I was at a dinner party on the weekend and someone said they had just returned from Prague. They said it was so very poor that he was very uncomfortable. The reason everything is so cheap is because no one has any money. In fact he said (I'm just repeating it, sorry!) that things are so bad that people cant afford to feed their dogs and there are hundreds of dogs running loose in packs in Prague. It is becoming a real problem for the government. I keep hearing glowing reports about Prague visits. I'm torn-on one hand obviously the tourist dollars help their economy but do I want to spend my vacation feeling terrible for "having" and being amongst so many "have-nots".

It's not true, someone was pulling your leg. I was in Prague and never saw anything close to your remarks. Yes, there is unemployment, like everywhere, and there are beggars, but there are few and they are subdued and they don't approach anyone. They just sit and pray holding a cup hoping for donations. The only pets I saw were on leashes, lovingly walked and cared for by their owners. Prague's tourism is thriving, it's not expensive for tourists now, but it will as expensive as Paris within the next few years.

Troll? probably not, but giving you the benefit of the doubt, Prague is like any city, there is poverty - just like New York or Dallas or Washingtom or anywhere else. Prague is cheap for certain things, but not decent hotel accommodation for instance. If you want to see cheap and experience great poverty, go to some of the African countries - learn, give, enjoy and understand your world a little better.

You know what Jimmy...it's highhanded, arrogant folks like you who make it awkward and intimidating to ask for information. I am not a troll. I have done some travelling even in Africa. But I've never been to Prague. I heard something and golly gee, I asked about it on a travel forum...how absolutely silly of me. Now why don't you explain to me exactly how I should have worded my question in order to make it ok with you?

And thanks Leslie for your first-hand account of Prague. I appreciate your letting me know. And it would appear that I did in fact have my leg pulled!

The Czech Republic is a relatively poor country in comparison to Western Europe, US, etc., and that is one reason for low costs on many items. It isn't as poor as Africa or third-world countries, though, at all. I didn't notice obvious poverty in Prague at all (even beggars, but maybe I wasn't looking). I studied Czech a little and had a friend who lived there a year, so I took the tram into some surrounding average residential areas where most tourists would never go, and even there, the residents and houses did not have the appearance of slums or what I've seen in very poor countries like Egypt. However, I personally cannot imagine anyone's standards that would say Prague itself was uncomfortable for them to be in due to poverty--they would live a very rarified life (and never venture into poor parts of cities in the US, for that matter).<BR><BR>I have heard nothing of the dogs, but I did find a report on wild dog problems in Prague from the news on a Czech radio station. Sounds like something similar to violent pit bulls being loose in some cities of the US (like where I live). Here is the URL (it's from 2001) if you want to know about dogs in Prague:<BR>http://www.radio.cz/news/GB/2001/26.02.html

That is completely untrue. I saw no dogs running the streets and I walked all over...

dontshoot, I spent 9 days in Prague in November, and wrote a travelogue about my stay. If you would like to read it, feel free to email me.<BR><BR>Prague is a gorgeous city, with excellent architecture (prior to Communism). One can only marvel at the architecture. Prague is the only major city in Europe that was not annihilated during WWII. One bomb was dropped on Prague, on the building that houses the Astrological Clock in the Old Town Square. The Czechs did not rebuild the structure, to memorialize the war, and the destruction of the building is clearly visible.<BR><BR>The reason that Prague was not destroyed by the Nazis during the War, is because it was Hitler's intention to show Prague off as a museum of the annihilation of the Jewish race. Prague's synagogues were used as warehouses during the War and stored the possessions of the Jews that were sent to the concentration camps. After the liberation, surviving Jews made claim to their possessions. Items not claimed have been displayed in the Prague synagogues and other synagogues and museums throughout the world. Many of the artifacts displayed in the Holocaust Museum in Washington, DC came from Prague.<BR><BR>The Czech Republic is still emerging from a communist regime to a capitalistic democracy. The average income in Prague is approximately $265 per month for a professionally employed person not employed by a national company. However, housing costs for a family of four (in a 2 bedroom dwelling) are approximately $65 per month including utilities. Everything is relative.

In Dec and Jan, I attempted to make reservations for a first trip to Prague in the summer. Most all of the most-mentioned Prague hotels were booked, and in all cases, room rates have increased 10-15% from posted 2001 rates. Finally found a room at the U Pava. Point is, I think Prague has been 'found' and it's days of inexpensive travel may be nearing an end.