Travelers get so caught up in sorting out the flight that they forget to sort out the car. Our comparison tool puts every guarded car park at the airport side by side, so you can book your space in a minute. Spare a thought for your car too!
Where to fly, based on the kind of trip you want
Before you pick a destination, ask yourself what you actually want from the trip. The answer narrows the field faster than any tour-comparison site.
Quiet relaxation and all-inclusive
Egypt and Turkey are the classic choices for anyone who wants to put the phone away, sit by the sea and think about neither restaurants nor excursions. Hurghada and Marsa Alam in Egypt give you a warm Red Sea all year round, first-rate snorkelling and resorts from the genuinely luxurious to the affordable. Antalya and Side in Turkey are among the best-equipped all-inclusive destinations in the world. The range of hotel facilities and the standard of service are a level above what the same money buys you in Greece.
Adventure and diving
The Egyptian Red Sea is one of the richest underwater habitats on the planet. There are over 1,200 species of fish here, along with coral reefs and shipwrecks. Ras Mohammed and the Blue Hole near Dahab draw divers from all over Europe.
The Canary Islands, meanwhile, offer views from the Teide volcano, surfing on Fuerteventura and hiking on La Palma for active travelers who are after more than a beach.
Romance for two
Smaller Greek islands such as Santorini, Mykonos, Paros and Lefkada combine beautiful landscapes, good food and the kind of calm you will never find in the August crowds. Go outside the main season, in May or September, and you will have the most photographed sunset in Oia practically to yourself.
Dubai is the other option for a romantic trip beyond Europe, especially if modern architecture and luxury appeal to you, or if you want a taste of the desert. It is also quick to reach from Prague, at roughly five hours.
Families with children
Greece, Croatia, Bulgaria and Spain are tried-and-tested family destinations. For children we recommend places where the sea shelves gently (Kos, Rhodes, Costa Dorada), with dependable all-inclusive service and a kids' club on site. A shorter flight (1.5–3.5 hours) is far easier on small children than a long-haul route.
Families with babies have the stroller and the car seat to sort out as well. For them we have put together full guides to how to pack a stroller for a flight and taking a car seat on a plane.
The best vacation destinations in Europe
Greece and an island for every taste
Greece is the most popular summer destination out of Prague, and the reasons are obvious. Crete is the most varied of the islands, mixing beaches, mountains, history and food. Zakynthos has the famous Navagio Beach with its shipwreck and impossibly clear turquoise water. Rhodes pairs a UNESCO-listed medieval town with polished tourist infrastructure. Corfu is the greenest and quieter, and the easiest to reach by car via Albania.
The flight from Prague to the Greek islands takes 2 to 3.5 hours. Sea temperatures in July and August reach 26–27 °C, with air temperatures above 33 °C.
The Canary Islands for warmth even in winter
The Canary Islands sit closer to Africa than to Europe, and the climate follows suit: temperatures hover around 22–28 °C all year, without the punishing heat or monsoon rains you get in the tropics. Tenerife is the largest and most varied, Gran Canaria mixes dunes with city life, Fuerteventura is a surfers' paradise and Lanzarote is all volcanic landscape.
Fly to the Canaries in December and you step out into 23 °C. Greece and Croatia simply cannot match that in winter.
In Cyprus the season runs all the way to October
Cyprus keeps its sea above 25 °C from June to October, which is exceptional even by Mediterranean standards. The quiet corners of Ayia Napa, the historic centre of Paphos and the mountain villages of the Troodos give you plenty of variety. English is a second official language here, which makes life easier for anyone who is not confident in other languages.
Before you fly, check the rules on carry-on baggage dimensions. Low-cost carriers flying to the Mediterranean enforce strict limits, and a surprise at the gate is one you pay for.
Booking early saves you money on the ticket. Exactly the same goes for parking. Our comparison tool finds the best prices for your dates and lets you reserve a space at the airport with a guarantee that nobody else will take it.
Where to go for something more exotic
The Maldives for complete calm and luxury
The Maldives are shorthand for villas on stilts above the sea, coral reefs and sand as fine as dust. Each atoll is a small world of its own and there is little to do beyond the resort, but that is exactly the point of the Maldives: pure rest with nothing to chase. The best window is November to April (the dry season), and the flight takes around 10 hours with one connection.
Zanzibar, Thailand and Bali
Zanzibar combines Indian Ocean beaches with the historic Arab quarter of Stone Town, a UNESCO site. The best season is June to October, when the sea sits at 27 °C and underwater visibility is superb.
Thailand is the most popular Asian destination for Europeans. Bangkok, Chiang Mai and the islands of Ko Samui, Ko Phi Phi or Ko Tao all offer something different. The best time is December to February, when the muggy, unbearable heat stays away.
Bali attracts people looking for spirituality, surfing and rice fields in one place. Ubud for culture and nature, Seminyak or Canggu for the beaches and nightlife. Bali has no real off season: the monsoon runs from November to March, but the showers are short.
The Dominican Republic, Mauritius and Mexico
The Caribbean and the Indian Ocean are further afield from the Czech Republic, but still within reach. The Dominican Republic (Punta Cana) and Mexico (Cancún, Riviera Maya) deliver white sand, clear turquoise sea and a tourism machine that runs smoothly. Mauritius is the premium option in the Indian Ocean; prices are higher, but the landscape and the sea are exceptional.
Vacation planning tips
Choosing where to go gets much simpler once you answer three questions in advance.
- How much do you want to spend? On long-haul trips, the airfare sets the floor for the whole budget. Bali or Thailand can work out much the same as Greece if you catch a cheap fare. Your total budget (flight + hotel + excursions) is a better yardstick than the headline price of a package.
- When are you flying? The summer season (June–September) is the most expensive and most crowded time in Europe. Spring and fall give you the same destination cheaper and calmer. For long-haul destinations it works the other way round: the good seasons fall outside the European summer.
- What do you want from the trip? All-inclusive, active travel, or a mix of sightseeing and sea? The answer rules out whole categories of destination and cuts the shortlist down to something manageable.
Pack a vacation packing list as well – a complete checklist of documents, clothes, electronics and children's gear takes the panic out of departure day.
Getting to Prague Airport is one of those things best planned at home. If you are driving, read our tips on parking at Veleslavín as an alternative to paid parking at Prague Airport. And if you would rather have the certainty of a paid space, the page explaining how airport parking reservations work is the one you want.
Book your parking in advance and you pay less and have a guaranteed space. Leave it to departure day and you are hunting for the last free spot at a higher price. Pick the right one in our comparison tool right now.
Where to go on vacation, season by season
The right destination also depends on the time of year. Good timing saves you money as well as disappointment with the weather.
- Winter (December–February): the Canary Islands are Europe's number one for winter sun, at 22–24 °C. Further from home, Thailand is perfect (25–32 °C, dry season), along with Sri Lanka (the Jaffna coast and the east) and the Maldives (dry season, ideal). Egypt runs 20–25 °C in the daytime in winter with cool evenings, and Hurghada works all year round.
- Summer (June–September): Greece, Croatia, Spain, Italy and Turkey are at their peak temperatures, which are not always pleasant. The sea is at its warmest and every hotel is open, but this is also the priciest and busiest time. Timing matters: arriving on an island in the first half of June or in September means saving 20–40% against the August peak.
- Spring and fall (March–May, October–November): Egypt, Cyprus, Morocco and southern Spain are ideal, still warm (25–32 °C) and with far fewer tourists. Japan in spring (cherry blossom) or Jordan in spring and fall are rewarding trips outside the main season.
Where to fly on vacation with children
Flying with children puts particular demands on you, and they are worth sorting out before you settle on a destination.
A short direct flight is far easier on children than a four-hour ordeal with a connection. Greece, Bulgaria and Croatia are at the ideal distance – 1.5 to 3.5 hours, non-stop.
Beaches where the sea shelves gently are perfect for small children. Kos, Rhodes, Costa Dorada in Spain and the Albanian Riviera all have shallows where children can splash about safely a few metres from the shore.
All-inclusive with a children's activity programme removes the daily logistics of paying for meals and hunting for a restaurant. For families with children it is the obvious choice for a quiet life.
Do you or your child have a medical condition, or take medication? Read our article on who should not fly and when it is worth discussing the flight with a doctor first.
Destination picked? That just leaves the departure
Choosing the destination is the enjoyable part of planning a vacation. Sorting out the parking is rather less fun. Fortunately our comparison tool handles the whole thing in two minutes. Enter your dates, pick a guarded car park by price, distance or rating, and confirm the booking. Your car stays in a fenced compound with CCTV the whole time, the shuttle pulls up right at the terminal, and it collects you on a phone call when you land.
You will find the best-rated guarded car parks at Václav Havel Airport ranked by traveler reviews on the page listing the best-rated car parks at Václav Havel Airport. Choose one and book your space today.
No hunting for a free space on the day you fly, no paying over the odds for the last spots in high season. You pay when you get there.
