The Four Seasons Hotel Gresham Palace, no if, and, but about it!

Haven't stayed at the Four Seasons there ...but if price is comparable and it is a *standard* Four Seasons, I'd do that too.

We got a great deal on the Kempinski

I honestly can't remember if it was a turbo prop or RJ, sorry. The flight from VIE to KRK was on OS, not LOT. It must have been a typical, uneventful, short flight, otherwise I would remember something bad.

I'm pretty sure that the flight from KRK to WAW is a turbo prop.

Service on LOT (IMO) is no different than any other European airline for these short flights. On time, and a quick sandwich.

I will say that at check in, the LOT personal are very polite, helpful, and treat you like a human, and not just like the luggage that you hand them.

Budapest is absolutely outstanding. I was there for a few days last March and was sad to have to leave. Along with the major sights (touring Parliament, Museum of Terror, walking up Andrassy Ut, etc.), there's a great pastry shop up on Castle Hill called Ruszwurm and I also enjoyed people watching/coffee drinking at Central Kavehaz. I also did a sidetrip up to Szentendre and enjoyed wandering around.

Lodging-wise, I stayed in a hostel but did duck into the Gresham Palace for a few moments. Seemed pretty luxe and I felt too poor to be walking around those digs, ha ha. Finally, the bus/subway from the airport was easy enough but you'll need some coins to buy bus tickets from the dispensers and once you get to the subway station regular tickets/passes are easy enough to get from vendors. They operate on a sort of honor system, but have inspectors roaming around so make sure you keep your ticket on you.

I just came back from a Budapest weekend. (Thursday morning to Sunday night)

It was a great trip. Three days (no shopping) gives you a perfect overview of the most important sites but I have to admit that we were pretty productive.

Prices have NOT been as reasonable as I had expected, it's almost as expensive as in western Europe. Exceptions is public transportation (perfect system in BUD) and hotels.

I can recommend the Hotel "Castle Garden" in Budapest. It's a brandnew four star non-chain hotel right next to the Castle Area in Buda, super clean, yummy breakfast, free internet and large rooms with an outside terrace. Calm area, five minute walk to the metro and shopping/dining possibilities. Best was the fare, �50 for a standard double room. Staff was super helpful and friendly. They have a website to check out, just look them up on Google.

I am happy to assist if you need further assistance.

Along with great local beer (Dreyer) and gyros to die for and incredible bakeries, don't miss the thermal baths -

http://www.budapestinfo.hu/en/things.../thermal_baths

The different ones are VERY different - upscale posh, general public, ancient historical. I made sort of a project of trying the various ones. Do note that when they have days for just men, or just women, they usually also mean clothing optional.

For the gyros - little hole-in-the-wall street shops, and ask for "everything".

The metro was very workable, especially if you buy one of the "all you can ride" passes for the time you will be there.

Romelle

For a fantastic, quick lunch, (Budapest) make sure to go up to the 2nd floor of the market, where there are several restaurants, where you can see all of the food in the glass cases, made fresh, and point and pick what you want to eat. Also several places to get Dreyer on tap up there.

And bring back paprika if you like to cook or know people who do. Not those little tourist bags with the flowered cloth in souvenier places, but a larger bag 250 g. (at least) from the market. They have both sweet and hot. I'm told the word to look for meaning sweet is "k�l�nleges".

For pastries, anything with poppy seeds or walnuts.

I'm really missing the place as this discussion goes on.

For serious culinary sinning, there is L�ngos, a fried bread. Probably fried in lard, and topped with various things like sour cream, cheese, bacon, etc.

Romelle

Prague is a great destination, regardless of your political persuasion. So is Budapest and Wein. As always, one must be aware of the surrounding and take precaution to protect your own belongings.

One word - GO!

Budapest is very nice, these days very reasonably priced (the local currency is 20% down from last autumn)

There's a lot to do and see - 3 days will probably make you want to come back for more.

(word of warning - I was born and raised there, so I'm probably somewhat biased )

As for Prague and the Americans - I think this myth roots in the 90's when everybody and his uncle swarmed from the States to Prague to follow Kafka's footprints and write the new AMERICAN NOVEL. These days the crowds are probably stag- and hen-parties from Birmingham or Leeds.

By all means go to Budapest, as everyone else says. It is probably the most strikingly grand and massive of all the Eastern Europeans cities we've seen, which is all of them other than Vienna (we're going there this year). The view of the parliament building from Castle Hill is one of the most spectacular sites you'll ever see, especially at night. And don't miss Sz�chenyi baths. Just an amazing locals experience with the old men playing chess in the water and relaxing atmosphere.

I loved Prague, Krakow, Warsaw, and all of Croatia and Slovenia as well for that matter. They all have their own points of attraction and individuality.

Also, a second nod to taking the subway, and also to making sure to validate your ticket. We forgot, or didn't know to do so and were stopped by the roaming guards and were fined. Also, get the ins and outs from the hotel or wherever, because it is often hard to find someone who speaks English. The older generation there tend not to, something you see often in Eastern Europe.

I also flew LOT from Warsaw to Krakor and it was on a prop plane that sounded like a lawnmower. And it was not exactly like the American boarding system either. They waited to call the flight until the last minute and then everyone ran to the gate and pushed and shove to get on first. It was pandemonium.

Excellent and fun reading about Budapest, thank you! My wife and I are also considering adding this to our Germany / Krakow trip, for the "inbetween" portion. We are torn about how to spend 11 days between Munich, Krakow, Prague, Budapest... and what to sacrifice.

What about driving in Budapest? Is a car necessary or possible?

And what is the best way to travel from Budapest to Krakow, if we are not driving? Plane or train? It seems that flying requires a stopover in Warsaw (or flying from Vienna).

Thanks
Michael

A car is not necessary at all in Budapest. 3 subways (4th under construction), and plenty of trams and buses take you everywhere. Most of the interesting sights are walkable.

Forget about driving in Budapest. You'll be faster on the public transportation and using cabs are cheap. (for 2-3 people it's usually worth taking the cab, if the trip involves changing vehicles [=new ticket] and having no weekly/monthly pass)

To Krakow - I don't know, there seems to be no direct flights, so driving there could definitely be an option.