Prague & the Czech Republic Guidebook
Best ways to improve this book:
The maps of Prague could be better! It was difficult to find some things based on the maps.
Joan in Fort Worth, TX USA 10/23/2011
We have traveled a lot, and this time more than others, for what ever reason, I really enjoyed the theological/historical commentaries of the Prague & CR guide book. There was more than history, there was interesting personal commentary showing through the writing. Thanks.
Larry in Hauder, ID USA 09/29/2011
We have traveled a lot, and this time more than others, for what ever reason, I really enjoyed the theological/historical commentaries of the Prague & CR guide book. There was more than history, there was interesting personal commentary showing through the writing. Thanks.
Larry in Hauder, ID USA 09/29/2011
Do an audioguide for the castle walking tour. I've used yours in Rome and they were wonderful.
Peter in Edina, MN USA 09/27/2011
Do an audioguide for the castle walking tour. I've used yours in Rome and they were wonderful.
Peter in Edina, MN USA 09/27/2011
The guidebook was excellent but we do find Rick's estimates are quite low for how long it takes to see a sight. We often needed double the amount of time and not just b/c we might be slow - when he specifically stated how long an audioguide took, we found it was at least 50% longer.
Karen Lee in Calgary, AB Canada 06/10/2011
Not many- just update some prices, fix the very minor things about the TIs and add Carmelita Pizza Bar to your list of recommended eateries. Keep up the good work! You rock Rick.
Stefan Ferraro in Gatineau, QC Canada 03/09/2011
F/U on Mucha Museum comment. Although they post a discounted family rate for a family of 2 adults and 2children that is cheaper than the rate for 2 adults, believe it or not they will not give this to you if you are simply an adult couple! Ridiculous. If it's 150 ck per adult and 280 ck for family of 4, why is it 300 ck for the couple without children?
Margaret Plotkin in Elkins Park, PA USA 09/26/2010
Certainly keep Hotel Hastal.
Julie Russell in San Francisco, CA USA 09/17/2010
Oh, I also wanted to mention, the Mucha museum souvenirs were ridiculously overpriced! I bought two decks of Mucha decorated playing cards for about 16 american dollars!!!! (I didn't calculate it well in my head before hand). The Municipal house also has Mucha souvenirs although less variety. However, some of the souvenirs are a third the price they are at the Mucha museum! (e.g. my playing cards were available for 1/3 the price I paid at the museum).
Anna Packard in Salt Lake City, UT USA 08/27/2010
I felt like the book wasn't as understandable as other Rick Steve's guidebooks. It was logical in it's layout but there were times I felt a little confused, e.g. seeing the Castle and the cathedral. Also, things I valued about your other guidebooks are the clear opinions. There were opinions in here but not as many as in other guidebooks and I would've liked to have read more of those to help influence my decision about tours to take and sites to see...especially since Prague is getting so expensive! e.g. which ticket to buy for the Jewish Quarter. We bought the most expensive one and found it worthwhile. Speaking of the Jewish Quarter, we were very impressed with the history of the Jews in Prague and would've liked a longer blurb in the book about the history. Given it's important historical context, I think more space dedicated to it in the book would've been nice. I didn't know how tumultuous their history was until I saw the museum as the book didn't really explain that well. Overall I think it was great though and I appreciated all the information.
Anna Packard in Salt Lake City, UT USA 08/27/2010
I don't always think the directions for how to get around to various places is very easy to follow. (The New Town was the worst.)
This edition had great maps. Keep it up.
I really relied on this book a lot.
Kathy Bednark in Woodbury, MN USA 08/04/2010
Remove Hastal Hotel from your book!
Paige Tyler in APO, AE USA 07/30/2010
I want to add that there is a bus 6 (?) times daily between Prague and Cesky Krumlov, every 2 hours. it is run by Student Agency, and can be found online. Reservations can be made and paid for with an e-ticket issued roughly 3 weeks in advance. the cos? A whopping 160 CK--which when we did this was about $7.62, plus the 3% credit card exchange. Bus is air conditioned, 2 stops, they give out free coffee and hot chocolate, there is a movie available for free (why you would not watch scenery I don't know)and even free Czech newspapers. They do fill so advance is highly recommended. And they run on time. Note that these buses run from the Na Knizeci bus station by the Andel metro, not from Florenc, but easily reachable by tram or foot.
Margaret Plotkin in Elkins Park, PA USA 07/15/2010
None...great directions for novice travellers. Just add to the Terezin map for the next edition.
Beena Parekh in Midlothian, VA USA 06/29/2010
Your little humorous tips always appeal and are helpful.
Miriam MacDonald in Sarasota, FL USA 08/27/2009
I'd like to see a larger area of Prague shown on a map.
Nova Fraser in San Diego, CA USA 08/14/2009
Prague 6/28 - 7/1 Vienna 7/2-7/8 Rick you're the best!! So many fellow tourists wandering, buying unneccesary auido guides, brochures, etc. - asking us 'where's a good place to eat?' 'where did you find out about that sight?', etc. - with your help, we were able to save $$, save time, and make the most of our trip!! you are the man, Mr.Steve's!!
rick waldron in shoreline, wa USA 07/14/2009
add that apartment - Lida knows its correct name! Residences Thurkova? lovely! especially off season. Talk about Prague in the winter. The snow-covered old cemetary, castle. breathtaking!
Jennie in Washington DC, DC USA 07/10/2009
--Terezin was fascinating, but arrival by bus is a little disorienting for first-timers. You pass the small fortress on your right (but you're not sure it's the small fortress yet), you see a sign that says "Terezin," and the non-English-speaking person next to you nods when you say "Terezin"? I got off at this stop, which, it turns out, is between the town and the small fortress. You do mention that the bus stops at the main square in the town, but no one wants to risk getting stuck on the bus for another 20 miles in case they've misunderstood. You could let readers know about this stop as well. --I found the directions could have been better to Konopiste castle. If you check Idos.cz, you'll see there are two Benesovs--you want Benesov BN. Upon arrival in Benesov, I never found a yellow-marked trail to the castle, as you state in your book. Nor did I see the grocery store in the train station. You actually have to walk left from the station and over the bridge to get to the castle--see how Lonely Planet describes it. I went on a Sunday and was expecting hordes of day trippers to follow to the castle, but Benesov was a total ghost town. --I visited the Dvorak Museum, and if I understood the attendant correctly, Dvorak did not live in this house, as you state. It might be worth confirming when you update your book. --I'm a WWII buff and was interested in the Heydrich Assassination Museum listed on the map on page 76 (near the Dancing House). However, I couldn't find it, nor is it listed in other guidebooks I checked.
--I agree that the Czech National Gallery in the Sternberg Palace is skippable, but you could mention that it's free from 15:00 to closing on the first Wednesday of the month. You could also point serious art lovers to Dresden, just two hours away. I thought their Old Masters Gallery was fabulous.
Robert in Seattle, WA USA 06/13/2009
nicer paper colours, pictures in colour
Suzanne Gardent in Prague 8, Czech Republic 05/11/2009
Need better advice on how to avoid Old Town crowds - it was downright claustrophobic.
Tracy Taylor in Copenhagen, Denmark 04/13/2009
You might want to mention that most restaurants and bars seem to allow smoking everywhere. It could be a real issue for smoke sensitive people.
Deb Flannigan in Cazenovia, NY USA 03/22/2009
Let's get behind the wonderful President of this exciting nation, Vaclav Klaus! I want to go back to the Czech Republic (was there in 2007) just because of him! If you haven't heard, Klaus is a "global warming realist", NOT accepting the Al Gore theories as fact! In fact he's challenged Gore to debate him on GW. Since Klaus is obviously smarter than Gore, don't expect Al to accept the challenge. He's too used to a fawning media that accepts his every word as gospel truth. Go Klaus!
Allen IN USA 02/09/2009