1. Water Bottle
In a country where beer is cheaper than water, it is easy to forgot about staying hydrated and healthy. Furthermore, a beer only diet will catch up with you. Unlike in the US, restaurants in Prague will not give you free tap water with your meal, so you will not drink any water unless you actively seek it out. Save your money on bottles of water you won’t finish at your meal and just carry a reusable water bottle with you and drink water throughout the day.
2. Secure Going Out and Every Day Bags
Pickpockets are everywhere in Prague and they are good at what they do! In the first two weeks of being here, people on my program have had their wallets stolen at coffee shops, clubs, and on the metro. Do not carry a non-zip tote bag to class or easy-to-open clutches when going out. Even crossbody zip bags won’t be okay if you are not paying attention.
3. A Credit Card That Is Not American Express
Noone takes American Express – even some of the websites for booking your bus and train travel don’t take it. While you can get away with just a debit card and not a credit card, it is nice to have one in case of emergencies. So if you plan to go to Central Europe and want a credit card you can actually use at places beyond Starbucks, I would recommend MasterCard or Visa.
4. A Light Rain Jacket
Barbours may be the number one choice at Duke for rain weather, but for Prague you will want to bring a second lighter option too. For me the dorms are a 30-minute walk from classes, so when you go to class you need to plan for the weather all morning and afternoon. A Barbour is nice for days that are cold and rainy all day, however, it is not practical as a jacket to carry around all day just on the off-chance it might rain. With the weather in Prague that starts out hot and sunny then quickly change to rain, you will want a lighter rain coat you can wear for the walk back to your dorm.