Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Left Antiques shop Right Second-hand bookshop
Shopping Tips
Credit Cards
The more expensive
the item, the more likely
it will be that you can pay
for it with a credit card.
Shops selling souvenirs
are more likely to accept
credit cards than those
selling necessities. Cards
accepted by an establish-
ment will be indicated on
the shop's front door.
Antiques
Antiques dealers and
junk merchants abound
in the city centre. Going
further afield will offer
you an even better
selection and prices. You
may need a special
permit to export antiques
from the Czech Republic;
ask the dealer. If you're
looking for Soviet
paraphernalia, be warned
that anything you find
these days is likely to be
a replica.
fishes the correct coins
out of your hand. Smaller
shops may even refuse
to accept banknotes
larger than K≤1,000.
Specialist Shops
Large department
stores such as Tesco and
Carrefour have now
introduced one-stop
shopping, but there is
still the tendency in
Prague for shops to
specialize to an amusing
degree. A papírnictví
sells everything made of
paper, from notepads to
sanitary napkins, while
the only place you'll find
an alarm clock is at a
hodiná∫ství .
VAT Refunds
Tourists are entitled
to a refund of the value-
added tax on purchases.
Ask for a tax-free shop-
ping cheque and tax-free
envelope at the store.
Complete the cheque
and have it stamped at
customs within 30 days.
In Prague, visitors can
collect their refund at
several shops at Ruzyn∂
airport (see p126) .
Books
If you're looking for
some reading material for
the next leg of your
journey, head to
Anagram, Big Ben or The
Globe bookstore (see
p106) , but don't expect
the latest titles. Or try
Czech booksellers such
as Kanzelsberger,
where English-language
classics go for a song.
d Anagram: T†n 4, Map M3
• Big Ben: Malá ◊tupartská
5; Map M3 • Kanzelsberger:
Václavské nám∂stí 4; Map
N5
Bargain Food
Whole loaves of
fresh sourdough bread
go for less than K≤10.
But be warned - this
bread is free of preserva-
tives, so it starts to go
off after a day. Shops
selling grilované ku∫e
(roast chicken) are dotted
around the city. Order a
quarter or half bird to eat
there, or, if you are in
self-catering accommo-
dation, you can take a
whole bird home for a
great dinner.
Baskets and Bags
If there are shopping
carts or baskets at the
front of the store, take
one as you go in. It's
common courtesy -
shopkeepers will assume
you're a shoplifter with-
out one - and it helps
regulate the number of
shoppers in the often tiny
stores. Bags for your
purchases may cost extra.
Bootleg Goods
As with most major
cities, the odds are very
good that the Adidas
trainers, Calvin Klein
underwear or Umbro
sportswear that you can
buy on street stalls is not
the real thing. Also be
aware that many bazaars
sell pirated CDs, videos
and software, so the
quality is likely to be
dubious, if not downright
unuseable.
Fresh Vegetables
Large supermarkets
often trade in quality for
quantity when it comes
to produce. The best fruit
and vegetables are found
at various outdoor
markets around Prague.
In the city centre, try
Havelská.
Small Change
Prague tellers
demonstrate a disturbing
antipathy towards mathe-
matics and always
appreciate it if you have
exact change, down to
the last heller. Don't be
surprised if the clerk
Establishments that accept credit cards most commonly accept
Visa, MasterCard and American Express.
132
 
 
Search WWH ::




Custom Search