How much does it cost to travel to the Czech Republic?

Video 1.  Fast & Cheap: From Prague Airport to the City Centre for just 1.2 EUR (YouTube link)

Video 2. Where to Change Money in Prague? Easy & Safe + Map (2021 Guide; YouTube link)

Video 3.  How ATM Can (AND WILL) Trick You When Traveling (YouTube link)

Dining Expenses

In the above receipt dated 10/06/2020, total (celkem in Czech) 1995 Kč (or Czech koruna) was charged.  

On 04/02/2022, 1 US Dollar = 22.04 Kč (or Czech koruna).  

This check probably is for a group of 4 people and it didn't include service charge.^[1,3]

Know that there's no 'service charge' in Czech restaurants, although many who cater for foreign customers attempt to rip them off by pretending that there is. The size of these charges is variable and is often as much as twenty percent. Always refuse to pay any charges like this.

As a general rule, always remember that, except for restaurants and cafés, tips aren't expected in Prague – tip at your discretion, and always factor in the quality of service. When in doubt, round up to the next hundred Koruna, or tip somewhere between five and 10 percent of your final bill.^[4]

Video 4. Where to Eat Traditional & Cheap Czech Food in Prague? (YouTube link)

Taxes

The Czech V.A.T. is called DPH (dan z pridané hodnoty).  There are three VAT rates in Czech republic:^[2] 

• 21%—on most taxed goods like gifts, souvenirs or clothing
• 15%—on food, eating in restaurants or accommodation services
• 10%—on medicines and books 

Tax Refund

Exported goods are exempt from the tax, which can be refunded. All tourists outside the EU are entitled to claim the tax back if they spend more than 2,001 Kc in one shop on the same day. Read [2] for more information.

Figure 1.  Ticket Validation Machine

Public Transport Tickets and Passes

Depending on how much you'd like to use public transport in Prague, you have several options for the type of ticket to use:^[5]

• 30-minute ticket
• 90-minute ticket
• 24-hour ticket (note that the below ticket prices have been updated after 04/01/2022)
• Adult 15 to 60—120 CZK (see details here)
• Child under 15—free* (see details here)
• Senior over 60—60 CZK* (see details here)
• 72-hour ticket

*If asked, children aged 10 - 15 and seniors over 60 must be able to document their age to an inspector.

** To mark the start of the validation period, you must punch the ticket in one of the validation machines that are located at the entrance to every metro station and on trams and buses (see Figure 1).

If you arrive at PRG airport and want to take Airport Express to the Prague Main Railway Station, its transport fare needs to be purchased separately:^[7]

When travelling from the airport, the Airport Express bus tickets may be purchased in the Visitor Centre at Arrival Hall or directly from the driver. Passengers travelling to the airport can purchase their bus tickets from the driver, in the Information Centre of the Prague Public Transit Company or at the Czech Railways counter.

If you pay directly to the driver, Visa, MasterCard and American Express are accepted. Payment can be made only in CZK (if your card is in a different currency it will be converted at your bank’s exchange rate).

 
Airport Express (AE; 40 mins to Main Railway Station):

• Václav Havel Airport Prague is directly connected to Prague Main Railway Station (Praha hlavní nádraží)
• Note that all passengers and visitors are required in all areas of the airport wearing a respirator class FFP2 or the equivalent of N95 / KN95 (retrieved on 04/02/2022).

References

1. Tipping Etiquette In Prague and the Czech Republic Revisited
2. Taxes & Tax Refund
3. Overcharging In Restaurants - Prague Guide
4. Tipping in Prague: Who to Tip & How Much
5. Fare pricelist (dpp.cz official site)
6. Timetables (dpp.cz official site)
7. Transport to and from the Airport 
• Airport Express (AE; 40 mins to Main Railway Station)
• Václav Havel Airport Prague is directly connected to Prague Main Railway Station (Praha hlavní nádraží)
8. Payment Options | Prague Airport Transport
9. Restaurants recommended in Video 4:
• Jídelna Světozor:  (workers-class cafeteria) 
• U Červeného páva:  (hidden, tasty!) 
• Mincovna:  (more fancy, right on the square) 
• Jizerské pekárny:  (chlebíček & indiánek—sandwich & Indian)
10. Prague Travel—Foods and Drinks
11. What ATM machine should I use at Prague Airport?
• Only the non bank ATM's give poor rates or have high fees. 
• Use a bank ATM- like CSOB,  Sporitelna, UniCredit or Raiffeisen. 
• Withdraw in CZK. Don't select dynamic currency conversion.
• Do NOT use any ATM inside baggage claim. Wait till you exit into the terminal area
• AVOID Euronet- blue/ yellow logo and usually standing alone.  Use one from the cluster of ATMs.
• In town always use a machine affiliated with a bank, not in a shop or money exchange office. Anything that says ATM EUR CZK on the front in big letters avoid.