celiaam16

I will be traveling to Europe from the US, starting in Prague and flying on Brussels Airlines. I have questions about restaurants and carry on dimensions. On the second, Brussels Air's website indicates that a carry on bag can be up to 26 lb and safely have dimension approx'ly 21" by 15" by 9". But I tripped over information that an international air travel organization has recommended dropping the carry on dimensions from 15" to 14" and from 9" to 7.75". Does anyone know if this change is likely to happen before the end of this year, or is being enforced at point of boarding? On the first, it appears there is decent eating to be had for local foods in and around the Jewish Quarter in Prague. It also looks like there are some out and out tourist traps in that area. Any guidance on which are good for true local food?

WoinParis

I would follow what the site says...

Jean

I don't think anyone here can tell you if carryon rules might change in the next 90 days, but my guess is that something like this would need to be announced in advance with a defined effective date. Talk to a human at Brussels Air and see if they know anything.

Jean

Sorry, can't help with the dining question. We had no trouble finding good food in Prague. We may have eaten at a tourist trap without knowing it. ;-)

Christina

I think you can tell kind of by looking at a place if it is a "tourist trap" or not, don't know exactly how to define it. I also am wondering where you are looking as I stay in the Josefov area and like it becuase there aren't as many tourists there, so I never noticed the type of restaurants you are asking about. It's mainly residential. I guess there are various restaurants in the part of Dlouha nearere the main square which leads into the Josefov area. I eat in neighborhood spots, so I know they are not tourist traps, it's where the locals eat, even if some tourists are in there who are in nearby hotels. I like a few around Hastalska square, for example, although my favorite is French, not Czech. Not a big fan of Czech cuisine, actually.

I don't even know what tourist trap means for a restaurant, that is one term I really dislike. Because some of the cafes on Old Town Square are expensive and of course full of tourists but they still serve true local food. I don't usually eat there, maybe lunch if I'm in the area, as it is expensive.

Now that I think of it, I don't think I've ever had Czech food in Prague that I thought was fake Czech food, if they were presenting it as Czech. This is just not something I'd worry about. There is a beautiful old cafe attached to the municipal house which is popular with tourists, of course, for example, but the food there seems like typical Czech to me.

nytraveler

I think the only places that might be considered "tourist traps" are the cafes on old town square which charge much higher prices. That said we used them a lot for drinks/relaxing, not worried about the higher cost because of the view. But it might be expensive for a meal.

We ate a lot of random places we found and a couple of upscale places reco'd by our hotels. Sorry don't have names since that diary seems to be lost. All I recall is we paid about $320 for dinner for 4 (from amuse bouche through handmade choc truffles after desert) - which would have been at least $600 or so in NY.

celiaam16

Hi all. Thanks for the replies. I will call the airline but the good news is maybe I do not have to buy a new carry-on, yet anyway. As to where to eat, what I meant was places where the fare was cooked to please a large crowd rather than reflecting more local cooking. Granted true Czech food seems to not be as varied as some other cuisines, but I will be getting plenty of more mixed continental fare on the days I am not basing out of Prague. So I figured I would look for as local as possible while I was there.
It sounds like the eating is generally quite decent in Prague. So I will focus on the places north of the Town Square and closer to my hotel. It will be chilly...

WoinParis

Then you could like 'U golema' somewhere in a street 2 blocks from the central place.
It was non expensive, local food. Not much choice either.

fourfortravel

We have visited Prague quite a few times and like others have written, find the prices for meals to be higher at restaurants in Stare Mesto (Old Town) and along the main walking route to Charles Bridge than in restaurants away from those areas (and the quality of inverse proportion). This said, we have enjoyed two very good meals at Casserol (casserol.cz), the most recent being in January. The fare is "modern Czech," and, we felt, worth both the need for a reservation and the moderate cost.

Tulips

Brussels airlines handluggage: 55 x 40 x 23 cm, and no heavier than 12 kg.

If it's of a size that will easily fit in to the overhead lockers, they won't check.
It used to be 6 kg. If they are going to change the rules, it'll be mentioned when you book. I haven't heard anything about that, so wouldn't worry about it.

BigRuss

<<On the first, it appears there is decent eating to be had for local foods in and around the Jewish Quarter in Prague. It also looks like there are some out and out tourist traps in that area. Any guidance on which are good for true local food?>>

Check The Prague Post - English language local paper - for recommendations. Ditto Timeout.com.