One half of the former Czechoslovakia and home to both the ‘velvet revolution’ and the ‘velvet divorce’, the Czech Republic is a popular and beautiful country with all manner of visitors and investors.  The Czech Republic is a country of low mountains, plains and rolling hills in the West and a hilly countryside to the East. The temperate climate does little to discourage people from visiting the wonderful cities of the country such as the incredibly popular Prague, and foreign investment is on a constant increase throughout the country, helping the economy to flourish and the nation to carry on with the levels of growth it has experienced.

The independent state of Czechoslovakia was formed in 1918, though the country fell under Communist rule of the Red Army in 1948, with the country towing the Communist line vehemently – that is until the late sixties, when a new leadership emerged and began a series of liberalising reforms to the nation in what was known as the ‘Prague Spring’. These reforms were short-lasted though, and after a few months the Soviets sent in their military to force compliance with the Communist way. Once again a strict Soviet line was followed by Czechoslovakia until the collapse of the Soviet Union, when the Czechs gained their independence in what is known to some as the ‘Velvet Revolution’ – after over forty years of Communist rule the country shrugged off the former regime with no shots fired and no aggression seen. The new independent state did not last though, and internal disarray lead to the ‘Velvet Divorce’ of January 1st, 1993 when Czechoslovakia was formally split into two separate nations – Slovakia and the Czech Republic. It has not taken long for the Republic to establish itself on an international scale, with NATO membership attained in 1999 and EU accession following in 2004.

A popular country full of beautiful landscapes and incredible architecture, with wonderfully friendly people and a collection of artistes from all over the world – the Czech Republic is a fascinating country well worth at least a visit, and an ever-strengthening economy and impetus on foreign investment helps to show that the country is ideal for property opportunities.

The standards of healthcare in the Czech Republic are generally good and a reciprocal agreement with the UK means British nationals are entitled to free treatment for accidents or illnesses – medicines and dental care do have to be paid for, however. As is the norm, health insurance is recommended for any visits abroad.

Mobile phone coverage stretches across the whole country, though obviously quality of service cannot be guaranteed in rural areas. Landlines are widely available and a mass modernisation scheme means more than 80 percent of lines are of an excellent standard. Internet cafes can be found in major towns and cities.

General banking hours in most areas are from 0800 to 1800 Mondays to Fridays, with some banks closing early on Fridays. Normal office hours are from 0800 to 1600, Monday to Friday, with a number of businesses closing through July and August for holiday periods. Shopping hours are normally 0800 to 1800 Monday to Friday and 0800 to 1200 on Saturdays, with more shops beginning to open on Sundays or for 24 hours.

Formal suits are expected of business meetings, and a knowledge of German is recommended as it is more widely used than English with older generations.

A tip of five to ten percent is normal, though not mandatory.