The Federation of Hungarian Medical Societies (MOTESZ), of which the Hungarian Society of Plastic Surgeons is a member, has a fully registered IATA member travel agency specializing in a wide range of services for medical related travel including hotel accommodations and social programs.  Check it out by contacting:
Agnes Ratalics, MOTESZ      
Telephone: (011 361) 311 6687
Nador u 36, 1443 Budapest     
Fax: (011 361) 383 7918
Email: motesz@elender.hu

Hot Tip

Anytime you plan to be in Hungary for an extended period with a flexible schedule, check out round trip air travel to other destinations from Budapest by buying the airfare (and accommodations) in Hungarian Forints at a local travel agency.  The prices in dollars are significantly less expensive even without advance purchase.  For example, a “walk-in” price quote for next day departure from Budapest to Baltimore (my route in reverse) with connection in New York was approximately $400, two thirds less than most equivalent fares purchased in the US.  Similar fare bargains can be had for other destinations.   Depending on seat availability, the possibilities for a side trip from Budapest to, say, Spain, Russia or even Japan and back are numerous.  If you are able to acquire “locally purchased” airfare ahead of time, you can reduce the fare to even less.  There are numerous walk-in travel agencies in Budapest which are surprisingly busy, well run with knowledgeable staff and manage crowds efficiently.  They seem to have embraced the customer service aspects of privatization.  I suggest the following two for starters.

Vista Travel Agency and Center  Telephone;  (011 361) 267 8600
Andrassy ut 1, 1061 Budapest  Website including email:  www.vista.hu/english
Vista proclaims on its home page to have the “best fares in Hungary from Budapest to anywhere” and also provides information regarding tourism, incoming travel services, concerts and events as well as a visitor center, booking for ground transportation, the “best currency exchange rate” and an internet café.

For familiarity, you can always rely on the American Express Travel Agency (and they do take American Express) two blocks from the Hyatt at Deak Ferenc Ut 10, 1052, Budapest, Telephone:  (011 361) 235 4300.

Other Tips

Currency:  As of November 1999, one US Dollar equals approximately 243 Hungarian Forints.  Check this before you leave, because the Forint has been known to fluctuate significantly.

Tipping:  It is expected and appreciated.  It will also be requested on your hotel bill at checkout.  Although some consider it rude or lacking in etiquette to check a restaurant bill, do so anyway.  Like some taxi drivers, waiters have also been known to take advantage of foreigners.

Telephones:  The numbers referenced in this article include international area codes (011 361) needed to dial from the US.  To dial them in Budapest, use only the digits not in parentheses.  Calling North America from Hungary for some reason costs three times as much as the reverse.  If you must call, it is easiest to use the credit card swipe pay phone in the hotel lobby and dial 001 then the area code.  Local calls in Budapest, while affordable, are all charged per minutes of use regardless of distance. In other words, there isn’t any such thing as local calling areas.  Since this can put a crimp in surfing the web, you will find all computers rigged to only go online during the moment of transmission or reception.  Nevertheless, it is a lot cheaper to use email than telephone.  For overseas communication, use an internet café or the Hyatt’s business center pentium work stations at five dollars for the first fifteen minutes.  For local calling, purchase a phone card from the hotel gift shop and use the lobby payphones.  As in the US, phone calls from your hotel room will have exorbitant surcharges.

Public transportation:  It is efficient, cheap and reliable. Between the underground metro, commuter trains, trolleys, streetcars and buses, there is always something available to where you want to go.  A ticket costs about 70 cents and allows you to travel as far as you want on the vehicle you board.  It is up to you to punch it in a device which is periodically set to put three predetermined holes in your ticket.  Most riders do not do this because they purchase a monthly berlet or pass.  Do not be tempted to “let it go” because enforcement officers are consistent in their random and unpredictable verifications.  Get a discount a book of ten tickets, from the hotel gift shop, useable for all forms of public transportation.

Restaurants:  Much of Hungarian life and social interaction revolves around food and meals. While your choices are too numerous to discuss here, for convenience, avoid the over-priced tourist oriented restaurants.  I suggest the Merleg Restaurant on Merleg utca (street).  If you want an authentic meal in downtown (two blocks from the Hyatt), the Merleg will exceed your expectations.  The menu is typically Hungarian, delicious, frequented by locals and three persons can stuff themselves for about $25.

Shopping:  Consult your guides for the best shopping opportunities.  While the Vaci utca downtown area is one of the most popular suggestions, beware of overpriced goods, pickpockets and prostitutes.  If you need more common items for yourself or for gifts and yearn for  familiarity or just an all day shopping fix, an efficient, but not necessarily better, alternative is a three level American style shopping mall called the Duna Plaza at the Gyongyosi utca metro station (website: www.plazaclub.com).  It is easily reachable by metro and has every kind of vendor you might want in one place including a food court, movie theatres, casino, billiards, bowling, ice skating and fitness center.  Value Added Tax (VAT) can be refunded on goods only in excess of 50,000 Forints.  You must keep and present all receipts at point of departure (airport customs) which can take some time.  You can also do it by mail.  Detailed information on the procedure is available from the aforementioned tourist offices.

Websites

The internet provides unlimited information regarding travel and Hungary.  In addition to the aforementioned websites provided, you can start at any of your favorite portals like Hotbot or Yahoo.  The travel planner from the Hungarian National Tourist office has the most thorough list of Hungarian internet resources I have ever seen on page 22.  I personally prefer the intuitive search site Ask Jeeves (ask.com) where you can ask complete and specific questions rather just enter a word or phrase.  Here are some popular sites to get you started.

www.ask.com
www.atevo.com
www.priceline.com
www.discountfares.com
www.worldsbesttravelagents.com
www.expedia.com
www.lowestfare.com
www.travelolcity.com
www.netguide.com/travel
www.hungary.com
www.hungarytourism.com