Single traveler

Old Jan 23rd, 2012, 10:57 AM
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Single traveler

I am a single female (65 years old) and am thinking of staying in Prague for one week. I would try to stay close to the square. I have never gone anywhere by myself and am concerned about safety, etc. Any advise you can gice would be appreciated. I am also thinking that Krakaw migt be another place that I would visit instead of Prague.
andiiv is offline  
Old Jan 23rd, 2012, 11:18 AM
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andiiv,

I usually travel alone and take the same precautions as I would at home: I'm aware of my surroundings, I don't stay out too late when I'm likely to be the only pedestrian around, I don't walk down dark alleys and I trust my gut. You'll want a hotel that is centrally located and is close to restaurants so that you don't have far to travel after supper. If you travel during spring/summer you'll find that there are many people out and about during the evenings.

I visited Prague once, with my late husband, and don't recall any issues. If I went there alone I'd probably try to find a hotel with a bar so as to avoid going to pubs alone. Prague is a beautiful city and we enjoyed it very much. Go!
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Old Jan 23rd, 2012, 11:24 AM
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I've been to both Prague and Krakow on my own and had no problems. Everyone was friendly and helpful although the people in Krakow were more friendly and spoke more English. I enjoyed Krakow more than Prague. It's very compact and you can walk to almost every sight; the main square is fun at night to watch the fire dancers and fiacres (horses & buggies) and see the buildings lit up.

I used a private guide in Krakow who was wonderful but there are many city tours you can sign up for in advance or when you arrive.

In Prague I stayed outside the main part (in Prague 6 - near the castle) as I was on a budget and didn't want the extra expense of staying in the center city. My pension was 15 minutes by tram and the tram stopped right in front of the pension.

I guess you've decided not to take a guided tour and do the trip on your own.

I would get some guide books and start reading them and do some searching on this board.
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Old Jan 23rd, 2012, 11:27 AM
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By the Square do you mean wenselas squrae or Old Town square.
Wenseslas square can be a bit boistrous at night.
Old Town Square is an ideal location.
Prague is as safe a city as any other in Europe and safer than most. depending on when you are travelling there are some lovely places.i like visiting the beer gardens in summer afternoons/ evenings (you don't have to have beer).Prague on your own is a good idea and you can go at your own pace,the city also has one of the best itegrated public transport system for getting around the city but in saying that many of the main tourist areas are pedestrianised.
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Old Jan 23rd, 2012, 11:32 AM
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I am not certain what I should do. The tours are so busy and I was thinking that perhaps a more leisurely trip and taking my time to really see one city/area might be better. I guess I am just confused as to what I really want to do.
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Old Jan 23rd, 2012, 11:55 AM
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Stay in Prague 1 and you should be fine.

>

That's rather stunning considering Prague was the first Central European city formerly under the Iron Curtain that received a strong influx of ex-pat Americans and Brits in the early 90s. I think this information may be influenced by (1) the fact that Adrienne stayed "outside the main part" and (2) in Poland, they're happy to speak English because it means they're not talking to a Russian or a German.

Prague was far more interesting to us than Krakow. You need to describe what interests you and why you want to go to either one - this isn't like climbing a mountain ("because it's there").
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Old Jan 23rd, 2012, 12:27 PM
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I went to Prague alone for 10 nights and had no problems at all. I stayed at the Metamorphis Hotel,http://www.hotelmetamorphis.cz/, which is right off Old Town Square. I walked almost everywhere.

You can also sign up for a walking tour or city tour of Prague, and there are day trips to Kutna Hora, Cesky Krumlov, and other places, too. That way you are not tied to a tour group schedule, but get the advantage of having some of the trip details taken care of for you.

There are many good hotels in Prague in all budget ranges. I recommend staying as central as your budget allows, Old Town or anywhere near the Charles Bridge. Have a car service pick you up from the airport--less stress. Going alone doesn't mean you have to plan every single aspect on your own. Make it easy on yourself the first time out.

If you have never traveled alone, I understand your apprehension, but once you do it you will see that it is not difficult at all. If you are super apprehensive, maybe you would be more comfortable in an English-speaking country for your first solo trip--less disorientation.

If you decide on Prague, take a look at these sites to help with planning:
http://www.inyourpocket.com/czech-republic/prague
http://www.pragueexperience.com/sigh...ightseeing.asp
http://www.timeout.com/prague/
http://www.prague-tourist.com/
http://www.123-prague-airport-transfer.com/

You can also search this forum for info on Prague, as well as several trip reports. Good luck to you, whichever city you choose.
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Old Jan 23rd, 2012, 12:46 PM
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I've been to both cities several times and so can say with certainty that you have to go to both, so flip a coin and get started! Personally I preferred Krakow also but it's totally an individual experience, no-one can tell you which is "better." In Prague, stay centrally near the Bridge at a nice hotel and you will have no problems at all.

Are you considering a tour? Cosmos/Globus does a tour of Poland which would give you an overview so you could return for more in-depth inspection if you wish. That might be a gentle way for you to get started before going out on your own.
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Old Jan 23rd, 2012, 01:01 PM
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Go for the solo travel experience! Going solo is great--do what you want when you want, stop and catch your breath when you want, keep on trucking without having someone to slow you down. But you might want to check out some of the day tours that others have recommended.

My personal favorite of your two choices is Krakow, but that is just my opinion. Read some guide books and make your choice. Rick Steves has some good suggestions for do-it-yourself touring in and out of both these cities.

Have fun! (I am a bit older than you and travel solo on most of my trips.)
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Old Jan 23rd, 2012, 02:06 PM
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I went to both Prague and Krakow with my sister, and I loved them both. What wonderful architecture! No wonder Prague is called "Golden Prague." Around every corner there is another beautiful building.

As I said, I was not alone in Prague or Krakow, but I usually travel solo, and I enjoy it very much. I am 76 years old, and I figure I have at least another 5 years in which I can travel alone, maybe longer.

On my last trip, I traveled to Spain with a college friend. Much as I like her, she and I were not a good mix for traveling, as she doesn't walk well, and she is diabetic, so that we ate a lot of meals that were more expensive than I would have liked.

I decided I would travel alone from now on. It's just easier and (for me) more enjoyable. I can do exactly what I want, and I find that I meet people with whom to talk and compare notes. I also often find an internet cafe so that I can write my impressions and send them to family and to my own email address.
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Old Jan 23rd, 2012, 04:58 PM
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I've been to both as a solo female and thoroughly enjoyed both. I strongly prefer solo travel, in large part because I want to be in control of what I see and how long I spend doing it. If you want to go by yourself, you might find it surprisingly pleasant to do so.
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