My wife and I wil be reaching Prague's Holesovice Station (sp?) next Sat. in the evening sometime. We need to get to Old Town - Hotel Ungelt on Stupartzka Street(sp?), close to the Town Square. I have been warned about pickpockets at the train stations, and this one is across the river. What are some safe ways of getting to the hotel? We'll have two suitcases on wheels and two carry-ons, also on wheels.
Suggestions are highly appreciated.
Thanks

I don't remember which train station (is there only one?), but when we arrived in Prague in April, the area around the station was a little seedy. I have read on other posts that this isn't one of the best areas in Prague. We used one of the taxis in the station parking lot. I think we paid about 600 cz koruna for the trip; the hotel was a few blocks to the Old Town. You could email the hotel and have them arrange taxi/shuttle service for you. I would personally not go wandering around in the area. I'd be ok with using the taxis parked in the station. I don't think there's any more risk of pickpockets in this train station as there are anywhere else in Prague. Unless you have the Czech korunas ahead of time, you're going to have to use an ATM in the station. You should be more concerned with the rate you're going to pay to get to the hotel. This is supposedly where you're going to get ripped off. Ask the price up front, email your hotel and ask them how much you should be paying so you have a benchmark price. Have fun--Prague is a beautiful city!

Just get in a cab and go. You weren't thinking of trying to negotiate subway or tram at night with all that luggage were you?

Just tell the cab driver up fron that you will be double checking the fare with the hotel staff before you pay and you won;t be cheated (not that many try to cheat anyway). Alternatively - contact the hotel and ask what the cab fare should be and tell this to the driver when you get in.

my experience from working and living in prague for several months is that the taxi drivers ARE dodgy and do try to cheat you. this is not just tour book hysteria.

use AAA taxi, as was recommended to me by locals. they will always use the meter and i have never had a problem with them. the times when i was with someone else who was a bit more carefree and we did just jump in any cab, we were nearly always confronted with stories about why he couldn't use the meter (can't during night hours, the fixed price is a better deal than the meter, etc, etc.) the fixed price was never a good deal and the "negotiation" was just an unnecessary unpleasant hassle. simply insisting that they use the meter and you know they are full of it with their price hardly ever works with these guys. i have travelled to many places where this sort of thing is necessary and just a fact of life, but in prague, it is not. don't bother with the random taxis.

That isn't the main train station that I think cammci is referring to (not sure, but if it were only a few blocks to Old Town, it was the main one). I've been to both train stations, and they are pretty much like train stations everywhere, the immediate area isn't that scenic or great, but it doesn't really matter because you won't be hanging around the immediate area. I actually don't agree that there is no more danger of pickpockets or that kind of crime at the train stations than anywhere else in Prague. I think there is. I don't think there is any different in that one being across the river, though (maybe less, actually, as it's not the main one and is smaller).

I also would ask your hotel about arranging for a car to pick you up, many hotels in Prague do that, for a flat rate. Taxis in Prague aren't that expensive, either, if they charge the correct fare.

Actually, I would just take the metro myself if it isn't real late at night -- if it were 7 pm, for example, although you don't really say how big your suitcases are. I would if they were on 22". Your carryon sounds pretty big, though, if it needs wheels. That hotel isn't too far from Namesti Republicky metro stop, but since you don't know Prague at all (and that street has two parts which can be confusing), I wouldn't probably recommend you take the metro as maybe you do have a lot of big luggage. Also, you'd have to transfer lines.

Your fare from Holesovice should probably be around 500-700 CK. I think I paid about 650 CK to go from just about where your hotel is to Holesovice last month, by taxi, but it was a private car service and was maybe a little higher than a taxi would be. Another advantage of having the hotel arrange it is that it can be charged to your bill, most likely.

Your best bet is to have the hotel send a cab to meet you. Ours did for a rate of 600 koruna. Second choice is to find a AAA taxi as Walkinaround recommends. City taxi is also supposed to be reliable. I would avoid the others at the station. Take the usual precautions such as a money belt or similar and some street smarts and you should be ok. Prague has a reputation for pickpockets but I don't know that the problem is any worse than in other cities. Be wary around tram stops, but since the city is very walkable and you are staying in Old Town, you may only want to use the tram to get up to the castle area. Even that is walkable, but it is uphill all the way. We took the tram up and walked back and it was doable even for our senior bones. Relax and have a great time.

walkinaround -

Have not lived in Prague, but have been several times and only had one problem with a cab. (He took the long way around even though I told him not to, then had some reason he couldn't stop in front of the hotel but had to leave us off at the corner.)

The solution is very simple. We got out of the cab and I handed him half of what he asked for. He complained, I said "call a cop" and he said something unpleasant (my Czech is extremely limited) and drove off. What else could he do?

I think people are too concerned about drivers who try to cheat. Just have an idea what the fare should be - and don;t pay more than that. There's nothing they can do really.

As I mentioned in your other post, it will probably be a headache for you to come into the Holesovice train station on a saturday evening instead of the main train station. There will probably not be much open on a saturday evening. You are probably coming in without Czech money. It is going to be hard to find help there. You may be able to find someone on the train that is stopping at this train station to help you out. With the luggage that you have, I would not try the metro. Also it is extra money to have luggage on metro or tram unless you have 24hr or multi day pass. I would try to get hotel to send someone to pick me up. The last choice would be taxis setting outside. I hope that you let us know how things went at this train station and while you were in Prague.

Bad news from Prague - got pickpocketed on the first train ride.

We started our trip in great spirtis just three days ago. Stopped off in Berlin for a day and got to Prague Sat night, using a car arranged thru the hotel (800 CZK). We had a great start today with Prague Castle. We then decided to go to the main station by train. We got on the train at Malastranska and as I got on the train, I was impeded at the door by this guy, 25-30, rather well-dressed. I actually apologized to this guy for bumping into him. Some 20-30 seconds later, as we(our son came in from the airport last night, just as we were checking in, after getting in from the Holesovice station, on a 400 CZK hotel-arranged car pick-up), were getting seated, I reaized my wallet had been lifted. It was a great shock. It is now 7 hourslater,a nd I still havet recovered from it. We looked around, and I couldn't see the guy that had bumped into me. I had my wallet in the left trousers pocket, as poosed tothe usual back-pocket.

I had $ 70, E60, and 4000 CZK, in all about $350. In addition, I had three credit cards, an ATM card, and a few other items. We went to the US embassy to report it and to see if they could help in any fashion. I was given a two-page list of items (what to do), and given the # of the Duty Officer. When stopped by the Police Station next door, and registered a report.

An officer at the US embassy confided in me that the Prague Police routinely blame the Roma (sometimes referred to by the disparaging term of gypsies) for most pickpocketing, despite the lack of evidence to support such a statement. They also, he added, are not doing much to curb this menace.

My wife felt so violated by this incident she wanted to leave Prague for Vienna tomorrow. My son and I got her to settle down after a while.

I have canceled all my credit cards, with some difficulty. I am getting a new Amex card tomorrow. We are going to manage with our son's credit cards. My wife has some cash as well.

Based on the discussion her and elsewhere, I had decided to survied on ATMs, and minimize use of credit cars, to minimize the risk of credit card thievery. I now believe it was the wrong strategy. The trick is to have as little cash on one's person as possible.

Anyway, it will take me a while to forget this despicable incident.

Cautionary note to you all: don't think you can outsmart these canny pickpockets. If you let down your guard for just one moment, they'll get you. I thought I was fully prepared, after having read 3-4 guidebooks and many postings here and elsewhere.

Anyway, I'll try my best not to let this get in the way of my enjyment of Prague for the next two days.

Cheers' all!

Huntley

PS: I have had a long day. No time to correct the typos.

Dear Huntley -what terrible bad luck. I do hope that you recover from this and don't let it spoil your trip. Have you found the funicular yet - great views from the top and a fascinating museum about walking/rambling in Czeckoslovakia, as was. This, and the Dvorak house should restore your faith in human nature.

Huntley- I am sorry to learn of your experience, but that experience is another advert for the use of money belts or similar. Are they foolproof? No- but chances are if you were using one it would have minimized your losses. Try not to keep any more cash in a pocket than you can afford to lose, and one credit card - not in a wallet, but in a front pocket preferably one that is velcroed. Don't keep anything in a backpocket other than tissues and a decoy wallet.

gee, that's really too bad, but I do hope you can enjoy things. 800 CZ for a car service is rather steep, but it's not clear where that was from. From Holesovice? that is pretty expensive, as I stayed at one of the top hotels in the city (Hotel Pariz), and they didn't charge me that much. Well, that's still not too bad a fare, all in all, though.

I am not a man, so maybe I don't understand why so many men think carrying things in pockets (even front) is a way to foil pickpockets, but I'd suggest you might re-think that idea of carrying money and CCs etc in your pocket in an area that is known for pickpockets (the train station). I know I've seen some posts on here from folks who suggest just moving it from back to front pocket is the way to go, but I wouldn't ever advise anyone do that (but, as I said, I'm not a guy).

Sorry to hear about your stolen wallet. That really sucks. Happened to my friend, and we loaned her money to get to Madrid (her next stop), and her credit card company sent her new card to Madrid, as well. Pain in the butt.

On a side note, the funicular that "annhig" mentions is out of service for the summer, due to repairs/renovations.

We just returned from Prague and went through the Prague Holesovice station twice, but during the day time. The site 'living in prague' describes the station and amenities and was very helpful for me.

To exit the platform you will need to go down one flight of stairs; depending upon your mode of transport you may have to go up some stairs.

I would ask the hotel for pickup since it will be the same price as a dishonest taxi and a sure thing. I paid 500 Kc from Hotel Pariz to this station last week.

Sorry Huntly to hear about your stolen wallet.

Huntley, so sorry about your train incident. We hope you have a much happier crime free experience in Vienna and a pleasant stay at the Sofitel!

I hope when you read this (tonight, perhaps, at the hotel's Internet terminal near the checkin desk), you had a more relaxing train ride, an entertaining stroll down the Karntnerstrasse or a tram ride around the ring, and an enjoyable dinner at one of Vienna's many fine restaurants.

Perhaps you should treat yourself to a new wallet from the Steffl department store on the Karntnerstrasse or at the wonderful leather goods store on the Neuermarkt (not far from the Sacher hotel). And of course, your wife "needs" a new purse to get over her stress, too!

BTilke,

You must be a Vienna Sofitel regular. I am penning this from the internet machine right near the front desk, as you correctly surmised. And yes, after visiting Schonbrunn, we took the #2 tram around the ring and then a nice stroll up Kanternerstrasse.
Had a nice Italian meal at Pizza Bisi (very busy too!)on K´strasse, and then I (wife and son declined} managed to attend a Mozart Concert at Staatsoper for the ridiculous sum of E 19. How did I manage that, I hear you ask. Well, they have standing room only seats, well, not seats, but space! There are 5 to 6 rows, 12 or so per row. There were only 25 or so patrons standing. It is a great bargain. They gave me a free Mozart CD too!

Cheers!

Huntley

Yes taxi drivers are bad in Prague, the goverment are trying to do something about it. I have been many times and I aways booked a pickup with the hotel. That way I know they are not going to rip me off in price or give me hand full of coins that when you look at them after are no longer legal a sthe contry tghey came from now use Euro's ( remember Czech has not switched to Euro's yet).I know from a Czech friend that the airport bus is OK, but I choose a pickup as I arrive in the airport late at night. The train station's, there are a couple of big ones are like many trian stations in big cities. Not very nice places to hang a round in late at night. As advised by someone else, and also my Czeh friend, arrange a pickup with the hotel. Most hotel's or letting companies do this. If you really want to get your own taxi use the AAA ones, that is his recomendation.Yes Prague has it's fair share of pick pockets, most tourist places do, and as long as you take care and watch yourslef you will be fine. The Metro is again like any other city just need to watch out, but I felt very safe travelling on them even at night and never really saw any problems.
http://www.czechsite.com/gettingaround.html
http://www.dp-praha.cz/download/sche...ra-v-praze.gif

I am dumb and just realised a) the date and B0 you did have a bad experience. Which is a shame as I have got to know many czech's through my friend. I have been to a few other cities the Czech republic and I know that most Czech people are very friendly nice people. I hope it does not put your off.

Glad that you are enjoying Vienna after your bad experience. You might want to spend an evening in one of the Heuringern. We particularly liked the Hirsch in the Grinzing section, easily reachable by tram. Excellent, inexpensive food and lots of gemutlich atmosphere.