Credit cards in Prague
 

I was given a 2008 R Steve's Prague book. He says not to use credit cards in restaurants. Not to let them out of your sight. Is this still true??

I have read the same thing.I am also going to Prague this fall.

What typically happens when you use a credit card is that they bring the credit card machine right to your table. The reason Rick Steves recommends not using it at all is for fraud (if they take your cc and walk away, that's really the problem). I went to Prague last fall (in October) and used my credit card a lot. No problems at all, but I made sure they brought the machine to the table. But it's true just about anywhere not to let it out of your sight. :) Also, be sure to check if they add a tip or surcharges at restaurants. It should say it on the menu if they add a tip or a surcharge. If the menu doesn't say it, ask them to remove the charges.

you will find most higher end resturants will have a mobile CC machine so your card will not be out of sight.things have moved on quite a bit since 2008.

Alywi and I must have been typing at the same time but at least we both agree.

Thanks, glad to hear that.

Have been to Prague 3 times - the first in the early 1990s - and never had a problem with any credit card - and used for all hotels and a lot of restaurants and shops.

I was there last fall and no CC problems.

A lot of the local restaurants did not take a credit card.

You had to have cash in local currency.

I would agree that cash is preferable, though you shouldn't have any issues in the city, but if you go outside of Prague, smaller towns might have fewer cc capabilities (smaller restaurants, etc.).

We didn't have any problem with CC being accepted at restaurants. If you are going to a smaller cafe or a modest restaurant they may prefer cash - but the window will tell you if they take CCs. We never had to pay cash for anything more than about $25 or so,

I had read the same thing in RS, so took cash and paid for most meals with it, except one high end place where we saw them doing the register near us.

I wanted to comment that our tour guide mentioned to us that RS says not to tip in the Czech Republic (or something like that, I left the book there so can't check to see what it was - that the tip was included?). She said that this is NOT true, and that people there wished he had not written it in the books. So we tipped 10 - 15%.

Was in Prague three weeks ago and had no problem with credit cards; it's like rest of Europe with the portable terminals. We did find an unauthorized purchase at one restaurant, a "cover charge" that was not disclosed. Complained and they took it off. Standard tip is about 10%.

I sometimes use a credit card, but I always tip in cash.... There is no set percent (anything over 10% would be quite high)... We generally round up. I was told (not sure this is true) that it is not legal to take a cc away from the table. I will say we eat out most every night, and no one has ever taken my cc away.

Since we live in Central Europe, I have tried to amend my big tipping (American) ways as we don't want to be thought of as the rich Americans who throw our money around. I realize on vacation, old habits die hard.

When you tip, keep in mind the wage structure here is quite low. What may seem like a small tip to you is actually quite large perhaps here.

the normal format for tipping is about 10% in the city center, this really has come about with the influx of tourist over the last 20 years.In other areas the bill is usually rounded up to the nearest 10 crowns .I am just back from a week based in Prague (I am there 2 or 3 times a year).In bars if a beer cost 39 kc I would expect change from 50kc but not from 40kc.I tend to eat in hospodas ,bars that serve food and i probably tipped at about 5-10% and nobody complained.
In the smaller places credit cards are seldom used but when you get a meal and 2 beers for 150kc- 200kc each it is hardly worth using the credit card for that. My cheapest meal last week was a goulash for 65kc and a beer for 24kc,89kc for my lunch what a bargain.both food and beer superb and service was great.I gave 100Kc and told the server to keep the change,just above 10% tip but I think everyone was happy.

this cover charge is starting to appear more and more,often mentioned on the menu.I was charge 5kc cover charge in an Itaklian resturat in Holesovice afew days ago,that was for the condiment and bread on the tabel of which i did avail myself.,for 5kc it was well worth it.

Some countries have cover charges at restaurants (quite common in Italy - and it's just part of the deal. Not any sort of cheat.

How do they know if you ate any of the bread or not?

they count the pieces,i got three pieces with butter and the basket was empty when i finished ,it gave them a big clue:).When i have been in Italy cover charges seem the norm and they are a lot higher than any i have had in the Czech Republic.