Money! by Ewingjr98
The Czech Koruna is the unit of currency in the Czech Republic. Even though the Czech Republic joined the European Union on 1 May 2004, its currency will not convert to the Euro until it meets all of the criteria for EU membership such as deregulated markets and independence of banks. Once these criteria are met, Czech Republic, Slovakia and the other new member must adopt the Euro, unlike the UK and Ireland which exercised their option not to use the Euro. The Czech Republic is less expensive than western Europe, but is more expensive than most of its Eastern European neighbors. ATMs and money exchanges are common in the big cities like Prague. Most places in Prague accepted credit cards with the exception of the hotel finder service we used, small markets, and some of the cafes outside of the tourist areas. We used major credit cards at most restaurants, train stations and other locations.
During my trip, the exchange rate was 100 CZK = 4.20 USD. The night train to Budapest cost less than 2000 CZK per person, a very cheap breakfast was only 50 CZK for two of us, and a very expensive cappuccino in the city center was 129 CZK. Our hotel was 1275 CZK per night, and an average main course was between 100 and 200 CZK at most restaurants, but you could eat for far less money! Cheaper touristy things like the photo "permit" for St Vitus Cathedral was 50 CZK, while the most expensive tours I saw were of the Jewish Quarter for for about 300 CZK for the museum areas plus 200 CZK for one of the synagogues.
