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International Travel Tips?
Zeromus
Registered User regular
Registered User regular
Hello!
I'll be traveling to the Czech Republic this Friday for a semester abroad, and though I'm used to international trips, I wanted to get some advice here (you know, from real people). Basically, I'm wondering about things I should remember to bring (perhaps other than the obvious, like converters and adapters :P - items that maybe wouldn't spring directly to mind, like Airborne), experiences you had abroad that you want to pass along, etc. I'm excited and, of course, have already made plenty of headway preparing, but I thought posting in H/A might be a good way to make sure I have all of my bases covered!
Also, any thoughts on the Czech Republic (Prague specifically) as to must-sees and such would also be appreciated.
Thanks!
I'll be traveling to the Czech Republic this Friday for a semester abroad, and though I'm used to international trips, I wanted to get some advice here (you know, from real people). Basically, I'm wondering about things I should remember to bring (perhaps other than the obvious, like converters and adapters :P - items that maybe wouldn't spring directly to mind, like Airborne), experiences you had abroad that you want to pass along, etc. I'm excited and, of course, have already made plenty of headway preparing, but I thought posting in H/A might be a good way to make sure I have all of my bases covered!
Also, any thoughts on the Czech Republic (Prague specifically) as to must-sees and such would also be appreciated.
Thanks!
Zeromus on
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Also, bring things that will keep you from getting homesick. A journal is a good way to keep your head straight and record crazy memories.
It can be quite bitterly cold in the winter - I remember that while the temperature wasn't that low, the wind was absolutely biting.
The obvious must-sees are must-sees for a good reason; the castle and Jewish Quarter, for example, are both worth visiting, as are most of the various churches.
Restaurants may slyly add on a rather large tip or mysterious extra charge to your bill if they suspect you're a tourist (it happened to us). Nothing to really worry about, but you may want to just check your bill carefully and not leave a tip in this case.
Oh and try your best to eat here: http://www.bar-bar.cz/ - fantastic food and friendly service, and cheap, too! The savoury pancakes are amazing.
I'm going to echo the above sentiments and say to stay away from ALL Taxis. If you must, use only ones labelled with AAA, but it's best to avoid them all together. The trains can be a little confusing at first, but you'll be fine after a few days if you're an OK traveller.
While I don't advocate this kind of action, I didn't see a single local buy a tram ticket or have them checked in nearly a week of staying there. Just saying.
Beware of the bread served at restraunts. Even if you don't touch it, you'll still get charged. Leave the bread untouched and make it worth the bastards tip :P
The Museum of Communism isn't anywhere near as good as it could have been, I wouldn't bother.
If you're into rock or metal, check out a bar called Hells Bells. Pretty damn good atmosphere
Also, get a rail pass and travel often. I recommend Vienna very highly.
I am, so I will!
On the taxis: why should I be wary of them? My school's provided us with some pre-departure info that says to take them from the airport and also to rely on them if we're out late at night. Which I'm sure I will be. Drunk.
The taxi driver will know that you will be unfamiliar with the meter or how it progresses, so you may have mysteriously rapid meters and such.
In even less regulated areas of the world, it is common practice for taxi drivers to bring tourists to restaurants/tourist-traps the driver has deals with, not where the tourist wants to go. If you complain, you may be physically intimidated into paying anyway. This may or may not be true in the Czech Republic.
Regardless of all this, if you are prepared to pay lots, a taxi will (probably) bring you where you want to go, safely. Some countries have problems with taxi drivers robbing tourists, but I doubt the Czech Republic is this bad.
There is a train and at least 2 buses that go to and from the airport. I'd check out the transit map.
My friends and I were there for 4 days. We tried to play it smart and we bought a ticket without validating it, thinking we could play the dumb tourist card and say "Oh we just bought these, you have to validate them?"
It didn't work at all, and we had to pay like $40 each. Not the worst punishment ever, but it would have been smarter just to buy a tram pass. I'm sure you can buy a monthly pass for not a lot of money, so unless you feel super bold I would recommend just paying for it.
Is this in disregard to where you actually want to go, or when you ask them to take you to a resturaunt?
I only ask because my Father did this as a Taxi Driver in Boston. Someone would get in, ask him to take them to a resturaunt and he would take that person to a place that gave Taxi Drivers free Sandwiches and coffee.
Bring DvDs of movies and TV shows you like/would like to see. While staying in Korea I loved going out to bars with friends and stuff and most of the culture, but their TV shows and movies are terrible(There are notable exceptions) and I spent many a night watching movies in my room when friends couldn't go out.
In disregard to where you actually want to go. I'm told that the strategy involves pestering the tourist while they are in the taxi as to where they really should go (rather than wherever the tourist wanted to go), then conveniently interpreting whatever the tourist says as consent to go there.
Yikes
Do not drink Pilsner Urquell. It is the worst beer ever.
Do go walk around in the evening, especially on the bridge and listen to the street musicians.
Do stop by some bakeries.
The Prague central train station is one freaky place. It's an old soviet type building, and just has that feel of despair. And inside was the only place I came close to getting my wallet stolen in Europe. Just pay very close attention to the people there, because it's like all the crime and vice in the station look out for one another through some weird "code of the scumbag."
Pilsner Urquell is a decent example of the style.
I agree with this, but my mother insists. :P Certainly can't hurt, in any case.
Biggest shock for me going to Amsterdam was their toilets. They don't have a bowl of water over there. It's just fucking flat porcelain with a drain in the front and when you flush water shoots down from the back knocking shit (literally) down the drain.
It was pretty disgusting. When I first saw it I wasn't sure it was even a toilet and not some fruity bidet type thing. I couldn't believe they manufacture toilets to just let waste hang out and air itself while you do your business.
So I guess prepare for that and don't sit around with an upset travler's stomach as you panic about whether or not you're thinking of shitting in something that isn't even a toilet.
Some of them may have the German style poopshelf, but they are still much similar to American toilets.
That's weird because I didn't see this in Amsterdam or any of the smaller towns I visited in the Netherlands.
Well, I went in 2001. And I only used the toilet in my hotel room at the Tulip Inn Tropen.
So it could be time-related or an isolated incident at my hotel.
I just know my stomach was not happy after the flight and I was so scared to use the thing and find out it wasn't a toilet.
This is why!
Prague is notorious for its taxis.