Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
mobile-phone text message, or make a quick pay-phone call to set
up a time for them to give you a ring.
If you're traveling with a laptop, consider trying
VoI P ( Voic e
over Internet Protocol).
With VoIP, two computers act as the
phones, allowing for a free Internet-based call. The major provid-
ers are Skype (www.skype.com) and Google Talk (www.google
.com/talk).
US Calling Cards
(such as the ones offered by AT&T, MCI,
and Sprint) are the worst option. You'll nearly always save a lot of
money by paying with a phone card (see above).
How to Dial
Calling from the US to Europe, or vice versa, is simple—once you
break the code. The European calling chart on the next page will
walk you through it.
Dialing Domestic Calls
The Czech Republic has a direct-dial phone system (no area codes).
To call anywhere within the Czech Republic, just dial the number.
For example, one of my recommended Prague hotels is 224-812-
041. To call it from a Prague train station, just dial 224-812-041.
If you call it from Český Krumlov, it's the same: 224-812-041. All
phone numbers in the Czech Republic are nine digits. If a number
starting with 0800 doesn't work, replace the 0800 with 822.
Dialing Internationally
If you want to make an international call, follow these steps:
Dial the international access code (00 if you're calling from
Europe, 011 from the US or Canada).
Then dial the country code of the country you're calling (420
for the Czech Republic).
Then dial the local number. For example, to call the recom-
mended Prague hotel from the US, dial 011 (the US international
access code), 420 (the Czech Republic's country code), and 224-
812-041.
To call my office in Edmonds, Washington, from the Czech
Republic, I dial 00 (Europe's international access code), 1 (the US
country code), 425 (Edmonds' area code), and 771-8303.
Useful Phone Numbers
Emergencies:
Dial 112 for medical or other emergencies.
Police:
Dial 158.
Directory Assistance:
Dial 1188.
US Embassy:
Call 257-022-000. It's in Prague's Little Quarter
below the castle (passport services Mon-Fri 9:00-11:30, Tržiště 15,
www.usembassy.cz, ACSPrg@state.gov).
