Prague - will the negatives outweigh the poitives?

Hi Jesse,
My husband and I recently traveled to Prague for the first time and were also concerned but with simple precautions taken in other large European cities we had no problems. It was an amazing city that you should certainly not pass up.

We enjoyed our visit to Prague and had no problems with crime or being overcharged. I did find people to be rude, however. Store clerks were very impatient when I had some trouble figuring out their money. I had people walking on my heels lots of times. I think the people there are fairly new to having tourists. We arrived by train and were swarmed with cab drivers but declined offers and called our own driver and paid a reasonable fare. Went to a classical concert on castle hill that was quite nice and inexpensive. The Jewish Quarter with its synagogue and old cemetery are interesting and should not be missed. The area around Wenceslas Square can be skipped--not quaint and charming.

Jesse,

Two weeks ago I returned from my Prague, Budapest, Krakow and Vienna Trip. Don't be discouraged by negative comments. Take normal precautions and you won't have any problem. I was traveling solo and didn't have any problem. Prague is a wonderful city. Enjoy your trip.

Hello my fellow Tulsan:-)

Don't be put off by negative comments. Although many of the cashiers, waiters, and desk clecks you deal with in Prague seem more jaded and fed up with tourists than do thier counterparts in other Central European cities such as Budapest or Krakow, Czechs in general are lovely people. Just give everyone you deal with the benefit of the doubt.

As for crime, I went to Prague alone and didn't have any problems and never felt uneasy.

Prague can seem overwhelming because there are so many tourists concentrated in a relatively small area. BUT, it is a truly magical city and well worth the effort.

I never had a problem in Prague. Sure the customer service isn't over the top phoney nice like it is in North America, but I was never treated rudely. Take the normal precautions as you would anywhere else you have traveled and you will have no problems. I also stayed in a suburb outside of the main touristy area and found everyone to be alot nicer. Public transportation is really easy to use.

Just to echo everyone else's sentiments, don't worry about the negative comments on Tripadvisor. I've consistently been surprised by less than stellar responses to Prague -- it's probably my favorite city in the world. Yes, it's crowded and popular with tourists; yes, like any big city, it has some issues associated with this popularity. But I've never run into anyone exceptionally rude and have never been ripped off. Pickpockets are notorious there, so a moneybelt and some vigilance are musts, but no more so than in Rome or any of the other places you mentioned. I just returned from my third trip to the city this summer, and I'll certainly go back before too long. Just try to get out of the tourist center every now and then to get a taste of the real city -- it's just amazing.

If your heart is set on Prague -- go ahead. My heart was set on it a few years ago but it turned out to be my least-favourite city in Europe thus far. What put me off wasn't the locals being rude, it was the gangs of young men from other countries there for stag weekends. They were marching around town, very very drunk, wearing offensive matching t-shirts and shouting offensive things to people.

I guess I'm a bit naive but it was a bit startling to see so many prostitutes out on the streets (probably the reason for the above problem).

The only problem with the local people was that shopkeepers are attached to your every move when you enter a shop. I think the shoplifting must be rampant.

If you were to visit outside of prime tourist season these problems likely disappear.

Jesse, the thing about the trip advisor forums is that they are frequented by folks who work in tourism in the respected countries. I had a friend who worked for the tourist board in Tallinn and frequented the message board because it was a great way to get traveler feedback. I think folks realize this and post their frustrations hoping they will be heard.

I do think the Czechs have become jaded a bit. If you look at the shear volume of people who in/out migrate to that city exponentially over the past 3 years alone it is overwhelming and understanding how they can be off-putting.

That said, Prague has to be seen. If you are an early risers like myself, you can see a great deal if you plan it out right.

If you consider traveling to be an individual act, rather than a political one, and you aren't there to "change" the world with your presence, you can get a lot out of it. Once you enter Prague castle for the first time you will probably endured far worse to see it.

Imagine how Europeans feel about traveling to LA and going to Disney Land?

All said, the rudest people I have encountered were in Vienna.

Hi Jesse!
I spent 4 nights in Prague earlier this month and I loved every minute of it. I went by myself and never felt unsafe, albeit I think of myself as a savvy traveller and took the usual precautions (money belt etc, as I would in any city in North America). I found the people to be very polite, here's a wee tip, take the time to learn just some basics of the language, 'hello', 'please', 'thank you'.. you have no idea how far that goes (or maybe you do if you've travelled in Europe). I think to a certain degree they are still adjusting to the massive number of people that are interested in seeing their city but I got into several lovely conversations and found the locals to be ultimately very warm. It's a stunningly beautiful city with lots to see and very easy to get around!
Go & have fun!
Joanne

I loved Prague and I don't recall one single rude person there. I was travelling solo there and it was the end of my first trip abroad. Prague is a very beautiful city with great history and people. I agree with Joanne in learning the pleasantries - those will take you a long way. In all countries I found that if I greeted them in their language they were helpful and nice to me. I was never jostled or overcharged. I did however have a small notebook/journal with me that before the trip I wrote down the exchange rates for all the countries I was visiting. I would then refer to it to familiarize myself with the currency and pricing. I would write the currency exchange. Then I would go on to write how much the local currency would be to equal $5, $10, $20, $50, and $100. I tried to use cash virtually everywhere as I found this easier to deal with than using credit cards. I just would visit the ATM and withdrawal walking around money. I also used a purse that crossed my body and did not have any visible zippers or openings - had a flap over the front of it.

Thanks everyone for your replies. We are looking forward to our trip in April. We have also bought the Pimsleur Czeck language CD. Thanks for putting my fears to rest. You guys are the best.