Prague Unstable?!?!
 

I mentioned today at work that 3 of us were probably going to Prague, Austria and Germany this next summer and a few people were like.. "it's really unstable in Prague right now..I wouldn't go there."

I was surprised by this because I hadn't seen anything like this on the news and I watch it daily. I normally don't let others determine my travels but it was just strange for more than 1 person to say something about that.

Has anyone else heard that Prague is unstable? We can always just do Austria and Germany if that is the case.
Thanks for any help you can give!
Amy

Maybe they were getting confused with Budapest, which has had a few riots lately.

Are they speaking geologically? Financially? Politically?

Never heard this - and sounds like those people who always find a reason not to go no matter where you're headed.

Yea, one is pretty freaky about travel but the other 2 have been all over. The freaky traveler was like that's close to the war zone. I said not hardly this is above Austria and Hungry. Anyway, I'm not planning on changing our trip based on them but I knew the travel geniuses on this site would have the knowledge I needed.
Thanks guys!
Amy

If you ask Google for State Department notes for travellers, then follow links to Country Warnings, C, Czech, you can have the picture. The US Consul General picks up the problems after trouble, and gives good advice (including to leave your passport and wallet in the hotel safe). There are similar pages from Australia, Britain, and Canada, and (in other languages) France and Germany.

Ben Haines, London
[email protected]

Thanks Ben! I'll check into that.

No, Prague is not unstable. We have tons of friends living there and my husband goes monthly. FWIW, Budapest is fine too.

Lots of nervous nellies out there.

Prague is near the war zone? Is this person thinking the 1940s? Or confusing Prague with Palestine?

The only thing to be concerned about in Prague is hanging on to your wallet -- just like any other tourist destination.

Go and have a great time.

Do I detect a note of envy in your friends? Here is what the US State Department says about the Czech Republic: http://tinyurl.com/vw4yw. A couple of good quotes from the above Consular Information Sheet are: "Civil disorder is rare in the Czech Republic...", and "The Czech Republic generally has a low rate of crime." Where do your friends get their information?

Heimdall--That was my thought when she said that. Maybe a should buy her a world map for Christmas :) She said she heard it on the news but who knows she can be odd about things.

Thanks everyone. Maybe I should copy of the the comments here and let her see them. Like I said, I wasn't going to not go because of her/them. I just thought maybe I missed something.
Later!!!

littlehouse, one time when my daughter was getting ready to fly to Rome a friend of hers stated that it was not safe. My daughter asked her "why" and the woman went into great detail. My daughter took her to their world globe and asked "where are you talking about?" Believe it or not the woman pointed to the Philipine Islands, lol.

The strangest comment I ever received was the first time I was flying to Italy byself. A woman in our family was horrified and said "that is soooo dangerous". When I asked her what she meant she advised me that I would be in danger of having any finger that had a ring on it cut off if I fell asleep.

Somebody should write a book about all the crazy travel comments people hear, you think?

Out of curiousity, I decided to see what some other countries are warning their citizens about travel to the United States.

Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade:

"Crime rates are higher in the larger cities, such as New York, Los Angeles and Houston. Tourists are often targeted for petty crimes such as pickpocketing and theft, particularly on public transport."

British Foreign & Commonwealth Office:

"CRIME

You should bear in mind the following:
Do not leave your door open at any time.
Avoid wearing expensive jewellery and carrying valuable items in run down areas.
Do not sleep in your car by the roadside or in rest areas.
Avoid leaving items on display in cars.
Try to stay on main roads and use well-lit car parks.
If hit from behind while driving, indicate to the other driver to follow you to a public place and call 911 for Police help."

Irish Department of Foreign Affairs:

"The US Government remains concerned about continued threats. Since the terrorist attacks on 11 September 2001, the US government has issued a number of warnings of potential further terrorist attacks in the US."

"Somebody should write a book about all the crazy travel comments people hear, you think?"

Not a bad idea; there are enough misconceptions to fill a book.

Love the story about your relative and the rings. Did she think leaving the rings at home would ensure your safety?

Now this has turned into a fun topic! I wonder if we should start a thread of stupid warnings people have given you before you left on a trip!

Many Swiss won't go to the States as long as President Bush is in office. They find the current political situation too "unstable."

I don't know if many Americans realize that.

huh? I read the Radio Prague News every day, and the Prague Post every week. Went there last summer, and will go again next summer. The only thing that has been unstable is the weather - is that what they mean? Otherwise, I think they have their geography wrong, and must think it's in another country. In which case, I wouldn't listen to them, and certainly wouldn't travel with them!

Just got back from both Prague and Budapest this past Wednesday. No unrest in either ... there were riots in Budapest I believe a couple of months ago, but nothing now. Both cities were FANTASTIC!

Denice

The most wonderful thing happens as you get older....your BS radar gets really fine-tuned and you pick jelousy/BS frequencies so much easier! As a matter of fact, am picking up some just now coming from your "L" friends.

Oh Viajero! You're too much. I needed that laugh!!
Amy

"BS radar gets really fine-tuned and you pick jelousy/BS frequencies so much easier" - I LOVE it!!