Page 232 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Prague

230  SUR VIV AL GUIDE

Banking and Local Currency

With its increasingly international profile, Prague is becom­ Credit Cards
ing more expensive, although residential sections of the city Paying by credit card is
remain cheaper than the tourist centre. Banks now have inter­ becoming more popular in
national desks staffed by multilingual cashiers, and ATMs dot Prague – not only in hotels
and restaurants, but also
the city streets. Credit cards are widely accepted, although in in supermarkets and shops.
smaller outlets, it is wise to ask first, while traveller’s cheques Even if an outlet displays
can be changed only in banks. It is worth bearing in mind a credit card sign, do not
that bureaux de change usually take some commission assume they will accept all
regardless of their “zero” claims. types of card as payment. In
a restaurant, it is better to ask
before ordering your meal to
Banks and Bureaux higher than banks or exchanges, avoid difficulties later. The
de Change
and it is guaranteed you will cards most often accepted
The large, modern banks be given notes that are not are American Express, VISA
generally found in the city legal tender. and MasterCard. Most banks
centre all open between 9am A better way to access your will allow cash advances (up
and 5pm or 6pm Monday to money than changing cash is to your limit) on your card.
Friday. Hundreds of bureaux de to withdraw crowns using your
change are found in tiny shops debit card. Check with your DIRECTORY
throughout the city. However, bank to find out how much
despite sometimes offering it will charge you for the use Banks
better exchange rates than of this service. Česká Národní Banka
the banks, their commission Na příkopě 28. Map 3 C4.
charges (often hidden in the Tel 224 411 111. ∑ cnb.cz
small print) are huge, often as
high as 12 per cent. Compare Česká Spořitelna
this to the 1–5 per cent charged Rytířská 29. Map 3 C4.
by banks, along with a min­ Tel 800 207 207. ∑ csas.cz
imum commission of Kč20–50. Československá
The only advantage of these Obchodní Banka
exchange offices is their Na příkopě 18. Map 3 C4.
convenience. Many are Tel 800 300 300.
open late every day, some Komerční Banka
offer a 24­hour service and Václavské náměstí 42.
queues are rare. Map 4 D5. Tel 955 545 111.
Most of the larger hotels will ∑ kb.cz
also change foreign currency A zero-commission bureau de change
for you, but again commission shopfront in Prague Moneta
rates may be very high. If you ATMs Hybernská 20. Map 4 D3.
have some Czech currency left Tel 211 490 611.
over from your stay, you can There are ATMs (bankomats) ∑ moneta.cz
reconvert your money. All banks all over the centre of Prague, UniCredit Bank
will reconvert your extra crowns and using them is the easiest Náměstí Republiky 3a. Map 4 D3.
for a small commission. Finally, method to get your Czech Tel 955 959 835.
never change your money on currency. Many ATMs are ∑ unicreditbank.cz
the black market. As well as located inside banks (in the
being illegal, the rate is not any entrance), but they are acces­ Bureaux de Change
sible even if the branch
is closed. They accept Eurochange
Opletalova 30. Map 4 E5.
most major credit and
debit cards, and infor­ Tel 224 243 614.
mation is available in Exchange
English, German, French Náměstí Franze Kafky 2.
and Czech. ATMs in the Map 3 B3.
Czech Republic issue Tel 800 225 588.
crowns only (no euros Inter Change
or dollars). The vast Rytířská 26. Map 3 C4.
majority dispense Tel 224 221 757.
Kč200 or Kč500 notes, One of several branches.
occasionally Kč1,000 ∑ interchange.cz
Façade of the Česká Spořitelna bank and Kč2,000 notes.

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