Prague & the Czech Republic

Guidebook corrections:

Please note: The following corrections were submitted by readers and have not yet been confirmed by Rick. Check updates from Rick for the latest.

I just purchases Prague and the Czech Republic because of the good section on Olomouc. However page 231 is missing and/or misprinted and replaced by page 287. I would like to have the information intended for page 231. Thank you for your help.

Maryanne Seher in Columbus, OH USA 09/02/2009

We took a train to Kutna Hora from the Main Station. Trains left about every 2 hours. Your guidebook says that there is a train change needed in Kolin. This is incorrect and almost landed us without tickets in Kolin. We got off the train and nobody else did. Luckily, we asked the attendant and she waved us back on the train. There's no need to change trains. They go direct from Main Station to Kutna Hora. I can't confirm the trains from Masaryk are direct. Is it possible those trains are the ones needing a change in Kolin?

derek in crimmel, ca USA 08/28/2009

Contrary to what your book says, Antonin Dvorak never lived in the Dvorak Museum in Prague. There is not any known connection with the building and Dvorak. It became a museum dedicated to him rather recently.

Nova Fraser in San Diego, CA USA 08/14/2009

Page 64: The tour of the Klementinum is now 220 Kc but well worth it Page 135: Cafe Montremarte in Prague only offers only drinks, no food. Taxi rates in Prague: The rates for taxis are higher that 200 Kc for a ride across town. We took a taxi from the Nadrazi Holesovice train station to the Hertz Rental car office. The driver agreed to use the meter which started at 40 Kc. I sat in the front seat and observed the meter closely. The entire ride was 650 Kc.

Chris Peter in El Cajon, CA USA 07/29/2009

Dahab on Dlouha 35 has been gone for a few years. In searching for another restaurant, I found a fabulous wine restaurant on the same street that I recommend you check out. It's U Krkavcu at Dlouha 25. Despite having been hit by the economy, the decor was charming and the food delicious. I returned 3 nights, ignoring very tired feet, to have the mushroom soup and chicken ragout. Down an alley, the interior has vaulted stone ceilings with antique-looking paintings on the wall, soft background music, classy tablecloths and table settings, timely service, reasonable prices and a very very nice owner. website is www.u-krkavcu.cz

Mary E. Ford in Cambridge, MA USA 07/27/2009

Prague and the Czech Republic

Robert Patterson in Philadelphia, PA USA 07/26/2009

The hourly bus to Terezin leaves from the Holesovice station.

Neil USA 07/16/2009

The cost of the Baroque Theater tour in Cesky Krumlov is now 380Kc not 180.

Sara in Farmington, MI USA 06/01/2009

In the shopping section, there are not 2 but 3 main shopping galleries or malls on Na Prikope street. The third one is called Myslbek Shopping Gallery. Behind its striking modern gate facade, it is relaxing and easy to get around. The shops are medium to high class, with examples like Gant, Guess, Calvin Klein, but also a very big Intersport, H&M and the only Korres shop in the Czech Republic. There is a food court at the top with an amazing sushi place!

Suzanne Gardent in Prague 8, Czech Republic 05/11/2009

The bakery in the Jewish section of the Old Quarter near the Kafka Cafe is closed.

Therese Scott in Damascus, OR USA 10/10/2008

Pay me back the US$200.00 Extra that Hotel Residence Retezova charged me to get out of that awful room in the cellar.

W. M. Kames in Newport Beach, CA USA 08/22/2008

Cheap way Munich to Prague by train is Bayernticket (valid for 4 persons to Plzen) then pay small supplement to conductor in Cz Kr to conductor for rest of journey to Prague.

Geoff Bocian in St. Albert, AB Canada 08/13/2008

We have traveled a number of times in the Czech Republic, but finally went to Cesky Krumlov about a week ago. Made a reservation and stayed at Pension u Vltavy, recommended on p. 194. It was a very pleasant place, but the contact information and address were incorrect. We went to the address in the guidebook, but it did not exist. The manager at Pension Olsakovsky, "next door." He knew nothing about the Vltava, but he called them and found the correct location. It is on Kajovska street, on the south side of the center, just north of the bridge. I don't have the street number, but will try to send an update when I get home. The office is in the Internet Cafe next door; 1 minute per koruna.

Brad Baltensperger in Houghton, MI USA 07/28/2008

Wasteels Travel Agency at the Main Train Station in Prague was rude, jerky and didn't want to help us. I had emailed them before our trip about wanting to buy all our train tickets for Europe from them. In the email they quoted prices and said they would be glad to help us. When we got to Prague on July 1, 2008, we went to Wasteels and the 2 men there did not want to help us. One man said, they only sell international tickets, (which we needed to go to Austria and Germany) but not Czech tickets (which I needed). I told them I heard about them from Rick Steves Guidebook, the man said, "yea, yea, I know. Then I showed them the copy of the email they had sent me saying they would be glad to help me and the man said, that person doesn't work here any more. The email was only 2 weeks old. Finally, the man reluctantly sold us all the tickets we had wanted including in the Czech Republic but he was rude, interrupted me when I tried to clarify itineraries, and was short with me. We were glad to get our tickets and get out of there. That is the only bad experience I had with all the things I did from your book which was pretty much everything.

Kris Berger in Whitewater, KS USA 07/17/2008

Your warning on page 62 of the Charles Bridge reconstruction should go a bit further -- it is a dusty mess that is difficult to walk in crowds. Alternative waterfront & island views were more satisfying.

Brad Oswald in Waterford, NY USA 06/28/2008

Short river trip in Cesky Krumlov was not available during festival. Since they have a festival almost every weekend, I'd ask before I counted on it. We had one unhappy boy.

Steve in Overland Park, KS USA 06/26/2008

Wrong tour times for english guides in Cesky Krumlov. Also needs more complete info on how to get there. The bus seems like the best way. Information on going to Jablonec nad Nisou that is the capital of glass bead making.

Bob in Sequim, WA USA 05/01/2008

The prices quoted for guides was off by 25-50% apparently inflation is taking a toll.

martin in New York, NY USA 10/23/2007

As many readers have already mentioned, there is NO COST now to the St. Vitus Cathedral. The Jan Hus Memorial is now "covered" for reconstruction. There were no dates when it would be finished.

Tom Kilroy in San Diego, CA USA 10/14/2007

The only thing is that when I went to St. Vitus at 9am I was not charged 100kc to get in.

Ian Brotman in East Brunswick, NJ USA 08/22/2007

Reservations can be made in advance at Bertiny Lazne (Spa) in Trebon for services such as mud (peat) bath and massage via email before going to Czech Republic. Their website is http://www.berta.cz and their contact email is sestra@berta.cz or their receptionist email recepce@berta.cz . It is wise to email your request 4 months in advance to secure a spot. They are very prompt with their confirmation of reservation date and they will advise in a further email one month before the reservation date of the exact time the services are scheduled.

Dfloyd USA 08/14/2007

We were in Prague on July 19th, 20th, and 21st and were pleased to see that the entire Charles Bridge was open. No repairs were being made. What a romantic place it was! We also found that the St. Vitus cathedral on the Castle grounds did not charge any admission to go inside. That was nice. This might be good information for your readers to have.

Gary Hoffman in Baldwin, WI USA 07/28/2007

Yes, the best way to get from Prague to Kutna Hora is by bus, not train. Leave from the Florenc bus station in Prague. See the previous advice listed in the this section about changes. An addition: Hotel Garni in Kutna Hora includes breakfast with its room rate.

Lee Ann Bourcier in Yachats, OR USA 06/30/2007

The first guide listed for walking tours in Prague has doubled her prices. I regret I don't have her name but have misplaced the page I was so careful to keep! She SAID there was a typo--and that she really needed to contact Rick Steves as I wasn't the first person to point this out--but I SUSPECT she's overwhelmed with business thanks to the guide book and has upped her rates. She was leading a Rick Steves tour that day but after some haggling, we agreed on a compromise price for one of her other guides who was quite good. A second female guide, also recommended in the guidebook, was less expensive but also booked far in advance.

Chris in Roman, CA USA 06/05/2007

I am requesting that Orange Moon restaurant be removed from your list of Prague restaurants. My sister, mother in law and I were treated very badly, they treated us with disrespect and was very clear prejudiced against Asians! We walked out of that restaurant after 10 mins.

Sarah Giam in San Jose, CA USA 05/31/2007

1. Minibus from airport. It was already correctly mentioned that direct bus from Ruzyne to Nam.Republiku costs 120Kc, not 90. You can pay either at their kiosk inside arrival area, or to the driver (same price). This route is marked "V Celnice" (destination street name).

2. Kutna Hora. We took bus from Florenc bus station (same metro name). 62Kc per ticket one-way. 1h25min ride. 5 min walk to the edge of Rick's 2007 map on page 167. Ask / check the schedule for return bus. You have to pay to driver in Kutna Hora (the bus is just stopping at K.Hora)

3. If you follow advice on page 108: The best way to arrive to Grad not from Pohorelec, but from the prevuis tram stop. Then you go via little street Novy Svet, which is like Golden Streen without shops and tourists. You get to Loreta and Strahov monastery first, and to castle second.

4. Prague apartments have specific electrical outlets with ground pin stick out (don't know about the hotels), so check twice before getting any adapters.

Boris V. in Dover, NH USA 05/28/2007

St. Vitus is free from 1 April 2007. Closed for Mass, of course but the wait was not too long on a Saturday even if we did not get to the Castle until after 10:00 AM.

Ken

Ken Culverson in Dalton, GA USA 05/10/2007

Sykora Hotel in Krivoklat charges 1600 Kc/night, NOT the 600 Kc for a double quoted in your 2006 book!! Also, we have yet to find a beer for the 25 Kc you state in your book is all over Prague! You should also emphasize the way nice, legitimate restaurants add charges to your bill - we had a wonderful dinner at a Brazillian restaurant, with an extra $10 charge. I was too embarrassed to inquire, but my husband did so politely, and was informed that we bought a cigar!!! And were looked at askance when we replied that we had not. If my husband would not have sat silently and returned her look, we felt thet would not have removed the charge.

Astrid Cizek in Chapel Hill, NC USA 05/03/2007

If you plan on going to Karlstejn Castle on a day trip, you can also go to the main Prague train station (Hlavni Nadrazi). This station was much closer to our hotel than Smichov that is listed in the guidebook. The tip to write down your destination on a piece of paper is excellent as most of the ticket agents do not speak English.

Jennifer in Bangor, ME USA 04/19/2007

There is no fee to get into St. Vitus Cathedral anymore, it is free to the public.

The Chevas Minibus from the airport is now 120k. Make sure to bypass the overpriced taxi's at the front of the terminal. You have to go all the way to teh far end of the terminal (exit to the right) to get the Chevas Minibus.

Jennifer in Bangor, ME USA 04/19/2007