Reading time: 3 minutes 
Czechs looking to make the most of their summer holiday budgets may find better value outside of traditional destinations. According to a new report from investment firm XTB, countries like Brazil, South Korea, and New Zealand have become significantly more affordable compared to last year, largely due to favorable currency shifts and moderate inflation in the past 12 months.
Which countries are cheaper this summer?
The analysis highlights that, year on year, Brazil is nearly 19 percent cheaper for Czech travelers compared to 2024, while trips to South Korea and New Zealand are down in cost by around one-tenth.
Other destinations such as Taiwan, Canada, Australia, and the U.S. also showed improved affordability for those earning in Czech crowns.
What actually makes them cheaper?
A mix of exchange-rate changes and domestic inflation contribute to how much pricier or cheaper a destination country becomes. For instance, the Brazilian real has weakened by 26 percent against the crown, while national inflation over the past year reached only 5.5 percent. The resulting gap makes Brazil considerably cheaper for Czech residents in real terms.
By contrast, Turkey—despite its currency depreciating by more than 30 percent—has seen prices rise sharply due to domestic inflation of over 38 percent. As a result, holidays in Turkey are actually more expensive for Czechs this year. The same is true of Egypt, which is going through a similar scenario to Turkey.
“This illustrates why it’s not enough to look at exchange rates alone,” said chief economist at XTB Pavel Peterka.
“The strengthening of the crown against several foreign currencies has created opportunities for Czech tourists,” Peterka commented. “Combined with stable or relatively low inflation in these countries, the overall cost of travel has dropped,” he added.
Other important factors are at play
While travel to distant destinations may appear more affordable, experts caution that actual prices will still depend on the type of holiday and how it’s booked. “For those choosing all-inclusive packages, local price trends may matter less than the pricing strategies of Czech travel agencies,” Peterka said. He added that agency pricing reflects domestic costs, including wages and inflation in the Czech Republic.
The study also underscores that national inflation rates don’t always reflect the real-world costs faced by tourists, due to differences in spending habits and “tourist premiums” often charged in popular areas.
💰 eight tips to save money when flying from Czechia
- Travel where the crown is strong: Choose destinations with favorable exchange rates against the Czech crown.
- Plan ahead, or be smart: Experts say that booking around three months in advance offers the best prices, though this varies by destination. However, you can also get good deals by snagging last-minute discounts on unsold seats.
- Explore alternate airports: Nearby, larger airports—Berlin or Vienna—might have better deals due to greater supply and market competition. A new survey found a 10-percentage-point increase in Czechs traveling from Vienna instead of Prague.
- Watch for sales: Keep an eye out for airline promotions and discounts, and be sure to redeem frequent-flyer miles to save on ticket costs.
- Use flight comparison tools: Google Flights, Skyscanner, Hopper, or Momondo let you easily compare prices. Letuska.cz and Pelikan.cz are Czech examples.
- Set price alerts: Use notification-sending apps to automatically monitor fare changes and get the lowest prices.
- Stay flexible: Avoid peak travel times like public holidays/booking around Christmas and opt for less convenient flight hours (early morning or late night). Try to travel mid-week rather than between Friday and Sunday.
- Bundle travel expenses: Combine flights with accommodation to save.
