Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Left
Prague bank
Centre
Bureau de Change sign
Right
Post Office sign
Banking and Communications
Currency
The Czech Republic's
currency is the crown
(K≤), which is made up of
100 hellers. Crown notes
come in denominations
of K≤5,000, K≤2,000,
K≤1,000, K≤500, K≤200,
K≤100, K≤50 and the
increasingly rare K≤20.
Coins come in the
following denominations:
K≤1, K≤2, K≤5, K≤10,
K≤20 and K≤50, as well
as 50 hellers.
ATMs
Bankomats are
widely available through-
out the city centre,
although they are out of
order
(mimo provoz)
with
alarming frequency. The
machines that
are
working recognize major
credit cards and global
banking systems such as
Cirrus. Be vigilant when
using ATMs after dark.
telegram service and a
large phone room, which
is a good way of making
overseas telephone calls.
Main Post Office:
d
Jind
∫
i
√
ská 14 • Map P6
• 221 131111
Internet
As in most cities,
nowadays one can find
an Internet café on
almost every corner.
Expect to be charged
upwards of K≤60 an hour,
with a minimum time of
15 minutes. Many
visitors do their surfing at
The Globe. d
The Globe:
P√trossova 6 • Map E5
• 224 916264
Credit Cards
and Travellers'
Cheques
Major credit cards are
widely accepted at shops
and restaurants that
cater to tourists, but
always check on your
way in. Travellers'
cheques, on the other
hand, are seldom accep-
ted, although American
Express cashes and sells
their cheques at their
various offices.
Banks
Most banks are open
from 8am to 5pm.
Although some banks,
such as Δivnostenská
banka, are worth visiting
just for their stunning
interiors, the only other
reason you'll need to go
to a Prague bank is if you
want to take advantage
of the typically lower
fees they charge for
currency exchange.
d Δ
ivnostenská banka: Na
P
∫
íkopé 20 • Map P4
Newspapers and
Magazines
In addition to the locally-
produced
Prague
Business Journal
and
The
Prague Post (see p128)
,
downtown newsstands
carry US weeklies like
Time
as well as inter-
national newspapers
such as
The Guardian
,
Wall Street Journal
and
the
International Herald
Tribune
.
Telephones
When not out of
order, payphones accept
either coins or phone
cards
(telefonní karty)
,
available at post offices
and newsagents. More
than 70 per cent of
Czechs have mobile
phones. You can rent a
mobile phone at Prague's
Ruzyn∂ airport
(see
p126)
.
Exchange
Although they may
advertise “0 percent
commission ,' all bureaux
de change will take a cut.
The conversion rates vary
little from exchange to
exchange so there's little
point shopping around.
Note that very few will
accept coins. It's a good
idea to convert your
crowns back to your own
currency before you
leave, as the Czech
currency has a very low
value outside of the
country itself.
Television and
Radio
You'll find some English-
language broadcasts on
the BBC at 101.1 FM, as
well as an abundance of
Czech and Slovak. If your
hotel has satellite hook-
ups, expect the usual
fare of Sky and MTV.
Public Czech Television
often broadcasts classic
films in English with
Czech subtitles.
Post
The main post office
is lovely inside and worth
a visit, whether or not
you need to mail a
postcard or letter over-
seas. It also offers a
136