Budapest Travel Blog

If we would like to bring with ourselves our dog, cat or ferret when travelling (to Budapest, Hungary) a pet passport is required for our pet. The pet passport was introduced on 1 October 2004 for the travel of pets between the member states of the European Union, and the relevant provisions are set forth in decree number 998/2003/EC, included in detail in decree 147/2004. (X.1.) FVM

Contents of the pet passport

The pet passport is a document that needs to be obtained for the travel of pets - dogs, cats and ferrets - among the member states for non-commercial purposes or for entering them from a non-EU country into the territory of the EU.

The size of the passport is 100 x 152 mm, its cover is blue in colour, and it is issued in the official language (languages) of the issuing member state. The cover of the passport bears the number of the passport, the ISO code of the issuing member state and an individual number. The data set forth in the document also have to be indicated in the official language (languages) of the issuing member state.

The document specifies the animal's name, type, breed, gender, date of birth, as well as the colour and type of hair, moreover - at choice - also the official-sized photo of the animal. The pet passport also contains the name and address of the current and former owner.

Issue of the pet passport

Conditions for issuing the pet passport:

1. Immunisation (repeated, if necessary) against rabies,
2. Tattoo or microchip serving the identification of the pets,
3. Payment of the fees determined by the Hungarian Chamber of Veterinarians.

The passport has to be requested from the veterinarian who gives the immunisation against rabies.

Currently, animals are identified with tattooing or with an electronic identification system (microchip), but from 4 June 2011 on only microchips will be accepted as a method of pet identification.

Validity

The validity is adjusted to the validity period of the immunisation, and it must be obtained again after the expiry of the said period.

The document is accepted in all member states of the EU, but Sweden, Ireland, Great Britain and Malta require - in addition to the pet passport - blood test (anti-body assaying) and its certification. The certification of the blood test may only be carried out in laboratories approved in the EU. It is not necessary to repeat the blood test on an animal that is repeatedly immunised in certain periods following the blood test, whereby the immunisation rules required by the preparation laboratory are observed.

Consequences of violating the provisions

The owner of, or the person responsible for the pet must be able to present the passport to the authorities - non-EU citizens arriving from third countries must present a veterinary certificate for a single entry into the EU - verifying that the pet is in conformity with the requirements set. If the microchip is not in conformity with the 11784 ISO standard or the 11785 ISO standard, the owner of the dog or the cat must also provide for a tool required for reading the chip. However, the existence of the passport does not mean that the authorities may not examine the health status of the pet.

Should such examinations show that the pet is not in conformity with the specified requirements, the competent authorities decide - after consultation with the official veterinarian - in the following manner:

1. The pet is returned to its country of origin;
2. The pet is separated under official supervision, at the cost of the owner or the natural person responsible for the pet, for the period which is required for meeting the health requirements; or
3. As a final solution - without financial compensation - the pet is slaughtered if it cannot be returned or separated in quarantine.

If the permit to enter the territory of the EU is refused, the pets are placed under official supervision until they are returned to their country of origin or until any other public administrative decision.

Source: Magyarország.hu

Labels: Budapest, cat, dog, eu, European Union, ferret, Hungary, passport, pet

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Labels: Budapest, Hungary, Malev, Parliament, St. Stephen's Day

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Labels: Budapest, Hungary, Peter Besenyei, Red Bull Air Race 2009

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The 17th edition of the Szigetfestival will take place from August 10th ’till the 17th. With a camping ticket you can stay on the grounds from 12.00 ’o clock of the 10th of August ’till 08.00 ’o clock of the 17th. The 10th of August is the so called Hungarian Day. The majority of the cafe’s and party tents are open and on the Mainstage a popular Hungarian will be performing. On the 11th of August some stages will host several acts. The actual festivities will commence as from August the 12th with complete programming on all stages. This year the division of the festival grounds will be a little bit different. Especially the smaller stages used to be kind of hard to find. This year they will be more clustered and therefore easier to be found. On top of that this years focus will be, (even more so than in previous years), on ’Meeting point Europe’. The days are far gone that Sziget used to be an exclusive Hungarian affair. Of course the Hungarians constitute the majority of the visitors, but also thousands of French, Dutch, German, Italian, Rumanian, British and hundreds of Belgium, Finnish, Austrian, Polish, Skandinavian, Spanish, Slovak and other Eastern European visitors have found their way to Budapest. Therefore the line-up will be more international than in previous years. The grass root visitors shouldn’t be worried though. The party element and price policy will stay the same! Changes will only amount to improvements.

Schedule Sziget 2009:

8th of August: No festival activities yet, but for 10 euro per day you can camp on a camping on the festival site. These additional camping tickets can be purchased at the camping gate on Obudai Island.
10th of August: Party's all over the place.
11th of August: Day Zero: Rock Against Racism.
12th of August: Festival day 1
13th of August: Festival day 2
14th of August: Festival day 3
15th of August: Festival day 4
16th of August: Festival day 5
17th of August: Final day. Visitors are supposed to have left the grounds at 08.00 a.m.

Up-to-date information can be found at Szigetfestival Facebook!

On May 1st a free Sziget camping card will be raffled on Facebook amongs the entrants of the personal Wish list. You already have purchased a ticket and turn out to be the lucky winner? No worries; your ticket will be refunded...

Public Transport
Sziget (Hungarian for Island) is held at a big island in the river Danube north from the city centre. From the city centre the festival is easily to be reached with the HEV-metro. This train will run every 10 minutes. The metro also runs during the night, may it be less frequent. In the city night-buses run throughout the whole night; on the major routes even every 15 minutes. At metro stations you can purchase public transport tickets. These cards are valid day and night for an entire week on all buses, metro trains and streetcars and will only set you back 12 euros. The island is to be accessed over a bridge, which is open at all times. An other option on how to get from the city centre to the Sziget festival is to take the ferry. Every 30 minutes a ferry leaves from the backside of the island to Margit bridge (Pest side) en Batthyány Tér (Buda side).

Camping
The festival grounds open on August 10th at 10 ’o clock in the morning. On August the 8th and 9th you will be able to camp out at the Romai camping just a little more than one mile up the road. As for now it is not entirely certain, but you might be also able, just like last year, to stay at a campingsite on the Sziget island outside of the festival grounds for 10 euros a day. As from August 10th camping out is permitted on the all the festival grounds. The toilets, showers and washing basins are cleaned several times a day. So are the festival grounds. However, after four days everything ain’t as spotless as they were on the first day. Luckily lots of bathing-houses are to be found in the city centre. The ancient warm water springs not only provide you with hygenical relieve. They also serve as the perfect anti-hangover antidote. At the backside of the festival island all is more tranquille. Here you can find teniscourts, volleyballfields, ping-pong tables and a swimming-pool. Very fortunate is the fact that lots of lush trees grow on the island offering you the shade you will be searching for once temperatures sore up to 30 degrees Centigrade. In case you come with a camper or caravan you can stay at the right-hand side of the entrance. You’re allowed to leave the grounds with your camper or caravan once over the duration of the entire festival. Together with the regular camping ticket you will be needing an additional special camper/caravan ticket.

The grounds
The days are far gone that Sziget was an exclusive Hungarian event. Nowadays tens of thousands European youngest come to the Hungarian capital to see and perform over one thousand bands. Rock, dance, worldmusic, punk, electro, funk, blues and classical; there’s something to be found for anyone liking on of the more than 40 stages. But Sziget offers more than just music: Film, fairground, art, spirituality, sports, the most diverse restaurant, shops, little bars and tea-houses....all of this in the midst of the beautifully lit camping sites. The majority of the international acts with wide acclaim perform on the main stage before a 40.000 strong audience. The Worldmusic Stage is one of the best programmed stages in its own right drawing over 15.000 visitors for every performance. At night there are several parties on different locations serving the likes of all party goers. This year over 400.000 thousand (one third Hungarian) visitors in total are to be expected over the span of one week. The prices for commodities have hardly risen and a beer will cost you just about one euro. A meal goes for 2 to 4 euro (including a wide offering of vegetarian meals!). All tough the grounds are huge and the number of camping sites is enormous, the Sziget tickets including camping might sell out before August.


Facilities
Lots of facilities are to be found on the island: a swimming-pool, a non-stop doctor and pharmacy, cash-machines, cellular phone loading docks, shops, free internet (100 computers), telephone and a non-stop information-and complaint desk. Sziget is a festival with a laidback vibe, but this does not mean you do not have to watch your personal belongings. You better do not leave valuable belongings in your tent and it is also recommended to meet and greet your neighbors in order to promote a social network. There will be gates at all entries/exists and you can get badges which you can hide in your luggage and will be set of once they have passed the gates. You can also lockers rent on the island, but you have to be quick. Be smart and rent one as soon as you have set up your tent.

The city
Budapest is one of the most beautiful and most exciting capitals of Europe. You’d better pay the city a visit – it only takes fifteen minutes to get there. Apart from the touristic parts like the centre of Pest and the castle of Buda, there also are lots of special underground bars and clubs to be found in the city. The hills are perfectly fit for mountain biking and they have great parks, warm water springs, museums, shops, swimming-pools, etc...

Labels: 2009, Budapest, Budapest - Sziget Festival

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BUDAPEST, 2009-08-22





With special guest Paul Oakenfold.

Venue: Kincsem Park, Budapest

Labels: Budapest, concert, Hungary, Madonna - 2009, tickets, tours

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by TripAdvisor

CHI Hotels & Resorts (CHI) announced that its superior five-star Corinthia Grand Hotel Royal, a Wyndham Grand Collection hotel, has been voted ‘Best Luxury’ hotel in Budapest, Hungary and among the ‘Best Service Europe Top 20’ and ‘Best Hotels in the Top 25 World Cities’ by the leading TripAdvisor® Travelers' Choice™ awards 2009.
Winners for the 2009 awards were determined by a combination of TripAdvisor's Popularity Index and traveler ratings of specific attributes. TripAdvisor's Popularity Index is a system that determines traveler satisfaction based on a variety of sources, including TripAdvisor hotel reviews and travel articles and opinions from across the web. The hotel review process also allows travelers to ‘grade’ hotels based on a variety of attributes, including cleanliness, value, and suitability for specific types of travelers. The Travelers' Choice awards, the only honors representing the unbiased opinions of millions of travelers, are among the most coveted awards in the global hotel industry.
“We are absolutely delighted with the result,” said CHI Hotels & Resorts’ CEO and managing director Tony Potter. “This jewel of a hotel has been collecting accolades ever since it opened its doors in 2002, when it immediately won Europe’s ‘Best Hotel Architecture Award’ and later the International ‘Five-Star Diamond Award’ for its commitment to excellence in luxury amenities and top quality services. The hotel is now also on the privileged list of ‘The Most Famous Hotels in the World.’ The TripAdvisor recognition is of particular significance as the awards are based primarily on guests’ experience and expectations. The fact that we not only matched, but even surpassed, last year’s performance on the Tripadvisor awards, reflects our commitment to maintain the highest standards of luxury and services possible in all our hotels. This latest award, and the fact that the property is a Wyndham Grand Collection hotel, promise a great future for this flagship property, as well as for the luxury Corinthia brand, whose portfolio will next year be boosted with new properties we are currently developing in Sharm El Sheikh and London."
The Corinthia Hotel Budapest is a member of the newly-repositioned, upper-luxury Corinthia Hotels brand and of The Wyndham Grand Collection. The hotel was painstakingly restored through the personal initiative of Corinthia Hotels’ founder and the owning company’s (IHI) chairman and chief executive officer Mr. Alfred Pisani and is a faithful reconstruction of the 110-year-old Grand Hotel Royal. It is owned by Malta-based International Hotel Investments plc (IHI) and managed by CHI Hotels & Resorts, a hotel operating company that is a joint venture between IHI and Wyndham Hotel Group. Among its many amenities, the Hotel features a majestic ballroom and a unique ‘Royal Spa’ - an extensive Euro 4 million renovation of an original 19th century spa that has once again regained its rightful place as Budapest’s most luxurious and imposing Spa facility.


Corinthia Hotels’ portfolio features award-winning properties that include the Corinthia Grand Hotel Royal in Budapest, Hungary and the Corinthia Hotel Prague in the Czech Republic. The Corinthia Hotels portfolio also features the elegant Corinthia Palace Hotel and Spa and the splendid Corinthia Hotel St. Georges Bay in Malta; the superior five-star Corinthia Bab Africa Hotel in Tripoli, Libya; the modern Corinthia Hotel Lisbon in Portugal; and the renowned Corinthia Nevskij Palace Hotel in St. Petersburg, Russia. The Corinthia Hotels brand is associated with the ‘Wyndham Grand Collection’ tier of upscale hotels worldwide.


Source: http://www.eturbonews.com

Labels: Budapest, hotels, Hungary, spa

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Budapest comes alive for the annual Spring Festival 20 March – 5 April 2009

Budapest Spring Festival

THE Hungarian National Tourist Office has designated 2009 as the ‘year of cultural tourism’ and will seek to highlight major cultural sights, festivals and events in its global marketing activities throughout the year.

One of Hungary’s largest cultural events of the year is the annual Budapest Spring Festival, this year taking place from 20 March until 5 April. This is an extravaganza of more than 200 events taking place at top venues throughout the city including the Hungarian State Opera House and the Palace of Arts, with performances catering for all cultural tastes.

Palace of Arts, Festival Theatre

The festival showcases the finest Hungarian performers, composers and artists, as well as many international acts and also includes a two day Fringe Festival (3-5 April), for the third year running, for up and coming talent.

From classical to rock concerts; contemporary dance to traditional ballet; from high brow operas to colorful street performances; fire jugglers to art exhibitions, the festival offers visitors the chance to sample a wide variety of world-class performances and exhibitions in one visit to the city.

Kodály Quartet

One of the highlights for visitors will be the chance to see a performance from the world-famous Nigel Kennedy who has been popular for over 25 years and is one of the greatest violinists in the world. He will perform with the Nigel Kennedy Quintet on 2 April, at the stunning Palace of Arts.

Béla Bartók National Concert Hall

Opera lovers will be able to see Puccini’s Turandot and Haydn’s The Soul of the Philosopher performed at the opulent Hungarian State Opera House, which is one of the cheapest places in Europe to see these world-renowned operas where tickets can often be purchased on the day of performance for under 6 Euro’s or in UK money under a fiver. Classical music fans will be able to take their pick from many orchestras including the Budapest Philharmonic Orchestra, the Hungarian Symphony Orchestra and the Scottish Chamber Orchestra.

Those looking for a more alternative cultural scene will find contemporary bands, theatre groups and performance artists at the Fringe Festival, plus belly dancers, storytellers and fire jugglers.

cecta

Labels: Budapest, concerts, exhibitions, Festival, Hungary, opera house, Spring

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YouTube video: In this exclusive interview, creator Erno Rubik talks about how he designed the Cube and shows off his new toy, the Rubik's 360 for TimeMagazine



video: cbc.ca

Labels: Budapest, Games, Hungary, rubik, rubik's 360 video, rubik's cube, toys

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Budapest Trip Planner - Four Great Ways To Plan Your Vacation in Budapest



click here to visit the Budapest Trip Planner




click here to visit the Budapest Trip Planner

Labels: Budapest, car, flight, hotel, Hungary, planner, Travel, trip, vacation

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The Smile Professionals

"Smile is a wonder weapon of every days, it has magic power. If you can smile, you are invincible, because who can smile is always able to go on fighting."

The DentalCoop team is dedicated to healthy and aesthetic smile. The treatment at DentalCoop is all encompassing: the dentist at the centre practice seven specialities including implant, aesthetic dentistry, stomatology, periodontology and orthodontics among others. The dentist works as a team. To make the work easier the practice has it own dental technician’s laboratory. This means that the dental technicians can meet the exact needs of the patient and prepare crowns and bridges within three to five days.

DentalCoop

H-1121 Budapest, Hungary
Zugligeti street 60.
phone: +361 398 10 28
fax: +361 398 10 29
e-mail: info@dentalcoop.hu
http://www.dentaltourist.co.uk

Labels: Budapest, Dental Care, Dentists, Dentristry, tourism

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Budapest, December 21 (MTI)

László Hegedűs (alias: Bagoly - Owl) of Hungary set a new world glider speed record in Namibia on December 19.

Taking off from the airport of Bitterwasser on board a Nimbus-4 plane, Hegedus glided over a triangular course of 1,253 kilometres at a speed of 151.3 kilometres per hour, then landed at the same airport as required, Hungarian airline company Malev told MTI on Friday.

The previous record of 149.2 kilometres per hour was set by multimillionaire Steve Fossett in Nevada on July 12 this year. The renowned adventurer, who achieved over 110 world records, disappeared in the Nevada desert in September.

Hegedus is a Malev pilot flying a Boeing-737 and member of the national gliding team.

photo: Bors

Labels: Budapest, glider, Hungary, Malev, pilot, world record

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was the question on the famous TV Quiz.
Do you know the answer?

watch the quiz

Labels: blonde, Budapest, Hungary, quiz, Tv, Video

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BUDAPEST (AFP) — Some 300 participants are expected to puzzle over a small multicoloured cube this weekend as Budapest welcomes the 2007 World Championships of the Hungarian-born Rubik's Cube.
Besides returning to the birthplace of the cult puzzle, this year's competition will also be held in the presence of the man behind the cube, Hungarian inventor Erno Rubik.
Some 300 candidates from 33 countries, including reigning champion Jean Pons from France, are expected to take part in the competition on October 5, 6 and 7, organisers said in a statement.
Since it was launched in 1977, the Rubik's Cube has fascinated young and old.
Each side features a different colour -- red, green, yellow, blue, white or orange -- and consists of several smaller squares that can be moved around a central hinge.
Once scrambled, the goal is to re-arrange the squares so that each side again displays only one colour.
"National and international championships have become regular meeting places for speedcubists, solution virtuosos," the organisers said in a statement.
Originally fated to have a short life, the Rubik's Cube eventually became a cult object for the 1980s. It has been exhibited at New York's Museum of Modern Art and has entered into the Oxford dictionary.
Last year's event took place in Paris.

Labels: Budapest, Hungary, rubik, rubik's cube, world championship

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At a press conference in Budapest this morning (03. 10. 2007) Stelios the easyGroup chairman and founder of easyHotel announced that easyHotel would be opening in the Hungarian capital during the Spring of 2007. Rooms will be available from 29 euros per night and will be on sale at easyHotel.com in the near future.

As with all easyHotel premises, easyHotel Budapest will be centrally located at Eötvös utca 25/a (VI district, Budapest) and will have approximately 57 bedrooms with en-suite facilities. The rooms will be small but, in line with the easyHotel concept, will offer great value in the heart of this major European city of cultural and historical importance. easyHotel is aimed at any travellers paying out of their own pocket, be they tourists, business travellers or those in Budapest visiting friends and relatives. easyHotel Budapest will concentrate on providing great value accommodation and will not have food and beverage outlets on the site. These are provided by numerous other independent suppliers in the centre of Budapest.

easyHotel is growing fast in many locations around the world through franchising. There are three easyHotel sites in London, one in Basel, Switzerland and a master franchise agreement has been signed for the construction of 38 easyHotels in India, the Middle East and North Africa over the next five years.

reception desk, easyHotel Budapest Oktogon

src: easyHotels

photo: Index.hu

Labels: Budapest, budget, easy, easyhotel, hotels, oktogon

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The last KTM Festival was held in 2004 at the KTM headquarters in Mattinghofen. The event was a great success with participants arriving from all four corners of the world. It is therefore a great honour for Hungaroring to host the next event.

No motorbike mega-event would be complete without stars from the bike world and the Budapest event will welcome Cyril Després – double winner of the Dakar Rally, Marc Coma – winner of the Dakar Rally, Stefan Everts –ten-time motocross world champion, Heinz Kinigadner – motocross world champion and Dakar Rally rider, Mika Kallio – Moto GP rider, Hiroshi Aoyama – Moto GP rider, Giovanni Sala – enduro world champion and David Knight – enduro world champion. Of the many Hungarian stars it is enough to mention the names of Péter Kátai– the most successful pilot in the Dakar Rally motorbike category, Ákos Varga ¬
– Dakar Rally rider and Péter Sebestyén, who competes in the KTM Red Bull Rookies Cup.

It is difficult to list all the things that the organisers will pack into the three days to ensure that everyone – young and old, boys and girls, bike fanatics and on-lookers – will have a good time. The attractions will include streetfighter and freestyle shows and bikers can try out all of the tracks at Hungaroring. The 4.4 km long race track, the European Championship motocross track, the Adventure Park off-road course and the tricky supermoto track will all roar to the sound of motorbikes from morning until night.

Concerts and parties will be held every evening for all those who haven’t exhausted themselves during the exciting motorbike events of the day.
As the organisers expect many visitors from outside Budapest and abroad they will organise special city tours during the festival, which is a fantastic opportunity to strengthen Budapest’s international reputation.

The full program of events and the most up-to-date information about the festival can be found at the official website of the event,
www.ktm-festival.com

Labels: Budapest, Hungaroring, KTM Festival, motorbike

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The Wine Festival is one of Central Europe’s most prestigious and popular trade events, where every year tens of thousands of visitors experience wine tasting in cultured surroundings and get to know the wine makers and the arts and traditions associated with viniculture.

The organisers of the festival, the Magyar Hungarian Viniculture Public Benefit Company, have the aim of the presenting a wine and viniculture event, including cultural and gastronomic programmes, that – on its own - is worth visiting Budapest and Hungary for.

Labels: Budapest, Champagne, Festival, International, wine

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