Mail in Prague

Mail

It takes about a week for letters and postcards to reach the U.S. Remember to pay a little extra for airmail; otherwise your letters will be sent by ship. The opening hours of post offices vary -- the smaller the place, the shorter the hours. Most large post offices are open from 8 AM to 7 PM on weekdays. The main post office in Prague is open 24 hours, with a 30-minute break after midnight. Orange post office boxes can be found around the city, usually attached to the side of a building.

At this writing, postcards to the United States cost 12 Kc, letters up to 20 grams in weight 14 Kc. You can buy stamps at post offices, hotels, newsstands, and shops that sell postcards.

If you don't know where you'll be staying, American Express mail service is a great convenience, available at no charge to anyone holding an American Express credit card or carrying American Express traveler's checks. There are several offices in Prague. You can also have mail held poste restante (general delivery) at post offices in major towns, but the letters should be marked Posta 1, to designate the city's main post office; in Prague, the poste restante window is at the main post office. You'll be asked for identification when you collect your mail.

Information

American Express (Václavské nám. 56, Nové Mesto. 234-711-711. www.americanexpress.com).

Main Branch

Prague Main Post Office (Jindrisská ul. 14. www.cpost.cz)

Shipping Packages

The Czech postal service, Ceská posta, runs an Express Mail Service (EMS). You can post your EMS parcel at any post office, and Ceská posta can supply forms for customs clearance. Delivery times vary between one and five days, though material is often delayed by American customs. You may not send currency, travel checks, precious metals, or stones through Express Mail. Not every post office offers a pickup service.

Many other private international express carriers also serve the Czech Republic.

Some major stores can make their own arrangements to ship purchases home on behalf of their customers. A number of freight and cargo services operate international delivery services, and these can generally be relied upon. An average shipping time to the U.S. is 21 days (4 days for air cargo). There's no reason not to use the reliable Ceská posta, which delivers anything up to 30 kg.

Express Services

DHL (800-103-000. www.dhl.cz). EMS (800-104-410. www.cpost.cz). Fed Ex (800-133-339. www.inspekta.cz/fedex). UPS (800-181-111. www.ups.com).

Information

Art Trans (Podbabska 81/17/1, Bubenec. 233-336-076. www.shipping.cz). Fix Box Air Shipping (Sudomerská 26, Zizkov. 222-720-456).