Is the tap water consumption safe for American's traveling in these three countries? In our previous travels in Europe we always use Rick's cost saving tips and have requested a caraf of tap water during our meals and have never had a problem. What would be the appropriate phrase to kindly ask a waiter to please bring tap water to our table? We are needing the phrase for each of the countries listed above. Thank you so much.
Posted by
Tresana, Highlands Ranch, CO, USA
23267 posts
The local water is fine.
Posted by
dallas, tx, usa
1358 posts
Wherever I am, I always ask several people if the water is safe. It has always been.
If you want to learn how to ask for tap water try travlang.com. You can know how to ask for it in all languages.
Posted by
OP
Naples, FL, USA
25 posts
Thank you for replies. I checked out the website travlang, and it does not recognized 'tap water' as with other websites that I have searched. It does recognized 'water', but you see this has been my problem. I really want to ask for 'tap water' not a bottle of water to purchase. I want to be clear when I request this to a waiter, I don't like to return a bottle that they have opened and try to explain(with a language barrier) what I meant, then you feel cheap or you are trying to get away with something, I don't want to create that atmosphere.
Posted by
Seattle, USA
990 posts
I don't speak these languages, but I do have a smattering of each that's usually enough for communication. Here's what I would ask for:
In Czech: Chtela bych voda, prosim. (I'd like water please.) Nemam chtela bych lahev voda. (I don't want a bottle of water.) Dekuji. (Thanks.)
In Hungarian: Viz szeretnem, kerem. (I'd like water, please.) Egy uveg? Nem, koszonom. ( A bottle? No thank you.)
In Polish: Prosze woda. (I'd like water, please.) Butelka woda? Nie, dziekuje. (A bottle of water? No thank you.)
I've not included any of the accents or diacritical marks here, partly because I don't know how to make them on my computer and partly because I'm not sure I remember them right. But these phrases are probably better than nothing. Of course, you can also try asking for water and pantomiming using a tap! Bet that would work, too.
Posted by
OP
Naples, FL, USA
25 posts
Thank you everyone for the replies, my questions are answered. These are the little things that make the trip all go smoothly. It's a great thing to have a RICK STEVES HELPLINE; the types of questions and answers are what the typical RICK STEVES traveler would want to know. Thanks again!
Posted by
burlington
427 posts
yes
Posted by
San Diego
552 posts
Coming from San Diego, where we're basically drinking what L.A. decides we can have mixed with Las Vegas' runoff...
I can't wait to taste the tap water in those places. Yum!
Posted by
dallas, tx, usa
1358 posts
There is a web page that discusses tap water. Here is the one for Poland:
http://www.thevisitor.pl/index.php?id=194
Posted by
dallas, tx, usa
1358 posts
Beverly:
I found this on another web page:
"Water in Czech restaurants is almost always bottled. They are reluctant to serve tap water.
I didn't get a clear answer as to why this is the case, but I was told that although Prague tap water is safe to drink, no one drinks it.
Some consider it an insult to be served tap water, so bottled it is -- sometimes at inflated prices. ($10 to $12 per 1.5 litre bottle is not uncommon.)
In Budapest, tap water is more readily available, but must be requested."