Hungary: Costs and Impressions

We have come up 7% under budget. We are surprised, but nonetheless pleased.

Why are we surprised? Well, Hungary lacks mountains but it is overloaded with spas and thermal baths. So, we didn’t have an issue of swapping strenuous, free trekking for indulgent, chargeable baths. This, of course, has caused the Activities budget going through the roof. But we haven’t minded that much. We are very careful with money, but we are also aware that we may have only one chance to visit these places. So, we had better make the most of it.

To give you an example of what we mean by being careful with money, we visited a few spas but we didn’t slash on luxury treatments, we just went to public spas, where most locals go.

The other category that has gone over budget has been, once again, travel. We are now conscious that this will be the case in every single country, as we underestimated our fuel costs.

So once again, accommodation costs are nil. Public parking places in Hungary do not ban motorhomes.

Dora has been a good girl, so there has been no need for repairs or maintenance.

Food is quite cheap in Hungary. Our meal out in Eger only cost us €26 including wine. The additional €26 relates to lunches in Budapest, where we didn’t bother to take a picnic.

Therefore, savings under these three categories have offset the spas costs. Overall, we have come up 7% under budget which equates to €50. As our daily budget is €69, this means we would have been able to spend an extra day in Hungary, but perhaps, not going to a spa this time.

Our impressions of Hungary:

Spas

This is the must-do thing in Hungary. There are plenty of choices: public, private, treatments, luxury, fun, relaxing…

What has really impressed us is the variety on offer, this is obviously somewhat down to us doing the research and choosing quirky places to visit, which has meant each has been really different and really special.

Water

Hungary sits on an underground lake, hence the thermal baths. But they have also plenty of lakes where you can enjoy boat trips and other water sports. You cannot leave the country without visiting at least Lake Balaton.

Not to forget our underground boat trip!

Countryside

Flat and, therefore, a bit dull. We love mountains and Hungary has none.

However travelling across the Great Plain with its amazing big expanses of crops and sky, all that wheat, all those happy sunflowers swaying in the breeze, beautiful.

The capital

Absolutely stunning. Highly recommended.

Buda: historical, cultural, imperial, majestic.

Pest: Interesting, trendy, dynamic.

I cannot believe that I have no recollections from this city the last time I visited over twenty years ago. A great city which I would love to return to.

Walking along the Danube

Romantic, enchanting, soothing.

We have spent a lot of time at various points on the Danube, maybe we need to organise a cruise down it!

The towns

Delightful. Most have plenty of green spaces and colourful gardens. Classic architectural style dominates but you could still find surprises. Isn’t it Gary?

Quite a lot of Art Nouveau which has been nice to see.

Food

Gulyas; a surprise. Hungarian Goulash is not the Goulash we know in the UK. The former is a rather light, meaty soup. The latter, a hearty, meaty casserole, ideal for a wintery Sunday afternoon.

They do have an equivalent to our goulash, Porkoit, but never got to try!

Halaszle; a traditional fish soup, a bit dull, but then it may be that the restaurant’s where I had wasn’t that good. Maybe if I had a home-made one…

People

I am afraid, we cannot comment on this one. Sometimes travelling in Dora is like travelling in nutshell, we don’t get to interact that much. Of course if we were to go where most motorhomes go, i.e. campsites, we may have more chances, but even then you are most likely to meet foreigners, not locals.

SM & GDR