Czech is the official language but English and German are also widely spoken.
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The official currency is the Koruna (CZK), which is divided into 100 haler. Most credit cards including American Express, Diners Club, Visa and MasterCard are accepted, but it is best to have cash handy when traveling away from Prague and the main tourist centers. Travelers checks and foreign currency can be exchanged at banks, bureau de change and some hotels; commission is highest in hotels. Banks are closed on weekends. ATMs (known as 'bankomats') are becoming more common in Prague and are probably the best way to obtain local currency at a good rate and without commission. The Czech Republic is still cheap compared to the rest of Europe, though the gap is closing.
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The international access code for the Czech Republic is +420. The outgoing code is 00 followed by the relevant country code (e.g. 001 for the U.S.). Area codes are not required. There are high surcharges on international calls from hotels; it is cheaper to use the public telephone boxes - phone cards can be bought from newsagents. The local mobile phone operators use GSM networks and have roaming agreements with all major international operators. Internet cafes are available in the main towns.
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Tipping in restaurants is optional and no service charge is added to bills. Gratuities of 5 to 10 percent are expected if the service is good. Taxi drivers are tipped by rounding up the fare at the end of the journey.
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The majority of visits to the Czech Republic are trouble-free, although the country has a risk of indiscriminate terrorist attacks, which it shares with the rest of the world.
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There are no vaccination requirements for international travelers, and no major health risks are associated with travel to the Czech Republic. Visitors to forested areas should seek medical advice about immunization against tick borne encephalitis. In March 2006, bird flu was discovered in wild birds in southern Bohemia; the risk to travelers is low, but close contact with live birds should be avoided and all egg and poultry dishes should be well cooked as a precaution.
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230 volts, 50Hz. Round-pin plugs with a hole for a male grounding pin are standard. Most sockets also take the standard European two-pin plugs.
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