FAQs - Livingpraguetours.com

FAQs – Frequently Asked Questions About The Tours and the Booking Process

gondola on river vltava in front of charles bridge — Late afternoon, you could rent a Gondola from Little Venice

BEFORE BOOKING

What’s the Difference between livingprague.com and livingpraguetours.com?
As far as tour booking and contacting me there is no difference. Livingpraguetours is primarily for the walking tours whilst livingprague.com, as the parent site, may allow the booking of the same tours via the same system for the same price but also gives a lot more advice about Prague.

Are You a Licenced Tour Guide?
Yes, I have a Tour Guide Services Licence in my own name Jason Carl Holt. You can read more about this system on the Licencing and Qualification page.

Do you do Private Tours?
Yes. Private tours are possible but based on my availability. Any of the scheduled tours can be taken privately or you can also buy a block of time from 2.5 up to 6 hours and use the time as you want. Private tours allow the flexibility for breaks and seeing sights not on a scheduled tour route. The next step is for you to go to the Private Tours page. Or if you prefer, just contact me with 1) proposed date(s), 2) duration and 3) if there’s any requirement to see specific sites. I’ll then get back to you with options and a quote which will be a total cost for up to 4 people. Any more than 4 and I will add an additional charge. If you decide to book then I send you a secure booking link.

How long are the tours?
The scheduled tours are either 2 hours (WW2 tour and the Architecture tour) or 2.5 hours with a distance of between 4km and 4.5km (that’s about 2.5 miles) or in steps it should be around 8500.
Private tours length taking in extra attractions will be based on the route required. Generally they can be up to 6.5km (4 miles) but will have the opportunity for breaks as required. This is not a route march. We take things at an easy walking pace.

Are the tours suitable for children?
I personally would not want a child on a WW2 tour for example. Not that there are any bad pictures etc, it’s just got graphic descriptions in some places. Both the Old Town and Jewish Quarter plus the City Walking tour are both fine for kids. The Christmas Markets tour has a “tour-only” option for children i.e. no food/drink. Pubs require you to be 18 or over to be served alcohol. I use many different techniques to keep children engaged.

The limit is 6 people?
I try and keep scheduled tours limited to 6 places which gives us time and space to enjoy the city. I may stretch this to 7 under certain circumstances i.e if 5 places are sold and a couple want to join the tour. If there are more than 6 on your group then check my Private Tour Options. I give a group discount and you have the tour all to yourselves. I do point out that the bigger the group the less options there are for getting off the beaten path.

Is there a minimum number of people required?
No minimum Monday to Friday so even if only one person has booked a tour it will still be run. Saturday there is no minimum but it must be booked as a private tour.

Do you offer Skip the Line pre-bought tickets?
Yes. I can buy tickets for the Jewish Synagogues in advance but in all honesty you are better off doing this online. Jewish entry tickets are valid for 3 days. Note that I charge a 20% fee and that once bought there is no refund.

Do we see all the attractions?
Each tour will have a selection of Prague’s most famous attractions included but the actual content depends on the area being explored. Weather and local city restrictions may alter the route but rest assured that every tour is full of picturesque, interesting and fun features that will be explained by your guide.

Do you do hotel pick-up/drop-off?
No. Currently we do not offer a transport service but if you need more detail on how to get to the meeting point either by walking or using public transport then feel free to contact me. I recommend a local private taxi service. If you are booking a private tour and staying in the Old Town I can meet you at the hotel/apartment.

What do we do in case of bad weather?
The tours are held rain or shine. In the event of inclement weather the tour will be adapted to make use of covered areas and attractions. However, we advise that you check the weather conditions on the day of the tour and dress appropriately. If heavy rain is forecast then a poncho is recommended. On especially cold days then a “warm-up” break can be included if all clients on the tour agree.

Do I need to purchase tickets in advance?
Yes, advance ticket booking is required as I will not be at the meeting point unless at least one booking has been confirmed. Scheduled events can sell out quickly as they are limited to 6 places. To maximize your chances of getting the date, time, and number of tickets you prefer, please book well in advance. Alternatively, Contact Me or check the Private Tour Options.

Are the tours available in any other languages?
At this time, we do not offer tours in any other languages except English.

Do you have Trip Advisor Reviews?
Oh yes!! Many previous clients have kindly taken the time to leave a review for fellow travellers. In the post-tour email you will receive my thanks for attending the tour and a link to the TripAdvisor page. You can also read the current TripAdvisor reviews.

What is your refund policy?
I make every attempt to reschedule or add tour dates/times as required however for a full refund I request at least 72 hours notice of cancellation. With at least 48 hours notice I offer a 50% card refund. Within 24 hours of the tour start I do not offer a refund. I’m a small business so I hope that you appreciate that a very late cancellation has a bigger impact on me. Note that a “refund” is your payment minus the credit card company processing fee. Allow a 4% charge. If I have to cancel a tour then you get a refund and a referral to another high quality guide.

What is your Privacy/GDPR policy?
You can read all about how I use various data and how you can get it deleted in the Privacy Policy

What is Fair Walking Pace?
The guide will set the walking pace to the slowest person in the group but it is expected that the slowest speed is still an average walking pace. A person will know if their walking speed is below average so in that case I would advise you to take a look at the Private Tour Options as it means we can explore at your pace and take breaks as required. I don’t want to affect the enjoyment of others on the group because somebody cannot meet the pace on a scheduled tour so please be honest about your capability.

What about Coronavirus?
Things are changing from week to week. The Coronavirus Precautions page is being updated with current requirements and precautions when taking one of my tours.

Booking and Payment

What do you need from me?
Just your enthusiasm and desire to learn about the city!! Also, I’ll need some payment details, an email address and a mobile phone number (or contact number being used whilst in Prague). The email is so that you can receive the confirmation, meeting point details and tour reminder. The mobile phone number allows me to contact you on the day if you have not made it to the meeting point on-time.

What is Stripe?
Stripe is like PayPal. It’s a secure payment gateway for making a credit/debit card payment but for me it’s easier to implement, better value and I use it as it cuts out a step in the booking process. If you are having problems with credit/debit card payment then you’ll need to Contact Me and arrange a cash payment on the day of the tour.

How do I book?
You can read about the Booking Process. Each scheduled tour detail page has a tour calendar. First select the required date, then the required time (if you don’t see a suitable date/time then Contact Me and I’ll see what I can do). Then choose the tickets that you want i.e. Adult/Senior/Child. You’ll see the total price (no hidden charges). Enter your card details and make a secure payment.
For a private tour we agree the duration of the tour, specific sites to include, meal breaks and meeting point etc and I will send you a direct booking link. The secure payment options are the same for both scheduled and private tours. Please carefully read the confirmation to make sure that you have booked the correct month/day/time/tour.

How do I pay?
I accept payment online by credit or debit card via the Stripe secure payment gateway. If you do not want to use the online service then I would need your contact email and telephone number (that you will be using in Prague) and I will send you the meeting point details. You can pay in cash on the day.

I think the booking has failed or is hanging, what do I do?
There can be several reasons why payment is not accepted. Most of them revolve around browser session timeouts and interrupted security authentication. Simply try again or try it with a different email address if you can. If you prefer to pay in cash then Contact Me and I’ll set it up so you get the meeting point details etc. If you contact me please leave a contact number including the country code.

Can I change a Date or Time?
Contact me for options. There is no charge for changing date/time but it is dependent on availability.

Do I get a Confirmation?
Yes, after booking you’ll get an immediate on-screen confirmation. You’ll also receive an email from livingprague (via the Turitop booking system) which will contain confirmation of the booked tour plus specific meeting point details including address, map, photos and directions. Check these details to confirm you have booked the correct tour with the correct date/time. You’ll have my email address and phone number as well. Remember that if you do not have a data connection in Prague you may not be able to access email so consider printing the directions to the meeting point. Check your spam/junk folder as it may be there.

What happens if I do not get a Confirmation?
First check your SPAM/Junk folder. If it’s not there then you should Contact Me to find out the status of the booking but please this time leave a contact number including the country code. It may be that you have paid but there has been a problem with the email. It may be that payment has not been authenticated in which case you have not been charged. An attempted booking will “hang” for 30 minutes before releasing so do not try and re-book within this period. If necessary I will cancel the original attempt at booking so that you can try again.
For a Private Tour the date/time has already been reserved so it’s just getting the payment made. In the case of a scheduled tour then no confirmation means places have not been reserved.

Why do you need my phone number?
It’s not part of the booking process but I ask for it in the confirmation. If contact is not possible via the entered email then it gives us the possibility of contacting you should the need arise. Read the “what if I am late?” answer in the next section.

On the Day

Where do we meet you?
After making a booking you will see an on-screen confirmation. You will receive an immediate email confirmation and a reminder 48 hours before the tour. Each will contain the meeting point details specific to that tour including address, map and photos. The guide will be at the meeting point before the start time. If you have trouble finding the meeting point or expect to be late then you will have the local telephone number for the guide. You will recognise the guide either by the photo sent in the confirmation email, reminder email or by the Licenced Guide ID that you can see on the Licencing and Qualification page.

What if I cannot find the meeting point?
The most popular tours all have the same meeting point on the Old Town Square. All the tours are accompanied by addresses, photos of building/guide, map and Google Map link for the meeting point but if you have problems simply give me a call on the number in the confirmation and I’ll talk you in. Note the conditions in the “What if I’m Late?” question below. It’s VERY important that you contact the guide if you think you will be late.

What should we bring?
As well as your phone/camera, you should bring with you a bottle of water. In hot weather or if there is a chance of rain then a compact umbrella. If heavy rain is forecast then a poncho is recommended. When it’s really hot, we recommend an application of sunscreen on exposed parts of the body, cap/hat and a lightweight pair of sunglasses. In a Prague winter (Nov-Feb) consider thermal leggings or at least thermal socks/gloves and a hat which covers the ears.

What if I’m late?
We prefer to begin a scheduled tour promptly at the start time to fit everything in. In the booking process I recommended that you tell me your contact number in case you are not at the start point.
SCHEDULED TOUR: If you have given a contact number I will first try to call you. If you have not given a contact number then it will be up to you to contact the guide on the number in the booking confirmation. A scheduled tour will wait for 5 minutes at the meeting point. For the Old Town and Jewish Quarter tour, the Czech Food and Beer Tasting tour and the Architecture tour there is a 15 minute window where it may still be possible to join the tour although you will need to phone the guide (the number is in the confirmation email) but we cannot guarantee joining the tour as the guide will be presenting. There is no refund at this point.
PRIVATE TOUR: If you have given a contact number I will first try to call you. If you have not given a contact number then it will be up to you to contact the guide on the number in the booking confirmation. If contact is made then the start is delayed until your arrival but the content of the tour will be adjusted to the available time. If there is no contact then the guide will be at the meeting point for 15 minutes at which point we will email you. The guide will then stay in the local area for a further 45 minutes past the scheduled start time. If no phone/email contact has been made with the client by that time, the guide will consider this as a no-show and the tour is then cancelled. There is no refund at that point.

Are bathroom breaks available?
Yes, bathroom facilities are available during the tours. These may be either private or public so bring some small change (CZK20) just in case.

Do I need to Tip?
You’ll find the tours are great value for money but if we have exceeded your expectation then gratuities are greatly appreciated, although not mandatory.

Is there a drink/snack break?
On a private tour then breaks are taken as required. On a scheduled tour there are no breaks planned in the route but if everybody on the tour agrees then we can stop although this will reduce the scope of the tour.

FAQs – Frequently Asked Questions About The Tours and the Booking Process

Read BEFORE booking

The Booking and Payment Process

What Happens on the Day of the Tour

BEFORE BOOKING

Booking and Payment

On the Day