31 May, 2008 | Leave a Comment

I’m going to Budapest in little more than a week! The purpose of my trip is to have some dental work done. I need to have relatively minor (yet very expensive) dental surgery. I can’t afford to do it in London, so I am going to do it in Budapest. This may seem strange, but a lot of Western Europeans go to Budapest for dental work, primarily Germans and Austrians and now, increasingly, the British too.

I’ve decided to combine all of this with a little holiday. I desperately need a holiday — preferably two whole weeks away, if I can afford it. I am flying to Budapest, staying there for four days and then I am taking the train back to London. The question is, what to see and do along the way back to London? I know I want to go to Prague for a few days. I had my heart set on Austria, but the UEFA tournament (football/soccer) is being held there throughout June, so I don’t think it’s a good idea to go. Do you think this assumption is right?

This is all rather last minute, so I don’t have much time to plan. Any advice/tips/suggestions on which route I should take back to London would be greatly appreciated. I will probably buy a rail pass. I’ve traveled almost everywhere in Western Europe (though not Scandinavia or Portugal, but I probably can’t do those on this trip). My goal is not necessarily to see anything new, just to feel invigorated. A mix of big cities and small-town quaintness would be good. I just like wandering around mostly. I’d also love any tips re: Budapest. I went there once before on a day-trip from Vienna, but remember virtually nothing. I may be in pain while in Budapest, but I still hope to see some sights.

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1. william Says:

   June 1st, 2008 at 11:06 am

   I want to go to Austria with you!!!

2. Vol Abroad Says:

   June 2nd, 2008 at 8:29 am

   No, I don’t think it’s a good idea to avoid Austria. It will be festive fun.

   Go to the weirdo baths at the Hotel Gell=something or other. I wish I had.

   I didn’t much care for Budapest when I went, but glad I did go. I also suggest going to the national museum to see the comprehensive history of Hungary.

   Turns out that nothing is ever their fault.

3. Anglofille Says:

   June 2nd, 2008 at 8:19 pm

   I’ve decided to go to Austria in October or November, when I have to return to finish my dental procedures. I was in Paris during the Rugby World Cup and there were drunk men everywhere!

   I think you mean Hotel Gellert. Someone else has recommended that to me as well, so I will check it out. I’m not tremendously excited about Budapest itself, though perhaps I will feel differently once I get there.

4. Caroline Says:

   June 5th, 2008 at 5:09 am

   Gellert is for high-end business travelers on expense accounts. Not for you if you are making 33 grand a year.

   Go to Romania, Hungary’s dotty,disheveled neighbor. Magical, unpredictable and strange, with three time warps going on (medieval Europe, commie Stalinism, and funky 80s) and an anarchic Latin streak. Also tres affordable. I have been five times & love it…

5. Gregory Says:

   June 7th, 2008 at 3:55 am

   I do work with cerebral palsy kids, rasiing funds for one of them at the Peto Institute.

   The Gellert says a lot about the differnce between an Austro-Hungarian and a Prussian, they were building it during WWI.

6. Vol Abroad Says:

   June 7th, 2008 at 1:07 pm

   You don’t have to stay at the Gellert to use the baths - so you can stay someplace less expensive.

   Romania is way more fun than Budapest.

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