Prague.... Careful!

[Palermo10]

My girlfriend just returned from a weekend in Prague yesterday.

Apparently, on their first trip via Prague metro, they stamped their tickets. Ok, no problem. Good for 75 minutes travel.

Yet when they went to get back on, they stamped it again. No good. Doors wouldnt open (or something like that).

So the metro police comes up to them and tells them that there is a fine of 500 Corunas ($20 or so) for uh... double stamping the ticket.

The group of 4 gets very angry, shouting and everything at the officer. He demands they go with him, and of course they refuse. He speaks no English, and they speak no Czech...

But they demand (somehow) that the real police come, so they finally get to speak with a Prague police official and he explains to them in English that under normal circumstances he would let it go without a problem. However the metro police are under their own jurisdiction and get a commission for each unsuspecting tourist they bring in this way!

After threatening them with a 2,000 Coruna fine for their behavior, the metro police officer accepted their $20 (each) fines.

Other than that the city they said was great, and very cheap... dumplings, duck, etc, for the equivalent of $7.

So anyways... when you get a pass that is good for 75 minutes on the Prague metro... ONLY STAMP IT ONCE!

[primusux]

The group of 4 gets very angry, shouting and everything at the officer.


That's about the worst way you can handle this type of situation, other than attacking a figure of authority in a foreign country.

I truly hope the Americans going to the world cup wont act like this. It has an impact on the rest of us whether you admit it or not.

[Bill Schmidt]

Happened to me there, too, but I don't remember if I was knowingly violating the ticket rules. Of course, there should have been a standard fine regardless. I negotiated and gave some combo of Euros and Czech money.
It's unsettling, but my case was all in public and the guys were really nice about it.

Let's say it was much better than I feared, given that my welcome to the country a day earlier was being nudged awake with the barrel of an AK-47 by the Czech military guy checking passports on the train crossing the border.

[Palermo10]

That's about the worst way you can handle this type of situation, other than attacking a figure of authority in a foreign country.

I truly hope the Americans going to the world cup wont act like this. It has an impact on the rest of us whether you admit it or not.


Relax. It was a product of frustration and language barriers.

I mean after all, it wasnt like they burned down the nearest embassy... :rolleyes:

[frenil]

What was the reason for them getting angry and yelling at the metro police officer?

[fidlerre]

Here's an idea...

When in a foreign country, it's best to not get "very angry, shouting and everything" at any type of police officer sorta fella/lady...

Just a tip.

[roadkit]

Here's an idea...

When in a foreign country, it's best to not get "very angry, shouting and everything" at any type of police officer sorta fella/lady...

Just a tip.

That's pretty good advice in the US too.

Common sense lesson #1: Don't argue with a cop.

[Bigdog]

OT: Rich, you have the best avatars on B.S.! :cool:
Bd

[Palermo10]

What was the reason for them getting angry and yelling at the metro police officer?

It was only one of them (a girl) - perhaps that the officer was trying to get himself commission by having them pay 500 corunas each for stamping a single metro ticket twice.

Regardless, when they spoke with an actual police officer who explained the situation and who wasn't trying to rip them off, there was no shouting of any sort.

[kakaboypuf redded]

Great advice man! They should make this sticky!

[rksehga]

Unless you're in Canada or France.


Or in Mexico City - This past March, while returning to my hostel with one of those 32 oz. Coronas (caguanas?), 3 Mexcian cops came up to me and started asking me all sorts of questions.

It was pretty obvious they were going to try and fleece me so I started yelling at them in Spanish. I called them little monkeys and to get back in their toy car. They obliged. I was pretty pissed at the time.

[Canadian_Supporter]

A common scam is for people to pose as Metro Police officers in Prague, and look for tourists to target. They will then explain to them that they have the wrong type of ticket, or didn't stamp it correctly, and they will demand x amount of koruns. Always ask for a badge (a useful phrase to learn in Czech... just in case), but sometimes that doesn't even help. I'm not saying what happened was a scam, as I'm sure the Metro Police keep an eye out for tourists as well.

I've never had a problem, but I speak a little Czech, which helps in some situations.

[Palermo10]

A common scam is for people to pose as Metro Police officers in Prague, and look for tourists to target. They will then explain to them that they have the wrong type of ticket, or didn't stamp it correctly, and they will demand x amount of koruns. Always ask for a badge (a useful phrase to learn in Czech... just in case), but sometimes that doesn't even help. I'm not saying what happened was a scam, as I'm sure the Metro Police keep an eye out for tourists as well.

I've never had a problem, but I speak a little Czech, which helps in some situations.

Its possible. He tried to get them to follow him at least twice, and they refused. Thankfully for them the actual cop spoke English... although they still had to pay. Next time they should czech for a badge....


...cough...

[webster]

When I was in Prauge, we were targeted five times in two days by real (or fake) officers about our rail passes. We paid off the first guy and then I realized that it was a scam. After that, when we were threatened with arrest, I told them to take us in. They backed down each time.

[The Lieutenant]

Here's an idea...

When in a foreign country, it's best to not get "very angry, shouting and everything" at any type of police officer sorta fella/lady...

Just a tip.

No shit, and try to remember that most of the world lives off corruption. Have your embassy and consulate contact information all the time.

[roadkit]

Or in Mexico City - This past March, while returning to my hostel with one of those 32 oz. Coronas (caguanas?), 3 Mexcian cops came up to me and started asking me all sorts of questions.

It was pretty obvious they were going to try and fleece me so I started yelling at them in Spanish. I called them little monkeys and to get back in their toy car. They obliged. I was pretty pissed at the time.

Do you actually speak Spanish? :D

[bltleo]

A common scam is for people to pose as Metro Police officers in Prague, and look for tourists to target. They will then explain to them that they have the wrong type of ticket, or didn't stamp it correctly, and they will demand x amount of koruns. Always ask for a badge (a useful phrase to learn in Czech... just in case), but sometimes that doesn't even help. I'm not saying what happened was a scam, as I'm sure the Metro Police keep an eye out for tourists as well.

I've never had a problem, but I speak a little Czech, which helps in some situations.

I had also never problem in Prague. Well I speak a bit Czech as well. I visit Prague every year.I have never had problem.

[bltleo]

Well I´m German, but my mother is from Prague. So I know a bit about this city despite I have never lived in Prague. I visit Prague every year. I speach Czech. So if you have questions regarding Prague, please ask me. I might help.Travelling to Prague during the world cup might be a bit different from travelling in another months. World Cup will be big event. Prague is not far away from Germany and many will visit Prague excatly during the World Cup.
There will be many soccer fans and czechs are crazy about soccer. Many would travel from Germany to Prague and many czechs would travel from Prague to Germany - especially using trains. Control (check) on the borders will be generally stricter during the World cup. So many will have to wait for check control. I also think police in Prague will be busy during the world cup. The best is to fly to Prague. Make one or two day trips and fly back to Germany. I would not use trains during the World Cup. They will be full and in trains might be many soccer fans, maybe drank etc. Czechs are crazy about soccer and there will be many parties in Prague during the World Cup.

I would travel to Prague in spring or in summer after world cup.


If you have any questions regarding Prague, ask me.

your bltleo
GERMANY

[bltleo]

How many of you are going to be in Prague during the World Cup?
and how long will you are stay there? Will you use train or car or plane?


I will be happy to provide you with information about Prague, especially give you tips of DO and DON´T DO for Prague, my recommendations

Fire away!!!!

[Palermo10]

We are going to go to Prague from Berlin for 2-3 days in between games. I assume train might be easiest. We can use our German pass to get to somewhere near the border and then pay for another to get across, right?