Budapest was nice. The citizens of Budapest are another story.
During our time in Budapest, it seemed like we were treated like crap at every restaurant. I did not figure it out until later, but there is a 15% “service charge” on all food. That means they can treat their customers like crap and still get paid.
When I found this out, I quit tipping the rude waitresses and waiters.
The one exception to this was the personnel at the youth hostel where we stayed. The staff was very friendly and ready to ask any questions we had about the city. They even made a few suggestions on landmarks we should see in the city.
The hostel its self was very nice. Although the building it was located in looked like it had just endured WWII carpet bombing, the inside was very nice and clean. We even had a balcony where we set and watch the street below. My first hostel experience was a very positive one.
In the end, I felt as though we only scratched the surface of Budapest. There is just so much to see and do that it would take more than 3 days to see it all.
When in Budapest, I highly recommend a night cruise on the Danube river. Budapest at night is simply amazing.
Besides the people, the other low point of the trip was the train ride to and from Budapest. On the way there we had to move for some reason and the group ended up in thirty different compartments. Yesterday on the way back, we ended up again in thirty different compartments because we did not reserve our seats.
Europe is definitely different from America. In America you buy a ticket and you have a seat. The same is not the case in Europe. In all I was very disappointed with the train system and I do not recommend traveling by train when in Europe.
Fly or rent a car; at least when you buy a ticket you are guaranteed a seat.
