Much improved and safer than before (Transport in Prague)

Member Name: Belgian999

Product:	Transport in Prague
Date:	21/05/01 (97 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Trams and underground system are reliable and CHEAP, Taxis have improved as well

Disadvantages: Watch out for pickpockets and cowboy taxi drivers

As far as I can tell, general security for tourists in Prague has improved substantially over the last few years. I first visited the Czech capital in the spring of 1997, and when I returned in July 2000, there were markedly less hawkers around the main attractions, and the city itself simply feels safer. The Charles Bridge in particular is now mercifully free of people pushing and jostling you, and the traders on the bridge all now appear to be licensed. Whether this makes any difference to the quality of goods being sold is a moot point, but it's definitely an improvement!

As others have pointed out, the underground service and trams are an absolute bargain - normally packed but reliable, and it is very easy to get around the city using public transport. The hotel I stayed at last summer even provided the all-day tram tickets at reception, thus avoiding the intricacies of Czech ticket machines! Make sure that you stamp the tickets when on the trams though, as ticket inspectors are far more widepsread than in the UK, and do not accept excuses. However, when you consider the price of the tickets, there is abolsutely no reason to try and dodge your fare. You would be wise to ensure all valuables are safely tucked into an inside pocket though, as tourists are made obvious by the language barrier and as in any major city, pickpockets are rife in the rush-hour crush.

However, my experience of taxis seems to have been better than most: The last time I was in Prague I stayed in a hotel just outside the city centre and after spending an enjoyable evening sampling some of the fine local brews, I opted for the lazy route back to the hotel and stumbled to the nearest cab rank.

The Czech authorities have made widespread changes to taxi licensing the the past couple of years and all cabs now have to display a local authority permit, which at least gives you some guarantee of security. That said, I don't know whether I was just lucky, but my
taxi took me straight to the hotel (all I did was wave the hotel card at him and he recognised it straight away), and charged me about a fiver for the privilege. Now this is probably expensive by Czech standards as they almost certainly have a separate tariff for tourists, but it's not excessive, and it saved me from negotiating public transport when a little the worse for wear!

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