Book Description
Few cities have as much to offer as Prague, so it can be difficult to decide how best to spend your time, but the Eyewitness Travel Guide helps you to get the most from your stay. This guide will introduce you to Prague by locating the city geographically, setting modern Prague in its historical context. Learn about the city's main attractions and sights including a feature on the River Vltava. Discover other places around Prague with the day trips listed in the section Prague Area by Area. It is the carefully researched tips for hotels and restaurants, shops, markets, cafes, bars, entertainment and sporting events that separates this guide from the rest. Let the maps, photography and detailed illustration of the Eyewitness Travel Guide show you what others only tell you.
Customer Reviews:
I love these books.......2007-05-25
Whereever your travels may bring you these series of books are the BEST travel books of all. They always have great suggestions of places to visit and are full of pictures too! I can't wait to use mine in Prague later this year!
Prague ( Eyewitness Travel Guide).......2007-05-23
all in one guide....a must have for geting the most out of a tour. You will be able to see the important items in your tour
Great Guide for Sightseeing.......2007-04-30
This is the one guide seen by far the most often in Prague. While it should drop the pretension of providing general information, it is by far the best guide available for getting out and seeing Prague.
Other than wasting space on hotels, my complaints are: 1) It fails to mention admission fees. For example there is a fee to see almost everything in both the Palace and the Jewish Quarter. This becomes obvuious early enough in the Palace but you can wander around most of the Jewish Quarter before realizing that you could simple buy one relatively expensive ticket, 2) It fails to tell where you really should spend your time despite being the best describer of detail - for example it should tell you that they have already largely destroyed what character is left in the Jewish Quarter (Hotel Intercontinental!?) and they are working on destroying the rest, and 3) The maps could be better.
With the Time Out guide for everything else and the Streetwise map this book will equip you well for your Prague visit.
Best way to LEARN and TOUR Prague.......2007-04-26
I went to Prague to visit a friend of mine who has been working/ living there for a year, and WE BOTH learned so much while toting this book. Great detail was given to explaining and describing the significance, history, and factoids of the most popular places in Prague. It was accurate, up to date, interesting, and well written. The maps are easy to use too. I just purchased a new Eye Witness book for my upcoming trip to Munich. This series is one which I will be sticking with!
Why this guide is the best..........2007-04-16
I used this guide on my recent trip to Prague and after numerous trips to the bookstores, I choose this book for the following reasons:
1) Large color pictures. Not only great to look at but helpful in identifying buildings that aren't necessarily labeled or labeled in English.
2) City is divided into sections. MUCH MORE USEFUL when walking around then having attractions listed by type. This just makes planning and improvising much easier.
3) Great walking tours and itineraries for 1-4 day trips.
Other then that this book is on par with the other heavy hitters in the other major travel guide categories. It goes into depth about Czech history, it has adequate explanations of major attractions, good descriptions of local customs, laws and transportation logistics and is just the right size for day packs.
The only minor drawback is the hotel and restaurant descriptions but with the internet, using a guide book for hotel/hostel booking has become obsolete.
Bottom Line: The price is little higher then average but it's worth it.
Book Description
Who but Rick Steves can tell travelers the best way to see the spires of Prague, castles of Bohemia, and villages of Moravia? With Rick Steves' Prague and the Czech Republic 2007, travelers can experience the best of everything this city has to offer — economically and hassle-free. Rick Steves' Prague and the Czech Republic 2007 includes:
• Opinionated coverage of both famous and lesser-known sights
• Friendly places to eat and sleep
• Suggested day plans
• Walking tours and trip itineraries
• Clear instructions for smooth travel anywhere by car, train, or foot
America’s number one authority on travel to Europe, Rick’s time-tested recommendations for safe and enjoyable travel in Europe have been used by millions of Americans in search of their own unique European travel experience.
Customer Reviews:
Wonderful!.......2007-09-28
This book is really handy! Worth the money - gives lots of great advice and information on tourist things (and what not to do while being a tourist!)
Don't Travel to Prague Without IT!.......2007-09-22
I had only three days in Prague...But with this books infor I made good use of my time. Detail and points of interest in Prague were presented through Maps and grafics
Rick Steves' Prague 2007: As Rated by Devoted Rick Fan.......2007-08-31
My husband Tom and I have toted our Rick Steves all around Europe. We love him. His pages are dog-eared and scribbled on and reread. One time, in a moment teetering on tragic, we nearly left Rick on a German bus. Luckily Tom accelerates under pressure and although the incident left us pale and shaken, we were reunited with our trusty friend. I can't say enough about German/Austrian Rick, London Rick, Paris Rick, or Italy Rick.
But in Prague, we got a little hitch in our giddyup. I find it hard to say out loud, but we had a squabble, Rick, Tom and I.
First he left us hanging on his orientation tour on the tram. We didn't realize the route wasn't circular and we ended up in the suburbs. It's ok, we travel low to the ground, we figured out that the trams don't pick up where they let out and managed to get back into town. It's just that Rick is usually so thoughtful and careful with his directions. Unfortunately, not so much in the Czech Republic.
There are only shadows of his signature walking tours in Prague, only a few of his snappy one-liners that make you snicker inappropriately in national monuments and his historical write-ups are uninspired, virtually odorless.
Cataclysmically, in a decision about as user-friendly as a wet cat, Rick chose to feature the English place names on his maps and write-ups; yet all signage and other city maps (even the "English" ones) show Czech place names. I think we earned a degree in cross-referencing.
All I can say is that I hope Rick rewrites Prague 2007 so the rest of you can manage to hurl his 2008 book over the very high bar that he has set for himself.
(Let it be noted for the record that as Rick-devotees, we did not purchase any other guides for Prague. It is very possible Rick's is a shining gem amongst the muzzy rest of them.)
[...] for our Prague recommendations.
Pretty good.......2007-08-11
I was turned on to Rick when I checked out his Paris book from the library for a trip a year ago. When I lived abroad in Prague this summer, I took this book with me. Rick is my husband-away-from-home -- he's always going to take good care of you. His lodging and restaurant recs are really good, and I love the historical background he gives you on notable sights. I trust him completely, but his maps are lacking. Grab LP's Prague as a supplement.
This book is weak & outdated.......2007-07-23
Just returned from my initial trip to Prague (June 2007). There's not a lot of books on Prague, so I ordered this one from AMZN based on the one review that was posted here. Mistake.
Steves' book is not what you need to get around Prague. Why? Because the information is sorely lacking or is glaringly outdated. The parts of the book wherein Steves lists places to stay, for example, are very limited. Steves lists only 5 or 6 smaller, pension / B & B-type places (which are usually booked solid far in advance) & omits the larger or chain hotels. Some of the big boys are actually quite good, have perfect locations to base your touring from & offer decent value for your money - but you won't locate the larger hotels in Steves' book, since none are not listed. You'll have to go online to a site such as [...] to root out advice / ratings on various Prague hotels. Steves' book has maps, yes, but you will find that you can get scads of free maps from everywhere once you hit Prague.
A bit of variation on prices for cost-of-doing-things-in-Prague from time-of-publishing to today is to be expected, but the prices that Steves mentions are grotesquely outdated. For example, the prices that you'll pay for food, drink & other items in central Prague (where the castles, medieval buildings, bridges & most of the attractions are located) rival those of any modern, expensive city such as New York, Washington or Amsterdam. It may be said that there exist no 'deals' in central Prague.
The Prague taxis are a solid representative of the tourist hustle experience, as their prices can & often do vary by as much as 100% depending on which shyster-driver you select. All you can really do is get a fix on what the 'real' price should be (and you get to this number by getting hosed a few times until you understand -- there are no meters in most of the cabs); always, always ask up front as to what the fee will be & be prepared to tell a cabby to piss off if he's trying to rape your wallet. Find another cab, they are everywhere in central Prague.
Steves' book paints a portrait of a quaint, charming, often-affordable, friendly city in eastern Europe. In fact, with the gouging prices & often surly, clipped attitude of Czech denizens towards 'outsiders' it's apparent that this is a book badly in need of updating.
Prague is a beautiful city. It's the only major Euro capital that wasn't bombed in WWII. At night, it's gorgeous. Perfect for strolling. Go here with someone you're knocked-out, puppy-dog-crazy, totally in love with. Prague seems faily safe at night in the main areas, lots of people about at all hours, cameras at the ready. Charles Bridge at night is a far cry, and a finer experience, from the madding crowds of goober toutists sweating it up in the day. The Clark Griswold-types are in evidence throughout Prague - the package tour operators are shipping the Griswolds in by the thousands now.
Steves' book has zero, zilch, nada on nightlife in Prague. If you're interested in the after-hours, sin city stuff, you won't find info on it in Steves' book. Better to search-engine 'Prague nightlife' & sort it out from there. Most places, from jazz clubs to peeler bars, have a minor cover charge. No drink minimums, but drinks are pricey once you're in the house. If it's your thing, some of the most incredible-looking women on the planet await you in Prague's 'cabarets' -- another term for strip joints. You have to wonder, though, about the human slave trafficking once you pass through the squareheaded Soviet-enforcer 'security' types that skulk about at the entrances. Some of these places are huge & are packed with cigarrete-wolfing, beer-guzzling Brits & Americans. Yes, you can sample the goods albeit at a very expensive rate. The cabarets are open from late to early the next day.
Prague needs a better book written on the place. I just haven't located it yet.
Book Description
What is all the fuss about Prague? Well, with its film-star good looks and dark and mysterious soul, who wouldn't be seduced? Smoky jazz cellars and laid-back music festivals; glitzy shops and cool cocktail bars; history, culture, style. You think this city can't live up to its own press? Think again. Discover Bohemia's capital with our smart and stylish guide. EAT, DRINK AND BE MERRY - extended Food & Drink chapter with detailed coverage of Czech beer and breweries. EXPLORE the tangled network of cobbled lanes with our inspirational walking tours. FIND YOUR FUN over a Pilsner at your local pivnice or in your glad rags at the opera with our detailed entertainment listings. SLEEP TIGHT - expanded coverage of the best places to lay your head.
Customer Reviews:
Carried it with me.......2007-08-11
I lived in Prague for a month and relied on this book if only for the maps. Of course, it was also quite helpful when it came to recommending English book stores! I've learned not to trust LP's judgment on food, but otherwise they're a handy source.
Good Enough.......2007-06-11
Better than most books on Prague. In British dialect - so not always easy to understand.
You can count on it.......2007-05-07
The Lonely Planet series was recommended to me, and the guide to Prague was the first one I purchased. The recommendation was right on, the guide's reputation is well deserved. Everything I needed to know is included, the places and restaurants were exactly as described, and the maps and walking tours were easy to follow.
Well done.......2006-06-09
Lonely Planet Prague provided a great synopsis of the historical sites, with descriptions often better than those provided by our formal tour guides. The detailed information regarding transportation, costs, and hours were right on. Without the book we would have missed some off-the-beaten-path activities. Our only complaint was that some key restaurants were not included but this is the only area which I believe needs to be improved.
Important info left out!.......2006-05-09
I love Lonely Planet Guides and have used them for many trips in the past, but this book was certainly not complete. One example is the lack of info on marionette shows. It's one of the most popular things to do in Prague and this book only mentions marionettes once, in a short paragraph about the history of theater in Prague. No mention on the places to see a show or what to see. Also, I have never had a travel guide that didn't mention ANYTHING about the train station in the city!! This book did not even have one piece of info on the train stations or how to find them, how to travel from other cities to Prague or how to get to other places from Prague. We had planned to go to Vienna from Prague and had no idea where the train station was, how to get to it, or how to find a train schedule. Thankfully our hotel was able to fill us in on this info. I would NOT recommend using this book as your tour guide for Prague, it isn't thorough by any means.
Book Description
Who but Rick Steves can tell travelers the best way to see the spires of Prague, castles of Bohemia, and villages of Moravia? With Rick Steves' Prague and the Czech Republic 2006, travelers can experience the best of everything this city has to offer — economically and hassle-free. Rick Steves' Prague and the Czech Republic 2006 includes opinionated coverage of both famous and lesser-known sights; friendly places to eat and sleep; suggested day plans; walking tours and trip itineraries; clear instructions for smooth travel anywhere by car, train, or foot; and Rick's newest "back door" discoveries. America's #1 authority on travel to Europe, Rick's time-tested recommendations for safe and enjoyable travel in Europe have been used by millions of Americans in search of their own unique European travel experience.
Customer Reviews:
Great Resource.......2006-11-06
Rick Steves provided nice highlights of Prague and other cities in the Czech Republic. We referred to this book every day of our trip. Wish we had purchased it before we made our flight and hotel arrangements. After reading his book, there are a couple of other towns we would have liked to have visited based on his descriptions.
There are informative bits of history spread throughout the book. Most of the restaurant suggestions were excellent. He points out "not-to-miss" sights well and gives you a strategy for avoiding crowds and lines. He tells you about other sites that are not on the beaten path (but still interesting). Would highly suggest bringing this trip on your travels to Prague and the Czech Republic. It is a helpful resource.
My Kind of Travel Book.......2006-11-03
I watch Rick Steves' travel programs on tv all the time. That was the motivator for purchasing this book. I'm planning a trip to Prague and knew that the way Rick travels is how I want to travel. What hotel? What restaurant? What is the history behind this attraction? It's all here and more. Rick's economical and hassel free suggestions are exactly what I expect and appreciate Mr. Steves' for.
Good Travel Book.......2006-10-25
I really enjoyed this book because it helped me navigate through scenic Prague with it's maps of different parts of the city that you would want to explore. I find this book a little confusing when it came to location of the restaurants but had no problem with finding all the site seeing places. Overall good book but can be improved with a little better restaurant directions.
Get a Different Guide.......2006-07-15
I like Rick Steve, but he dropped the ball on this book. Entries are confusing: he introduces a site, and then doesn't tell you how to get there. The maps are terrible. But the thing that really irked me was his section on driving in the Czech Republic. He said that there were road "tolls" you could avoid by purchasing a sticker for your car. That is just plain false. There are no tolls at all. If you do not purchase that sticker, the Czech cops will stop you and fine you anywhere from 500 to 15,000 Crowns. 1000 Crowns = about $45. That's what our friendly Czech officer hit us with.
Don't leave home without it........2006-07-08
This was a great book but we found that this paired with the Eyewitness book was even better. I like the personality and blunt opinions given by Rick Steves but when you need cut and dry info such as how to use the phone or which statue on the Charles Bridge is authentic then Eyewitness is great.
His recommendations were superb and we loved finding the authentic toys shop he mentioned tucked next to a (wonderful!) pub and sandwich shop. Thanks!
Book Description
Wander through Gothic Castles, drink Pilsner Urquell in a beer garden, watch a black light theater performance, or see Don Giovanni in the city where it premiered - Fodor's Prague, 2nd Edition offers all these experiences and more! Our local writers have traveled throughout the country to find the best hotels, restaurants, attractions and activities to prepare you for a journey of stunning variety. Before you leave for your trip be sure to pack your Fodor's guide to ensure you don't miss a thing.
The San Francisco Chronicle sums it up best –"Fodor's guides are saturated with information."
- We frequently update our Prague guide, and we make every effort to bring you the most accurate and thorough book. Plus we provide timely updates about the area at Fodors.com.
- Unlike other travel books, Fodor's guides rely heavily on local experts who know the territory best–so you know you're seeing the real Prague.
- We give you the planning tools you need to tailor your trip. We give options for all budgets. You make the choices.
Book Description
You’ll never fall into the tourist traps when you travel with Frommer’s. It’s like having a friend show you around, taking you to the places locals like best. Our expert authors have already gone everywhere you might go--they’ve done the legwork for you, and they’re not afraid to tell it like it is, saving you time and money. No other series offers candid reviews of so many hotels and restaurants in all price ranges. Every Frommer’s Travel Guide is up-to-date, with exact prices for everything, dozens of color maps, and exciting coverage of sports, shopping, and nightlife. You’d be lost without us!
Written by longtime residents, Frommer’s Prague has all the practical details and candid advice you need to explore one of Europe’s loveliest and most exciting cities. We’ve reviewed the very best places to stay and dine, from historic art noveau hotels to intimate Castle District guesthouses, from grand cafes to ethnic restaurants and local pubs. With Frommer’s in hand, it’s easy to explore the all the sights, whether you want to stroll the cobbled streets of the Old Town and take in its architectural masterpieces, wander the old Jewish neighborhood, tour the Castle complex, or check out the city’s cutting-edge galleries and nightclubs. The guide also includes side trips that explore the best of the nearby countryside.
Customer Reviews:
Got Us Lost.......2006-06-29
This book has a great description of the history in the region, but if you want to use it to find restaurants, DON'T. This book got us lost each time we used it to find a restaurant they had written a review about. Twice, they listed restaurants that had closed over a year ago! The Rick Steve's book about Prague is infinitely better and it never got us lost because they update it!
Book Description
Avant-Guide Prague is the first and only style-driven travel guidebook to Europe's hippest city. With a razor-sharp editorial focus, this book breaks fresh ground by way of new discoveries and authoritative reports on stylish hotels, the latest restaurants, unique shops, and the best nightspots. Exploring cultural delights in Old Town, the Jewish Quarter, Mala Strana, and New Town, Avant-Guide Prague offers almost a dozen original features that zero-in on people who are driving local scenes in art, television, music, film, fashion, and food. Edited and designed for fashion-aware travelers of all ages and pocketbooks, this book combines all the comprehensiveness of a traditional travel guide with the knowing intelligence and fast-forward design of a top-notch urban magazine.
Customer Reviews:
a MUST BUY for Prague travel.......2006-08-21
This book is dead on. We were in Prague for four days, and this book was an indispensible tool. The bar/club descriptions were honest, straight-forward and written as if by a friend who had been living there for six years. Beyond merely naming a bar, giving an address and some surface description, they go in depth, including what nights to visit which place. The restaurant descriptions were fantastic, and lead us to some of the best (and best priced) meals we had on the trip. The mapping system makes navigation remarkably easy. Get this book, go to Prague, and rest assured you will have a good time.
a GREAT Guide.......2006-04-28
I must say that I'm VERY impressed with this guide for Prague. I've been a frequent visitor to the city for the past couple of years, and am FINALLY moving there this summer. This guidebook is great because it provides inside information for visitors like me-- people who don't want to look like tourists and want to take in the best of local culture and nightlife-- people who would rather try and speak even a little of the local language czech than flock to English speaking tourist traps.
absolutely invaluable and the best by far of any guide we used.......2005-08-15
We have just returned from a trip to Prague and Vienna. This guide to Prague was absolutely invaluable and the best by far of any guide we used. Visiting Vienna afterwards, we sorely wished that they had written one on that city, too; the other travel resources we used were not nearly as complete or informative as your guide had been for Prague. We look forward to the publication of additional Avant guides in the future!
Worth it for the nightlife sections alone.......2005-03-18
One of the biggest problems about visiting another city is that, unless you know somebody there, your chances of finding your way into the local "scene" are about nil. I've tried TimeOut, which has a few bars and event listings, but other than the 1% chance that there's a concert you like right then, it's pretty unhelpful. Avant-Guide is the answer, as far as I'm concerned, steering you away from (in Prague) huge touristy places like Karlovy Lazne, "a teen-tourist club on four floors for those who don't know anyplace better to go." It has paragraph-long descriptions of 79 bars and clubs, detailing not only the music and decor but, more significantly, the crowd, the vibe, and the fact that "nobody we know has ever gotten laid here." Owning this bar is like having a best friend who's lived in the city for a dozen years and has done nothing but look for a "spectacular after-hours DJ bar that just gets going at 3am and hits its stride hours later."
Of course, there are other sections. The Restaurants section is equally good, even if it tends to favor restaurants out of the average twentysomething's budget. Ditto 20 pages on "boutique hotels." The weakness, other than occasionally MTV-cool writing, is the Sights section, tellingly placed at the back, which gives a rudimentary paragraph to places that a Frommer's or Michelin might have written a chapter on. But if you're traveling with friends rather than family, you probably won't care: you'll be recovering from the best nightlife you've ever had.
Book Description
The historic city of Prague is divided into five specific areas with an additional section highlighting the sights lying just outside the city. Top 10 lists feature the best galleries, bars, and hotels, as well as must-see sights in the Jewish Quarter and special haunted areas of the medieval city.
Customer Reviews:
Good short list summary for exploring Prague.......2007-06-22
Many of the customer reviews cite how helpful this book is for finding the key spots to visit. It also encapsulates key information you need for navigating the culture and environment. I agree with them on this.
However, because it is organized as a set of top ten lists, it seriously limits the way you get to understand a place. Prague has an incredible history which comes through more thorough texts such as Rick Steve's guide. So having a much more indepth guide is essential. DK's Eyewitness Guide to Prague does do a good job of this but I am not sure you want both books from the same source.
The other limitation of this guide is how disconnected the maps are. You can explore with it but may find something doesn't connect in the book. Rick Steves recommends that you get a separate city map which will allow you to see how everything fits together.
In summary, I recommend this book if you have gotten background info from other sources. It offers some laser point suggestions which provide spot on recommendations for restaurants and the like. If you can afford to carry the larger DK Guide, it provides more and better connected information.
Compact travel guide.......2006-03-01
I had used the top 10 for Amsterdam. I find it easy to carry, to the point, and the maps come in handy.
This is the Only One You Need.......2005-06-13
I like the "Top 10" travel guides because they pack a wealth of useful information, with lots of photos and maps, into a very compact size. The "Top 10 Prague" travel guide is no exception. It is slim enough so that it can easily fit inside a small purse.
As with all the "Top 10" books, this volume provides information in the format of giving ten subsections for different subjects. For example, you have a listing of Prague's top ten "Highlights," followed by lists of the top ten things to see at each of the top ten highlights. Prague Castle, for example, is listed 1st under "Highlights," and then, when you turn the page, you have the "Top 10 Features" of the palace listed, along with a diagram of the palace showing where each feature is located.
This book has subjects like "Top 10 Places of Worship," "Top 10 Museums and Galleries," "Top 10 Parks and Gardens," "Top 10 Performing Arts Venues," "Top 10 Children's Attractions," etc. There are also, of course, top ten listings of restaurants, "bars and kavarnas", clubs, "shops and markets", and the like. This book also has listings of restaurants, cafes, pubs and retail shops for different sections of the city too, so that you can easily find one near your hotel.
At the back of the book is the "Streetsmart" section with its lists under headings such as "Getting to Prague," "Getting Around Prague," "Sources of Information," "Things to Avoid," "Prague on a Budget," etc. There are ten lists of Prague hotels and pensions.
Because of its compact size, great maps and diagrams, and the wealth of useful information on tourist sites, restaurants, shopping, etc., this is the one and only book that I carried around with me while walking through the streets of Prague on my last trip there.
Great Travel Guide, Beautiful Coffee Table Book!.......2002-06-26
.
Summary:
Every Dorling Kindersley Guide has been a great and interesting book... and delightful to have and use, even if you are not traveling to that location, but are only interested in learning more!
The Guides are well organized in a logical and easy to follow manner. They are beautifully illustrated, well developed with accurate information (it is unusual for hotel and restaurant information to be that accurate), have enough history to help the reader understand the people and cultural background, and have a lot of useful travel information and useable maps in the appendixes.
The really great attraction to this book is several fold; it is:
............Very complete
............Easy to read
............Beautifully and artistically completed
............Good shopping, safety and other tips
............Gorgeous photographs too numerous to list.
Specifics:
The guides are organized as follows:
How to use this guide
Introduction to Historical and Geographical information
Geographical Regions
............Introduction Prague
........................Intro to Prague
........................History
........................Portrait of Prague
........................Through the Year (events, holidays)
........................A River View of Prague
............Prague Area by Area, each section includes:
........................Introduction to street by street area
........................Detailed pictorials of area buildings
........................Architectural drawings, pictures, cut-aways of buildings
........................Specific stops, historical monuments, churches, buildings, etc.
Travelers Needs - includes full list with rankings and notes
............Hotels
............Restaurants, cafes, pubs
............Shops / Markets
............Entertainment
Survival Information
............Practical
........................Tourist info., Etiquete, Personal Security and Health
........................Currencies, Telephones, misc info.
............Getting to Prague (Travel Information)
............Getting Around Prague (Street Maps)
............General Index
............Phrase Book
............Transport Map
Discussion:
The book begins with "Introducing Prague", including a complete map, a review, the city's history, and Prague thought the Year - including events, etc.
Areas with an "At a glance" overview, then has subsections of specific blocks, or forums, then specific locations, churches, historical monuments, bridges, galleries, etc.
Architectural reviews include various views, and cutaways; given greater understanding and better perspective. They are all attractive, if not works of art - honestly.
The travelers' Info. offers good and valid info. on prices, currencies, customs, important words, etc. I have used the reviews on hotel's restaurants and nightclubs, in most European cities, and Dorling has yet to disappoint me. I have found they were useful and accurate, and helpful with my touring and site decisions.
The books are so well thought-out that it has multiple maps, with various lookup tables, and the book's flaps are designed to be used as bookmarks for map pages.
Conclusion:
Each book in this series is a great help, and beautiful collectible resource. As the President, CEO of an International Meeting Planning Corporation we have many resources and techniques to learn about places we have meetings / groups at as well as the cities and sights. But, as a traveler, this book really is top notch and I would recommend it to anyone going on a personal trip, or wanting to learn about a city, or location. We have used some of these books to augment our research to investigate cities for our groups.
Armchair travel plus.......2002-05-30
The Eyewitness Travel series serves as a great visual introduction to a place. It allows you to "see" what places are like and plan your trip accordingly. The maps are usually great and the flaps of the book are constructed to serve as place markers. I bought this book after spending several months living in Prague after college. I had no money and didn't take many photos while I was there; I use this book to bring back memories. I now buy these books whenever there is one for my destination (I even have the one for my current home town).
I wouldn't recommend the book as the soul guide for a budget traveller or someone who wants more than a one-page history on things. Yes, buy the book to plan places and sites to visit, but consult another source for cheap eats/accommodations (there is a selection of these) or detailed historical information.
Book Description
Prague is at the forefront of a resurgent and newly vibrant Czech Republic. Covers Holesovice’s hip clubs, medieval Old Town, wine-tasting tours, antique dealers, and Prague’s vibrant literary scene.
Customer Reviews:
Useful Guide.......2007-05-13
This is a good bookend to the Eyewitness Guide. The Eyewitness Guides are good for telling you about what you want to see while the Time Out guide is much much better on hotels, restaurants and other practical matters. You really do need both and a better map. My only complaint about the Time Out guide is the advertising. Not only does it make the guide larger than it needs to be, it also brings into question the objectivity of some the suggestions made.
An excellent guide - highly recommended.......2005-10-18
I used this book recently on my second visit to Prague. I'd spent a lot of time checking various guide books out before I went, & this one did prove to be the best. It doesn't have lots of pictures like some but the information content is excellent, & it includes a lot of info that only locals would really know. In fact, it's so good, I left my copy in Prague for a local there to use! And now I have to buy another copy for me!
The indispensable, no-bs guide to Praha.......2005-07-23
As a New Yorker, Time Out has established itself into my lexicon as a straightforward (don't expect them to dance around topics that may make a Frommer blush) guide that treats the reader as a native rather than a tourist. And for a city like Prague, that's the only way to travel. With the added bonus of being written by people who are actually from Prague, the latest edition of this Time Out proves to be the traveler's bible, whether your stay is for a few days, a few weeks, or a few months. I find Time Out to be the pentultimate source on a City, at once informative yet never dry, and reading the guides as you're about to board your plane makes for a great deal of fun, excitement, and anticipation.
All areas are covered, even some outside of the city (for those days where the Castle Steps and Pilsner Urquells are all too much), which means that even if you're staying somewhere further afield (such as Zizkov, just to take an example from personal experience), there will still be a handful of things mentioned that are worth doing/eating/drinking in the area. The listing of hotels is pretty broad and is broken down into the convenient categorizations of price and location, and even if you're already booked, it's nice to look up your hotel in this section beforehand to see what the real dirt is on it.
What is most beneficial in this guide is the overview of the metro and tram systems (including a metro map and an invaluable note on the night trams), which allow you to travel the city not only quickly, but with the confidence of a native (and in a city such as Prague which is still rife with petty crime, confidence and an "I'm-not-a-victim" attitude are the best safeguards). They incorporate their promotion of the public transportation systems in their guides by also referencing in site descriptions which metros and trams stop nearby. Moreover, many little gems that wouldn't be found in more commercial guidebooks (I still thank Will Tizard for introducing me to La Creperie, which exponentially lived up to its description). The key highlights are here, too, including a great section devoted entirely to the palace grounds.
Two of my other favourite features of the Time Out guides are especially helpful in Prague; the annual calendar details events throughout the year which, even if you can't travel around a certain set of dates, can still find something going on during your period of stay there. True to its magazine form, Time Out also features a lot of local advertisements for clubs, museums, theatre companies, and restaurants. There are great and thorough sections devoted to theatre, cinema, music (from jazz to rock to classical), nightclubs, museums, and gay & lesbian venues. In short, whatever it is that you came to Prague to do, Time Out can steer you in the right direction.
Amazon.com
The city of Prague has inspired a lot of fine literature, and Paul Wilson has done the English-speaking world a vast favor by compiling this anthology of 23 Prague stories. There are classics by the likes of Franz Kafka, Jan Neruda, and Ivan Klima, and lesser-known works making their English-translation debuts. There are autobiographical pieces, fiction, legend, stories from the Austro-Hungarian Empire, tales from the Soviet regime, and contemporary pieces from the Czech Republic. Ivan Klima's epilogue is titled "The Spirit of Prague," and after reviewing Prague's history--cultural and political--he concludes that paradox is at Prague's heart, and irony and ridicule are its primary tools. Both devices are employed deftly throughout Wilson's anthology, providing clever, lyrical, and moving snippets of Prague's complex reality.
Book Description
Travel to one of the most beautiful cities in the world in the company of its finest writers. Walk the mysterious nighttime streets of Prague with Franz Kafka and Jaroslav Hasek, eavesdrop on intimate conversations in restaurants and lively beer halls with Karel Capek and Bohumil Hrabal, listen to jazz in stylish nightclubs with Josef Skvorecky. The stories in this volume — many of which appear in English for the first time — will take you on a personal odyssey through the city's stormy past to its dynamic present. For the traveler who wishes to experience something of its essence, Prague illuminates the heart and soul of a great city. Contributors include Michal Ajvaz, Karel Capek, Ivan Divis, Jaroslav Hasek, Daniela Hodrova, Bohumil Hrabal, Alois Jirasek, Franz Kafka, Jiri Karasek ze Lvovic, Egon Erwin Kisch, Ivan Klima, Jiri Kovtun, Frantisek Langer, Gustav Meyrink, Jan Neruda, Karel Pecka, Ota Pavel, Josef Skvorecky, Jindriska Smetanova, Jachym Topol, and Jiri Weil.
Customer Reviews:
Excellent.......2003-06-22
Excellent collection of pieces from obscure writers and celebrated Czech authors. The book is divided into sections for each part of the city (Old Town, Mala Strana, etc.). I've lived in Prague before and it was so much fun following each author around the city again. I recommend this book for anyone enchanted by the idea of Prague or for those who miss it and want to spend some time there with a bunch of amazing tour guides.
Take This Book With You!.......2000-08-09
As we prepared for our trip to Prague, I ordered this book from Amazon.com but didn't get a chance to read until we actually got there. What a treasure! Each piece made some landmark or moment of history come more vividly alive than any of the standard guidebooks could possibly provide. The division of the book into corresponding areas of the city was a great idea.I always look to literature to gain insight into travel destinations. No single book has ever done a better job than this one.
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General
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Budapest (Eyewitness Travel Guides)
Vienna (Eyewitness Travel Guides)
Streetwise Prague (Streetwise)
Berlin (Eyewitness Travel Guides)
Rick Steves' Prague and the Czech Republic 2006 (Rick Steves)
