by Christina Brzustoski

Created on: July 25, 2008

Despite its reputation as an inexpensive destination, prices in Prague are not as cheap as they used to be. The collapse of the dollar coupled with the strengthening of the Czech crown has only made things pricier for traveling Americans. In 2002, one US dollar could buy you forty Czech crowns (koruna); today the exchange rate for the dollar is hovering just below fifteen crowns and still falling. The dollar may not get you as far as it used to, but if you plan smartly and carefully, it is still possible to get some bargains in the City of 1,000 Spires.

Let's start with accommodation. Hotel costs have skyrocketed in the wake of Prague's tourism boom. There are legends of a time where you could get a bed for $10 a night, but those days are as long gone as Communism. Most standard hotels in the center will set you back at least 100 euros a night in high season. It is possible to hunt around for pensions and hostels that cost a bit less, but these can be a bit of a crap shoot some are quite lovely and clean, others not so much. For the traveler who wishes to stay for more than a week, the best bet is to rent an apartment. It is less than a hotel and most agencies have discounted prices for longer stays. There's also more room and amenities (a small kitchen including a stove and fridge, for example) and are often more centrally located. It is quite possible to pay about 60 euros a night for a small apartment that is smack in the middle of Prague's Old Town.

Once you have the self-catering apartment with a kitchen, this makes it easier to save money on food. Restaurant prices in the center have risen so dramatically that most Czechs now shun them completely. Buying fresh food from a local supermarket is a good way to avoid the 300-500 crown entre meal at the some of the more touristy restaurants. And while sampling the native food is one of the essential experiences of any trip abroad, you can splurge on some traditional Czech meat and dumplings a few times during your stay without feeling guilty because the previous night you enjoyed a self-catered, cheaper meal on the terrace of your apartment. However, if you don't want to cook while still eating cheaply, the sausage vendors in Wenceslas Square can be a good way to eat authentic Czech food on a budget. They offer several varieties of klobasa and parek sausages for less than 100 crowns. (But try to pay in exact change if possible. As it is in a big tourist location, sometimes the vendors are less than scrupulous

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