Renting a Car?
Click www.rudymaxa.com/article.php?ArticleID=99 for a detailed summary of the pros and cons of a car rental. In 2007 www.abcprague.com reported Czech roads to be the sixth most dangerous highways in Europe because of the poor quality of many roads and because of numerous aggressive/reckless drivers. Some of the super highways around Prague require a special toll decal on one's windshield; police sit in wait to ticket/fine unsuspecting tourists (the fines can run into hundreds of dollars!). Be sure that the car you rent has this decal or buy/install a decal appropriate for the length of your road trip. At www.uamk.cz there is a description of the motorway toll stickers for the Czech Republic. At the top of the webpage, click "UK" for the English language then click "Tourist Information" on the right side of the subsequent page. Scrolling down half this last page will reach a chart with the different decals and their lengths of validity. For those driving in Austria, an Austrian windshield toll decal is required to use motorways and expressways that have an A or S in front of the highway number.
Be familair not only with the names of major cities along your route but secondary ones as well. Although there is a massive super highway construction program underway around the south of Prague to decrease highway congestion, many of the directional signs (mentioning only secondary towns) are on curves allowing one only a second or two to decide in what direction to travel. Although the tree lined secondary roads can be quite beautiful, some of these roads are narrow for the supersized vehicles that Westerners like. Prior to the age of air conditioned automobiles, these trees protected the traveller from the hot sun and dust; now these trees in ditches so close to the road pavement present traffic hazards during accidents. At www.ricksteves.com/plan/tips/carrental_2005.htm there is additional information with links to more websites. Many rental agencies in Germany, Austria, etc. prohibit taking their cars into such countries as the Czech Republic because of the risk of theft or damage to the vehicle. Also review the section on "Rental Cars" in the article "From Prague and its airport" found on the left side of the Castle View Apartments Home Web Page and read www.ideamerge.com/motoeuropa/car_travel_europe.html#czech_republic before your trip. If you click the "LINKS" option on the "Menu Bar" above, there is a link to "ViaMichelin" on the left side of that page that provides good driving directions in Europe. This same page also has other links for additional sightseeing information.
If you are a novice to the area, don't drive inside Prague. Downtown Prague is a medieval city with narrow streets that curve back on themselves, so designed to confuse invaders who centuries ago carried swords and knives; today the invaders bring oversized cars and cameras which can be almost as dangerous when one wants to move through the crowded downtown area quickly! Most tourists with a car should use lodging in the outskirts of Prague near a metro stop and take the subway into town each day since it is cheaper/faster/safer than parking downtown.