Post by mattyk on Jun 5, 2008 1:30:11 GMT -5
Hey guys,
I'm now planning a trip for this fall (pretravel.proboards1.com/index.cgi?action=gotopost&board=general&thread=7459&post=45046)and realized I never posted a report from my previous trip last may '07. (pretravel.proboards1.com/index.cgi?action=gotopost&board=general&thread=3009&post=18651
is the original thread.
Pics - www.flickr.com/photos/kull/collections/72157600256353917/
This post was made very hastily so I apologize for spelling / grammar. I will follow up with Vienna and Prague as soon as I get some more time.
PART 1 - Budapest - May 10-14
Inn-Side Hotel Kalvin House
Gönczy Pál.u.6, 1093
Highly recommended, smallish hotel. I believe it might have been family run. The pricing was very reasonable. We had three travelers and had booked a two bed room. When we got there they upgraded us for free to a very spacious three-bed room which had a kitchen as well as a loft (which we did not use) and office area. It was an absolute steal as they only charged us $20US more per night.
The location is pretty convenient. You are very close to the Great Hall (a worthwhile short visit) and Vaci Utca (the main walking / shopping street. There was also another street I forget the name of (started with an "R") a block away which was lined with tons of neat outdoor cafes.
We spent a lot of time just wandering around the city. Heroes square is neat, as well as the view from the castle. The scenery and architecture of Budapest is incredible, a very eye-pleasing city. St Stevens Bassilica is awe-inspiring even though it was only recently constructed www.flickr.com/photos/kull/511550748/in/set-72157600256367362/
Our favorite sightseeing destination though was hands down the house of terror. I am a bit of a history buff. This was an incredibly well done museum built the in the same building which housed the Nazis and later the Communist terrror organizations. They tortured people in the basement. A bit quesy at times, but very interesting.
Now honestly the reason we went to Budapest was we heard of some legendary nightlife and we were not disappointed in the least. If memory serves me correct there are two islands on the Danube. You want to goto the second island which is about a mile further north then the first island.. You need to get a cab, and follow a road up the pest side about 1-2miles. This is "party island". There are 3-4 'super clubs' here.
The first night we went to Dokk Bistro. It was unreal and felt like something out of a music video www.flickr.com/photos/kull/511556822/in/set-72157600256367362/
youtube.com/watch?v=lDxuKvDEpaw&feature=related
Entrance was nominal ($5-10US equivalent) and drinks were not too badly priced ($5-8US for a mixed drink). The music was great (I am a house snob), crowd, was great, etc. We got there at 11PM and were way early. Was packed by 1am. Emptied a bit at 5AM and by 6AM a new DJ was on and it was as packed as ever. I believe the neighboring club closed at 5 and shifted its crowd over to consolidate/ We were told that the party oes strong until 2PM the next day. Jesus. We made it to 7:30 or so and cabbed it back to our hotel (plenty available) and made it in time for breakfast www.flickr.com/photos/kull/511575811/in/set-72157600256367362/
Rinse repeat. The next night (Saturday) we went back to the island, and found Dokk Bistro was closed, but instead "Bed Beach" was open. Hard to describe, picture "Bed" in new york with a huge dance floor, too many bars to count, a large dj setup, pools, etc. The candles were covering the DJ table, this was all outside but covered. www.youtube.com/watch?v=IoqvwkDQwas
At 5AM or so it shut down, and an afterparty was announced and everyone shifted back to Dokk Bistro which was now open again. The after party line was comedy in and of itself.youtube.com/watch?v=Y24YtUX6NYk - complete with drunken commentary
One note, the "super clubs" on the island (Dokk Island) only seemed to be a Friday and Saturday thing. Sunday night the town was much more mellow and we laid low and recovered for our trip to Vienna on Monday. Also - Mid May was the perfect time for Budapest. Weather was a very comfortable mid-70's and sunny the entire time.
I'm now planning a trip for this fall (pretravel.proboards1.com/index.cgi?action=gotopost&board=general&thread=7459&post=45046)and realized I never posted a report from my previous trip last may '07. (pretravel.proboards1.com/index.cgi?action=gotopost&board=general&thread=3009&post=18651
is the original thread.
Pics - www.flickr.com/photos/kull/collections/72157600256353917/
This post was made very hastily so I apologize for spelling / grammar. I will follow up with Vienna and Prague as soon as I get some more time.
PART 1 - Budapest - May 10-14
Inn-Side Hotel Kalvin House
Gönczy Pál.u.6, 1093
Highly recommended, smallish hotel. I believe it might have been family run. The pricing was very reasonable. We had three travelers and had booked a two bed room. When we got there they upgraded us for free to a very spacious three-bed room which had a kitchen as well as a loft (which we did not use) and office area. It was an absolute steal as they only charged us $20US more per night.
The location is pretty convenient. You are very close to the Great Hall (a worthwhile short visit) and Vaci Utca (the main walking / shopping street. There was also another street I forget the name of (started with an "R") a block away which was lined with tons of neat outdoor cafes.
We spent a lot of time just wandering around the city. Heroes square is neat, as well as the view from the castle. The scenery and architecture of Budapest is incredible, a very eye-pleasing city. St Stevens Bassilica is awe-inspiring even though it was only recently constructed www.flickr.com/photos/kull/511550748/in/set-72157600256367362/
Our favorite sightseeing destination though was hands down the house of terror. I am a bit of a history buff. This was an incredibly well done museum built the in the same building which housed the Nazis and later the Communist terrror organizations. They tortured people in the basement. A bit quesy at times, but very interesting.
Now honestly the reason we went to Budapest was we heard of some legendary nightlife and we were not disappointed in the least. If memory serves me correct there are two islands on the Danube. You want to goto the second island which is about a mile further north then the first island.. You need to get a cab, and follow a road up the pest side about 1-2miles. This is "party island". There are 3-4 'super clubs' here.
The first night we went to Dokk Bistro. It was unreal and felt like something out of a music video www.flickr.com/photos/kull/511556822/in/set-72157600256367362/
youtube.com/watch?v=lDxuKvDEpaw&feature=related
Entrance was nominal ($5-10US equivalent) and drinks were not too badly priced ($5-8US for a mixed drink). The music was great (I am a house snob), crowd, was great, etc. We got there at 11PM and were way early. Was packed by 1am. Emptied a bit at 5AM and by 6AM a new DJ was on and it was as packed as ever. I believe the neighboring club closed at 5 and shifted its crowd over to consolidate/ We were told that the party oes strong until 2PM the next day. Jesus. We made it to 7:30 or so and cabbed it back to our hotel (plenty available) and made it in time for breakfast www.flickr.com/photos/kull/511575811/in/set-72157600256367362/
Rinse repeat. The next night (Saturday) we went back to the island, and found Dokk Bistro was closed, but instead "Bed Beach" was open. Hard to describe, picture "Bed" in new york with a huge dance floor, too many bars to count, a large dj setup, pools, etc. The candles were covering the DJ table, this was all outside but covered. www.youtube.com/watch?v=IoqvwkDQwas
At 5AM or so it shut down, and an afterparty was announced and everyone shifted back to Dokk Bistro which was now open again. The after party line was comedy in and of itself.youtube.com/watch?v=Y24YtUX6NYk - complete with drunken commentary
One note, the "super clubs" on the island (Dokk Island) only seemed to be a Friday and Saturday thing. Sunday night the town was much more mellow and we laid low and recovered for our trip to Vienna on Monday. Also - Mid May was the perfect time for Budapest. Weather was a very comfortable mid-70's and sunny the entire time.
