Travel Info
Program and Travel Dates
2019 Cohort: This program requires attendance at three Saturday classes held in NC State's College of Education in advance of travel: March 23, April 27, and May 18. Additional field-based research activities and a few half-day classes will be held on-site in Prague. Czech Republic travel dates are June 29-July 14. Participants in the 2019 program should plan to fly out of the United States on Saturday, June 29, arriving in Prague on Sunday, June 30. Participants will check into their apartments on the 30th, and everyone will check out on the morning of Sunday, July 14th (14 nights lodging). There are no formal activities scheduled for arrival day, June 30th, giving teachers time to rest and buy groceries/supplies. Thus, teachers can arrive at any time on June 30th, morning, afternoon, or evening. Note, hotel check-in may be delayed until afternoon check-in time, so flights arriving late-morning to early afternoon are preferable. The formal program in Prague begins on July 1st. |
Accommodations
We have secured apartment reservations at the modern Vienna House Andel's Prague. The hotel is located on the east bank of the Vltava River in Prague with easy access to the city's metro and several tram lines as well as a major shopping center, two grocery stores (Albert, Tesco), and multiple restaurants and bars within one to two blocks. Two teachers will stay in each apartment that comes with a kitchenette to help save on the cost of eating out. Apartments include TVs, WiFi, and air conditioning which is not common in Prague but increasingly important with temperatures soaring into the 80s and 90s in July. The hotel has a variety of modern amenities such as a restaurant serving breakfast (included free), a bar, a fitness center, and a washer/dryer for long-term guests. |
Attractions to be Visited in the Czech Republic
Four coach tours will be chartered to take our group to different regions of the Czech Republic and also southeast/Saxony, Germany. Coach tours include the following: 1) Cesky Krumlov, and 2) Liberec and Prachov Rocks 3) Karlovy Vary spa town with tours of Moser glass and Becherovka liqueur, and 4) Albrectsburg Meissen, Germany's oldest castle and birthplace of porcelain, and Dresden. All coach tours are day trips within 1-2 hours drive from Prague, and will begin/end at our hotel. We will visit other popular attractions in Prague as a group such as the Prague Castle, National Technical Museum, and National Gallery (TBA). Some of our attraction visits in Prague will be tied to class assignments and involve field research (i.e., note-taking, media capture). While costs for all of the above trips are fully covered, participants will receive upon full completion of the professional development program a reimbursement of $75 to cover any other costs associated with their own museum/attraction visits on free days and $125 to cover the cost of booking one or more cultural "experiences" or "meet ups" with locals. |
Airfare Planning, Airport Transfers
As airfare to Prague is not covered by the grant, participants can use any means at their disposal to arrange air travel (e.g., frequent flyer miles, professional development scholarship from their school, personal credit card). Several routes are available with one stop (RDU-CDG-PRG on Delta/Air France, RDU-LON-PRG on American, RDU-JFK-PRG on Delta). For what it's worth, our 2018 participants who flew through Paris or London directly back into Raleigh, had far fewer travel delays and issues than participants who flew through northeast U.S. airports (i.e., Philadelphia, New York). Choose your route intentionally. During our first class, we will discuss travel arrangements and how participants want to fly. Participants should be able to find others to travel with and make reservations early enough to sit together and receive advance purchase discounts. A few resources that might be helpful: Please record your flight information on this spreadsheet to help us keep track of participants in case they are any travel delays or issues. |
Passports and Visas
American citizens do not need a visa to enter the Czech Republic, but they do need a valid passport. You must have a valid passport to participate in this program and travel to Prague. If students plan to travel before or after our study abroad trip to other locations in Europe, they should check what is required to enter those countries. In general, you should leave your passport in the hotel safe once you get to Prague. It is not necessary (and even risky) to carry it around Prague or to carry it with you when we take bus trips/excursions. However, you will need to carry your passport on our one day trip outside the Czech Republic to Germany, so we encourage you to find a way to safely carry your passport on your person this day.
American citizens do not need a visa to enter the Czech Republic, but they do need a valid passport. You must have a valid passport to participate in this program and travel to Prague. If students plan to travel before or after our study abroad trip to other locations in Europe, they should check what is required to enter those countries. In general, you should leave your passport in the hotel safe once you get to Prague. It is not necessary (and even risky) to carry it around Prague or to carry it with you when we take bus trips/excursions. However, you will need to carry your passport on our one day trip outside the Czech Republic to Germany, so we encourage you to find a way to safely carry your passport on your person this day.
Currency and ATMs, Credit Cards
It is not necessary to carry large amounts of cash to Prague. ATMs are located all over the city, including many at the Andel transit stop a block from our hotel. You can withdraw Czech crowns using your American ATM/debit card using the same PIN and the same process you would use at home. In general, it's better not to exchange dollars to crowns (and vise versa) at currency exchange counters, as you will always be charged a commission and lose money. There are some legitimate exchange counters in Prague if you do need to exchange some money, like extra crowns at the end of the trip. Study and know where these legitimate exchange counters are located, otherwise you could pay a ridiculously high 30-40% commission and lose even more money. You should exchange crowns back to dollars before returning to the U.S., as few U.S. banks will exchange crowns, and the few that do will charge you a ridiculous fee and commission (learn from my mistake). Regarding credit cards, you should bring at least two with you to Prague, one that you carry around, and one that you store safely in the hotel safe, in the event you were to lose or have a card stolen by a pick pocket. Credit cards work the same as they do in the U.S., but you may be asked to enter a PIN number, so know what you pin numbers are before you leave for Prague. You should also call your credit card companies before leaving for Prague to put an "international travel notification" on your cards, otherwise they might be frozen for peculiar charge activity the first time you use one in a foreign country. Ask about international transaction fees on credit cards which can run in the 2-4% range. There are many credit cards available that waive these fees, so sign up for these fee-free cards and bring them with you to Prague to save money. For safety, write down the 1-800 numbers on the backs of your debit and credit cards and store these separately from your cards. If a card were to be stolen, you could more easily call these banks to cancel your cards if you knew what numbers to call.
It is not necessary to carry large amounts of cash to Prague. ATMs are located all over the city, including many at the Andel transit stop a block from our hotel. You can withdraw Czech crowns using your American ATM/debit card using the same PIN and the same process you would use at home. In general, it's better not to exchange dollars to crowns (and vise versa) at currency exchange counters, as you will always be charged a commission and lose money. There are some legitimate exchange counters in Prague if you do need to exchange some money, like extra crowns at the end of the trip. Study and know where these legitimate exchange counters are located, otherwise you could pay a ridiculously high 30-40% commission and lose even more money. You should exchange crowns back to dollars before returning to the U.S., as few U.S. banks will exchange crowns, and the few that do will charge you a ridiculous fee and commission (learn from my mistake). Regarding credit cards, you should bring at least two with you to Prague, one that you carry around, and one that you store safely in the hotel safe, in the event you were to lose or have a card stolen by a pick pocket. Credit cards work the same as they do in the U.S., but you may be asked to enter a PIN number, so know what you pin numbers are before you leave for Prague. You should also call your credit card companies before leaving for Prague to put an "international travel notification" on your cards, otherwise they might be frozen for peculiar charge activity the first time you use one in a foreign country. Ask about international transaction fees on credit cards which can run in the 2-4% range. There are many credit cards available that waive these fees, so sign up for these fee-free cards and bring them with you to Prague to save money. For safety, write down the 1-800 numbers on the backs of your debit and credit cards and store these separately from your cards. If a card were to be stolen, you could more easily call these banks to cancel your cards if you knew what numbers to call.
Traveling with Family Members, Extending Your Trip
Given our heavily-scheduled program and shared apartments, teachers should not bring family members or children on this trip, as you will have limited time to spend with them anyway. While we realize family can be a comfort when traveling abroad, it can also be a distraction and take away from your immersion experience and your time to bond with other teachers. Participants are expected to stay with the group during the formal two-week immersion in Prague, rather than traveling separately with family. Participants can travel with family before or after our formal program if they would like to make those separate arrangements. We strongly encourage teachers to arrive early and/or extend their trip before/after our formal travel dates, as the Czech Republic is very affordable, and AirBnb-type accommodations can be booked at rates far below typical hotel costs. Take advantage of the opportunity to see more of Prague, the Czech Republic, or nearby countries (Germany, Poland, Austria).
Given our heavily-scheduled program and shared apartments, teachers should not bring family members or children on this trip, as you will have limited time to spend with them anyway. While we realize family can be a comfort when traveling abroad, it can also be a distraction and take away from your immersion experience and your time to bond with other teachers. Participants are expected to stay with the group during the formal two-week immersion in Prague, rather than traveling separately with family. Participants can travel with family before or after our formal program if they would like to make those separate arrangements. We strongly encourage teachers to arrive early and/or extend their trip before/after our formal travel dates, as the Czech Republic is very affordable, and AirBnb-type accommodations can be booked at rates far below typical hotel costs. Take advantage of the opportunity to see more of Prague, the Czech Republic, or nearby countries (Germany, Poland, Austria).
Safety/Security
Prague is a very safe city and violent crime is more rare than major U.S. cities. However, teachers should be aware that Prague is overrun with tourists from many countries in the summer, including many young people intent on drinking their way through Prague's breweries with low-cost beer. To err on the side of caution, teachers should plan to travel in pairs or small groups during the evening hours when revelers will be most active. Another concern of note is pick-pocketing. While you are more likely to be a victim of violent crime in the U.S., you are more likely to be a victim of petty crime in Prague. Pick-pockets frequently work crowded tourist areas and crowded transit (metro, trams). Don't be a victim by carrying a wallet in your back pocket or by loosely carrying a purse or backpack over your shoulder with open pockets or easy-access pockets. You will be targeted. We recommend you carry only your essentials on your person--a small amount of cash, one credit card, and a driver's license/ID card (never your passport--lock it in the hotel safe, except for our trip to Germany when you will need to travel with your actual passport). Keep a backup credit card and extra cash in the hotel safe, in case a pick-pocketer does get to you. Consider buying a money clip for your front pocket, a cell phone case with a hidden compartment that holds 2-3 cards, or a waist-worn money belt in lieu of carrying the more common wallet or purse that are more likely to be targeted. Also, be very wary of strangers who approach you to ask for directions, to take a photo for them, or to offer assistance at a ticket booth. Thieves often work in groups, and a common tactic is for one person to distract you while another robs you of money or a package you may have set down. Finally, it is not unheard of for someone to snatch a cell phone or camera out of your hand in a crowded tourist area (e.g., Prague's old town, Prague Castle), where they can easily run off through the crowd to evade capture. Be aware of your surroundings when holding your phone or camera up in the air or over your head when you are taking photos. Put these on a strap if you can, or hold them close to your person. For major issues such as a lost passport, there is a U.S. Embassy in Prague who may be able to offer some assistance. You might consider bringing a photocopy of your passport photo page and store it separately from your passport.
Prague is a very safe city and violent crime is more rare than major U.S. cities. However, teachers should be aware that Prague is overrun with tourists from many countries in the summer, including many young people intent on drinking their way through Prague's breweries with low-cost beer. To err on the side of caution, teachers should plan to travel in pairs or small groups during the evening hours when revelers will be most active. Another concern of note is pick-pocketing. While you are more likely to be a victim of violent crime in the U.S., you are more likely to be a victim of petty crime in Prague. Pick-pockets frequently work crowded tourist areas and crowded transit (metro, trams). Don't be a victim by carrying a wallet in your back pocket or by loosely carrying a purse or backpack over your shoulder with open pockets or easy-access pockets. You will be targeted. We recommend you carry only your essentials on your person--a small amount of cash, one credit card, and a driver's license/ID card (never your passport--lock it in the hotel safe, except for our trip to Germany when you will need to travel with your actual passport). Keep a backup credit card and extra cash in the hotel safe, in case a pick-pocketer does get to you. Consider buying a money clip for your front pocket, a cell phone case with a hidden compartment that holds 2-3 cards, or a waist-worn money belt in lieu of carrying the more common wallet or purse that are more likely to be targeted. Also, be very wary of strangers who approach you to ask for directions, to take a photo for them, or to offer assistance at a ticket booth. Thieves often work in groups, and a common tactic is for one person to distract you while another robs you of money or a package you may have set down. Finally, it is not unheard of for someone to snatch a cell phone or camera out of your hand in a crowded tourist area (e.g., Prague's old town, Prague Castle), where they can easily run off through the crowd to evade capture. Be aware of your surroundings when holding your phone or camera up in the air or over your head when you are taking photos. Put these on a strap if you can, or hold them close to your person. For major issues such as a lost passport, there is a U.S. Embassy in Prague who may be able to offer some assistance. You might consider bringing a photocopy of your passport photo page and store it separately from your passport.
Cellular Services, or Calling Home via WiFi
It is possible to use your cell phone in the Czech Republic using one of the following methods. 1) You can pay your American provider for an international cellular/data plan which tends to be quite expensive. 2) You can turn off your cellular roaming and data, and just use your cell phone in establishments with WiFi. With the Skype app and an account with some money loaded, you can call home via WiFi. 3) If your phone is "unlocked" (call your provider to find out) and your American provider allows it to be connected to other international providers, you can purchase a cellular chip from a Czech provider once you are in Prague (T-Mobile, Vodafone, etc.), put it in your phone, and get access. Note, most American phones purchased in a bundle deal from a provider like Verizon or AT&T are not "unlocked," so this will probably not work for most of you. Check with your individual provider.
It is possible to use your cell phone in the Czech Republic using one of the following methods. 1) You can pay your American provider for an international cellular/data plan which tends to be quite expensive. 2) You can turn off your cellular roaming and data, and just use your cell phone in establishments with WiFi. With the Skype app and an account with some money loaded, you can call home via WiFi. 3) If your phone is "unlocked" (call your provider to find out) and your American provider allows it to be connected to other international providers, you can purchase a cellular chip from a Czech provider once you are in Prague (T-Mobile, Vodafone, etc.), put it in your phone, and get access. Note, most American phones purchased in a bundle deal from a provider like Verizon or AT&T are not "unlocked," so this will probably not work for most of you. Check with your individual provider.
Using Maps Offline to Assist with Travel in the Czech Republic
Free: If you don't plan on having international cellular service while in the Czech Republic, use the download feature of Google Maps before your leave for Prague to capture different regions of the city or country. Then you can use the downloaded maps when you are offline. This may be helpful to navigate the center city until you find your way around. Another option to download offline maps is the maps.me app available for most mobile devices, allowing you to download city and country region maps to use offline while you are in a foreign location. |
$12: Another recommended strategy for offline mapping includes the Ulmon CityMaps2Go app. With this app you can set up lists in advance of places you want to visit in the Czech Republic (e.g., museums). Then you can easily find these places on an offline map when you are walking around. This is also convenient for bookmarking restaurants, transit stops, shops, grocery stores, etc.
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Transiting Around Prague
As part of their reimbursement, participants will receive $30 (670 crowns) to cover the cost of a 30-day Prague transit pass (see transferable pre-paid time ticket). This pass can be purchased at the Andel metro station's tourist information center near the hotel, or at the Prague airport's tourist information center as you arrive. While it is possible to take mass transit to/from the airport to our hotel, we don't recommend it as it involves a bus and metro combination and a separate ticket for carrying luggage. We are reimbursing each participant $60 to cover your airport transfers, so please take advantage of this and make life easier on yourself. Prague Airport Transfers is a reputable, reliable, inexpensive company we used last year, and you can book your transfers in advance to take you directly between airport and hotel. Participants can download several apps that can be used to identify different forms of transit on a map (metro, bus, tram). The iDOS app is HIGHLY RECOMMENDED if you are going to have cellular access in Prague though your American provider or by inserting a chip from a Czech provider (O2, Vodafone, T-Mobile). See our "transiting Prague" presentation for details on using the iDOS app and accessing transit around our hotel in Andel. Through iDOS, you can search for and enter a particular station name (wherever you are at in Prague--bus, tram, metro), and the app will tell you exactly how to get back to our home Andel station (which trams, buses, metros to take). It will even map out the route and give you all the station names in-between, so you can check your progress. Get this app! In general, participants should familiarize themselves with tram maps and routes that leave from the Andel station nearest the hotel. Tram routes 9, 15, and 20 from Andel, will take participants to most major attractions. You can pick up the popular tourist route, tram 22, at the Ujezd tram stop, a few stops from Andel. Ujezd is also where you get off the tram to take the funicular up Petrin Hill. Note, there are three tram stops labeled Ujezd within a block of each other and along different streets, so depending on which tram you are trying to pick up here, you may need to find the right stop. Look for labeled sign posts. |
Emergency Contact Number in Czech Republic
If anyone needs to reach you from the United States for an emergency, their best option is to call the hotel directly at +420 296 889 688. They should also send you an email, since it may be quicker to reach you by email. If you plan to call home from the United States regularly, you should set up a Skype account in advance of travel, add some money to it, add the Skype software or app to your laptop/cellphone, connect your laptop/cell phone to WiFi, and this will allow you to call international phone numbers for pennies a minute.
If anyone needs to reach you from the United States for an emergency, their best option is to call the hotel directly at +420 296 889 688. They should also send you an email, since it may be quicker to reach you by email. If you plan to call home from the United States regularly, you should set up a Skype account in advance of travel, add some money to it, add the Skype software or app to your laptop/cellphone, connect your laptop/cell phone to WiFi, and this will allow you to call international phone numbers for pennies a minute.
International Health Insurance
If anyone is interested in purchasing an international health insurance plan for your travels to the Czech Republic and other countries, NC State uses this group with policies underwritten by Blue Cross GeoBlue... https://www.hthstudents.com/
You can get short-term coverage for the trip (two weeks) for about $28 up to $50, with varying deductibles of $500 to $0, and varying coverages from $50k to $1 million. You can check to see if your U.S. health insurance covers you for international travel, but if not, this is a low-cost option to cover your bases (office visits, prescriptions, surgeries, ambulance, medical evacuation back to U.S., etc.). Note, the university would not cover these expenses were something to happen. The trip is grant-sponsored, but medical costs are an individual responsibility.
If anyone is interested in purchasing an international health insurance plan for your travels to the Czech Republic and other countries, NC State uses this group with policies underwritten by Blue Cross GeoBlue... https://www.hthstudents.com/
You can get short-term coverage for the trip (two weeks) for about $28 up to $50, with varying deductibles of $500 to $0, and varying coverages from $50k to $1 million. You can check to see if your U.S. health insurance covers you for international travel, but if not, this is a low-cost option to cover your bases (office visits, prescriptions, surgeries, ambulance, medical evacuation back to U.S., etc.). Note, the university would not cover these expenses were something to happen. The trip is grant-sponsored, but medical costs are an individual responsibility.
Packing Tips and Reminders
- Participants should bring a laptop to Prague, as we will be working on a variety of multimodal projects in our classes. Participants should also bring a digital camera or smart phone with camera, and have this available throughout the trip, as we will be creating curated collections that require digital imagery.
- As noted above, we suggest adding the Skype app to your laptop and/or cell phone, and using WiFi (free in hotel) to dial-out to local or international phone numbers. Calling phone numbers via Skype is possible, and very cheap at only pennies per minute.
- Participants are welcome to travel casually. Jeans/shorts and t-shirts are perfectly acceptable for all excursions and class meetings. Pack comfortable shoes, as there will be a considerable amount of walking around the city and on some excursions. While you probably won't need it, you might bring a light rain jacket. A small umbrella may also be handy in case it rains on the day of one of our excursions. Excursions are scheduled in advance and can't be changed due to inclement weather.
- Hotel apartments are furnished with the usual amenities (e.g., television, complimentary WiFi, desk for working, hair dryer), as well as kitchenettes for a low-cost dining option in the hotel. The hotel has a single washer/dryer in the hotel garage that its apartment guests can use, but this may be difficult to use with 100 or so apartment guests at any one time jockeying for time on the machines. With that in mind, participants may want to plan to launder their clothes in their bathroom sink/shower by bringing travel detergent, a plastic scrubbing board, and some type of portable clothes line.
- Participants should purchase and pack one or more European adapters to use their electronics in the Czech Republic. The adapter that will work in Prague has a rounded end with two long round prongs (type F). This will allow you to plug your devices into the wall for charging. Note, the Czech Republic uses a higher 230 voltage compared to the U.S. 120 voltage. Most laptops, tablets, and cell phones are dual-voltage, meaning you can just plug them straight into an adapter and they will charge with the 230 voltage the same as with the 120 voltage. Make sure your device is dual-voltage before plugging it into the wall, however, as you can destroy it. If you have a product that is not dual-voltage like a sleep/sound machine, you can buy a product that both adapts the plug type and converts the voltage down to 120.
- We will be taking several day trips, so you might want to pack a small backpack or day bag that you can take out to hold your lunch, a small umbrella, water bottle, passport, any gifts you might buy, etc. Consider packing a reusable water bottle to take on our trips, or just reuse a 20-ounce bottle bought at one of the local grocery stores.
- The hotel is air conditioned, but the European standard is to use a heavy, single comforter on top of a pad, rather than a sheet. If you don't like sleeping under heavy comforters in the summer, you might pack a cheap sheet with a print that will stand out from the hotel laundry. Or if you want to ask housekeeping for an extra sheet, they will probably be happy to provide this.