Planned trip to the Czech Republic

[simon131]

Hi everyone,

I'm after a bit of advice here really please, from people that are in the know.

My family and I (me, my wife Wendy and our three children) have been invited to a wedding in the Czech Republic, at a castle in a place called Hluboka nad Vltavou, which is in the west of the country. I have not yet accepted the invitation as I have my doubts about the language and the fact that I have never driven to or in this part of the world before.

There are several transport options available to us. We could fly but I'm lead to believe that the closest airport is actually in Austria(?). I'd prefer to drive, breaking the journey overnight somewhere in eastern France or north western Germany, but I've heard some scary stories about western european registered cars being targetted for car crime. Driving also brings up the issue of how to stop the kids fighting in the back of the car for such a long journey.

I'd like your constructive input please (wak131, miro, etc) regarding general security in this part of world and whether there really is a problem with taking my own car.?

I'd also like some input about places to stay and take the kids, as well as how I get over the language difficulty without having to learn Czeck in 4 weeks

I look forward to your comments guys,

Thanks

Simon

[Walezy]

It is perfecly safe to travel to this part of europe, I have been there many times and it is no russia where you can probably have some troubles on the roads.
As long as you travel with reasonable speeds you will not get caught by the cops

[bellamacchina]

Like Walezy, I agree Simon.

To this part of Europe it is completely safe to go. I visit Poland several times a year and came also a lot of times in the Czech REpublic without any problem! You will be surprised what these countries can offer you

But don't watch Hostel before you leave okay?

[eugene]

A person who to speak to would be K10 (Kealan Allen).Having driven to Mongolia and back via Russia,he has a wealth of knowledge on this.
His contact number is from UK is 00353863258986.
Consider going Simon as it will be a practise run for Turin .Eugene

[wak131]

I can confirm, that it is safe to travel and to stay in most places in Czech Republic. Cars with foreign licence plate are not being chased or destroyed if parked on the street Surely there are some places a tourist should avoid like gypsy ghettos, but you won?t be going through such place. A foreign licensed car is as common as let say a man on a horse on the road.
Ok, i?m just kidding, it?s quite a tourist place so it?s really no problem even with a Jag or so.

The Hlubok? nad Vltavou is a little town under the Hlubok? castle. (hlubok? means deep, and Vltava is the river the castle is upon)
It?s located about 140 kms southern from the capital Prague, some 2hrs drive. The nearest "big" city is Česk? Budějovice, it?s the southern metropolis of Czech Rep.
I have a half of my family located in there and my mother was working as a guide on the Hlukok? castle many years ago.

I was there in summer during my part-time job and i made some pictures of the castle for you
http://wakovo.rajce.idnes.cz/Letni_festivaly_2008_mix/#P8239102.JPG
http://wakovo.rajce.idnes.cz/Letni_festivaly_2008_mix/#P8239122.JPG
http://wakovo.rajce.idnes.cz/Letni_festivaly_2008_mix/#P8239123.JPG

The nearest airport would be probably in Prague. About the language barrier, older people usually don?t speak much english, but most of younger people do and in such a tourist place you?ll always find someone in a shop or hotel who speaks fluently.

Here you can see the location on the map

[simon131]

Brilliant!! Thanks Ales!

I've been told that I need to cross into the country via an Internation Border, i.e a main international route, as I am a foriegn driver. Is this true? Does this mean that I will have to drive to Linz and then drive north into the Czech Rep?

I also understand that I need to buy a 'ticket' to display in my car so that I can drive on main roads and motorways. Can you tell me more please? Is it possible to buy one of these before I enter the country?

Thanks.

[wak131]

I think you can cross any border from Germany or Austria as they should be fully open, but i?ll rather double check this for you.

You would need a motorway ticket. You should be able to buy it at a petrol station before the border or at any petrol station In Czech. Ask for a week ticket which is 220 Kč (Czech crowns) about 7,5 GBP. We are still not using Euro, but many shops and petrol stations are accepting it.

[kev131]

We are still not using Euro, but many shops and petrol stations are accepting it.

Dont worry about it - Neither are the British!!?

What great support you have had from our Eastern European friends Simon - Another benefit of this worldwide community.?

I can't add anything about the driving but I can say from a weekend visit to Prague in 2003 that we felt completely safe the whole time and really enjoyed ourselves - What a beautiful place!?

[simon131]

Euro........Pound Sterling.........what's the difference? Not much these days

Yes, my thanks indeed to the contributors of this thread - but it is far from finished as I have many questions that need answering in relation to the Czech Rep.

I'm quite looking forward to my trip - a sort of pre-3MA warm up! but in a modern car.......and not to Italy but you know what I mean

Ales, any further information that you can give me about Hluboka and surrounding areas will be much appreciated. Especially where the best places are to stay and how much I should be paying for food and accommodation. The more info I have the better

The thing that concerns me the most though is my inability to speak and read the language, especially as Czech is so totally different to any other language that I have experienced before.

As I said above, lots of questions.........

[djape1977]

too many questions... just sit in the car and go! czhech, polish... what's the problemwith the language? just buy a local map at first petrol station! i've been all around europe with no problems. just imagine trying to undrstand hungarian or dutch??? i don't speak a word of those languages and in hungary most of people don't speak any other than their own. you can read? than just compare whats on map with roadsigns and you can't miss! if you do get lost, you simply stop and show someone the map and place on the map where you want to go. even if that person should be mute, you'll be shown a proper direction. and about border crossings... berlin wall fell 18 yrs ago! you can cross anywhere and it's al EU now. even if you were going to Serbia (outside EU) you could enter the country using any paved road! i don't think you'll be using any dirt tracks...

sorry for my harsh tone but it's slightly offending to think of eastern europe as if it was wild west. or blank part of the map marked "there be dragons"!!! yes cars sometimes get stolen, but don't they anywhere. there's 10.000 CCTV cameras in London and cars still get stolen. that's why you have isurance. Czech Republic is one of the most pleasant places i've ever been to, i felt completely safe, people were pleasant beyond resonable expectation!

about prices: i got ripped off couple yrs ago paying 100e/night in Amsterdam in a shitty hotel and yet, 3 days later i paid 80e/night in a 5star hotel in a center of Berlin! I don't think you'll find Chech republic to be expensive, for a price of average meal in london restaurant you'll get more than you can eat anywhere in europe. even more in the "wild east".

Cheers and DON"T MISS A CHANCE TO DRINK BEST BEER IN THE WORLD while visiting glorious Czech Republic!

[sid131]

Simon dont forget to bring home some of the real Absinth & you can see the green fairies, only available in the Czech republic.

[simon131]

djape1977 (and anyone else for that matter), I am sorry that my totally innocent enquiries appear to have offended you. It was certainly not my intention to do so

I consider myself to be a pretty well travelled individual, and have been to Romania for my work several times, so I have plenty of first hand experience of the old Eastern Bloc, albeit more than 8 years ago now. Things change. I'd rather go with all the facts I can get, especially with my children.

My comments about border crossings are as a result of suggestions made by the person whos wedding I am attending. She owns a house in Czech and has told me that I need to cross at 'International crossing points' as I am not a Czech national. If this is not the case then great. I most certainly do not intend to use 'dirt tracks'.?

Your comments about the Berlin wall are unnecessary. I do not know where you get the 'wild east' comment from my friend. I most certainly never made or implied it.

Sid, I'll look out for the green fluid

[djape1977]

Nothing personal Simon.
It's just that somethimes i get a feeling that one of you will be asking me if ak47 is necesary for personal protection when coming to Serbia... or anywhere else in eastern Europe for that matter.

[wak131]

I understand and take it the way that you want to be well informed, because of first visit in Czech and this part of Europe and with the whole family, it?s completely understandable.

As Djape1977 say, you wouldn?t make a mistake by buying a local map in case of missing some turn, thats for sure. But other than that, the roads and road information in this area are quite good.

One shouldn?t be paying more than 50 euros a night unless wanted to be treated like a king of the castle. For 92 euro you have a decent apartma for 5 people in "Hotel Apartment Hlubok?" for example.
See for yourself:
http://www.visithluboka.cz/?mesic=&rok=&artid=177&uid=74&mode=normal&lang=en
http://www.visithluboka.cz

Yeah for sure taste a few types of beer, Pilsner 12? first, and then anything else for comparsion

Also if you?d have time, visit the near metropolis česk? Budějovice, as Hlubok? is like a small tourist village, not much saying about Czech.

Djape1977 hide your ak47 again, I?m sure Simon is too carefull to use such ting even in such a wild country as ours

[miro-1980]

Simon,

While I agree it is generally safe I typically like a local plate car to be more "invisible".
It is also less of a target for the local cops.

I would strongly recommend you avoid Greman cars (BMW, Merc, Porche, or luxury makes (Lexus).  A Japanese or French car or a Ford will be less ostentatious than a Cayenne, BMW 7or an Audi.

The rental rates are reasomable and  renting makes a lot of sense...

miro