SHOPPING

Souvenirs include Bohemian glass and crystal, pottery, porcelain, wooden folk carvings, hand-embroidered clothing, and food items. There are a number of excellent shops specializing in glass and crystal, while various associations of regional artists and craftspeople run their own retail outlets (pay in local currency). Other special purchases include pottery (particularly from Kolovec and Straznice); china ornaments and geyserstone carvings from Karlovy Vary; delicate lace and needle embroidery from many Moravian towns; and blood-red garnets and semi-precious stones from Bohemia.

Shopping hours
Mon-Fri 0800-1800, Sat 0800-1200. Supermarkets and food shops in large towns and cities are open from 0600. The number of shops also open on Sunday is constantly increasing.

Currency Information:

Currency
Koruna (Kc) or Crown = 100 haler. Notes are in denominations of Kc5000, 2000, 1000, 500, 200, 100, 50 and 20. Coins are in denominations of Kc50, 20, 10, 5, 2 and 1, and 50, 20 and 10 hellers.

Currency exchange
Foreign currency (including travelers cheques) can be exchanged at all bank branches and at authorized exchange offices, main hotels and road border crossings.

Credit & debit cards
Major cards such as American Express, Diners Club, Discover, Visa, MasterCard and others may be used to exchange currency and are also accepted in some hotels, restaurants and shops. Check with your credit or debit card company for details of merchant acceptability and other services which may be available.

Travelers cheques
These are widely accepted. To avoid additional exchange rate charges, travelers are advised to take travelers cheques in US Dollars, Euros or Pounds Sterling.

Currency restrictions
The import and export of local currency is limited to Kc200,000 or 10 golden coins. The import and export of foreign currency is unlimited.

Exchange rate indicators
The following figures are included as a guide to the movements of the Koruna against Sterling and the US Dollar: