Customer Reviews

Culture Smart! Czech Republic

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We purchased this book before our recent trip, and found it full of misinformation.

It states that the Czechs rarely smile, and generally painted them as dour and unfriendly. We spent a week in Prague and the surrounding area. Our experiences were completely different. We found smiles everywhere we went, and were treated very well by nearly everyone we encountered. We also came to appreciate the Czechs wry sense of humor that was displayed in everyday life and regarding such cultural icons as Czech genius Jára Cimrman.

Perhaps some of the older people that grew up under the communist regime were abrupt with those of us not well versed in the language. We experienced a little rudeness from older cashiers and shopkeepers. But I could say the same of my visits to New York.

All in all, the young adults we encountered were warm and friendly and as curious about us as we were of them.

There are a few facts to be gleaned from this book. The section on personal safety is accurate, but just common sense that all travelers should follow anywhere.

The most important thing about travel is to keep an open mind and a friendly respectful attitude. If you remember this, you can travel almost anywhere.

My guess is that the person who wrote this book has not been there in a while, and perceived it from a locals point of view. Someone moving there might find something useful in it. But this country is changing fast, and is becoming more used to foreign visitors.

For more accurate and practical information, I highly recommend Rick Steve's book. We referred to it while preparing for our visit, and used it daily while we were there. We found it immensely helpful.