One of the hardest parts about going out in Prague can be trying to figure out how to get home… so I’ve put together a list of some ways you can try and plan how to get home after the regular public transportation closes…
This is not the time to think about how to get home - think ahead!
Night buses and trams: This is obviously the cheapest option after walking or taking your bike, both possibly bad options at 3 AM after a few drinks. I’m really bad at being able to figure things out when it get too late – I would recommend if you are going to opt for a night bus or tram, plan ahead of time or print out a map, because it’s not always obvious.
Here’s a map of both – standard ticket prices apply, and even though it may seem counter-logical, the only time I’ve gotten a fine for not having a ticket on me was really late at night, so stay on your toes…You, of course, can buy tickets at the little corner markets and cigarette shops, and apparently from bus drivers as well, though I’ve never tried that and would honestly be afraid to …
There’s another cool feature in case you didn’t know about it – you can buy a ticket using your cell phone. Simply text “dpt” to 90206, and you’ll get a text back that works as a 26 Kc ticket. You can’t get an 18 Kc ticket though, so if you’re not going too far, it’s overpriced… but it’s soooo convenient.
Taxis: Taxis can be expensive, but I would say that they’re not really that bad. I’ve taken a cab from Žižkov to Wenceslas Square on several occasions late at night, and it was never more than 100 Kc. Just make sure you’re getting into a registered cab and that they have their license, etc, and that the meter is functioning… If you want to call a cab, you can do that too. Here are some of the taxi companies:
AAA Radiotaxi – tel. 140 14 or 222 333 222, www.aaa-taxi.cz – 24 hours a day, you can order a cab with a phone call, schedule ahead of time online, or even send a text message. All the details are on their website. Credit cards accepted.
City Taxi – tel. 257 257 257, www.citytaxi.cz – 24 hours a day, also allows you to order a cab online ahead of time, over the phone or through SMS. Credit cards accepted.
Modrý Anděl: tel. 737 222 333, www.modryandel.cz: This is a service you have probably seen advertised in some bar toilets – they provide taxi services, but also a special service specifically catering to saving people from driving drunk. For around the same price as a taxi, they come and pick up to 8 people up, your car, and will take you to another bar or your house, or whatever… they even take responsibility for possible damage to your car. Not bad..
Cop car: You can always end up in the back of a police car, and maybe even eventually end up at home. It’s a roundabout way to get there, but it is free, so take the lumps… Well sort of free. I’m not sure how public drunkenness fines work in Prague.
And… I hadn’t thought about this one until a friend mentioned it Friday night… you can ALWAYS do the 24-hour Herna bar. I mean, worse comes to worse, you hang out in a 24-hour-casino until you have to go to work or normal public transportation starts up again. I may not recommend this for single ladies, but it is a viable option…
ha, I like the last one
. There is a silly myth in Ireland that the police have to drive you home if you request. Of course, I don’t know of anyone that has been successful with this method!
I can’t believe you used that picture! bravo!
I know it’s probably a lost cause, but could you not use quite so many Americanisms in your articles as a lot of British readers find them irritating – me included. Of course, many Americans don’t realise which words and expressions are not used in the UK so if you need them pointing out, just let me know!
So, they should trade them out for ‘Britishisms?’ Thank you so much for stopping by to point out writing style that doesn’t fit your UK-centric worldview. That must be a first.
Americanisms? Sure point them out.. though honestly I just scanned this article and I didn’t see too many idioms or pop culture references or anything… maybe I’m just too American to notice. But by all means if you find them irritating…
Americanisms? Is that some kind of British slang for informal (blog-appropriate) language?
Although, after rereading this post with that criticism in mind, I did notice that you described a feature as “cool”. Sometimes you might find it easy to forget that “cool” is very American.
I think a person’s language should reflect their nationality … as long as it’s not impenetrable. Cat’s American, so why shouldn’t she write in her native American English? A British writer should have the same freedom. As long as a writer follows the basic rules of grammar, spelling and usage, there’s no big deal .. And despite what some people might think, American English (or Canadian English, Australian, South African, Indian …) is its own legitimate variant of the language — not some devolved form of British English.