My friend went to Prague last year and was <BR>pickpockted immediately on arrival in <BR>Holesovice(?Hlavni nadrazi).He didn't even realised until he reached the hostel to find <BR>all things in his money belt emptied! <BR>How should l survive my arrival in Holesovice train station-money belt sufficient?,how to get my orientation quickly,how to look purposeful?how to shun away obvious thugs who pretend to offer you <BR>accomodation?Advice to avoid scams/petty <BR>theft in Prague appreciated. <BR>My mother forbids me to bring a gun(just kidding!) <BR>Cheers

If you're leaving from the US, your gun (and yourself) will be seized before you board the plane. If you can be relieved of your valuables without even realizing it, what would be the point of carrying a gun? Why not just keep anything important to you in an under-your-clothing security pouch?

Donna, <BR>He was kidding! He even said so.

We were actually met by a driver when we arrive in Holesovice. (arranged by our hotel, which I don't know if that was unusual or not) It was well worth the $8 that it cost us. <BR>We avoided the metros and didn't have any trouble (but were alert the whole time and on guard so that may help too)

cozaar: <BR>we took the metro (from the train station to the center of prague) with our suitcases and didn't have any problems. you may consider planning your arrival in the day time so you can at least orient yourself by daylight. we always felt very safe in prague, even very late at night. a helpful website is www.travel.cz <BR>happy traveling!

Cozaar, was your friend drunk or on drugs. I'm at a loss to understand how someone coule empty your moneybelt without you knowing it, unless you wear it outside of your clothing in which case why bother to wear one at all. <BR>

I think that most people offering an accomodation are actually just doing that and not trying to rob you. <BR> <BR>Anyway, I've been a few times to Prague and I wasn't very alert or on my guard and never had any trouble. I don't want to say that no crime exists but one shouldn't get paranoid.

sounds like your friend had his belt on the outside. I carry mine under my clothing and they would have to undo my pants to get to it. I carry just the amount of money I would need for a day or two in my pocket.