Travel article: Prague Warnings or Dangers

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The Czech Republic is one of the safest and calmest places in the world - even its revolutions and power changes tend to be "soft". The breakdown of former Czechoslovakia was the only peaceful division of any country at the end of 20th century. Its return to democracy and removal of the communist regime in 1989 is typically called "velvet revolution".
Prince Vaclav (Wenceslas) considered the Czech Patron-Saint whose equestrian statue is dominating Prague's main square, would hardly be considered great warrior. He, as well as Charles IV, another "Father of the Homeland" is rather known as a keen builder and a peace-loving pious man. So, having excluded war, revolution and violent regime change, Prague is one of safest European capitals in terms of your personal safety. It is however also notorious for its (mostly imported) pick-pockets.
Our advice: keep all your valuables deep in your inside pocket well protected especially when traveling by public transport, you will avoid hours of waiting at the local police (just to get a confirmed statement that your documents had been stolen) and another hours at your embassy.
However, special attention should be paid to two following topics:
1. When using the public transport in Prague please make sure to always have a validated ticket. Ticket inspections by PIT (Prague Integrated Transport) persons occur quite often. The penalty fare is about 500 CZK, whereas the normal fare for a single ticket is only 26 CZK (2008).
2. There are plenty of Money Exchange Bureaus all over the town. I highly recommend to check a couple of them, before changing money. There are some differences between the rates. All publish "0 % COMMISSION" but most of them refer this only to "SELL" and not to "BUY" transactions. In fact I found a few which don't charge for buying transactions. So before exchanging your money always ask how much you really get for your currency. It is worth it ...
Don't change your money on the street, as these people usually cheat you with other foreign currencies (e.g. Bulgarian money).
3. It can happen almost everywhere but basically near Prague accommodation bureaus. Prague hotels, hostels, pensions or whatever accommodation in Prague is it (http://www.prague-hotels.org.uk/ )- it is the big possibility of finding group of tourist. You are looking at the sights, enjoying your new surroundings. Suddenly a friendly person shows up to make you aware that "you have there something on you". And really, you have! There is this nasty blotch of bird poop or mustard or whatever, right on your jacket. Of course you have no idea where you got this from (it wasn´t there some minutes before). Now how do you clean it off? The friendly person offers his help (mostly with a Kleenex or something similar) and while you are both busy with cleaning the spot ... your wallet disappears right out of the jacket. Not that you will remark that now. Only some time later when you try to pay for something. But then it is way too late. These people are (as all that make their living with catching purses) very agile. Mostly you will have no idea that your wallet went somewhere else. So if you meet one of these friendly people trying to help you with some spot or cut or similar you have on you: just say NO. Don´t let anyone that close to you. Of course a spoiled jacket is bad. But believe me, loosing your wallet will be worse.
4. As Prague authorities put strict regulation on taxi service in 2003 (and situation with taxi is improving), fraudulent drivers found a way how to evade the law. They aren't taxi now, but so-called "contractual personal transport", which is not regulated. If you don’t want to be cheated: a)never use a car without yellow sign clearly stating TAXI b)never use a car without big white pricelist pasted on the door.
So, do not let little things spoil your wonderful vacation. Good luck!!
http://www.prague-hotels.org.uk/

About the author of Prague Warnings or Dangers

Michelle Pillon, researcher for people looking Prague accommodation with any budget limit.