My friend had recommended using welcomepickups.com for transport from the airport to our hotel.
Our expected arrival time to the BUD airport is 1:35pm local time on Thursday 9/3. But who knows whether our connection will be on time, of course.
When I checked their price for this ride on their website a few months ago was a good price and they encouraged booking ahead..
Does anyone know if th@t is best ie to reserve ahead, ie asap now, or is it better to wait either till we arrive in the Budapest airport, or even book when we’re in our departing airport (Boston), ie the eve before 9/2, OR at the connecting airport in London?
Also do you recommend them?
Posted by
TX, USA
6431 posts
I have used Welcome Pickups in other cities and I understand how it might feel good when you are headed to an unknown city. But in Budapest is incredibly easy to walk outside and see the Fo Taxi kiosk (official company for the airport) right there on your left. There is rarely much of a line and even when there is, it moves quickly. At the window, you tell the person your address. (Maybe have it written down. I don’t use paper, but I will still have the address pulled up on Google Maps on my phone, just to be clear.) They give you a little piece of paper and you step to the street for your taxi.
Unlike Paris or some other places, there is not a standard fee - it depends on the meter. You pay the taxi driver when you arrive and they take cash, card, or Apple Pay or Google Wallet.
Mr. É will come along soon with clearer instructions.
Edit: Here it is. https://community.ricksteves.com/travel-forum/hungary/budapest-airport-to-city-center
Posted by
Republic of Texas / U.S.A. / Magyarország / Budapest
27433 posts
It was a good price? You mean less than 35€? Because that's the average taxi cost to most of Budapest.
For the taxi, you exit the arrivals hall to the pick up lane and the FoTaxi kiosk is right there. You show them your destination and the English speaking attendant will give you a slip of paper with a taxi number and estimated cost. You walk to the curb about 20 feet away and get in the taxi. The driver will help you with the luggage.
Or you can use that "Welcome" service. I suspect they will ask for a flight number and track your arrival. I am sure they are fine. I guess they meet you with your name on a sign in the arrivals hall. Then they walk you up the stairs to the departures hall. Then outside to the curb where they tell you to wait while they go and get the car out of the parking lot. A few minutes later they return and you depart.
Which sounds easier? And I suspect cheaper.
Posted by
OP
Cambridge, MA, USA
4 posts
Interesting. The price welcomepickups sites right now if I follow through to reserve is $40.63 including all fees. Looks like it’s about the same cause the conversion of that amount to euros seems to be $40.54 (35 Euros). Sounds like it would be easier though since I don’t need to juggle trying to connect with them if there’s a delayof more than30 min(including getting to wherever I have to meet them).
It sounds better if there’s very minimal wait, as you say, and easy to access
Good to know. Thanks to you both. Any additional info is welcome, but this helps for sure
Posted by
TX, USA
6431 posts
I think it’s just a choice. Do whichever makes you feel better - being fairly assured you will have a driver waiting or take the taxi and not having to worry about being delayed. The only other factor might be whether you are entering Schengen in Budapest or will have already done that elsewhere. I don’t have a lot of experience entering there but in April, the wait in line was not short. If you will have done that elsewhere, then things move pretty quickly after landing.
Posted by
Republic of Texas / U.S.A. / Magyarország / Budapest
27433 posts
I would be shocked if the private driver didn't ask for your flight number and track your flight.
When in June i entered BUD from Montenegro I saw the line you guys have to use and it didn't look bad, but you know that has to be different every hour and every day of the week.
The driver has a good price, but you will arrive at your hotel at least 10 min later than a taxi would take and you have to take a short hike with your luggage to the Departures Hall.
Like TTM says, really doesnt matter much. You cant do wrong. Just as long as no one is considering the Welcome people because of some internet nonsense they read about bad taxi drivers. If it was ever a problem it was before I started visiting Budapest 22 years ago.
Depending on where the hotel is and how much luggage the bus is a fine option too. Its what I do because I am over 65 so its free.
Posted by
OP
Cambridge, MA, USA
4 posts
We’re going to the Emerald Hotel and Suites. I haven’t figured out really where these all connect to one another. We will have checked luggage, so might be a lot for the bus.
Also we’ll probably be exhausted since we’ll likely not slept overnight on the plane and quite disoriented since we’re first timers. Though I love the idea of taking the bus otherwise.
Posted by
Republic of Texas / U.S.A. / Magyarország / Budapest
27433 posts
Quite honestly nothing will be easier or faster than a taxi if you have luggage and are tired. You will be on your way to the hotel before the private driver can say, “wait here and I will get my car”. I guessed a bit high. The FoTaxi fare calculator says:
- Expected cost of the trip: 9400 - 10200Ft ($30 to $33) not that the $10 one way or another means anything against the cost of the trip and when convenience and peace of mind are in the equation.
- Expected distance of the trip: 15.4km
- Expected duration of the trip: 28 minutes
When its time to return to the airport (if thats how you are leaving Budapest), then call City Taxi or download their app and request a taxi the night before: https://citytaxi.hu/ All the taxi companies are good, I use City out of habit and because they have never messed up, not once in over 20 years.
Your hotel. 100 rooms, 50 apartments on 7 floors and about 6 years old. It’s in an interesting and very nice location in District V. Here is a photo: https://maps.app.goo.gl/mERt1ArKTB2gYjRk7 When you open the photo you will see a church on the right and a pink and tan building (City Hall) on the left. The entrance to the hotel is up the street between the two at the rear of the church. You can zoom in and see it, but the photo won’t let you walk up the street. https://maps.app.goo.gl/1o12EaD2FhXxrAdc8
If you rotate the view to the left, you can see the road that will take you to the Deak Ferenc Metro Station and the 47/49 Tram end stop and the end of Andrassy ut; all about a 5-minute walk. If you continue spinning around, you can see some nice architecture. As you spin back to the church, that modern building to the right of the church is also your hotel as it wraps around 3 sides of the old Church.
Four restaurants not far worth trying are
- Comme Chez Soi https://maps.app.goo.gl/n6oknHE2uT37n2EB8 wonderful French/Italian
- Pilvax https://maps.app.goo.gl/usR6gNe3hMN7eqzNA Excellent Hungarian
- Dunacorso https://maps.app.goo.gl/xJTYFoGFPCrFT5rRA Good Hungarian and best dinner view in town (outside dining)
- Vígvarjú https://maps.app.goo.gl/imaoShE1d1sf9GaT7 Very good Hungarian food and atmosphere.