nanray

Do street vendors in Prague accept payment in US dollars or euros? Do they accept credit cards? Or do we need to pay in koronas?

Also I believe some merchants will not accept a credit card for purchases under $30. Is this true in Prague?

We'll be there only three days and are leaving tomorrow (last minute questions, obviously!). I want to get the minimum amount of koronas, as there's probablly not much I can do with the leftovers.

rex

Bad idea to try, in my opinion. Even if they do, why would they offer you a good exchange rate for your purchase?

What is it that you seek to buy from street vendors, anyway?

Buying a few hundred korunas sems like much better manners, to me. Offering dollars or euros seems a lot more rude than leaving ZERO tip (in an American resturant). Would you do that? (I am often not shy about worrying about "manners" and even I would generally never do that!)

I think you can use your credit card for any food/beverage purchase (t a sit down place) the same as you would "back home", regardless of the size of the tab.

Best wishes,

Rex

Morgana

Rex took the words out of my mouth - I returned from Prague on Saturday and honetly couldn't spot anything I wanted from a street vendor. We did what Rex suggested - took a small amount of the local currency and used credit cards everywhere else with no problem. The local stuff was handy for metro/tram tickets etc.
By the way, Restaurant U Rotta just off the Old Town Square was great - dumplings and goulash etc and entertainment too in a beautiful building.
Have a lovely trip - be prepared for the crowds, we couldn't believe how busy everywhere was.

nanray

I actually didn't have anything in mind to buy from the street vendors, except maybe food, if we don't want to take the time to go to a restaurant. It makes more sense to pay in koronas for anything we don't charge - I just don't know how much to get. We'll buy a few inexpensive souveniers (in shops) & I wanted to be sure we could use our credit card for them. Also our bank will charge a huge fee to convert our leftovers, so I don't want to bring home extra korona if I can avoid it.

Morgana, thanks for the restaurant recommendation and the warning about the crowds.

bardo1

<< I just don't know how much to get.>>

How about 500CZK from an ATM (about $20 USD)??

Even if you were left with half of that after your trip, you could just spend the rest on a sandwich and beer at the airport before leaving.

AAFrequentFlyer

I always use the leftover cash to partially settle my hotel bill. How about a nice dinner on the last night? Duty free shopping at the airport? Couple of beers at the airport bar?Many, many places to get rid of money, unless you are planning to do some major money laundering.

I'm with the others here. I just don't understand your concern. Majority of the restaurants/cafes will accept CCs. Few of the socialist era leftovers, the "Milk Bars" may not, in which case you walk over to the nearest ATM and withdraw the equivalent of $20-50.

elaine

Yes, get at least 500 or 1000 CZK.
You're not going to be able to charge postcards or a magazine or a 100 CZK museum admission or souvenir book.
Then there are fares and tips for a possible taxi, a tip for the hotel chambermaid or porter, etc. While I used my credit card for almost all restaurant and cafe meals, I gave the tips to the waiters in cash.


see also
www.livingprague.com

nanray

That all sounds good. We're in a tour group & hotel expenses are prepaid, but a little local currency for tips & small expenses would be good. No flight out - we leave Prague for a drive into Germany & cruise down the Danube. Thanks to everyone.

tedgale

What to do with CZK left-overs:

1. Public toilets : 5 Czk or 10 Czk -- I'm all too glad to pay for the privilege!

2. Those pitiful beggars kneeling on the sidewalk, with heads bowed to the pavement: Whatever you choose to give

3. Churches, which normally invite a contribution....

4. The many underpaid folks you will meet in restaurants, bars etc, etc.....

elaine

tedgale,
those beggars really get to me in Prague, it's that supplicant posture.

Is that unique to the Czech Republic, or have you seen it elsewhere?

John

Haven't been to ALL the countries in Europe but to a lot of them and have NEVER seen beggars in that position, some with dogs asleep and paying no attention(the dogs) to the mass of folk walking by. Strange sight!

tedgale

In the snow, it's too terrible to contemplate. Yes I've also seen them in Slovakia.

jasoncholt

I don't pay the beggars but, in Na Prikope or near the metros you'll find somebody holding a little stack of newspapers called Nový Prostor (New Space). These people are homeless and get keep half of the cost of the Czech language paper which sells for 25kc. If you have loose change or even a 50kc note, put it in the direction of these guys and not the kneeling beggars with the McDonalds cups.

Jason
www.livingprague.com

Morgana

Jason - I found the Living Prague website invaluable before my trip - excellent advice and info.
Why do the beggars have their heads on the pavement like that? I have never seen it before and felt it was very poignant and must symbolise something (other than being in supplication). Or is it just to pull at the heart strings?

nytraveler

There will be a lot of things for which you will need to pay cash - from transport (subway or cab or?) to small purchses (ice cream cone? fantastic waffle treat?, drink in a cafe?).

And no - they don;t want anything but Koruna. They MAY accept something else if you insist - but your rate of excahange will be horrible.

Don;t undrstand the issue - just pull a little cash from the first ATM you come to.

RDMOREU

I've noticed in a lot of airports that there will be display where you can put extra change (or, bills) and it goes to (I think) a United Nations' Childrens' Fund.

nanray

We just got back. Got a small amount of cash from the ATM. Our tour director said to use up all our crowns before leaving Prague, so we applied our last few bills & coins toward our last dinner, & charged the rest. Then we needed 7 crowns to use the bathroom at the Czech-German border! Had to borrow it from another member of our group.

Anyway, we had a wonderful trip. Loved Prague.

h2babe

I read in some older post that whenever I use credit cards, I need to write out the actual amount underneath the numerical amount (like on checks) to prevent any shady activities (like people adding 00 at the end of my actual amount). My question is: is it really necessary to do it? I use debit card here 100% of the time, so I would definitely like the option of being able to do it again.

elaine

I have used a debit and a credit card in Prague extensively, never have had a problem with being billed incorrectly.I have followed the advice of a few websites such as livingprague.com, and always hand tips directly to waiters. I make sure to draw a line through the tip/gratuity line on the charge slip.

jasoncholt

FAO Morgana.
"Why do the beggars have their heads on the pavement like that?"

So you can't look them in the eye.

Actually I gave to beggars up until August 1995, that was when I was walking through an underpass in Bejing and saw a crowd of people. Many were waiting patiently for their pictures to dry and I negotiated a deal for 3 pounds Sterling (U$5). Mine now hangs in our bathroom at home as a reminder to me. You see the guy who painted it had no hands, only the stumps. He used only some worn Chinese brushes, scroll paper and some ink. From that he made wonderful bamboo pictures with small colourful parakeets sitting on the leaves. I thought if this guy could teach himself to do that then I would never give to a cup holding beggar ever again. Whenever life gets you down, everybody needs a picture like this to bring the reality back to you. It's one of my more poignant travel memories.

Jason