A weeklong vacation abroad without spending a crown for accommodation sounds enticing, no doubt. Czech’s aren’t particularly excited about such a notion even in time of an economic crisis, perhaps because, in return, they’d have to offer their home or flat to a family from abroad.
Outside of the country, this form of travel has been around for decades. And no wonder it has, because accommodation is often the most expensive element of a vacation. In the 20 years during which Czech citizens have had the chance to engage in such exchanges, the demand hasn’t risen tremendously.
“In the past few years, the demand has stabilised. A few dozen families partake in the exchanges, but no substantial wave of demand has arrived with the crisis,” said Antonín Macháček, representative of the NGO Intervac, which mediates the exchanges.
Czechs find it hard to lend their houses to people they’ve never met. “Czechs are very conservative; they worry about their property. Those who are willing to undergo the exchange must be above it – often people who have travelled with leanings towards an alternative lifestyle,” notes Hana Ferstl Darlington of Home Exchange Czech.
“Some people clutch to their property. They might have spent a long time saving up for their flat and, now, aren’t willing to let complete strangers into their homes, their beds. They fear that someone will go through their drawers or they are messy and ashamed of it. Even 20 years after the revolution, the language barrier also plays a role,” Macháček adds to the list of reasons why Czechs aren’t jumping on the bandwagon of home exchanges.
Foreigners’ interest in the Czech Republic declines
The home exchange phenomenon has also been affected by a dwindling number of foreign visitors. The same goes for those who have visited the country for a home exchange as other foreigners.
“A number of times, we’ve seen visitors robbed, be it by pickpockets or in restaurants, where they felt no shame for charging foreigners CZK 500 for half a duck. The word about such things spreads fast. We partake in exchanges ourselves and are clearly witnessing a decline in demand. While in the past, 20 or 30 people a year expressed interest in our offer, now, it’s five at most,” Antonín Macháček pointed out.
It is exactly this infamous reputation of the Czech Republic that depresses its credit. Coupled with the lacking tourist facilities outside of Prague, foreign visitors don’t feel urged to return once they’ve visited the country.
Home43, a company that has been mediating exchanges starting this year, is attempting to crush the Czechs’ unwillingness to open their digs up to others with in-the-country swaps.
“We know that this is how it works, though unofficially, without a mediator. Two families simply swap their cottages for the week. Many others, on the other hand, rent their cottages. And this is no different. It’s simply tied to an official contract. Some cottage owners have already made use of our website to initiate contact,” Ferstl Darlington says.
