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Accommodation
Accommodation in Hungary isnât what it used to be â and thatâs a good thing. One of the most palpable signs of all the changes since the fall of communism is Budapestâs hotel boom where visitors can now find accommodation to suit most budgets and tastes. From hulking glass monoliths and beautifully-designed boutique hotels to finely preserved relics of Habsburg hospitality and homely budget accommodation, the Hungarian capital pretty much has it all and often at reasonable prices (except at hotels where it is presumed price is no object). As ever, travellers are advised to book ahead.
Every year the Hungarian Tourist Office publishes a register of accommodation, the Hotel & Camping Handbook, which is available free in Tourinform offices in Budapest (for more information, click here) or check out their website: www.tourinform.hu
The two most resplendent jewels in the crown of the Hungarian hotel scene are both refurbished 19th-century mansions. One is the old Gresham insurance building, now the magnificent Four Seasons Hotel, which faces directly onto the Danube on the Pest side of ErzsĂ©bet hĂd (Elizabeth Bridge).
The other is the splendid New York Palace on bustling ErzsĂ©bet körĂșt, whose glittering cafĂ© is well worth a visit even if you arenât staying here. Not quite as glamourous, but not far off, is the refurbished is the late 19th-century Corinthia Hotel, also on ErzsĂ©bet körĂșt. Yet even with all these additions to the Budapest accommodation scene, the city can be booked out in mid-summer.
Parking and hotels: Car theft and break-ins are widespread in Hungary. It is therefore important, if you have a car, to choose a hotel with a guarded car park or garage. This can be expensive, anywhere up to an extra 2,000 forint per night. In some cases your car is picked up by a security company and brought back whenever you need it.
Hotel Websites
There are several websites that provide details on where to stay in Hungary, including:
www.hotels.hu â has links to the various hotel chains as well as listings of campsites, spas and apartments.
www.gotohungary.com â the official Hungarian Tourist Office site. Hotels and other types of accommodation throughout the country are listed, but not their rates; for this you need to follow the links.
www.hungarianhotels.com â this is a reservation service, concentrating on Budapest, but does give a few places outside the capital. It also lists flats available for rent on a daily or monthly basis.
Note though that prices are ramped up massively for peak events, such as the Grand Prix weekend at the end of July and at Christmas and New Year. Conversely, there are considerable price reductions to be had out of season. Both reductions and surcharges will be around the 20 percent mark. The rooms are all with bath or shower, except in the case of budget hotels, where your bathroom may be separate but on the same floor. Breakfast is almost always included in the room price but do check beforehand.
Addresses
The Roman numeral at the start of Budapest addresses indicates one of the cityâs 23 districts. For visitors, the most relevant are: I â the Castle district of Buda (VĂĄr); and V â the Inner City of Pest (BelvĂĄros).
Admission Charges
Museum admission charges are reasonable, the typical fee being around 500â600 Ft (âŹ2â3), although some of the major attractions (such as the Esterhazy Palace in Fertod or the Festetics Palace in Keszthely), and many of the Budapest museums, charge in excess of 1000â1500Ft (âŹ4â6).
The Hungary Card allows the user numerous discounts throughout the country on public transport and in a wide range of restaurants and hotels. Further details can be found on www.hungarycard.hu.
If youâre doing a lot of sightseeing in the capital, the Budapest Card (www.budapestinfo.hu) represents great value. Itâs available for 24hr (4500Ft), 48hr (7500Ft) or 72hr (8900Ft), and grants free public transport in the city, free entrance to eight museums, free entry to the LukĂĄcs Baths, and two free guided walking tours. In addition, there are discounts of between ten and fifty percent on lots of other attractions, including some of the baths, plus shops and restaurants. The card is available online, from tourist offices, hotels, central metro stations and at the airport.
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Budgeting for your trip
On the whole Hungary represents great value, though do expect to pay around a third more for goods and services in Budapest. Expect to pay the following in most places: a glass of beer or wine (450Ft; âŹ1.40); restaurant: budget (1800Ft; âŹ6), moderate (3500Ft; âŹ10) and expensive (7000Ft; âŹ20); hotel: cheap (10,000Ft; âŹ30), moderate (20,000Ft; âŹ60) and luxury (33,000Ft; âŹ100); airport taxi transfer (1600â4800Ft; âŹ5â15); single bus ticket (350Ft; âŹ1.10) and a one-day pass (1650Ft; âŹ5).
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Children
From a practical point of view travelling with children will present few problems. Most of the better quality hotels are well-equipped, though youâll find very few â even in Budapest â that offer a babysitting service. Many restaurants should be able to provide high chairs. Quite a few restaurant menus now incorporate dishes for kids, albeit these can be quite predictable; a childâs portion is kisadag. All supermarkets are well stocked with the requisite nappies, baby food and other essentials.
In terms of entertainment, Budapest offers much for kids, with the likes of the Childrenâs Railway, the wonderful Zoo, and puppet theatres to keep them going â and there are loads of city parks too. Outside the capital itâs a little trickier. The most obvious destination is Lake Balaton, which, with its clean and shallow waters, is ideal for those with young ones; there are parks with water slides here too. On the same theme, an increasing number of Hungarian spas now incorporate aquaparks, always a sure fire hit. Otherwise, Hungaryâs many ...
