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Budapest: Europe’s Spa City
In 1873, Buda, Pest, and Óbuda, three Hungarian cities grouped together on the banks of the Danube River, were consolidated into the city we know today at Budapest. In 1934, Budapest gained the title of “Spa City,” celebrating a geography that significantly predates human civilization. Sitting on top of more thermal springs (118 different sources) than any other capital city in the world, Budapest boasts baths that stretch back to the Romans and that were later influenced by 140 years of Turkish occupation. The “bath culture” is so much a part of the city’s personality that a visitor must experience it before they can truly say they have seen Budapest.
Whether or not you believe in the medicinal aspects of thermal bathing, spending time in the baths is relaxing at the very least. While the bathing experience is likely to be unique, the edifices that contain them are also fascinating. Several houses (Király, Rudas, and Rácz) are from the Turkish period, while others (Széchenyi, Gellért, and Lukács) were built during the city’s golden age in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. A visit to these architectural marvels is a must even for nonbathers.
If you want to see what the fuss is about, you can just take a taste or go for full immersion. Glasses of the “healing waters” can be purchased in the Rudas ivócsarnok (drinking hall), at the entrance of the Lukács baths, or outside Széchenyi. If, on the other hand, you want to “take the plunge” and try out the bath scene, you are in for an adventure.
You can select from around 50 spas, baths, or public pools, some of which are attached to hotels. Many offer additional services including as medical treatments, mud packs, sauna, and massage. Men and women generally use the baths on separate days or use separate facilities.
Your bathing experience may literally be a foreign experience. Pricing and etiquette are likely to be confusing at first; as with any ritualistic pursuit, common practice does not necessarily follow common sense. For example, in most baths you must pay for the longest possible duration when you enter. Upon leaving, you receive a refund based on the actual time you spent on premises. You are given a chip card upon entry; keep careful track of the card because if you lose it you are assumed to have stayed for the maximum time and you will not receive a refund.
Generally speaking, the bath system is not particularly tourist-friendly, starting with the ticket window. Don’t be surprised to see a long list of prices for different services with no English translations. To help you decipher the list, here are a few of the more common services that you might want to ask for:
- Uszoda: pool
- Termál: thermal pool
- Fürdo: bath
- Gozfürdo: steam bath
- Törülközo orlepedo: towel rental:
- Öltözo: free locker (usually included in the entry fee)
- Kabin: private cabana
Drink plenty of water before starting the bathing experience. There are drinking fountains available in every facility. You will likely be unaccustomed to the hot water and steam of the baths, so be sure to eat something beforehand to stave off lightheadedness and other physical side effects.
Bring a bathing suit and thong sandals with you; you will also need a bathing cap if you will be swimming in the pools. If you do forget to pack a suit, you can rent one on premises. Towels are generally provided, but only as you go back into the locker room after bathing. If you will want a towel before this point, bring your own along.
You are going to want to wash your hair after spending time in the sulphuric waters. Soap/shampoo is only allowed in the showers; however, bring these with you to the bath area so you won’t have to go back to the cold locker room to fetch them.
There is no particular order in which people move from one facility to the next; do whatever feels most comfortable. In the single-sex baths, nude bathing is the custom and the norm. Extra services such as a massage or a pedicure) are usually received after using the baths.
Tipping is can be confusing. In most but not all bathhouses, locker room attendants do not expect tips, but would certainly welcome a small tip. Masseurs and pedicurists expect tips.
One of the best ways to prepare for the ins and outs of the Budapest bathing culture is to seek out your hotel’s concierge or manager and ask them to give you hints and tips to make the most of the experience. They will be able to help you get the most out of it with the fewest possible etiquette errors!
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Book your airline tickets to Budapest today! |
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Your Pet as a Frequent (or Occasional) Flyer
Have you thought about bringing your pet along on your next trip? If you can meet the airline’s requirements for in-cabin or cargo travel, there is no reason to leave that member of the family at home.
Each airline has its own guidelines for travel; these can usually be found on its web site. Research this information thoroughly and call to ask questions if you are unclear on anything. Ask as many questions as you need to in order to be full informed as you proceed.
Generally, healthy animals over eight weeks old that have a current health certificate are allowed to fly. The first stop to make, therefore, when determining your pet’s suitability for flight is your veterinarian. Ask if they think that the stress of air travel could cause serious complications, or if the high altitude will cause any physiological difficulties.
You will need an airline-approved pet carrier; again, check the airline’s web site for details.
If at all possible, stay away from flights with stopovers or plane changes. The more changes there are, the more likely it is that some kind of glitch will occur.
As far as when to fly, weekdays are usually less hectic—and therefore less stressful—than weekend flights. If your pet is traveling in the cargo hold, keep in mind that it may wait a bit to be loaded and unloaded from the plane. Therefore, when traveling in the summer, book early morning or late evening flights, when the air temperature is lower. Conversely, stick to warmer midday flights in the winter. Many airlines have a minimum/maximum temperature range in which animals can be flown; this is another item to research on the web site or when talking to a representative.
Half a million dogs and cats travel annually on commercial airlines in the U.S. Ninety-nine percent make the trip without incident. But that remaining one percent is still a large enough number to remind you to proceed conscientiously and cautiously when including your pet on a trip. |
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WING TIPS:
Breezing Through Security
Though regulations governing airport security checkpoints will vary from location to location and may continue to change, here are some general rules of thumb that will help you breeze through security with minimum hassle and stress.
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While you are packing, review the Permitted and Prohibited Items list published by the Transportation Security Administration to make sure that you are not taking things in your carry-on that will get confiscated
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Arrive well before the boarding time for your flight to allow for unexpectedly long lines or the need to have your bags searched
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Have your boarding pass and photo identification (passport, driver’s license, state ID card, etc.) in hand before you get to the security “gatekeeper” who lets you into the checkpoint area
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Do what the security staff request of you and refrain from becoming upset or belligerent. Such behavior is likely to cause them to single you out for more thorough searching and more time spent getting through the checkpoint than would otherwise be necessary
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Plan on removing your shoes and belt before walking through the scanner. Have little or no metal in your traveling outfit. Put your cell phone, keys, change/money clip, PDA, lighter, or other metal gadget in your carry-on bag, preferably before you arrive at the security checkpoint
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Most U.S. airports require you to send your laptop computer (and possibly video/still cameras) on its own. Be ready to remove this gear from your carry-on and put it in a separate plastic tray to send it through the X-ray machine
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You may be asked to allow a search of your bags. Therefore, try to pack your carry-on so that a searcher can be efficient without upsetting your belongings. Use baggies or little zippered bags to group small items. If you have gifts, keep them unwrapped until you reach your destination.
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