I looked through the forum and didn't see an answer. We worked with a travel agent and they took care of our airport to hotel transport. My question is do we tip this person? If so, how much? I assume if we tip we don't use our credit card and with all I have read about using airport ATMs to get forint....well, I'm nervous about the whole thing. I'd appreciate any advice/suggestions....we leave Friday.
Thanks,
Posted by
Tresana, Highlands Ranch, CO, USA
23240 posts
If it is private driver, I would tip up to about 10%.
Posted by
Magyarország / Rep of Texas
17855 posts
If your travel agent booked the transfer you are already paying somewhere in the neighborhood of 30 euro (nearly 10.000 forints) for a 22 euro (7.000 forint) ride, so tip what you want. The driver will also be "tipping" the hotel. If you like him and he did a good job, give him what you feel comfortable with. There is no science here.
What will happen is you get off your plane, pick up your bags and go out the black glass door to the arrivals hall where the driver will be waiting with your name on a sign. You will then be escorted to the curb where he will say, "wait for me i will be back in under 5 minutes". That's because he is not allowed to park except in the general parking lot. He has to go fetch the car.
While you are waiting, please observe the passengers who arrived with you who choose to take a tax. They followed the black line marked "TAXI" on the floor which began in the baggage area. In the time it took to find, meet and greet your driver, they will be at the Fotaxi Kiosk (just feet from where you will be standing). Before your driver reappears they will have been given a ticket with the address on it, the maximum charge on it and the number of the cab they have been assigned to. Show to the driver to confirm you will be taken to the right place. Still before your driver reappears they will be in their cabs heading off to beautiful downtown Budapest. Their charge will be something in the neighborhood of 7.000 forints or 7.500 including tip.
Now, when i have guest going to Budapest that i want to ensure have a great introduction to the city I hire a driver named Laszlo MARKUS ( http://silverwings.hu/ ) for a nice little charge picks them up at the airport (same conditions as any other private driver) but then gives them an orientation tour through the city and along the banks of the Danube. By the time he is done (less than 1.5 hours) you will know where everything in town is, and have an idea of where things are relative to your hotel.
Posted by
OP
2 posts
Thank you for the replies....I don't have a problem tipping for good service. So about using the ATMs in the airport, I have read over and over don't get forints from the ATMs at the airport but how else do we tip the driver? Are the ATMs safe to use? Thanks :)
Posted by
Magyarország / Rep of Texas
17855 posts
The only ATM i have spotted at the airport is one of those Euro-something machines. Conventional wisdom was that they gave you a lousy rate of exchange. All the bank ATM's will be tied to the VISA rate which is actually pretty good. But lets say you just want 10,000 or 20,000 forints for the taxi I cant imagine the lousy rate would cost you more than 4 or 5 dollars. The in town, at a Bank ATM pull out more if you need it. The machine is located to the left of the doors that exit the arrivals hall to the taxi stand.
Did you get a quote on the transfer cost???
I don't know about your driver, but the taxi will take euro (at about a 10% loss in exchange) and credit cards (best bet). I am certain your driver will take your euro too (but again, not at a great rate). Most will take credit cards too. In that case, when he says the fee is 10.000 forints, you can say, "charge me 20.000 cause you were so good".
Main thing is dont sweat it. Relax. It always works out.