We%26#39;ve just got back from a few days in Prague and we had a really nice time. Weather was nice and warm although I believe it had been VERY warm before we arrived and as not too much air gets between the buildings people were complaining of the heat.
Cheap to eat out, particularly if you get back a street or two from the tourist spots. Quite a lot of restaurants do not take cards so you need cash (Euros or Czech Krowns)
It%26#39;s a cultural haven there as tourism hit them rather late in life.
A word of warning though. Be aware that pickpockets operate in Prague so keep your goods close to you or leave them in the hotel safe. Also there are con men working on the street usually outside the currency Change bureaux and they are very persistent in %26quot;giving you a better price%26quot; for your currency. However, they are normally FAKE or in a currency that is not legal tender in Czech. Loads of people got caught out and it is rife. They normally work in pairs with one as the lookout. The Change bureaus know it%26#39;s happening outside their shops but don%26#39;t seem to care. There is a small sign INSIDE their shop but people are really hassled outside before they get in. Very few police around either. We found that the hotels offer better rates than the change bureaus.
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Most currency change windows in tourists areas are rip offs themselves, with highly deceptive signage regarding buy and sell rates (but no commission!)
Bank cards from ATM/bankomat machines are the best way to change money. Most accept bank cards/credit cards/debit cards from your home country.
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%26quot;Loads of people got caught out and it is rife.%26quot;
I am a huge critic of misleading ads and tricks applied by the exchange bureaus in Prague and it%26#39;s a shame the city hall or polica are not willing to do somethin about it.
At the same time, I have a hard time feeling sorry for those idiots who are willing to exchange money on the street just to save few lousy CZK. If you are that STUPID to not know what the currency of the country looks like and trust some crook on the street then you most likely DESERVE to be ripped off..
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Problem is that they are %26quot;almost%26quot; the same with very subtle differences. We saw a 1000 note that someone had been given in our hotel and it was very similar to the proper ones!
We stayed in Lesser Town area and cashpoints were pretty hard to find there. That%26#39;s why we changed money in the hotel .... and at a better rate.
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I have to say I agree with HKLK. Why would you try to exchange your money on the street????? It is beyond my belief that people would be so naive as to do this. Having been to Prague, there are plenty of exchange offices around and no need to be trading your money on the street. I can%26#39;t believe so many people would fall for these %26quot;con men%26quot;.
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How about changing currency at the banks? as in other parts of Europe. Is it possible to do that?
If so, the exchange rates at the banks should be better than the hotels, true, or necessarily so?
Do restaurants take Euros?
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Some businesses like supermarkets take euros, but not at a great rate. Banks do change money, but it is not always the fastest process and can be confusing to find the right desk.
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ATM, ATM, ATM. Can%26#39;t say it enough. It%26#39;s the only way to go.
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I say stick to the banks, my daughter works for HSBC and she noticed that quite a few of the ATMs had skimmer devices on so that your details could be scanned and copied.
TORII
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They did catch a guy in Prague who had put a card reader and mini camera to record PIN numbers a year or two back. In the Dejvecka metro station.
I always keep my eye%26#39;s peeled for such devices fitted over the card slot, but have never seen one myself.
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I%26#39;ve not yet seen one of those skimmers. This might be too odd a question to ask, but does anyone have or know of any pictures on the internet of those things? I%26#39;d like to see exactly what to watch out for.
ChairmanYow
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