EUROMEET 2013, Prague, 18-19 May

[MartinP]

EUROMEET 2013, Prague, 18-19 May.

So, after some votes and some discussions it turns out that we are going to Prague during the weekend of 18th and 19th May. Probably many people will take a couple of days extra of course, but the Saturday morning will be the "traditional" time for us to meet up somewhere and get sorted out as a large group.

Before that date we have some thinking to do. International transport, accommodation, local transport, tourist-sights, not-so-touristy-sights, evening activities and much, much more. I have thrown in a few links below - they are for the English versions of the relevant pages only because that is my native language and I'm sure there will be alternatives if you look further.

Currency is the Czech Koruna. At time of writing, one Euro is about 25,4 CZK.

Prague airport (Vaclav Havel Airport, previously Ruzyne) is about 10km West of the city. It is served by, for example, Easyjet as well as the bigger airlines. There is no direct train/metro service from the airport, but there are busses and coaches providing an equivalent service in to the city, via the metro system nearer to the centre. Question for anyone - Are there alternate airports which may be practical?

Prague is also on the night train network. Search for CityNightLine or EuroNight on your national rail website. It is likely that the standard rail-planner will not include the night-train schedules.

In the city public transport system are buses, trams, a metro network and even a mountain-railway. Is there some sort of 'weekend-travelcard' scheme which would be convenient for visiting Euromeet-ers?

Accommodation depends heavily on budget and preference, and I expect you are all familiar with ways of finding your own penthouse/room/tent/cardboard-box for the weekend.

This is just a kick-off post for the thread. Feel free to discuss everything we might be doing and to provide enlightening information in response to (sensible?) questions.

:angel:

EDIT:
Here is a list of RFF'rs who have added themselves in to the contact-details list so far. I will be away from home again (yet again) on the last weekend before the trip, but will e-mail the detailed list a few days before the Euromeet, in order to have one up-to-date edition in circulation.

Martin - MartinP (British, lives in Netherlands)
Pavel - RBullCZ (Czech Republic)
Georg - Kossi008 (Germany)
Lawrence - Lawrence (United Kingdom)
Janko - jane7l (Slovenia) <--- corrected RFF username, sorry Janko!
Petr - P3tr (Czech Republic)
Martin - Vobluda (Czech Republic)
Thomas - tom.w.bn (Germany)
Stefan - Gliderbee (Belgium)

 

[helen.HH]

Prague has Me thinking about possibly GOING....😱
Now that your Dates are Set
Though i will probably have to do lots of homework
On Central part of City, Hotels, etc

 

[rickp]

that's good news, thanks. we'll do our best to join our first RFF euromeet. have to look at flights and/or train schedules.

here's hoping dozens of people sign up!

greetings from hamburg

rick

 

[MartinP]

I'm not sure if there will be dozens of people, but in the "Which weekend" poll there were eighteen voters who thought they could certainly make it on these dates. Inevitably some people will have to drop out and others will join over the next three months.

Transatlantic visitors will, of course, be very welcome Helen! Please share any useful bits of information which you unearth. 🙂

 

[jane7l]

i did not vote, but i think i should use prague for my first euromeet... even if i've been there quite a few times in last 2 years.
i wonder if anybody would join from croatia/slovenia/austria, if i go by car?

 

[MartinP]

Good idea jane7l, and you might have a very good perspective on tips for Prague as an experienced visitor to the city!

 

[back alley]

i'm thinking i might go as well...i need an adventure!

 

[SimonSawSunlight]

have fun everybody.

 

[user237428934]

Why on earth do we call this a EUROMEET when all the countries we visit don't have the EURO? 🙂 just kidding.

I'll definitely come. My plan is to arrive Thursday evening or Friday morning and leave on Monday or Tuesday. No real cheap flights available to prague but it's not so much more expensive than taking the night train.

 

[Filzkoeter]

Oh! I'll try to be there 🙂 propably would go by car...

if anyone needs a ride from Berlin, I would have free seats 😉

 

[MartinP]

Thanks Simon, and the same for you in Istanbul too 🙂

My plan is to arrive Thursday evening or Friday morning and leave on Monday or Tuesday. No real cheap flights available to prague but it's not so much more expensive than taking the night train.

Using the night train you can work one day, travel overnight, and get out of the train in the morning for almost a whole extra day in the city 😉

Tom, I recall you mentioning the length of the beds - with nearly three months to go, is it too late to consider height-surgery ??

 

[P3tr]

Save this image in your phone or print it. It's a map of night trams and buses, better than those on stops. Public transport is going all night long every 30 minutes and central interchange point of all night trams is Lazarska station.
http://www.prague-guide.eu/images/prague-night-transport-buses-trams-stops.jpg

 

[Vincent.G]

This sounds fun! I hope I can make some work adjustments and join you all in Prague.
Which part of Prague serves the best beer?

 

[Vobluda]

Our city has one of the best public transports in Europe.
Various ticket options, payment with SMS etc. For options please check The Prague Public Transport Company www:

http://www.dpp.cz/en/

You can try Pubtran app for Android (I am using it) - journey planner for Czech Republic covering all public means of transport:
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=cz.fhejl.pubtran&hl=en

There are similar apps for ios as well.

What is to avoid when you are not speaking Czech are Taxi services unless you order it by phone/SMS in advance. I do believe that there is only one Taxi company allowed from Airport to city. It is bit more expensive then the ride from city to the Airport but still not a ripp off, for which you can use any taxy company.
All main train stations are together with Metro station so no problem there.

As for accommodation there are really thousand and thousand options with wide range of prices.

For the Saturday evening please let us locals to book the place.
Generally you can rarely find place for larger group of people in decent pub/coffee/restaurant without booking it in advance as the good places are always full (beer is still cheaper then water or coke).

If anyone need help or assistance please don't hesitate to ask.

 

[Gabriel M.A.]

If I recall correctly, there is a tram that goes from the airport to some place not far from the main plaza, isn't there? Or was it bus -> metro -> "centrum"?

 

[Vobluda]

No tram to the airport, metro will be there in couple of years.
So the right answer is bus -> metro -> "centrum" or taxi.

 

[k__43]

Oh! I'll try to be there 🙂 propably would go by car...

if anyone needs a ride from Berlin, I would have free seats 😉

I guess if I go I'll take the train, w/ BC50 it is a great price. there are still cheap offerings btw.
No need to drive when you are tired or hung over.

 

[P3tr]

We have chosen favorites, decide propably next week and place reservation for 40? +/- 😱

This sounds fun! I hope I can make some work adjustments and join you all in Prague.
Which part of Prague serves the best beer?

 

[user237428934]

We have chosen favorites, decide propably next week and place reservation for 40? +/- 😱

40 might be a bit optimistic

 

[kyonthinh]

I remembered when I visited Praha last autumn, I spent 10 euro for one night with one bed and breakfast.