Best way from Budapest to Vienna
Mar 3, 2016, 7:19 pm
#16
Join Date: Oct 2003
Posts: 1,203
As a travel advisor/planner, I have been recommending to defer plans to go to Hungary, Austria, Poland, Denmark and Sweden. All are beutiful countries to visit. But given current prejudicial environment, brown skinned people are better off postponing visit to these countries until attitudes improve. One can ignore subtle discrimination or even verbal insults but being spit on, pushed and kicked is not a pleasant vacation experience.
World has many safer and welcoming places that one can choose.
Hopefully, attitudes will return to normal within a year or so because these are really beautiful places to visit.
Mar 4, 2016, 5:47 am
#17
Suspended
Join Date: Jan 2015
Location: Bregenz, Austria
Programs: AA, BAEC, Alaska, Flying Blue, United, IHG, Hilton
Posts: 2,950
That is very true. I'm sure that driving a right-hand drive, UK registered car didn't help. It also didn't help that my wallet had been stolen the previous week, so I had no driver's licence and no credit cards. The contents of my car looked a bit fishy too - 5 cartons of cigarettes, about $8,000 cash in 3 different currencies, a length of metal shower hose, a set of steak knives, and a shovel! Although I had perfectly legitimate and innocent reasons for everything I was carrying, it took quite a bit of explaining. Quite honestly I was very happy to hand over the €120 and disappear the 500m or so over the German border.
Mar 10, 2016, 9:07 am
#18
Join Date: Aug 2014
Location: Austria, EU
Posts: 86
...and make sure you do get an Austrian sticker (Vignette). You can buy it at gas stations in neighbouring countries before you cross. It will cost you about €8-10 euro for the minimum 10-day duration. Fix the sticker to the inside of the windshield. Absolutely essential. The last time I chanced a 4km drive on an Austrian Autobahn without one, I got a €120 fine and an hour's search of my car.
You are correct.
As a travel advisor/planner, I have been recommending to defer plans to go to Hungary, Austria, Poland, Denmark and Sweden. All are beutiful countries to visit. But given current prejudicial environment, brown skinned people are better off postponing visit to these countries until attitudes improve. One can ignore subtle discrimination or even verbal insults but being spit on, pushed and kicked is not a pleasant vacation experience.
World has many safer and welcoming places that one can choose.
Hopefully, attitudes will return to normal within a year or so because these are really beautiful places to visit.
As a travel advisor/planner, I have been recommending to defer plans to go to Hungary, Austria, Poland, Denmark and Sweden. All are beutiful countries to visit. But given current prejudicial environment, brown skinned people are better off postponing visit to these countries until attitudes improve. One can ignore subtle discrimination or even verbal insults but being spit on, pushed and kicked is not a pleasant vacation experience.
World has many safer and welcoming places that one can choose.
Hopefully, attitudes will return to normal within a year or so because these are really beautiful places to visit.
Mar 10, 2016, 11:00 am
#19
Suspended
Join Date: Jan 2015
Location: Bregenz, Austria
Programs: AA, BAEC, Alaska, Flying Blue, United, IHG, Hilton
Posts: 2,950
Moral of the story: Don't drive on the highway without the vignette. It's not worth the risk.
Mar 12, 2016, 4:53 am
#20
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: HEL
Programs: lots of shiny metal cards
Posts: 14,106
As for safety, e.g Denmark or Sweden are one of the safest destinations you can imagine.
Aug 20, 2016, 9:52 pm
#21
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: Austin, TX
Programs: CoUniHound 1K 1MM, AA EXP 2MM, DL Plat, Marriott Lifetime Titanium
Posts: 1,625
Aug 22, 2016, 3:48 am
#22
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: K+K
Programs: *G
Posts: 4,871