Featured Country: Czech Republic The Central European "it" country a few years ago, the Czech Republic has become a backpacker's haven. With cheap lodging, cheap food and even cheaper beer, Prague, the nation's capital, overflows in the summer. Home to 10 million people, this landlocked nation southeast of Germany is comprised of 13 "regions" and one "capital city." In 1989, Czechoslovakia began its transition from Communism to Democracy. The process was called the 'Velvet Revolution' because there were no casualties. In 1993, Czechoslovakia split into the Czech Republic and Slovakia, marking the second time in the past 100 years that the country has "disappeared". In August of 2002, terrible flooding damaged historic sites and killed more than 85 people. Most of the attractions have since been re-opened. The Czech Republic is not part of the E.U.- monetary transactions require the use of the Czech crown (Kc). The standard greeting in the Czech Republic is "nazdar ." Czech is the official language, although English and German are spoken in tourist areas like Praha (Prague). Well, those are a few nuts and bolts. Keep reading for more info on Czech Republic, as well as other travelers' experiences in the country. What's in this issue? Top AttractionsFeatured Content What our Insiders Say Airfare Deals Accommodation Info From the Bookshelf Links & Resources Write an Article and Tell a Friend Going to the Czech Republic? Get around on a Eurail Pass! Why Use Rail Passes to Travel in the Czech Republic and Europe? If you want to meet both locals and travelers, there's no better way to travel Europe than with a rail pass. For some reasons why you should go by rail the next time you hit Europe, check out these links and we'll also help you sort out which pass is best for you. More information on European train travel Check out the prices on a Czech Republic rail pass or include the Czech Republic in your Eastern Europe rail pass. Did you know that point-to-point tickets are also available for purchase online? Check out our great prices on single trip tickets. The Czech Republic's Top Attractions What makes the Czech Republic interesting? Why do thousands of travelers head to the Czech Republic every year? Check out our list of the top three "must do" attractions! Prague Although it's not as cheap as it was a few years ago, backpackers still welcome Prague's prices on lodging, food and drink. The city boasts an impressive, lively bridge, a vibrant town square and thousands of travelers looking for a good time. Prague was also relatively untouched by WWII bombs, so much of the old architecture is still in tact. Kutna Hora You'll have to take a train about an hour outside of the city, but it's worth it to visit the ossuary 'Bone Church' in Kunta Hora. When the Black Plague occurred, the church cemetary was overrun with the bones of 40,000 people. A monk decided to use some of the remains to decorate the ossuary. Highlights include a chandelier that includes every bone in the human body. Check out the gothic St.Barbara Cathedral as well. Ceský Krumlov Where the backpackers go when they're tired of Prague. With a historical center on UNESCO's World Heritage list and one of the largest castles in Europe, it's a good place to rest up for a few days. Check out the Vltava, the river that flows through the center of town. The adventurous can hop on a tube and float down it during the warm summer months. Back to top FEATURED CONTENT Not at this Hour - As Mark Jenkins learned, showing up in Prague in the middle of the night can be an expensive lesson in finding accommodation. Dark Nights in the City of Kafka - John Hilferty roams the streets of Prague at night, thinking about its past and contemplating its future. An Italian in Prague - Etti Hazan appreciates the history of Prague but when it comes to food and clothes, only a slice of Italy will do. If you would like to submit an article on your travel experiences, check out our Writer's Guidelines, then send it along. Back to top WHAT OUR INSIDERS SAY Check out our Europe Forum for inside tips on the Czech Republic and to post your own questions. Back to top AIRFARE DEALS The BootsnAll TripPlanner can book your around-the-world flights. Plan and book your international trip here! When searching for multi-destination air tickets, the BootsnAll TripPlanner is tops. After using the TripPlanner to get an idea of the itinerary you want, be sure to submit it to us and talk to our counselors about fine-tuning your trip. We found some good R-T-W deals that stopped in Czech Republic: $1860 US New York - London - Prague - Overland To Athens - Dubai - Bangkok - Hong Kong - Taipei - Hong Kong - New York $4395 US Toronto - Amsterdam - Frankfurt - Prague - Frankfurt - Delhi - Bombay Mumbai - Bangkok - Hong Kong - Osaka - Hong Kong - Bangkok - Melbourne - Auckland - Sydney - Brisbane - Singapore - Bangkok - Vancouver - Toronto If you are looking for single destination tickets, head to the International Airfare Center. You can search via destination or departure city. Here are some examples of what we found: $595 US Chicago - Prague $628 US Miami - Prague Now, log on to the TripPlanner or International Airfares and put together an itinerary! More Specials & Deals The only thing better than flying to Czech Republic is getting a bloody good deal on the ticket. We work with other companies to bring you low, hard-to-beat round-trip fares, to help you fly not only to Czech Republic, but to wherever you want to go: Cheap Ticket Links Back to top CZECH REPUBLIC HOSTELS Hostels are a great way to stay when you're traveling in Czech Republic. Staying in hostels when you travel not only helps your budget, it is a unique way to enhance your trip. Meet new people, have new experiences; with our Hostels section you can learn about hostels and book your bed online. Czech Republic Hostels Prague Hostels Cesky Krumlov Hostels Karlovy Vary Hostels Visit the Hostel Section Back to top FROM THE BOOKSHELF | Czech Republic Read up before you go! Here is a list of the most popular guidebooks and literature/non-traditional guidebooks. For your convenience, the books are available on BootsnAll. Traditional Guidebooks: Prague (Eyewitness Travel Guides), by Vladimir Soukup Frommer's Prague & the Best of the Czech Republic, by Hana Mastrini and Alan Crosby Lonely Planet Czech & Slovak Republics, 3rd Edition, by Neil Wilson Travel Literature/Non-Traditional Guidebooks: Prague: A Traveler's Literary Companion, Edited by Paul Wilson Czech Republic: A Nation of Velvet (Postcommunist States and Nations), by Rick Fawn Time for Food: Prague, by Thomas Cook Publishing Back to top LINKS & RESOURCES Use the following sites to learn more about Czech Republic, what it offers to travelers, and how to plan your trip. Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Czech Republic The be all and end all of what you need to know about coming to the Czech Republic, no matter how long your stay. Put up by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Czech Tourism The tourism board gets their say. Look at pictures, check out maps and figure out where you want to go. My Czech Republic A resource that's "more than a destination guide." Includes resources for expats and Czech Republic trivia. Prague All the dirt on the Czech Republic's capital and largest city. Includes recommendations on what to do and links to other sites. Prague Floods Pics from Prague's "Flood of the Century" in August, 2002. Back to top WRITE AN ARTICLE If you have a story of your own that you would like to submit on the Czech Republic, have a look at BootsnAll's Writer's Guidelines: http://writers.BootsnAll.com And then send it along. We're always looking for new content and new perspectives, and we hope to get yours soon. TELL A FRIEND If you feel that BootsnAll.com is a valuable resource, or that others might think so, please tell your friends about us. As many of you know, we respond personally to every email we receive in an ongoing effort to build a true traveller's community. Many have responded positively. If you have comments both positive and constructive, we would love to hear them. Tell us what we have done well and how we can improve. We would appreciate it greatly. Back to top