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Sunday, March 20, 2022

Hungary Travel—How Safe is Budapest for Tourists

District VII, or Erzsébetváros

Józsefváros (District 8)

Ferencváros (District 9)

Unsafe Areas


In order to have a safe visit, it’s important to know the areas in Budapest that aren’t super safe. Keep in mind that Budapest is a popular tourist city, so wherever you are, you will have to watch out for pickpocketing and petty theft.  [3] also warned that:
Luckily, there are no real no-go areas in Budapest. The only part we’d recommend taking a bit of caution is the 8th districtespecially at night. Also, the 7th and 9th can be sketchy, too, so make sure to keep your eyes open.

And as always, any dark side streets or areas that literally LOOK sketchy should be avoided. It’s kind of a no-brainer though. Use your common sense, stay in the busy streets with loads of people and you won’t face any problems in Budapest.


Things to Avoid


As [3] warned, you should avoid the below 12 things:
  1. Thinking that everything is pricey
  2. Relying on tourist buses
  3. Not validating your public transport ticket
  4. Missing out on ruin bars
  5. Not drinking Hungarian pálinka
  6. Not eating traditional Hungarian food
  7. Not checking the bill before paying
  8. Forgetting to learn a few Hungarian expressions
    • Lots of younger people do speak English though – so don’t worry too much.
  9. Presuming that everyone speaks English
  10. Travelling by taxi and not checking the meter
  11. Avoid exchanging money at the airport currency-exchange booths or at western union
    • But, do use ATMs at Terminal 2
    • Keep an eye on who is around you at ATMs – it’s best to take money out during daylight hours.
  12. Not paying attention to your belongings
    • Careful of your bags at the hotel – when you’re distracted checking in, or out, these could easily go missing…
Video 1.  Don't Do This in Budapest (YouTube link)

References

Czech Travel—How Safe is Prague for Tourists

Based on a World Happiness Report, Czech Republic is one of the happiest countries in Europe.  But, is it safe to travel in one of her most visited city—Prague?
Prague is a generally safe city, but the prevalence of car theft and vandalism pushes up the crime statistics of Prague. Due to the low risk of violent crime, the threat of pickpockets is a great issue. Begging is also a serious problem in this city and you can even see beggars in this city's top tourist attractions.[1]

Unsafe Areas


Prague is a generally safe city.  However, as [2] warned that there are some unsafe areas to avoid:
Be careful on Wenceslas Square (Václavské nám). It is usually packed with tourists and the crowds make things easy for pickpockets. There have also been cases of trusting "love-seekers" being robbed of all their money at night.
The park around the main train station (referred to by the locals as "Sherwood") is not a place to be at night. It is a popular hangout of the homeless and drug addicts who beg for money and can be pushy about it. If you need to get to or from the train station at night, take the metro (the station is inside the building) rather than the tram (you have to walk through the park to get to/from the tram stop).
Video 1.  Money Exchange Scam in Prague (YouTube link)

5 Things NOT to Do in Prague


As [3] warned, you should avoid the below 5 things:
  1. Do not exchange money on the street
    • If you're arriving at Prague Airport, skip the currency-exchange booths in the arrivals hall and instead use the ATMs that are lined up just as you enter the main airport hall from customs clearance.
  2. Avoid a "Wikipedia-Tour"
  3. Avoid the City Center
    • Like in many other popular European destinations, the heart of the old town is such a beautiful pearl to visit and take photos.
    • However, locals do not drink or eat in the city center.
  4. Make sure you know the name of the country you are visiting
    • Czech Republic is not the same as Chechnya or Czechoslovakia.
  5. Plan less, enjoy more
    • Slow-Travel is the key for Prague.

References

  1. How Safe Is Prague for Travel?
  2. Tips on Staying Safe in Prague
  3. 5 Things NOT to Do in Prague
  4. From Prague Airport to the City Center: 3 Best Ways to Get There
  5. Transport to and from the Airport Airport Express (AE)
  6. Luggage safety on the bus
  7. czechcrime.org

European Happiness Levels in 2022

The below map pulls data from the World Happiness Report to uncover the average happiness scores of 44 European countries. It shows average scores from 2019 to 2021, and highlights which countries are the happiest—or unhappiest—and why.

Figure 1.  European Happiness Levels in 2022 (Source: [1])


References

  1. Mapped: Global Happiness Levels in 2022 (visualcapitalist.com)

Saturday, March 19, 2022

Hungary Travel—Visiting Budapest

Consisting of the two historic cities of Buda and Pest that lie across the Danube from each other, Hungary’s capital is undoubtedly one of Europe’s most beautiful cities.

As it was the home of the Hungarian kings of old and the capital of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, lots of majestic buildings and impressive monuments dot its streets. Of these, the Parliament Building is one of its main attractions for its gorgeous Gothic style architecture and colossal size. As the ‘spa capital of Europe,’ the city also has loads of lovely thermal bathhouses for you to relax in with Szechenyi Baths being the most popular of the lot.

In addition to this, Budapest is known for its unique ruin bars which make for some great nightlife. With so much for you to see and do, it’s easy to see why it is such a population destination.

Video 1.  TOP 10 Things to do in BUDAPEST  (YouTube link)

Things to Do

Here’s a list of some of the best experiences you can’t miss on a trip to Hungary’s vibrant capital:[1]
  1. Explore the Castle District
  2. Soak at a thermal spa
  3. Take a panoramic ride on Tram 2
  4. Visit Parliament
  5. See the Basilica
  6. Stroll along Andrássy Avenue and City Park 
  7. Have a coffee at a historical coffeehouse
  8. Admire a birds-eye view at Gellert Hill
  9. Spend a day on Margaret Island
  10. Ruin pubs and garden clubs
  11. Great Synagogue
  12. Memento Park
  13. Take a break in Buda Hills
Figure 1.  Top 10 Places to Visit (see Video 1)


To 10 Places to Visit


In Video 1, it shows the Top 10 places to visit in Budapest:


Figure 2.  M4 Metro connects Budapest-Keleti (right top) and Budapest-Kelenföld (left bottom)

Getting Around Budapest


Moving around Budapest is very easy thanks to the BKV public transports available around the city, including buses, trams, and metro.[12]
Public transports in Budapest work very well and at affordable rates. Its metro system is the oldest in Europe after London, and its four lines cover all the main touristic attractions of the city. Trams, buses, and taxis work very well; they are always on time, allowing you to reach any corner of the city. In addiction, you can use Mol Bubi, a public bike-sharing system that allows you to move around Budapest in an ecological and fun way.
See a good Google map for the Budapest Metro map here.

Video 2.  How to buy a Budapest public transportation ticket ? (And a scam to avoid)—YouTube link

Weather and Climate


Read [13] for the current weather condition. The below chart shows the average temperature in Budapest.

Figure 3.  Average High and Low Temperature in Budapest (Source:© WeatherSpark.com)


Supermarket Open Hours


For example, the below shows the open hours (Nyitvatartás) of ALDI at Rákóczi út 65. 1081 Budapest:
még 01:53h nyitva (remaining open hours—1:53h ) 
Szo (Saturday)    06:30 - 21:00  
V (Sunday)          07:00 - 19:00
H - P (Mon - Fri) 06:30 - 21:00

Figure 4.  The days of week in Hungarian

References

  1. 13 great things to do in Budapest
  2. How Many Days in Budapest is Enough? – 3 Day Itinerary
  3. Hilton Garden Inn Budapest City Centre
  4. Is the Eurail Pass Worth It? The Ultimate Guide
  5. railjets.com
  6. regiojet.com
  7. le.cz
  8. ÖBB App & We
  9. A 3 day-itinerary around Budapest
  10. Budapest Card
  11. Budapest Funicular
    • Budapest Funicular was built in 1870. It connects the Chain Bridge to the Castle hill, not far from the Royal Palace.
  12. Getting around Budapest
  13. 2022 Weather History in Budapest
  14. Budapest Card: Is It Worth It? Pros, Cons and How to Use it
  15. Official BKK Information — Public Transportation
    • BudapestGO (Google Play)—Mobile app that you can buy digital single tickets, daily and weekly travelcards or passes in the application and you can also be informed immediately about the current transport service changes.  However, some users complained about its UI interface.
  16. The 15 Best Places with a Buffet in Budapest
  17. HOTEL BRISTOL BUDAPEST
  18. The 7 Best Thermal Baths In Budapest
  19. Safety Boxes at Szechenyi Baths
    • The size of the locker is 120x30x65 cm (47.2 x 11.8 x 25.6 in). 
  20. Euro to Hungarian Forints currency exchange rate (xe.com)
  21. Tipping etiquette for Budapest, Hungary
    • When you talk about sit-down eateries in Budapest, the standard tip rate for a good service is 10% of the bill and 15% for an exceptional service. However, many restaurants in Budapest charge a 12.5% service charge (szervízdíj in Hungarian) on the total bill. So, you don't need leave anything extra.

Thursday, March 17, 2022

Daylight Saving Time Around the World 2022

Daylight Saving Time (DST) is often referred to as “daylight savings” or “summer time.” When DST is not observed, it is called standard time or winter time.

DST by Country


Nearly 80 countries currently observe some form of Daylight Saving Time, and many are moving their clocks backward or forward at this time of year. For example
  • Australia Daylight Saving Time ends in most locations on April 3, 2022 (clocks move back one hour).
  • Europe Daylight Saving Time begins in many countries on March 27, 2022 (clocks move forward one hour).
  • Mexico Daylight Saving Time begins in most locations on April 3, 2022 (clocks move forward one hour).
  • US and Canada Daylight Saving Time begins in most locations on March 13, 2022 (clocks move forward one hour).

Brazil, China, India, Japan, Russia, South Africa, and UAE are examples of many countries that are not observing any form of Daylight Saving Time in 2022. For more details, view global participation status.

Monday, March 7, 2022

Most Naturally Beautiful Countries In The World

Venice, Italy

A new study from the website money.co.uk aims to rank the 50 most beautiful countries on earth by analyzing the amount of natural wonders in each place, from coral reefs and tropical rain forests to volcanoes, glaciers and more.  Here are the list:

  1. Indonesia
  2. New Zealand
  3. Colombia
  4. Tanzania
  5. Mexico
  6. Kenya
  7. India
  8. France
  9. Papua New Guinea
  10. Comoros
  11. Ecuador
  12. United States
  13. Vanuatu
  14. Japan
  15. Solomon Islands
  16. Italy
  17. Philippines
  18. Peru
  19. Australia
  20. Costa Rica
  21. Norway
  22. Argentina
  23. Grenada
  24. Malaysia
  25. Tonga
  26. Iran
  27. Saint Vincent & the Grenadines
  28. Saint Kitts & Nevis
  29. Chile
  30. China
  31. Samoa
  32. Bolivia
  33. Nicaragua
  34. Eritrea
  35. Jamaica
  36. Cape Verde
  37. Greece
  38. Thailand
  39. Venezuela
  40. El Salvador
  41. Myanmar
  42. Uganda
  43. Iceland
  44. Russia
  45. Dominican Republic
  46. Switzerland
  47. Northern Mariana Islands
  48. Haiti
  49. Panama
  50. Sweden