Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
gers. Thieves work the crowded and touristy places in teams.
They use mobile phones to coordinate their bumps and grinds.
Be careful if anyone creates a commotion at the door of a Metro
or tram car (especially around the Národní Třída and Vodičkova
tram stops, or on the made-for-tourists tram #22)—it's a smoke-
screen for theft.
Car theft is also a big problem in Prague (many Western
European car-rental companies don't allow their rentals to cross
the Czech border). Never leave anything valuable in your car—
not even in broad daylight on a busy street.
The sex clubs on Skořepka and Melantrichova streets, just
south and north of Havelská
Market, routinely rip off naive
tourists and can be danger-
ous. They're filled mostly with
young Russian women and
German and Asian men. Lately
this district has become the
rage for British “stag” parties,
for guys who are happy to fly
cheaply to get to cheap beer
and cheap thrills.
This all sounds intimidating. But Prague is safe. It has its
share of petty thieves and con artists, but very little violent crime.
Don't be scared—just be alert.
paths, making bicycles a feasible option for exploring the cen-
ter of the town and beyond (see www.prahounakole.cz/mapa
for an updated map). Two bike-rental shops located near the
Old Town Square are
Praha Bike
(daily 9:00-20:00, Dlouhá
24, mobile 732-388-880, www.prahabike.cz) and
City Bike
(daily 9:00-19:00, Králodvorská 5, mobile 776-180-284, www
.citybike-prague.com) They rent bikes for about 400 Kč for
four hours or 500 Kč per day (with a 2,000 Kč deposit) and
also organize guided bike tours.
Car Rental:
All of the biggies have offices in Prague (check each
company's website, or ask at the TI). For a locally operated
alternative, consider
Alimex Thrifty
(toll-free tel. 800-150-
170, www.alimex.eu). The cheaper models are a great value
(584 Kč/day with basic insurance and limited mileage, plus
238 Kč/day for full theft and damage insurance; additional
fees: 500-Kč tax for airport pickup, 357 Kč for delivery to
your hotel; discounts if you book online, smart to reserve up
to a week ahead in peak season). Note that the “super offer”
cars have giant ads pasted on the side. Alimex has branches
