Operators make family holidays a shore thing

Lake Balaton by Brian Richards

Operators make family holidays a shore thing

Destination offers value for money

According to lakes and mountains operators, the shores of Lake Balaton in Hungary hold immense potential for the UK family and couples market.

While British visitors to Balaton head for the resort hotels on the northern shore, the south bank appeals to the majority German market.

That profile could change, however, with mainstream German operators stepping up their north shore hotel allocations and the British market showing added interest in the camping grounds on the opposite bank.

The shallow southern part of the lake, where the summer water temperature reaches 26C, is particularly suited to families with young children; the north shore offers more history and places of interest.

Beach alternative

Crystal’s Eastern Europe product manager Stevan Popovich said: “We were the first to offer Lake Balaton as a lakes and mountains product and other operators have followed suit.”

He added: “Though Balaton is primarily a couples destination for us, it has great potential for the family market too.

“It’s unspoilt, extremely safe, fairly compact and there’s plenty to do. Balaton is unusual in that it’s not a classic lakes and mountains destination – more a cross between a lake and coastal resort.

“With its water sports and excellent climate, Balaton is a very good alternative to the seaside.”

Good for families

Inghams Hungary product manager Andrew Russell added: “Lake Balaton is where East and West German families met when the Berlin Wall was still in position – many Germans go for nostalgic reasons.”

“The hotels are well equipped for the family market; there’s a lot to do and the area is very inexpensive.

“We feature Tihany and Keszthely – they’re quieter and the hotels there are a little more classy,” he added.

Danube Travel plans to push Lake Balaton for the family market next year.

Managing director Gyorgi Berenyi said: “The lake has a big advantage over the sea in that it’s safe.

“It’s an absolutely fantastic destination for families with small children and although it has sold very well this year, most sales have been to couples. We’ll be giving the region it a big push next year.”

Promotion

Lake Balaton’s unique selling point is that with its huge area of 230sq miles it offers a sea-like environment, in contrast to the smaller alpine lakes of central Europe.

Speedboats are banned on Lake Balaton – the only motorised vessels allowed are the pleasure craft that cross the lake and a couple of small car ferries.

The shoreline measures 125 miles and is ringed by Route 71, which links the lake’s resorts with the M7 motorway from Budapest.

A circuit of the lake makes for an enjoyable day’s drive.

Hungarian Tourist Office UK director Gabor Tarr would like to see Lake Balaton’s season extended year-round with the addition of more conference facilities.

“The Club Tihany complex is open all year and is ideal for conferences,” he said.

“We need Lake Balaton to be a year-round attraction as investors aren’t attracted by a summer-only destination.”

We are sailing: the lake provides a great opportunity for boating although most motorised vehicles are banned

Factfile

lake balaton

&#42 Lake Balaton, known as the Hungarian Sea, lies 80 miles southwest of the capital Budapest and is Europe’s largest freshwater lake outside Scandinavia.

&#42 It is almost 50 miles long and varies in width from one mile, where the Tihany peninsula almost cuts it in two, to nine miles at its widest point.

&#42 The opposite shores feature contrasting scenery. The northern part is hilly. The slopes are cloaked in vineyards and produce most of Balaton’s quality wines. The chief resort is Balatonfured; the most popular tourist spot is Tihany, with its 18th-century Abbey and craft shops.

&#42 The southern shoreline is more shallow, with a string of lakeside resorts merging into one leisure area. The largest town on the southern shore is Siofok, its hotels and arcades in contrast to quieter resorts on the northern bank.

&#42 Accessible from the lake are Veszprem, a picturesque old town on the edge of the Bakony Hills; the spa resort of Heviz, with its thermal lake; and Szekesfehervar, Hungary’s oldest town.

Feeling sporty? The region offers a variety of activities and is a good beach resort alternative

Choices: some operators offer Budapest as a twin-centre option with Lake Balaton

Crystal holidays: 10 nights’ half-board at the three-star Annabella in Balatonfured costs from £449. It includes flights with Malev from Heathrow to Budapest and a two-hour transfer to Balatonfured. Two-centrearrangements between Budapest and Lake Balaton cost from £554 for 10 nights, including three nights’ bed and breakfast at the Nemzeti in Budapest, plus seven nights’ half-board at the Annabella on Lake Balaton.

inghams: seven nights’ half-board at the two-star Bacchus in Keszthely is priced from £346. Included are flights with Malev between Heathrow and Budapest and a three-hour transfer to Keszthely. Two-centre arrangements between Budapest and Lake Balaton are from £490 for 10 nights, including three nights’ bed and breakfast in Budapest, plus seven nights’ half-board at Lake Balaton. Alternatively, it is possible to twin one week by Lake Balaton with one week in Eger.

Danube travel: seven nights’ half-board at the three-star Helikon in Keszthely in July and August is £450 including flights and transfers. Danube Travel can arrange a repeat its three-night package to the Anna Ball in Balatonfured in mid-July – it is priced from around £499 and includes Malev flights between Heathrow and Budapest, first-class rail transfers and a ticket to the ball.

cosmos tourama: offers a seven-night extension at the three-star Hotel Neptun at Balatonfoldvar on Lake Balaton to its seven-night Prague, Vienna and Budapest fly/coach tour. The 14-night combined tour and extension costs from £578.