Budapest Guidebook
Guidebook corrections:
Please note: The following corrections were submitted by readers and have not yet been confirmed by Rick. Check updates from Rick for the latest.
Not exactly a correction, but one thing to remind travelers that, unlike London, Dublin, etc., Budapest restaurants and hotels are not non-smoking. We had a wonderful trip, but I wished I had remembered this and packed some Febreeze.
Amy in Chicago, IL USA 12/04/2011
The Great Synagogue in Budapest has a different pricing structure than was mentioned in the book and is more expensive.
Linda in Holly, MI USA 10/06/2011
Re the post on the laundry behind the Opera being gone: The laundry service at 24-26 O Utca WAS THERE as of June 29, and it did not show any sign of going out of business. If this has gone out of business since then then a clarification is needed here. The laundry is a bit difficult to find in this complex, perhaps the poster missed it.
Margaret Plotkin in Elkins Park, PA USA 07/26/2011
The laundromat behind the opera house is no longer there.
Emily fink in West Chester, pa USA 07/18/2011
I recently went to Budapest. The Eastern Europe guide book says that there is an ATM and a bank located in the Keleti train station. I just wanted to let you know that there is no ATM or bank at that station. After walking around for 30 minutes or so and checking every inch of the train station we finally went into the information center and they confirmed that there was no ATM in the train station. Since it was raining heavily and the closest ATM was about a block away I reluctantly took 60 American dollars out of my money belt and exchanged it at one of the many money exchange places in the station. That was enough to buy us our 3 day metro passes and get us to our hotel. I imagine that the money exchange places probably forced out the bank. I rarely travel with American money but just happened to has some with me on this trip. I would definatley recommend bringing some US dollars (or whatever your local home currency is) for emergencies such as this.
Francine Miller in Seminole, FL USA 05/18/2011
The weekly mass transit ticket "hetijegy" does NOT require a photo and costs 4,700 Forints.
Gabrielle Donnald in Sykesville, MD USA 11/29/2010
Budapest overview map on pages 32-33. The scale is POINT 5km and POINT 5 miles, not 5 for each. makes a big difference!. Same error is on this map in the Eastern Europe book.
Margaret Plotkin in Elkins Park, PA USA 11/26/2010
The Zona Taxi ride from the airport to the Marriott was 5200 FT plus a 500 FT tip.
Dick Simpson in Cincinnati, OH USA 09/26/2010
At the Keleti Train Station, there is now no passageway to the Metro station because of construction there. Also, we couldn't find an ATM in the station and had to find a bank near there. I loved Budapest, but the Keleti train station as a bit intimidating on arrival.
Barbara Moors in Ypsilanti, MI USA 08/14/2010
This is perhaps more a matter of perception, but the guidebook makes it seem that Budapest is an unwieldy city requiring extensive use of public transportation. On the contrary, most sights are easily reached by walking. The only exception seems to be the Szechenyi Baths, that are easily reached via the single line Millennium Underground.
Teri in Pittsburgh, PA USA 07/25/2010
Update: The clunky entrance procedure to the Szechenyi baths has improved quite a bit. Visitors now are given a plastic wristband to wear that contains a device that works with various scanners on the walls near the rented cabins. Simply hold the main part of the wristband to the scanner and a unique cabin number will be generated. You can then proceed to the designated cabin and hold your wristband to the lock and the door will open. Only one wristband will work for each lock and the cabin will lock securely behind you when you leave. When you leave the baths you return the wristband to a machine at the exit/entrance points. The attendants were helpful at all times for folks getting muddled up with this.
Carole Toebe CA USA 07/09/2010
Arrived in Budapest Keleti main train station on June 3,2010, 7:30pm after first Eurailpass leg Munich-Budapest. Had to find money and underground tickets and find the underground. Hmmm, the Keleti train station is completely under construction! There are only money exchangers in the train station and one must walk out of the train station, through boardwalks over muddy torn up streets, to get across the square to banks with 24 hour ATMs. And because of the construction, there is no internal walking path between the train station and the underground...one must walk out to street level and then down in the subway where you will find ticket booths, both automatic and personed (nothing is signed in English of course.) I probably felt the most anxiety about arriving at night in Hungary not speaking anything close to this language, and had to mentally regroup when the guidebook's descriptions didn't match my immediate experience. So, my traveler's instinct had to kick-in and search for the solution to the problem presented. Made it through and considered it a good experience for any future encounters with "it didn't say that in the guidebook!"
Amy M. in Boulder, CO USA 07/07/2010
Széchenyi Baths
We just returned from Budapest and visited the complex a few days ago. There's a whole new price structure there and a different way of doing things:
We visited on a Friday. The costs were as follows for just the outdoor pools: 3100 FT for admission + locker 3500 FT for admission + changing cabin As with the book, you have to purchase one or the other, and my wife and I shared a cabin. We were given a receipt by the cashier.
Upon entry through the turnstyle, another woman issued us a plastic watch-like device that strapped onto our arms. That device was held to a scanner that registered it and issued us a corresponding locker and cabin number – since we purchased one of each.
The cabins and lockers have a locking mechanism on each door that is also controlled by this watch-like device. One simply passes the wristband over the scanner on the door – a red light means "not correct" and a blue light signals the unlocking of the door. This was a simple and efficient way to control the process and secure the "key" while in the water.
When we finished after 2 hours, I asked about the refund mentioned in the book – I was told there are no longer refunds. So I assumed by that the fee covered as long as we wanted, I never saw anything about "3 hours."
To exit, we dropped the "watch" into a receptacle that then unlocked a turnstyle.
Another note: they rent plastic lounge chairs with adjustable backs (no pads) by the hour. It was 200FT per hour/per lounge plus 1000 FT deposit. You have to find the "chair manager" or he will find you if not paid/registered. The fee is taken from the deposit depending on how long you use the lounge.
You might also mention that they serve food and drink there (including beer) at several snack shops. There seemed to be no issue with having food poolside – we even saw some people that brought their own lunch. The Baths have a self-serve restaurant that doesn't require admission and looks out over the pools – we did not eat there or check the menu.
Please contact me if you have any questions.
Blaise Nauyokas in San Diego, CA USA 07/04/2010
At the Szechenyl Baths, tt now costs 3500 Ft for a changing cabin, and 3100 Ft for each additional person (no discount for children). There is no refund for a stay of less than 3 hours.
Michael Sherwood in Prescott Valley, AZ USA 06/30/2010
no
arthur stein in bethesda, md USA 05/31/2010
Hungarians don't want to be called Eastern Europeans. They consider themselves Central Europeans.Both my parents came from Budapest, and I speak Hungarian.
Ildiko Carrington in DeKalb, IL USA 04/29/2010
This isn't strictly a correction -- it's a suggested addition. We ate at Kisbuda Gyongye, a traditional, loaded-with-atmosphere restaurant in Obuda, which was very good. Address: 1034 Budapest, Kenyeres utca 34. www.remiz.hu Once you've polished off their goose liver plate, you won't have to eat goose liver again in your lifetime.
Richard and Karen in Montpelier, VT USA 01/27/2010
In general most of the prices were listed in the book as lower than they actually were.
Heather in Cleveland, OH USA 08/05/2009
The Pest Town Center walk- Pg 137 When it says "Head for the river, Take the street that runs along the left side of the big glass building at the bottom of Vorosmarty ter..." It does take you to the Promenade.. but not where it thinks you end up. You end up directly along side the Marriot, not between the Marriot and the Pesti Vigado. It is very confusing because it implies you are someplace else. I htink the Pesti Vigado is to the right- then you back-track to the Marriot and follow the directions again.
Also- I could not recognize at all where he was when he mentions the "Little Paris" Square in page 139.
On Page 141 where it indicates to turn right and walk along Karolyi Utca- you will not find the street name here because it is a ter- and the signs all say the ter name- not the street name. I peeked at the map and trusted the book- and even though there is no-where the name of the street the book gives- trust it and go.. eventually that street name shows up after you get passed the square. (Thank goodness a friend told me all streets in the ter bear the name of the ter... helped me to not worry about where I was)
I LOVED the guidebook! It was the ONOY reference I used during my trip- and this was the only walk I had any difficulties at all with- everything else was spot on!
Laurianna Murray in Minneapolis, MN USA 07/31/2009
For the most part I found that your price list were way off. For example the Gellert Spa has inflated their prices
Heather in Cleveland, OH USA 07/29/2009
In the recommendation for Cafe Kavehaz in Pest, it mentioned 1,000 Ft sandwiches. While we loved the cafe and enjoyed our pick me up, we did not see any sandwiches on the menu, and certainly nothing for 1,000 Ft. I don't know if they changed the menu after Rick's visit or not, but we were a bit disappointed. We did, however, enjoy fresh asparagus soup and wonderful cappuccino, and the atmosphere of course!
Andrea Cole in Rockville, MD USA 05/26/2009