Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
To l l s :
If you're driving on highways in the Czech Republic,
you're required to buy a toll sticker
(dálniční známka)
at the border,
a post office, or a gas station (200 Kč/15 days, 300 Kč/2 months).
Your rental car may come with the necessary sticker—ask.
Parking:
You'll pay about $10-15 a day to park safely in
Prague. Formerly notorious for its Russian car-theft gangs, Prague
is safer now—but it's still wise to be careful. Ask at your hotel for
advice. In small towns such as Třeboň or Slavonice it's better to
stay on the safe side when parking overnight. Again, ask at your
hotel for advice. I keep a pile of coins in my ashtray for parking
meters, public phones, launderettes, and wishing wells.
Cheap Flights
While trains are usually the best way to connect places that are
close together, a flight can save both time and money on longer
journeys.
One of the best websites for comparing inexpensive flights is
www.skyscanner.net. Other comparison search engines include
www.kayak.com, www.mobissimo.com, www.sidestep.com, and
www.wegolo.com.
Well-known cheapo airlines in Europe include easyJet (www
.easyjet.com) and RyanAir (www.ryanair.com). Smart Wings
(www.smartwings.com) is based in the Czech Republic.
Be aware of the potential drawbacks of flying on the cheap:
nonrefundable and nonchangeable tickets, rigid baggage restric-
tions (and fees if you have more than what's officially allowed), use
of airports far outside town, tight schedules that can mean more
delays, little in the way of customer assistance if problems arise,
and, of course, no frills. To avoid unpleasant surprises, read the
small print—especially baggage policies—before you book.
hoLidaYs and FestivaLs
This is a partial list of holidays and festivals. For more informa-
tion, contact the Czech national tourist information office in the
US (tel. 212/288-0830, www.czechtourism.com, info-usa@czech
tourism.com).
Jan 1
New Year's Day
Jan 19
Anniversary of Jan Palach's death (flow-
ers in Wenceslas Square)
Mid-March
One World International Human Rights
Film Festival, Prague (www.oneworld
.cz)
Easter Sunday
April 12-13 in 2009, April 4-5 in 2010
and Monday
