39;m used to that in Dublin so I gave him the brush off without difficulty. In relation to changing money ATMs are the way to go. There are many money exchange bureau throughout town but I found they did not give me the best exchange rate. The other negative thing about these is if you stand outside and try to calculate the exchange rate you are immediately hassled by men on the street who want you to exchange currency with them - don%26#39;t. The rate they give you is not the true rate (and that is if they give you real currency in exchange).
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To mtek: Your response was very reassuring. I love to walk and didn%26#39;t want to curtail that activity unnecessarily. My philosophy is that if it%26#39;s dangerous in a certain area, of course, I%26#39;ll avoid it. But otherwise, I think walking is the best way to see a new place -- not mention the wonderful exercise you get.
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I%26#39;ve made many a McDonald%26#39;s run in Wenceslas Square at 2-3AM (my apartment was just a couple of blocks away) and never felt unsafe.
A couple of guys always tried to get me to go to a cabaret, but a brisk walk and a no thank you always bypassed those issues without concern.
If you%26#39;re comfortable walking around most parts of DC or NYC at night (the normal parts), then you%26#39;ll be fine in Prague.
It%26#39;s really just like any other Western city.
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Yes, really like any other western city in that it has McDonalds :-(
Stoofer
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