4 days - how much cash should we ideally have on hand?

I would withdraw a very minimal amount from an ATM once you get there. You can likely charge most of your purchases, so you may not need much in the way of cash (except for small incidentals). I wouldn't be able to guess how much I would even need, so I would just play it by ear once I'm on the ground. You don't want to take out a whole lot and then be stuck with it, since Czech currency is not used anywhere else.

Our last trip we brought $300 and brought $300 home. Like Agnus said, charge what you can and take a few dollars here and there at an ATM. If you find you have too much Czech money, switch to cash. When checking out of our hotel, if it is the last stop in a country, we pay partially with our cash and charge the rest.

Thanks for the replies. I would still feel better with some local currency in my pocket.

Since I'm new (to this forum) and still doing research on our upcoming trip, I have a question - are the ATM's/Bankomats similar to those in the US? Insert your credit/debit card with magnetic strip and chip, input PIN and ouila? I normally exchange some USD to Euros at our bank prior to our prior Western Europe trips - on our last trip to Croatia, we exchanged USD to Kuna's at the airport so the ATM aspect is new to this noob to Central Europe......

TIA

Yes, ATMs are the same worldwide. The process is the same. Only insert your debit card unless you want to pay hefty fees for a credit card cash advance. There's really no need to order money beforehand or exchange it at the airport, there are ATMs there too. Just make sure you notify your bank of your travels. Before you leave, find out what your bank charges for withdrawals (hint: credit unions are typically one of the best alternatives since they don't fleece customers with withdrawal fees overseas).

Hmmm. No one has actually answered the question. I would budget about 1000czk per day as walking around money.

I agree check with your financial institution and let them know where you are going. Ask about transaction fees.
If you have a few coins left at the airport, there is usually a bin for donating to some good cause you can toss the money.
We were in Prague for 3 nights and I don't remember the need for a lot of cash. In the old city their was a market that I believe did not take plastic. If you stop for a drink somewhere you'll probably want to just pay with cash.

Oddly enough - my wife is a VP at Bank of America Corporate here in Charlotte so we do know what we need to do as far as using our cards outside of our home area. We normally exchange a small amount of USD to Euros before our trips to Western Europe and never used ATM's outside of the US so not sure of the differences

Thanks Marcus - we did just want to know what the thought is for how much cash to carry around for incidentals

We were in Prague two weeks ago for four nights. I agree with Marcus, 1000 czK per day for small purchases.

We normally exchange USD to Euros before our trips to Western Europe

Bad habits die hard, but at least try....I'm surprised that you do this given your wife works in the banking industry and should know that you're getting ripped off on the exchange rate and fees when you order money. Then again, Bank of America will also rip you off right and left if you don't use their ATMs.

Anyhow, everyone here will tell you it's fine to use ATMs overseas except you need a good debit card that doesn't charge you a lot per transaction (not B of A, unless they're willing to refund your fees). I doubt you'll need much cash at all in 4 days.

Agnes - we prefer to have a small amount Euros for incidental cash on hand when we land, otherwise we put everything on the credit card. We do have USD's that we exchange if we need.

Being in the position that she is in she does get certain perks, including minimal/no foreign transaction fees when compared to the general public.

I too would agree with Marcus, pay for larger purchases and meals with your credit card and for snacks ,drinks and sundry items with cash,easy to change money but just watch exchange rates/commission charges or use the ATM's.

Banks won't exchange money unless you have an account with them. The exchange booths charge too much, use the atm. I remember when we used travelers checks, so I know old habits are hard to break. I maybe have about 40€ with me from past trips for a quick coffee at an airport stopover. Otherwise we use the ATMs, even at the airport.

I don't know where banks don't exchange money unless you have an account with them but in Czech Republic they certainly do exchange money without me having account with them.

Lots of opinions on this: no one right answer. I like to have enough local currency on hand on arrival that I could pay for a taxi ride to our hotel if needed , plus a meal, snack, water or coffee, or whatever, so that I could go for at least one day without hitting an ATM. If its a euro country, I just bring whatever I have left from previous trip. First time I get to an ATM, I take out the max, and see how far that goes. Repeat as necessary. That's my practice.

I don't know where banks don't exchange money unless you have an account with them

Nearly every bank in Great Britain and every one I visited within the EU (with travel companions who have not embraced using ATMs) in the past 5 years said they no longer exchange USD for local currency. They simply point at their ATM and say "use that". So don't depend on using banks to exchange currency.

tjw0740
you asked this is subsequent post: ". . . . I have a question - are the ATM's/Bankomats similar to those in the US?" I think there is something that is different and can be disconcerting if you're not aware. All the cashpoints/bankomats I can recall using in the last few years have been "suck-and-spit" (as someone described them here) versus the US swipe, or leave-chip-in-the-slot, -types. At least around here, most ATMs are not suck-and-spit. What that means is that the machine will suck your whole card inside, and not return it to you until the transaction is over, when it spits it out. If you don't take the card right away, the machine may suck it back in, to prevent your card from being left in the machine. Someone correct me if this is no longer true.

Oh, and some people are surprised that you can't access your other accounts (e.g., savings account) to transfer funds between accounts for example.

Sorry to keep asking questions but just wondering if we can use Apple Wallet in Prague to pay for items with our iPhones?

Can you use Euros in Prague, or just korunas?

If you don't want to subsidize somebody use korunas in Prague.

Is it difficult to withdraw somewhat larger amounts of money? We will be staying 3 nights in a cash-only B&B.
Thanks!

might be limited by you own bank but the most I have taken out has been 10000Kc

3 of us will be in Prague for 2 full days later this month. I plan on taking out some cash but will charge the rest. I'll try and remember to let you know how much you'll probably realistically use so you can better plan.

Thanks, jlkelman - appreciate that!