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Couple questions about transit passes & ID, + foreign guest hassles?

Posted by (Nova Scotia, Canada) on

Sorry if this has been asked before--I did search but the search function isn't the greatest. Someone in an old trasit thread mentioned keeping ID on you if you get a pass. I abhor travelling with my passport (unless, you know, I am actively travelling across borders) and I lock it in the safe as soon as I land at my accommodation. Would a combination of a copy of my passport + my Canadian driver's license suffice if I need ID?

Also if anyone has advice on transit passes, I'd appreciate it. We will be in town for 5 days so probably would need a week?

Side topic, I spent a month on business in Budapest in 2018. At that time we had excellent local hosts, and they did everything for us, with the constant exhortation that "Hungary is hard for foreigners". This included getting our transit passes for us in advance, as well as setting up cell phones for us. We were also advised that it was very difficult for foreigners to rent cars (we were looking to leave the city on the weekend), and one of our local colleagues ended up volunteering to drive. Is this legit (or legit still), or were they just trying to be extra helpful hosts? We will get sim cards for our phones before we arrive in Hungary, which should still work in Hungary according to the vendor. Also we are considering renting a car for a couple of days to go to Eger, though we haven't weighed the pros and cons of rental vs public transit yet.

Posted by
20764 posts

Sorry if this has been asked before--I did search but the search
function isn't the greatest. Someone in an old trasit thread mentioned
keeping ID on you if you get a pass.

Ask away, things change sometimes.

Typical TravelCards come in 24 hour and 72 hour flavors. So for five days you could buy one of each and that would cost you 8.000 forints

or

you could buy a single 15 day pass for 6,500 forints. The 15 day pass will require a picture ID. Your home driver’s license will work. The pass will be checked often, but I have never seen anyone asked for the ID. But if they do and you don’t have it, the fine is 12.000 forints (that’s a lot).

Side topic, I spent a month on business in Budapest in 2018. At that
time we had excellent local hosts, and they did everything for us,

It is the EU for goodness’ sake. Go rent a car if you want. But I would take the train. Cheaper, easier, cleaner. Cant Imagine the advantage of a car unless you make a 3 or 4 day trip out of it and go sightseeing along the way.

though we haven't weighed the pros and cons of rental vs public
transit yet.

Really no cons. For me it’s a way of life here. Today the M1 to Deak F. then the M2 to Deli and a change to the 17 tram to the end stop for some shopping. Home was the 17 Tram a stop to pick up the 47 Tram to Deak then the M1 back up Andrassy to home.

Dont even think about driving in town. A 10 min drive will terminate in a 30 minute hunt for parking that ends up being as far from your destination as where you began driving from. On the highway out of town, fine, but why? Tolls, gas, then parking at the other end vs less than 10 for a train ticket and a quick trip.

Posted by
267 posts

Thanks Mr E. The 15 day pass sounds the most useful, especially as we will probably have an extra night (6th night) in Budapest after Eger and before we fly out. So no messing around with running out of days. Perfectly happy to carry my DL around.

Not sure why our hosts made it sound like renting a car was a big deal. But good to know it's not! We never drive in cities, so would probably just rent long enough to drive to Eger, spend a couple of nights, and come back. We do enjoy the flexibility of being able to stop along the way if we see anything interesting.

Posted by
20764 posts

Before you start off on the trip, know how to buy the viginet. I believe it will cost 6.400ft ($18) This is something I know nothing about so I can not help. Then find a garage in Eger and check the price. I would budget $37 a day Then budget $25 for gas. Hertz is about $130 a for pickup at noon day 1 and return noon at day 3. But there are cheaper I bet. So, $210 (not bad at all) and based on my experience with service here figure about 2 hours (combined) to pick up and drop off.

For a hotel.... Senator Haz.

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