Today, one of my husbands co-workers was leaving for Europe. He and his wife totally wiped Prague from their must sees becouse..... his wife has been chatting on the web. According to her, if you stay in one of the lower levels in a hotel, they are
getting broken into by thieves. Pick pocketers are just too out of control !

We are planning to see Prague next Spring and this is very disturbing .

I am very curious as to hear what others that have been there recently have to say.

Thanking you all in advance for your responses.

I recall many people asking this same question. As in many tourist parts of Europe, the pickpocketers are out in droves in the peak tourist season (summer). Luckily, my last 2 recent trips were in Apr and Dec and have never had a problem. Just be aware of people coming in too close to your personal space at the train/metro stations, around the clock tower when everyone is looking up at the clock striking noon and on Charles Bridge. Keep all documents in a money belt tucked in your pants. Never show off ANY jewellery of any kind, just a wedding band or no rings at all. If you plan to wear a camera around your neck, that is a dead give away. I have never had a problem with any of my visits to Prague and have lived in Poland for many years without anything being stolen. Be aware of whats going on around you! So many people walk around Prague in a daze.

I've been there 7 times, and am about to go again next week. I've never had a problem, and even sometimes wear "flashy" jewelry, because I need to dress up for some of the events I attend. As for pickpockets, I personally know of two instances (friends of mine) who have had problems - one was a Japanese couple who were robbed on the Charles Bridge, because they were way too busy taking pictures and didn't notice some guy robbing my friend's back pocket! (They admitted this to me!) The other was a girl who had a backpack on the metro & ALL her important belongings were in the back zippered compartment!Needless to say, she lost her money & passport.

I usually travel there during peak tourist season & stay for 3 weeks at a time. Repeat - I've NEVER had a problem, and I travel alone most of the time. Also - I don't dress like a tourist, and have learned basic Czech phrases like "Odpal!" - ("get away&quot - just in case I'm alone & a guy gets too close.

I've stayed in places from 4 star hotels to really disgusting dormitories, and have never been afraid. Don't pass up a chance to see this golden city of spires. Just use obvious cautionary sense, & once you are there, you won't regret going. If you are afraid of break-ins at low budget hotels (which I don't think is THAT common at all), look on some websites for a better idea of reasonably priced places to stay. www.travel.cz and www.marys.cz list all or most of the places in Prague, so you can see what your dollar will get you.

I highly recommend Prague, and hope you don't pass up a chance to go because of all the stereotypical "myths". It is number one on my travel list every year, and I'm sure it will rank high on yours, also, once decide to go! Happy travels to you!

I guess the same question can be asked of other cities as well. Theft can occur anywhere. The best advice is what has been said already and that is to be aware of your surroundings and to protect your belongings.

I've been to Prague several times, never had a problem..stayed in reputable hotels, wear expensive jewelry, use a moneybelt, and nothing has happened. You say this post originated because someone heard something when they were "chatting on the internet." Well, basically, that's what we're doing here, but you're getting very different information.
I quite honestly think the person you referred to is out of control, or doing things to stay very much IN control, and has blown whatever she may have heard about Prague all out of proportion.
By the way, WHERE did they go instead of Prague? I hope it wasn't Barcelona because that's the only city in Europe I've ever been pickpocketed in.

Just returned from Prague (and other cities) and absolutely LOVED it. Could not have felt safer, even wearing my jewelry. It was very crowded and of course, I safeguarded my valuables, just as I would do in NYC or any other large city (or anywhere else, for that matter). Keep your plans for Prague -- it was wonderful.

I was in Prague this past October - stayed out late numerous nights - felt very safe walking around - had no problems whatsoever. Even the few times I took a cab - I wasn't ripped off.

Like Chrissy advises - don't walk around in a daze. And I might add - leave the rose colored glasses at home. Use common sense.

Some people are just paranoid about stuff like that. I've been there twice within past five years (last time 2002) and pickpockets are not "out of control". I'm sure there are some just like in any big city and around tourist areas, but that wouldn't be a problem if you don't have anything accessible to be picked. I've never noticed any big activity when I've been there and I've never had any problems at all. I don't own expensive jewelry, anyway, but I just act normal like I do where I live, which is a big city. Pickpockets target people who are acting careless and oblivious and leave things accessible, obviously.

I never heard the story about the hotel breakins, but I guess the solution to that would be to not stay in a "lower level" of a hotel, if it eases your mind. I wonder where this guy's wife was chatting.

I think you are being given information that is not true, and could be said about anywhere. Have fun.

CHRISSY K

THANKS TONS FOR ALL YOUR
ADVICE.

I USUSALLY WEAR VERY LITTLE JEWELRY AND CARRY DOCUMENTS ,MONEY AND CREDIT
CARDS IN A POUCH AROUND MY NECK. TUCKED INSIDE MY CLOTHING.

GTL

AMP322

YOUR ADVICE WAS GREAT ALSO,
THANKS SO MUCH!

BELIEVE ME, I WILL NOT PASS UP
THE CHANCE TO SEE PRAGUE. I
AM EAGERLY LOOKING FORWARD
TO GOING. I KNOW I WILL LOVE IT!

francophile03

THAT IS HOW I SEE IT TOO!

Thanks,
GTL

INTREPID

THEY WENT TO BERLIN INSTEAD!

I THINK THIS PERSON JUST WANTS TO IMPOSE HER WILL. ON
HER SPOUSE.

WHEN MY HUSBAND SUGGESTED
TURKEY, BECOUSE WE WERE THERE LAST YEAR AND REALLY ENJOYED IT, SHE CAME BACK WITH SOME NASTY REMARK ABOUT THE TURKS.

TOO BAD FOR HER!

THE LAST TIME MY AUNT AND UNCLE CAME BACK FROM SPAIN,
THEY MADE COMMENTS ABOUT
THE AMOUNT OF PICK POCKETS
AND THEFT THEY HAD SEEN.

BARBARAF

THANKS, I PLAN TO KEEP MY PLANS AND HAVE A GREAT TIME!

MARKTYNERNYC

THANKS, I AGREE !

CHRISTINA

THANKS,

I AGREE, YOU CAN GET IN TROUBLE IN YOUR OWN CITY IF
YOU ARE CARELESS AND UNAWARE OF THE WORLD AROUND YOU.

I HAVE NO IDEA WERE SHE WAS CHATTING AT.

JOR

THANKS,

I WILL HAVE FUN.
ALL THE RESPONSES I HAVE RECEIVED HAD EASED MY MIND.