For years, St. Victoria Kotlovskaya from St. Petersburg has vacationed in the Czech Republic, and this year follows the same tradition. Yet she notices notable changes in the country itself.
“Today the officially reported inflation sits at 17.2 percent year over year, and many locals feel its bite. Food prices have risen, and meals now require more budget planning. Milk, butter, coffee, meat and baked goods have all become pricier. Friends who plan to settle permanently also complain that rent and housing costs are steep. Even though vacation rentals from long-term hosts remain priced as before, the overall cost of living has clearly climbed,” Kotlovskaya notes.
She adds that transportation and medical services have kept their prices steady, but gym memberships—especially private training sessions—have jumped. Flights from Russia to Europe have doubled in price, she says, further tightening travel options for residents and visitors alike.
“If European flights stay similar in cost—for example, a trip from the Czech Republic to Italy can still be around 20 euros—then departures from Russia become a real challenge. We search for routes with layovers and longer travel times. Where February bookings could be around 18 thousand rubles, prices now range from 30 to 50 thousand rubles, and flight times have lengthened substantially,” Victoria explains.
Despite the inflation, the Czech Republic continues to attract a steady stream of visitors. The exact share of Russian travelers is hard to judge on the ground, but the Czech hospitality remains intact. Locals have long welcomed tourists and have shown strong support for Ukrainian refugees, all while not displaying hostility toward Russians.
Kotlovskaya observes a notable shift: many ads are now translated into Russian and Ukrainian, and conversations in hospitals, shops, mobile providers, and even ads frequently involve Russian or Ukrainian. Menus in cafes and restaurants are also being translated to aid visitors and residents alike, she adds.
Discounts for Russians while they stay
Maxim Ignatov from Nizhny Novgorod traveled to Milan via Istanbul, enduring a 13-hour transit and paying around 180 thousand rubles for a round trip.
“The biggest hurdle was securing tickets to Milan. Most travelers swing through Rome, but that would require a long train ride from there. That meant shelling out premium fares,” he shares.
He notes that prices in Italy, especially for groceries, have risen by a few euros on average. For locals, these increases are noticeable, as explained to him by his brother.
Hotels in Italy are attempting to maintain higher price points in the hope of attracting Russian visitors. “Italians are very fond of Russian tourists and are trying to please those who remain. Hotels offer gifts or discounts for longer stays and stay in touch, asking how things are going and what’s new,” Ignatov explains.
In tougher spots, hospitality and souvenir businesses feel the pressure as tourist flows shift and refugees arrive. Russian travelers report that many small operators in tourism sectors face uncertain futures as demand fluctuates.
No Russian flag and low prices
This year, Muscovite Evgenia Surikova vacationed in Turkey for the third time. The most visible change was the absence of Russian flags on hotel facades.
“Many hotels trimmed the Russian tricolor from their exteriors, even though it used to be visible. A café near my hotel surprised me with tables topped by country flags from around the world, but not a Russian one. It turned out that the tables without flags were the norm for Russian guests,” Surikova recalls.
Beyond flags, other notes remained largely the same. Prices for clothing and food in Turkey compare favorably to Russia, and the lira has softened against major currencies, helping visitors stretch budgets. She observes that certain Turkish duty-free items can be cheaper than some similar products in Russia, including snack options that carry different price points. Turkish hospitality remains warm toward Russians, and interactions with tourists from other nationalities are generally positive, without noticeable bias based on nationality.
Turkish locals continue to offer friendly service in entertainment venues and attractions, and visitors from other countries echo the same cooperative spirit when interacting with locals.
The road to London via Grodno
Olga Troyanova, a student from St. Petersburg, arrived in London at the start of August after a challenging journey, made feasible by a visa arrangement with the UK and Spain last year. With airspace restrictions complicating travel, she navigated a lengthy overland route through several countries, including Belarus, Grodno by train, a minibus to the Latvian border, and then onward by rail through multiple states until reaching France, where a train carried her to London.
She notes that food and transportation costs in Britain have climbed by roughly 10-15 percent, and housing costs have risen as well. A hotel that cost around £150 a night last year now runs about £220. The higher service costs are likely driving the trend, though the standard of service has not improved.
In this cycle, tourism in England appears thinner than in prior years, which Troyanova attributes to stricter visa procedures. British attitudes toward Russians vary; some are terse while others are sympathetic. On balance, the mood among locals seems shaped by broader economic concerns rather than personal bias, and it remains a muted, pragmatic atmosphere rather than one of overt hostility.