Lake Balaton- Hungary

Lady_E

Thinking about suprising Lord E with a little minibreak to Lake Balaton , I know Ryanair fly there (Sarmellek), and just wondered if anyone knew what the area was like and the best places to stay/visit. Would it be better to fly to Budapest and then drive down to Lake Balaton?
I was thinking of going around May -June but am flexible.

Any ideas will be gratefully received

lucyjane_3

Hi Lady E,

Check out http://www.gotohungary.co.uk will have everything you need.

Flying to Budapest is a good idea - EASYJET - BRTISH AIRWAYS - MALEV - WIZZAIR and JET2 all fly there.

Book early to get the best fares and have a wonderful time

lj xx

budgetflyer

My unofficial ryanair destination guide to Balaton may be of use. It has airport +bus info as well as resort+ weather guide

Lady_E

budgetflyer wrote: »

My unofficial ryanair destination guide to Balaton may be of use. It has airport +bus info as well as resort+ weather guide

I guess I am doing something wrong but I cannot access this - can you give me another way of accessing this please , sounds like just the thing to surprise Lord E with . Thanks

mattersdorff

I've been to Lake Balaton and it is just a gigantic lake - it's not overtly picturesque... my wife and I drove past and stopped for a few hours by the lake and some of the towns so I can't profess to be an expert but if I were planning a romantic weekend away:

then I would 2000% recommend BLED in Slovenia which is easily accessible from a number of Ryanair/Easyjet airports..... if you want to just go relax by a lake then you might even consider the Salzkammerglut region in Austria - just near Salzburg... again a magical area.

but then you're not asking for advice on other options (sorry).... I would add however that Budapest itself is a magical city.... one of the best in all of Europe in my opinion.

cundall

Drove there in 2006 (summer) and had a great time, the lake was not that nice though the whole area just had a great feeling. I only got to know about it through the locals and they told me a part to go and we did not see any other english people there the whole time (only germans and locals on hol). The locals called it the golden lakes and it was a nice little break for a few days though it did rain alot for August.

Have a good trip...

Lady_E

mattersdorff wrote: »

I've been to Lake Balaton and it is just a gigantic lake - it's not overtly picturesque... my wife and I drove past and stopped for a few hours by the lake and some of the towns so I can't profess to be an expert but if I were planning a romantic weekend away:

then I would 2000% recommend BLED in Slovenia which is easily accessible from a number of Ryanair/Easyjet airports..... if you want to just go relax by a lake then you might even consider the Salzkammerglut region in Austria - just near Salzburg... again a magical area.

but then you're not asking for advice on other options (sorry).... I would add however that Budapest itself is a magical city.... one of the best in all of Europe in my opinion.

Thanks for your advice - we have been to Lake Bled and it is absolutely maigical , like a choclate box picture, I had hoped that Lake Balaton would be of the same elk , but sounds like it isnt......shame. Thanks for the advice about Austria , I hadnt even thought about that region , something to think about

fatboyonadiet

What currency did people use? I've heard a rumour that it's better to take dollars rather then the local currency.

topmum

I can let you know by the end of August lol. :rotfl: We have booked 3 nights near Lake Balaton and 3 nights in Budapest. From what I can see it is commercialised on the south of the lake, but the north seems less so.

Can anyone advise about the thermes/hot springs in Budapest? Would really love to go to one when we are there, but there seems a fair few to choose from. So any help would be gratefully received. Also what are the 'not to be missed' things in Budapest?

Thanks :beer:

Topmum

BenL

D'oh more searching needed FBOD.

We'll be there before you topmum in May.

The post office website recommends Dollars for visitors instead of the forint.

I'll have a proper search tonight if possible and if I remember when I get home.

Ben

bengal-stripe

BenL wrote: »

The post office website recommends Dollars for visitors instead of the forint.

That is rubbish.

Although I haven’t been to Lake Balaton, I have been to Budapest, the Euro is generally accepted. There are hundreds of bureaux de change offering incredibly tight margins.

The price for your hotel will have been agreed in Euros, equally virtually all bigger shops will accept Euros (but not GBP). Take GBP or EUR with you and change locally. I remember thinking in Budapest, if I were to change my GBP into Forints and those into Euros (for my next trip), I would have more money than when I changed my GBP into EUR back in London.

Only change money locally, you get so much more.