OPERATORS to Hungary are expanding their product beyond Budapest for 2000 in a bid to attract repeat visitors who have already experienced the capital.
Hungary specialist Danube Travel starts its first Hungarian fly/coach tour with nine guaranteed departures between late May and late September. The six-day tour from Budapest takes in Eger, Kecskemet, Pecs, Keszthely, Heviz, Tihany on Lake Balaton and northern Hungary. Clients stay in three and four-star hotels.
Operations manager Klara Sido said: “It’s the first coach tour of its kind on the UK market and features all of Hungary’s most important cities. We’re still working on prices.”
Inghams has also expanded its Hungary product, adding Eger to its Lakes and Mountains programme and bolting on a range of excursions from the northern town.
Product manager Andrew Russell said:”Eger is a lovely old Baroque town with a castle and lots of old buildings, just 2hrs from Budapest.”
Tours include Hortobagy and the Great Plain, Budapest, the World Heritage village of Holloko and the Bukk Mountains National Park.
Interchange Travel has expanded into Hungary, introducing a Witches and Marzipan tour – a three-night Budapest city break with two themed excursions, priced at £450.
Managing director Gordon Burnett said:”We need to get into the bizarre and exotic. Hungary is central Europe par excellence, with a lot more to offer than traditional holidays.”
One trip is to the Great Plain, to see the Witches’ Dance and riding display. A second visits the Marzipan Museum in Szentendre.
Hungary packages
Crystal: seven nights’ half-board at the four-star Club Tihany on Lake Balaton lead in at £359. Flights are with Malev Hungarian Airlines.
Inghams: seven nights’ half-board at the Park Hotel in Eger, with Malev Hungarian Airlines plus rail transfers, costs £319.
Thomson Breakaway: a four-night millennium break at the four-star Mercure Korona in Budapest, flying British Midland, starts at £699. Departures are on December 28 or 29.