Ok, I've begun to plan my vacation in Budapest for March. Since all of you were so helpful in making my vacation in Prague a success, I thought I would ask again ... so here goes ...<BR><BR>For this trip, I will also be going to Vienna, and I'd first like to know if 5 days is enough to spend in Budapest. I've already been to Vienna and plan to return for 3-4 days. I'd appreciate hotel recommendations -- I'd like to not spend more than $60 per night which should include a private bath or shower and breakfast. The hotel should be well located, in a safe area (since I'm going alone), and close to public transportation. Also, what are the must sees and things that were a complete waste of time. Restaurant recommendations are also appreciated.<BR><BR>I was thinking of flying into Budapest as I found a great airfare for $453, and am planning to take the train to Vienna. However, because an open jaw ticket would cost me well over a $1,000, I was also thinking about flying from Budapest to Vienna roundtrip. Has anyone done this, and which inter-European airlines should I look at. The flight is only 45 minutes each way, compared to 3 hours each way on the train. If the cost is not prohibitive, I'd rather fly unless the views from the train are spectacular. <BR><BR>Any insight that you have will be greatly appreciated, and I promise to write another entertaining travelogue during my stay.<BR><BR>Happy holidays,<BR><BR>Leslie

I just visited Budapest and Vienna last week. 3rd time to Budapest, 1st time to Vienna. I did a round trip from JFK to Budapest and the train from Budapest to Vienna and back. I enjoyed the train trip - it had snowed that morning so the countryside was beautiful, not spectacular. On my first visit I got a single room at the Gellert - a small room with a twin bed & shower for about $45 - breakfast and use of the thermal baths was included. The room was small - practically a closet, but I for my first visit was more than adequate. Good location. <BR><BR>http://www.danubiusgroup.com/<BR><BR>Hope this helps....<BR><BR><BR><BR>

Favorites: I loved the monument at the top of the Gellert hill cliff - like a Russian Statue of Liberty. Parliament building is unforgettable from outside - don't know inside. Beautiful bridges. Ride a cheap cruise boat for a few hours on river - great. Incredible deal at Szechenyi Spa. + Great art museum & Hosok Tere monument right next to it. (Less impressed with museum near palace.) Fabulous food, nice people. Try the goulash - fantastic! Killer jazz band "Plastic Ohara" at club Fono Budai Zenehaz. Can't recommend the Radisson - stamped out hotel with loud American tourists. Anyway have a great time.

Checking out Expedia.com, I found Malev Hungarian Airline flights for $239 round trip from Budapest to Vienna and $312 round trip on Austrian Airlines. I didn't know your exact dates of travel, so you may get something different. First class train travel appears to be around $100 plus any reservation fees.

Hi Leslie, I spent 7 days there two years ago and did not run out of things to do. This may be more than you need, but there is a lot to do and see there. Try to go to the opera if you can. It is very inexpensive approx. $14 for the best seat in the house. The food is excellent and also very inexpensive. Coming back from Romania last Sept we stopped for a night and went to a very nice restraint. about $10/person. There is a open air park (Szoborpark) about 15k from the city where the Hungarians placed the Soviet monuments that were not destroyed in the early 90's. Andressy street is very nice to wander down. The National museum is worth several hours. There is a museum where Ignazia Semmelweise was born. Capital hill is worth most of a day. There is a great food market near the chain bridge. It is a beautiful city. Have a great time.<BR>Regards,<BR>Art <BR><BR>

The round trip train trip, 2nd class, cost about 7000 Forints, which works out to about $25. <BR><BR>I would also suggest Andras Torok's, Budapest, A Critical Guide. Five very easy to follow walks and tons of information.

5 full days is probably sufficient, though you can fill more. A lot depends on your interests. I'd encourage you to take the full-day "Danube Bend" tour with an operator that uses live, multilingual guides (CityRama is one), to also see Estergom, Visegrad, Szentendre, and drive past Aqvincum.<BR><BR>Others may have good hotel ideas; my experience starts at about $72/day (Taverna, on Vaci utca) and goes up from there.<BR><BR>Flying RT between Vienna and Budapest won't prove time-saving due to travel to/from airports, plus check-in time, security, etc. And, the train ride is not bad.<BR><BR>As someone else noted, you can do better on the airfare if flying from the Northeast -- like NYC or Boston. <BR><BR>Restaurants -- most tourist traps are fairly easy to identify. Matyas Pince is also frequented by tourists but is probably worthwhile -- and was where a couple of Hungarian friends entertained visitors. Fatal has good food and good prices, attracts many locals, and looks for table turnover more than the typical Hungarian restaurant, but is still worthwhile.<BR><BR>Rod

Everyone thanks for the info, please keep it coming. I'm trying to determine where to stay in Budapest. It seems that besides the city being divided by the Danube River into Buda and Pest, that there are districts within both Buda and Pest, eg. the "Green District". Please advise if one area is more preferable than another. Also, I've checked on some hotels, and these interest me so far: <BR><BR>Charles Apartment House aka Charles Hotel <BR>Hotel Kalmar <BR>Beatrix Pension <BR>Gold Hotel Buda<BR>Hotel Pava Plaza<BR><BR>Does anyone have any opinions about these hotels -- the rates for March range anywhere from $35 to $65 per night, including breakfast and VAT, but excluding the 4% tourist tax. All are either 3 or 4 star hotels. It truly stretches my budget to travel during low season.<BR><BR>I've also decided to take the train between Budapest and Vienna roundtrip, instead of flying. Rod, thanks for reminding me about all the extra time I need to add in to the flight time when comparing it to the train. And, yes, I am flying out of Boston on Swiss Air via Zurich -- the airfare is $453 RT. The only direct flight to Budapest on Malev Airlines is out of JFK, and I wouldn't actually be saving any time or money trekking from Boston to JFK (and then doing it in reverse when I come home), as the layover in Zurich is only 90 minutes. And before anyone reminds me that Swiss Air filed for bankruptcy protection, I know that. Swiss Air will be changing its name to Swiss Airlines to try to maintain its identity. <BR><BR>I'm looking forward to any insight you can share.<BR><BR>Regards,<BR><BR>Leslie

Hi, Leslie<BR>Definitely take the train,flying time is only 45 min, but from hotel to hotel it takes more than 3 hours.<BR>The train ticket is valid for Vienna public transport for 3 days,but this I'll check for you because may be it's only for Hungarians.<BR>For the hotels.Beatrix is on the Buda side, beautiful residential area ,very far from the city ,inconvenient for a 4 days visit.Charles and Gold are very near to each other,Buda side,by bus only 10 min from the city center,but there's nothing next to the hotels, no pubs, no shops, no people walking nearby,you can't walk to a restaurant to have dinner.Nearly 200000 commuters coming from the western suburbs to the city center are passing in front of the hotelsso it can be very noisy.<BR>Pava is in a newly renovated area, but only one block is nice, the surrounding area is not suitable for for solo traveler.<BR>I'd suggest to stay in the city center,I've found the following hotels:<BR>Best Western Hotel Art www.hotels.hu/bwhotelart<BR>City Panzi&oacute; M&aacute;ty&aacute;s www.taverna.hu<BR>Hotel Erzs&eacute;bet www.danubiusgroup.com/erzsebet<BR>All are in the very heart of the city, a lot of sights in walking distance, the price for March for a single room is 30-60 usd.Note that the period 03.29.-31 is Eastern, so the prices are everywhere higher.<BR>If you have any question about Hungary, feel free to ask<BR>Eva

Dear Eva,<BR><BR>You are a gem and have a wealth of information, and I am indebted to you for the information on the hotels I had selected. I did not select wisely, but, I didn't have a map either. I'll look at the hotels you suggested, as I do prefer to be in the city center. Do you mind if I email you directly if I have other questions, or would you prefer that I post my questions here?<BR><BR>

Hi Leslie<BR><BR>It's fantastic being called a gem.I'm a guide in Budapest for 17 yrs,I know a lot about practical things.My e-mail is a real one so you can write me.<BR>From 12.21. till 12.26 I won't be home,that period I can't answer<BR>Eva

Hi, we recently booked a Michelin 5 star hotel in Budapest from Priceline.com. We ended up getting a reservation at the Marriott (all rooms face the Danube) for $50 plus taxes, for 3 nights total it was $177.00. We're staying there the middle of January. The hotel is actually in Pest. Hope this information can be helpful to someone.

Irene,<BR>Is there a site to see the hotel from marriot?<BR>I have been to budapest and stayed in one hotel there but seems much cheaper at your hotel then the one i stayed at.<BR>I stayed at the pava plaza. short walk to the metro and the river.<BR>May go in end of jan or early feb for a week.<BR>Like to see the hotel and how you got that price.<BR>Dan

Leslie,<BR>I've been to Budapest twice - unfortunately not for long each time. I did manage to visit the Fine Arts Museum and the Opera House (they have a fun little walking tour). I also did take two side trips to Estergom and Szentendre (St. Andrew). Both are worth the trips - Szentendre is a cute little village with shops and museums to visit.<BR>Have fun!

Forgot to add:<BR>The views of Parliament from the fisherman's bastian on the top of Gellert Hill is great - there's also a church up there - Mattias Church??