1. How do we make a booking?
Just email us your dates at budaveg@gmail.com and we’ll get back to you in a few hours, we have a lot of availability! You can also text or phone us at +36309348045, or skype us, our login is budaveg. We will send you a booking form and, once you have sent it back completed, you have made a booking

2. Do we need a deposit?
No, just turn up, and please pay for your stay on arrival.

3. Can I pay by credit card?
I’m afraid we can only take cash at the moment.

4. I am veggie but my friend isn’t, can we stay at budaveg?
Everybody is welcome to stay as long as they respect the veggie and non-smoking rules in the flat.

5. How do I book a guided tour?
You can book it the same time as your stay, or later. You are also welcome to book a tour even if you are not staying with us. Just email us at budaveg@gmail.com and we’ll get back to you in a few hours.

6. What is the best way to take money to Budapest?
Credit and debit cards are widely accepted here, and there are ATMs everywhere. You can find out how much your bank charges for cash withdrawals and purchases before your visit. Forints are the currency here, Hungary doesn’t yet have the Euro. You can buy Forints in your home country before you leave, but you will probably have to order them and you will probably get a lot of low denomination bills. You should check the exchange rate first. It is also possible to bring cash in your local currency and exchange it here, the rates can be better than in many Western countries. Euros are only accepted in some restaurants and tourist shops and the rate they use is not always favourable. Forget traveller’s cheques, if you can find a bank which accepts them they will charge at least 25% for cashing them!

7. Where is the best to change money?
Generally small changing places have better rates than banks, but it is wise to ask how much money you get exactly before you change, sometimes the rates advertised apply only if you exchange a large sum.

8. Is Budapest safe at night?
Generally, yes, Budapest is one of the safest capitals in Europe. The rate of violent crime is low and it is safe to walk around in most areas at night. I would be careful around Keleti station, but most other areas are fine. Beware of pickpockets in crowded places, find-the-lady games and attractive girls inviting you for a drink on Váci utca - those drinks come at a special price. If you use your common sense you’ll be fine here.

9. What about driving in Hungary?
Well, the Highway Code is more or less the same, the biggest difference is “the right hand rule”, if you are driving on a secondary road you have to give way to cars coming from the right. There is no triangle or stop sign, so remember that! When walking in the city remember that cars don’t always stop at the zebra crossing, so take care crossing roads.

10. Will I need a socket converter?
All electrical sockets are the same on the continent. If you are from the UK, or even further away you will need a socket converter. There is one UK converter in the budaveg apartment.

11. What about my mobile, will it work in Hungary?
Most likely, but it depends on your own mobile provider, make sure you check with them if you have roaming and which is their partner out of the three providers: T-com, Pannon and Vodafone. If you have no mobile we can lend you one with a pay-as-you-go card.

12. I am on a gluten-free diet, will I survive?
Yes, you will, lots of people are on gluten free diets here too. There is a special shop 5 minutes from the budaveg flat specializing in gluten-free products and most restaurants are prepared to cater for special diets.

13. Would you recommend the Budapest card?
No, people have been complaining that they had difficulties claming the discounts. I think you are better off buying a travel card:
http://www.bkv.hu/english/jegyinfo2009/index.html

14. How much can we see in a few days?
A lot actually. You can see the main sights of Buda and Pest in two days and you will still have time to visit a swimming bath and try some veggie restaurants. You can easily spend 2 weeks here, Budapest is a big city of 2 million, there is a lot to see and you can easily make day trips to the country or abroad. Vienna is 3 hours by train, Bratislava 2.5 hours, and Prague 6 hours.

15. What about the nightlife?
What's that? :) Seriously, like most parents we are stuck at home, so we have no personal experience, just fond memories from a few year back. But it is supposed to be good, especially in the summer when there are many open air bars and famous “ruin bars” - bars and clubs in old neglected buildings and courtyards.

16. Is tap water ok to drink?
Yes, it is safe, but it contains chlorine, so you might not like the taste. There’s a big selection of mineral water in shops, both local and imported. The local rule is easy: pink caps still water, blue caps carbonated.

17. I heard you tip in restaurants, how much is the usual?
We tip all service; restaurants, taxi drivers, hair dressers, tour guides etc. The normal amount is 10% and we give it directly to the person. Let’s say you get a bill for 1800 Hufs so you round it up to 2000 and give that to the waiter. Some restaurants include tips on their bill, check first!

18. Are you interested in swapping links with us?
Oh, yes please, we could do with more publicity really. Just get in touch!

19. This website is gorgeous, did you guys design it?
Nope, we are web illiterate; it was done by our friend Andy from www.spottedblue.com. Andy is also a committed life time vegetarian and a lovely dad of two cute kids and one of the few cricket captains in this country. Get in touch with him and he’ll make you a flashy well-linked and tagged site in no time and you’ll be supporting another veggie business!

20. Some of the photos are amazing! Who took them?
The good ones are taken by our friend Zsolt, check out his art at http://www.flickr.com/photos/phatcamper/ <<