Help! BUD to AMS in Nov 07!
 

We are flying to AMS on Oct 26 and then a quick flight (Skyeurope) the next a.m. over to BUD for 8 nights. I am having a really hard time trying to figure out how to get us back over to AMS on Nov 4, 2007! I thought I would be able to book Skyeurope on the return but the Nov 07 schedule wasn't available when I booked in March 07 (or so I thought). Now we are two months away and I am having a very hard time trying to figure out a way to get us back to AMS w/out having to pay $1,376 (the only flight I found-KLM) for a 2 hour flight!

Any advise/suggestions most appreicated!

Dawn

I checked your dates on Expedia and came up with flights on KLM for $350 per person.

Just went to Expedia and it is $665.10 per person, best price.

Our AMS to BUD is 84 Euros, total. While I wouldn't want to pay $700 US for us to fly back to AMS, that is a heck of a lot better than the $665.10 I just located on Expedia. Ouch....that is $1,330 for two people to fly 2 hours!

Any other suggestions....anything???

Dawn

wizzair BUD non-stop to Einhoven. 16,410HUF one-way, which is about $90. Then non-stop bus to Amsterdam cost 18.5€, six buses a day. Or take a bus to connect to the trains. Train part cost 16.8€ 2nd class one-way.

<b>Or</b> you can buy a one-way ticket on Alitalia BUD-MXP-AMS for US$160, all-in. Total time about 4:50.

<b>Or</b> you can buy a roundtrip ticket on Malev. Non-stop BUD-AMS. Throw away the return. TOtal 44,100HUF, or about $235.

There are other options to fly to Cologne or Brussels, or using a connection on other discount carriers. But I think the 3 options above are the best.

Cheapest by wizz. Most convenient by Malev. Alitalia in between.

Thanks! I was really hoping someone would give me a few options. I can't believe how lucky we were to get skyeurope for 84 Euros, TOTAL for both of us from AMS to BUD...I was kind of thinking I was going to get the same return. I had no idea it would cost this much to get back. For the life of me, I can't figure out why skyeurope doesn't do BUD to AMD...strange.

I think I'll go ahead and spend the $470ish and toss the return. At least it is one way.

I did see the Atilia one for $170ish...but I would rather pay $125 more and go direct.

Thanks!!!!

Dawn

&lt;&lt;&lt; I can't figure out why skyeurope doesn't do BUD to AMD...strange. &gt;&gt;&gt;

It'll be a seasonal route - last flights are Saturday 27th October which is a typical end of season date for low costs airlines

BTW re flying to Eindhoven.

If you fly on the 3rd November the price drops to around &euro;25 (yes twenty-five Euro) each

Dawn,

Skyeurope hasn't released any of its winter flights to/from BUD for booking yet.

Their summer schedule ends October 27th, so that's why you were able to book the outbound AMS to BUD.

I must say that it's unusual for an airline to release its inventory so late... They have yet to turn a profit, but did just appoint a new CFO (ex EasyJet) and had EUR 30 million in cash on hand per end March 31st 2007, so you should be OK.

In any event, they will probably release their winter seats shortly. BUD-AMS is certainly not a typical seasonal route and should be flown year-round unless Skyeurope gives up on its BUD hub entirely, which is unlikely IMO.

Hope this helps,
Andre

You might also try www.europebyair.com. I tried a flight from BUD to AMS on 11/04/07 and the best price routed through Milan but only cost $189.43 per ticket. It leaves BUD at noon and arrives at 5:40PM. Europe by Air had other choices too but they were more costly.

Dawn, I don't know where you got that price on Expedia for KLM. I just now put in the departure date of 27 Oct from AMS to BUD and a return to AMS on 4 Nov and came up with the following flights at $349.80 round trip per person:

KLM N/S 3201 from AMS at 10 AM, arriving BUD at 12 Noon

KLM N/S 3206 from BUD at 11:50 AM,
arriving AMS at 2:00 PM

If those times don't work, there are at least 4 other flights at the same $349.80 per person fare.

Kellye - I wonder why you recommend someone to use Europebyair, when booking those flights directly through Alitalia costs $30 less and no worries about extra taxes/fees to be paid.

bettyk - Is KLM's non-stop worth $115 more than Malev's non-stop? I don't think so.

I just wanted to give her another option to look at. Europe by Air does have the benefit of listing several different airline options compared to going to specific airline websites one by one. Europebyair can also show you other destinations close to Amsterdam by train which are accessible.

rkkwan, it may be worth it to the poster.

Andre:

Are you saying that there is still a possibility that Skyeurope will have a fall schedule that may include AMS to BUD? If so, that may be worth waiting for.

As for now, it appears that the suggestion to fly Malev RT from BUD to AMS (and just toss the return) is by far the best bet....$465 TOTAL for both of us.

We wouldn't mind taking that one flight to a city and then getting on a train, but since we only have four nights in AMS, I'd just assume fly for 2 hours and get to our destination.

Thanks for all of the GREAT information!!!

Dawn

RKKWAN:

Okay, you sparked my husband's adventurous side.
-----------------------------
wizzair BUD non-stop to Einhoven. 16,410HUF one-way, which is about $90. Then non-stop bus to Amsterdam cost 18.5&euro;, six buses a day. Or take a bus to connect to the trains. Train part cost 16.8&euro; 2nd class one-way.
------------------------------

I like the Express Bus option but have no idea if it even comes close to where we are staying. I will email the hotel but I think the information from this board may even be better!

Could you possibly assist us in telling me what stop would be the best if we were staying the Amsterdam Hilton? I have heard (time and time again) that it is in a semi-residential area (which actually appeals to us, not the masses though) so I know it is not in a central location.

It is Apollolaan 138, if that helps at all.

Thanks! I think we are looking at your suggestion of flying to Einhoven!!!

Dawn

Not familiar with the Hilton, but it's <b>way</b> outside Central Amsterdam. Well, the bus goes to Amsterdam Centraal, which is the transportation hub of the city. You should ask the hotel to get from there to their hotel!

You'll need to go into city center everyday during your stay anyways.

Will do....thanks! I already have an email into the hotel.

I will also call Skyeurope to see if they have any idea whether or not they will be flying to AMS from BUD in Nov.

Thanks!!!

Dawn

Hi Dawn,

Yes, calling Skyeurope would be an excellent idea - only they can give you a definite answer.

You could also e-mail them:
[email protected]
or
[email protected]

To reach the Hilton Amsterdam, you take tram 5 or 24 from the center of town and get off at the Apollolaan stop. It's about a 500 meter (5-10 min) walk down Apollolaan to the Hilton. The hotel is in a very pleasant, upscale area about 10-15 min. tram ride from the &quot;action&quot; (Museumplein, Leidseplein).

From Amsterdam airport, take a train to &quot;Station Zuid&quot; instead of one to Centraal. From Station Zuid, it's a short tram ride (10 min. max) on line 5 to the Apollolaan stop.
There's also a shuttle service, but I've never tried it:
http://www.airporthotelshuttle.nl/si...sp?HotelID=295

Hope this helps,
Andre

Very good information.

I have attempted 4 tries to email Skyeurope....never once got a reply.

I tried again today. Maybe they are &quot;out&quot; for the summer months (grin).

Thanks again...great information!

Dawn

Hi Dawn,

Well I'll be...

Check this out:
http://www2.skyeurope.com/EN/Default...mp;NewsID=1644

Skyeurope is closing both its Budapest and Krakow bases and shifting the capacity to Prague and Vienna - although they give no concrete examples of any new roues/frequencies!

So you really do need to find an alternative for BUD-AMS...

At this point, Wizzair to Eindhoven really does seem to be your best (or should I say least bad) option. Perhaps another carrier (Transavia? Easyjet?) will quickly pick up the route, but I don't want to speculate.

Hope this helps,
Andre

P.S. Tram nr. 16 is probably even more convenenient to the Hilton than lines 5/24 from Amsterdam Centraal, where the bus from Eindhoven arrives. Get off at the &quot;Emmastraat&quot; stop, turn left on Emmastraat, the Hilton is 2 blocks down on your left, across the canal.

Beethovenstraat, where trams 5/24 run, has lots of shopping/restaurants, that's why I normally end up there when I take the tram to/from the Hilton.

Hope this helps,
Andre

Thanks Andre...your post(s) are very helpful.

At this point, we are looking at Malev @ $475 (US) for us both, which considering a few of the other options (remember, we'll have luggage from the United States for a two week vacation to schlep around), seems to be our best bet.

As it is, skyeurope only allows us to have ONE 20 kilograms of checked luggage and another 10 kilogram of carry on (55x20x40 centimeters, which we don't know what that is at the moment in inches).

I will wait another week or two, but the price I got on the Malev airlines is the lowest they offer (Hot Ticket)--if I wait longer, they may sell those seats and it may go up.

Thanks again! Great information in your posts.

Dawn

Hi Dawn,

You're very welcome!

Sorry to be the bearer of bad news...

Re: centimeters to inches, there are a bunch of unit converters on the internet. Here's one:
http://www.onlineconversion.com/length_common.htm

I believe that the Malev price you quoted is for a BUD-AMS-BUD ticket, so you would still need to cope with Skyeurope's tough luggage rules on the outbound AMS-BUD flight.

Hope this helps,
Andre

If I understand it correctly, the OP is flying from the US to AMS on 10/26, arriving 10/27, then directly fly on SkyEurope to BUD.

From SkyEurope's website, they're discontinuing the route starting 10/28. So, the OP should still be okay, taking possibly the last AMS-BUD service.

Correct, to both posts.

We are flying to AMS on 10/26, spending the night at the Hilton AMS, flying out the next day to BUD on Skyeurope (who knew that would be their last flight to BUD--we surely didn't).

Anyway, I figured that we would just book a flight back to AMS from BUD on Skyeurope, as soon as their &quot;fall schedule&quot; was posted.

Thanks to the post on this board, I discovered Skyeurope no longer is flying from BUD to AMS so other options needed to be arranged.

So, the best route I found (from another post, thank you) was Malev, RT from AMS to BUD (toss away the return) for $475 for both of us. At least it is nonstop and it could be worse.

Skyeurope is definitely the one that we have to pay attention regarding baggage. They state that each of us can carry on one 10 kilogram worth of luggage and check in one 20 kilogram. Our goal is to make that happen!

Thanks everyone!

Dawn

Just want to make sure. You're arriving AMS on the 26th, and departing for BUD on 27th, right? Not departing the US on the 26th, arriving the 27th and stay a night, then flying to BUD on 28th? Correct?

Departing US on Oct 25, landing in BUD on 26th, spending the night at the Hilton AMS, flying out the next a.m. to BUD on Skyeurope #601 on October 27 for nine days in AMS.

Had no idea Skyeurope would drop their BUD to AMS schedule right after, so we are having to spend nearly $475 to get back to AMS from BUD on Nov 4th....ouch.

Dawn

Andre:

We are looking at flying into Eindhoven and taking the bus to the AMS Hilton. I can't find anything on the luggage issue regarding what I can take on the bus. We'll both have two carry ons...do you think they'll let us bring two carry on's each? I really don't want to spend nearly $500 to get us to AMS Airport....then we'd just have to get to the Hilton in AMS anyway.

Thanks!!!

Dawn

You put large luggages in the belly of the bus. There's lots of room down there, and I have never heard of an airport bus limiting luggage. Theft is usually not a problem.

You can take as much you like inside the bus, but the overheads are very small, so you basically have to put everything on the floor directly in front of your seat, or on your lap.

Dawn,

What rkkwan says - have no personal experience with this route, but luggage is generally not a problem on such bus transfers.

Here's the bus schedule:
http://www.airexpressbus.com/english...n-airport.html

Have a great trip!
Andre