Page 228 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Prague

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Senior Travellers
Many international hotels,
car-hire firms and airlines offer
discounts for seniors with proof
of pensioner status. Důchodce/
Důchodkyně means “pensioner”
in Czech, so keep an eye out
for this word at ticket offices,
although museums, concert
halls and sights may offer
a discount only to Czech
pensioners. The public
transport system allows
discounts only to Czech
Children riding the miniature train at Prague Zoo seniors. However, public
transport in Prague is among
Travellers with travelling on public transport, the cheapest in Europe.
Special Needs
it is not unusual for strangers to
Facilities for the disabled are offer to help – for example by
slowly increasing in Prague. vacating seats for parents with Student Travellers
The prevalence of narrow young children. If you have a If you are entitled to an
streets and uneven paving, pram, indicate this clearly to International Student Identity
especially in the centre, do tram drivers, and they will allow Card (ISIC), it is worth getting
contribute to problems, but extra time for you to get on one before travelling to
ramps are being added to allow board. Children are welcome Prague. Admission charges
easier access into buildings. in bars and restaurants, but to most of Prague’s major
Hotels are introducing facilities remember that the Czech attractions, such as museums,
for travellers with special needs, Republic has not introduced a galleries, castles and other
and transport options have also smoking ban yet. However, historic buildings, are up to
improved, with low access on there are a number 50 per cent
Prague’s trams and lifts installed of non-smoking cheaper on
in many metro stations. Visit restaurants with production of
the Prague Public Transport designated kids’ a valid ISIC card
Company website at areas for hassle- (for example,
www.dpp.cz to plan your free dining admission to
journey using wheelchair- experiences for International Student Prague Castle is
accessible metro stations, trams parents. Bohemia Identity Card half the price of
and buses, and three special Bagel is another the full entrance
bus lines for wheelchair-users. restaurant with a dedicated fee). Students can also get
Timetables at tram stops kids’ area. Baby-changing cheaper coach and train travel.
indicate which services are facilities are free in any branch If you are looking for somewhere
wheelchair-accessible. of McDonald’s, Mothercare and low-cost to stay, many youth
The PIS (see p225) distributes Marks & Spencer, while public hostels in the centre of the
a superb booklet, Accessibility toilets often cost Kč5–10. Breast- city offer student discounts
Atlas for People with Impaired feeding in public is not very (see Where to Stay, pp186–7).
Mobility. Published by the common but perfectly Some restaurants, such as
Prague Organization for acceptable. Staying in an Pizzeria Einstein, offer
Wheelchair Users, it contains apartment may be a better discounts as well.
all the information you need to option than a hotel if you
make the most out of your stay have children. Time
in Prague. The PIS also provides Modern playgrounds abound
maps and guides in Braille in in Prague – try the ones at Letná Prague is on Central European
various languages. (Map 3 A1) and Riegrovy Sady time, which is Greenwich
Between the PIS office and the (Map 6 F1). The zoo (see p162) Mean Time (GMT) plus 1 hour.
Old Town Square’s Astronomical and the adjacent Botanical Summer time runs effectively
Clock is a 24-hour wheelchair- Garden make an excellent day from the end of March up until
accessible toilet. Press the buzzer out, as do the bobsleigh track the end of October – this is GMT
by the wheelchair logo for access. at Bobsled Prague, The Museum plus 2 hours. New York is 6
of Miniatures, Choco Story hours behind Prague, and
Museum, the Public Transport Los Angeles is 9 hours behind.
Travelling with Children Museum and, in the summer, Sydney is 9 hours ahead (10 in
Czechs are tremendously Aquapalace Praha (see p221) summer), while Moscow and
family-oriented and love or Podolí Pool. For more ideas, Johannesburg are 2 and 1 hours
well-behaved children. When visit www.kidsinprague.com. ahead respectively.

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Eyewitness Travel LAYERS PRINTED:
Practical template “UK” LAYER
(Source v1.1)
Date 13th August 2012
Size 125mm x 217mm