Before You Book

PREPARING TO GO TO THE CZECH REPUBLIC, HUNGARY & AUSTRIA

CAPITAL CITIES

Prague, Budapest and Vienna

OFFICIALLANGUAGES

Czech, Hungarian, German and numerous dialects

RELIGION

Each country has a sizeable population of Roman Catholics and Protestants. Other minority religions include Orthodox Christianity, Judaism and Islam.

ELECTRICITY

220 volts - Sockets are of the European, two-pronged round pin variety

PASSPORTS AND VISAS

A valid passport is required by all nationals. All Passengers are responsible for securing proper documentation prior to joining the tour. Please ensure that passport/s are valid for a minimum of 6 months beyond the intended date of return and contain between 2-6 blank “Visa” pages. You should have at least two free pages in your passport. Please access the Travel & Visa Requirements Section on the top of this page for the latest visa entry requirements for the country/ies you are visiting. Passports are required; in addition, travelers are also advised to check with local consulates for full details regarding visa requirements. Please note securing a valid visa for entry is the sole responsibility of the traveler.

LOCAL CURRENCY

The monetary unit in the Czech Republic is the Czech Koruna (CZK), in Hungary the Forint (HUF) and in Austria the Euro (€).

Austrian Currency information:

Euro (€) = 100 cents. Notes are in denominations of €500, 200, 100, 50, 20, 10 and 5. Coins are in denominations of €2, 1 and 50, 20, 10, 5, 2 and 1 cents.

Czech Currency information:

Koruna (CZK; symbol Kč) or Crown = 100 haler. Notes are in denominations of 5,000, 2,000, 1,000, 500, 200 and 100Kč. Coins are in denominations of 50, 20, 10, 5, 2 and 1Kč, and 50 haler.

Hungarian Currency information:

Hungarian Forint (HUF; symbol Ft). Notes are in denominations of Ft20,000, 10,000, 5,000, 2,000, 1,000, and 500. Coins are in denominations of Ft200, 100, 50, 20, 10 and 5. A large number of commemorative coins in circulation are legal tender.

XE.com is a useful site for currency conversion.

MONEY EXCHANGE, ATMS & CREDIT CARDS

The best place to change money in the Czech Republic, Hungary and Austria is at a bank – it is strongly suggested that you compare current rates and fees before exchanging money.  If you decide to use a private exchange office, check their rates and fees carefully as they can be misleading. 

Banks and ATMs are widespread in the major cities and tourist centers.  Most major credit cards are accepted in shops, restaurants and hotels, but it is best to check, particularly in more remote areas. Traveller's cheques are increasingly difficult to change, but you can generally change them in the major banks if necessary.

Hungarian Banking hours:

Mon-Thurs 0800-1700, Fri 0800-1600.

Czech Banking hours: 

Generally Mon-Fri 0800-1630. Some banks close early on Fridays.

Austrian Banking Hours:

Mon, Tues, Wed and Fri 0800-1230 and 1330-1500; Thurs 0800-1230 and 1330-1730. Different opening hours may be kept in the various federal provinces. The exchange counters at airports and at railway stations are generally open from the first to the last flight or train, which usually means 0800-2200 including weekends.

CLOTHING

As a general guideline, clothing should be lightweight, loose fitting, hard-wearing and easily washed. In Europe's hot summer months, cotton clothing is much more comfortable than man-made materials like nylon.  The Czech Republic, Hungary and Austria have fairly relaxed attitudes about dress and for the most part shorts and short sleeved tops are perfectly acceptable. However if you intend to visit churches and monasteries it is important to dress more conservatively (i.e. cover shoulders and knees).   Make sure you allow for climate changes and remember that even in the summer, night-time and early morning temperatures can be cold. You will generally find it is better to have several thin layers rather than one thick layer as it gives you more flexibility and warmth.  A waterproof garment is also strongly suggested, even during the summer months and particularly in areas of higher altitude.

COMMUNICATION & EMAIL

Email

There are many internet cafes in the Czech Republic, Hungary and Austria, particularly in larger towns and cities.  Wi-fi is increasingly available in more densely populated areas, often for a fee, but you might not find internet access in hotels in more rural areas.

Telephone
It is easy to make international calls in the Czech Republic, Hungary and Austria.  The most economical method to make telephone calls is with a telephone card - these cards can be purchased from a variety of outlets, including newsstands, post offices and sometimes from supermarkets. 

Mail
Post offices are widely available in the Czech Republic, Hungary and Austria and the mail is generally very efficient.  Stamps can be bought from post offices or newsstands.

WEATHER & CLIMATE

Czech Republic

The seasons are distinct in the Czech Republic.  Summer (June to August) sees the highest temperatures and heaviest rainfall. The winter months (December – February) often see temperatures reaching as low as -5°C in the cities and -10°C to -15°C in the mountainous areas (-30°C at higher altitudes).  The mountains receive about 130 days of snow a year, but other areas get coverage as well. Spring (late March to May) can bring changeable, rainy weather and sometimes flooding. Autumn is also variable but temperatures can remain warm into September.

Hungary

Hungary has a temperate climate with three climatic zones so there is a variation across the country: Mediterranean in the south, Continental in the east and Atlantic in the west. In general, winters in Hungary are cold, damp or windy, and summers are warm and frequently hot. July and August are the hottest months (average temperature 26°C) and January the coldest (-4°C). The number of hours of sunshine averages between 1900 and 2500 a year - among the highest in Europe. The average annual precipitation is about 650mm.

Austria

Austria lies within the Central European climatic zone and boasts very distinct seasons, while the eastern part of the country has low rainfall, hot summers and mild winters. The Alps have high rainfall, short summers and long winters, and visitors should be prepared for all temperatures there. Summer falls between June and August and has the highest temperatures, but also the highest levels of rainfall. Winter (December – February) can particularly cold while spring and autumn bring changeable weather, but quite often the most comfortable temperatures.

MEAL COSTS

Breakfast is provided each day on most tours and many tours also include a number of dinners. Lunches are rarely included to give you more freedom.  Approximate costs for meals and snacks not included are shown below, but please note that the exact cost varies widely depending on whether you are in the capital cities or smaller regional towns;

Czech Republic

• Simple snack - $US 5-8
• Light meal – $US 8-10
• Fancy restaurant - $US 25-30

Hungary

• Simple snack - $US 4-6
• Light meal – $US 6-9
• Fancy restaurant - $US 20-28

Austria

• Simple snack - $US 10-15
• Light meal – $US 20-30
• Fancy restaurant - $US 40-50

FOOD AND DRINK
Czech Republic                      

Traditional Czech cuisine is hearty and filling, and is often based around meat, be it pork, beef or chicken.  Many dishes include a sauce and a side dish, notably dumplings (“knedliky”), which are made from wheat or potato flour, boiled in water as a roll and then sliced and served hot.  Some unique Czech dishes you may like to try are roast pork with bread dumplings and stewed cabbage (Vepřo-knedlo-zelo) or roast sirloin beef with steamed dumplings and cream-of-vegetable sauce (Svíčková na smetaně).  Czech cuisine also boasts delicious soups like beef broth with noodles and liver dumplings, potato soup, garlic soup, goulash or the Krkonoše sour soup.  Czech desserts are rich and tasty; from chocolate based desserts to fruit pastries and tarts, or the famous Czech Pancakes (Palačinky) which are filled with ice-cream, jam or fruits and coated in whipped-cream, almonds or sugar.

Brewing has been a traditional activity in the Czech Republic for centuries, and the country has more than 60 breweries.  The famous Pilsener style beer originated in the western Bohemian city of Plzeň, and further south the town of České Budějovice, known as Budweis in German, lent its name to its beer, eventually known as Budweiser Budvar.  You may also like to try some Czech wine while you are visiting – wine has been cultivated here since around 300AD!  The Czechs also produce two unique liquors, Fernet Stock and Becherovka, which every visitor must try!

Hungary

Like Czech cuisine, Hungarian cuisine is rich in meat; Hungarians are especially passionate about their meat stews, casseroles, steaks and roasted pork. Goulash is one of the country’s most famous culinary exports – a stew with gravy or a soup using meat with bones, paprika, caraway, vegetables (typically carrots and parsley root) and potatoes or various tiny dumplings simmered with meat.  While meat stews undoubtedly take centre stage, Hungarians eat a variety of soups and stews which regularly delight visitors, including cold fruit soups, like cold sour cherry soup.  Hungarian cuisine also uses a large variety of cheeses, including túró (a type of quark), cream cheeses, ewe-cheese (juhturó), Emmentaler, Edam and the Hungarian cheeses Trappista, Pálpusztai, Pálpusztai and Pannonia cheese.  Make sure you save room for the filling Hungarian desserts, including palacsinta (pancakes served flambéed in dark chocolate sauce filled with ground walnuts) and Dobos Cake (layered sponge cake, with chocolate buttercream filling and topped with a thin slice of caramel).

Hungarian wine dates back to at least the Roman times and has been appreciated by visitors and locals for centuries; the best-known wines are the white dessert wine called Tokaji (after the North-Eastern region of Hungary, Tokaj) and the red wines from Villány (the southern part of Hungary).  Though not as famous as the country's wines, Hungarian beer has a long history as well.  Today Hungarian breweries produce mainly light lagers - the best known domestic brands are Dreher, Borsodi and Soproni.  Hungary boasts several home-grown liquors, including Pálinka, a range of fruit brandies (plum and pear are popular) – the perfect way to end a meal!

Austria

Austria is situated in the heart of Europe and its cuisine boasts influences from many of its neighbours including Italy, Germany and the Balkans.  It is famous for its well-balanced variations of beef and pork and countless vegetables, but perhaps the country’s most well-known dish is the Wienerschnitzel (thin, breaded and deep fried veal).  Austria is particularly renowned for its sweet treats, from Apfelstrudel (apple strudel) to Sachertorte (chocolate cake), with a host of mouth-watering pastries and cakes in between.

Austria is often credited with introducing coffee to Europe, and the Viennese café tradition is still an important part of the city's identity.  If sweet drinks are more to your taste then the rich, thick Viennese hot chocolate is a must.  As in much of Central Europe, beer and wine is widely drunk by the locals; wine is mainly cultivated in the east and some wines have garnered international attention for their high standards.  If you are looking for a drink to finish your meal then you should look no further than a glass of schnapps; made from a variety of fruits, schnapps provides the perfect end to any delicious meal.

SUGGESTED TIPPING SCALE:

Tipping is a way of showing your appreciation and will be welcomed by the recipient, although if you decide not to tip in a particular circumstance, this doesn’t mean you’ll receive a lower level of service. Ultimately, tipping is discretionary and should be done at a level that feels comfortable.

Here are some guidelines that you may find helpful:

HEALTH & MEDICAL REQUIREMENTS & GUIDELINES

As a general recommendation, it is advisable to check with your family doctor or travel clinic for latest health information.

TRAVEL INSURANCE

It is highly recommended that you purchase travel insurance. Your home country health plan may only provide limited coverage while traveling outside of the country. Indus Travels can offer you a complete travel insurance package. Some credit cards do offer travel insurance, however they do not always provide adequate coverage. Review and understand the terms of your credit card insurance policy. Extra travel insurance can be purchased. Most insurance companies do have exclusions in their coverage. Pre-existing medical conditions are not insurable.