Prague and venice - TravelPUNK Backpacker College Student Budget Travel Message Boards!

Rorie_Fantastico · 07-20-2006, 08:23 AM

wondering if I could get a couple of pointers for a place or two thats new to me.
were heading to Prague and then venice, Ive heard that particularly in venice you can get ripped off easily, is this a place ill have no problems witrh after weathing bangkok?

we normally budget like 25 pounds a day including accom will this be okay for prague and venice?

and finally am i gonna be bombing it down to cornwall in desperate need of a beach when i get home due to the lack of such things there?!!!
thanks guys.

**worldwidemike** · 07-20-2006, 09:00 AM

I've read about scams in Prague, but not really much in Venice. Now, Venice being expensive as it is, you will likely get "ripped off" legitimately!

However, it's such a gorgeous, world city that you have to see it. Just make sure you spend at least a night or two there, as Venice after the day tripper crowds have gone is a completely different feel than Venice in the daytime.

For Prague, just be cautious. I've especially heard of scams involving buying drinks in a bar. Just don't let yourself be bullied into paying something outrageous for food or drink. Insist on a menu with prices, if you're given one without them...

Two great cities, though, you'll have a blast!

worldwidemike

**omisan** · 07-20-2006, 10:43 AM

I don't know anything about Venice, but you can easily do Prague on 25£/day.

Prague is probably second to Barcelona in terms of scams and pickpockets (I should know, I got my wallet lifted my final night there), but general common sense will prevent most problems. I seem to have forgotten mine at the very end of the trip.

One common problem in Prague is that restauranteurs and bar waiters may try to rip you off. Always be sure to check your bill before paying, and count your change! Also, you can avoid the scenario all together by learning a tiny bit of Czech. That seems to please the locals and they often find a heart when it comes to tourists who make the effort. For instance, "Dobry dan" is hello, and "Dobry vecher" (phonetic spelling) is good evening. Simply saying those things to your waiter/bartender will move you from "tourist dupe" to "traveler making the effort."

I was at a restaurant with a couple of American friends, and they asked for the bill. He came over with some inflated bill in euros. I asked him, in Czech, if he would give us a bill in crowns, and he apologized and brought over a *far* lower bill!

**mbo108** · 07-20-2006, 12:07 PM

How/where did you learn Czech?

*sidenote alert*
I had a teacher in high school with a flat in Prague. He started by going to some school for expats, but thought that sucked, so instead he would go down to the park, find a nice homeless guy, and offer to buy him a meal or two if they could sit and talk. this guy was the best teacher i ever had.

**omisan** · 07-20-2006, 12:33 PM

I bought the Pimsleur Conversational Czech CDs - Something like 16 half-hour lessons. I love their system - seems to work pretty well! You can get them at the bookstore, though most don't stock more "obscure" languages, so Amazon's usually the best bet.

**mbo108** · 07-21-2006, 08:56 AM

Thanks, i'll have to czech that out...sorry, i couldn't resist

Rorie_Fantastico · 07-28-2006, 01:28 AM

thanks guys, yer i will be carefull, im usually pretty pert with charges anywho