January 19, 2004 -- Long considered Central Europe's most fun city, Budapest is now for sale at super low prices until March 15. And by low, we mean under $95 a night, with air included, for the weekly package.
Tatra Travel, which specializes in Central Europe, has a choice for you of two packages. One is for a week (eight days/six nights) in Budapest, costing just $569. The other is for a long weekend (five days/three nights) with a pricetag of $499. There's a single supplement of $90 for the weekend package, $150 for the weeklong deal, they say.
The package includes roundtrip flights from New York's JFK, from Newark, Toronto or Montreal, to Budapest; "quality" lodging in the centrally-located Hotel Sissi (graded three-stars); buffet breakfast daily; airport/hotel transfers; half-day Budapest city sightseeing with an English-speaking guide; free maps, city and hotel brochures.
In Budapest, be sure to take in at least these major sights: Two of the most important places are houses of worship, the Matthias Church (13th-century with additions) up in the Castle District, and the Dohany Synagogue, said to be the largest in Europe and second-largest in the world, down on the flats of Pest. The Hungarian National Museum, in Pest, is fascinating for the building itself as well as for its exhibits. You can say "ditto" to that for the Ethnographical Museum, across the street from Parliament, which is also on the best-see list. If you have a chance, go see what's on at the State Opera House, which is gorgeous.
This package doesn't include connecting flights from major US cities, business class upgrades, travel insurance, theater and concert tickets, and car rentals, but all are available on request. Note that the price above is per person in a double room, and does not include the airport taxes and security fees. The maximum stay is 20 nights, and as usual, the price is subject to availability, and some other restrictions may apply.
Contact Tatra Travel at 800/321-2999 or 212/486-0533, fax 212/486-1456, website www.tatratravel.com.
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