If you haven't already been to Prague yourself then you will almost certainly have friends that have been and if you are reading this article you are probably planning a trip there in near future.

There are plenty of other articles that will tell you where to visit, what to see, where to get cheap beer and how not to be ripped off by taxi drivers. This article is about the holiday letting market in Prague and how to get the most from it.

When booking a city break or vacation in Prague most people immediately consider hotels with a recognisable brand. This is fine and you will no doubt have a great time staying there - but at a price! If 3 couples are travelling together and staying in 3 hotel rooms you could typically pay up to $600 plus taxes for the group - PER NIGHT! The same quality of accommodation in a Prague holiday apartment will normally cost $120 per night. Just think how much more beer, or wooden toys or boat trips down the Vltava you can buy with that!

Where to Stay? For obvious reasons many people are attracted to the Old Town Square or the immediate vicinity to the Charles Bridge. If you are thinking about this then consider the following:

• Stag and Hen parties congregate in these areas and can be very noisy, particularly late at night.
• Czechs congregate here for key sporting events normally shown on Huge TV screens - check you dates carefully.
• Pickpockets and street prostitutes frequent these areas.
• Prague city centre is very small and most places are either within walking distance or are served by excellent public transport links (metro and trams)
• Hotels and Apartments are generally more expensive in these areas.
• There are many other areas of Prague that are quieter, cheaper and well connected to the rest of the city. One of the most popular areas in my experience is Vinohrady (the Royal Vineyard). The architecture is fantastic with a real caf