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Budapest, capital city of Hungary and often referred to as the Paris of Eastern Europe, continues to fascinate me with its rapid immersion into privatization since its political metamorphosis ten years ago. The intensity of the charm, culture and history provides a stark contrast against the proliferation of tourism, fast food eateries and shopping malls. This surge of capitalism includes the opportunity to privately compete in previously government controlled enterprises such as elective healthcare. The US dollar, as well as other strong currencies, can buy common plastic surgical procedures in Hungary such as laser treatment, collagen injections, liposuction, breast augmentation, nose surgery and face lifts for significantly less.
If you have been contemplating any of these procedures, then you have discovered that you must be prepared to commit several weeks of your time and spend anywhere from approximately $5,000 to $20,000. In Hungary you can obtain the equivalent services for approximately 40% to 70% less without sacrificing quality of care and expertise. For example, a face "lift" with laser surgery can cost $2,000 to $5,000 and breast augmentation $5000 to $10,000 in the U.S. A comparable procedure in Hungary would cost $1,000 to $1,500 and $2,000 to $3,500 respectively. This savings allows you to use the additional money you would have otherwise spent in the US to pay for transportation, recreation and a leisurely stay at a quality spa hotel. Depending on the procedure, you may even have some money left over. If you were planning to travel to Europe anyway, this could be even more of a bargain as an add-on experience or side trip.
Dr. Gusztav Gulyas, the president of the Hungarian Society of Plastic of Plastic Surgeons, is active in keeping the association membership current in medical advances and can be a useful point of contact for general information about the topic including procedures and referrals. The Society, with 123 members, is an active member of the International Society of Plastic Surgeons, which also includes the equivalent U.S. medical associations with at least two meetings a year. Dr. Gulyas not only practices reconstructive surgery at the National Institute of Oncology but also is in private practice in a quiet Budapest suburb at the Viranyos Clinic, which also provides numerous non-elective medical services.
A feature of the clinic, and other plastic surgeons in Hungary, is the availability of numerous services from a single provider while many surgeons in the U.S. tend to specialize in one or two. This can be an added benefit since one can obtain multiple procedures from one doctor, which in effect is a "one stop shop" and eliminates the need to visit multiple practitioners if different services are desired. This provides not only additional convenience but reduces the time spent abroad and the overall costs as well. The clinic, where English and German are readily spoken, is impressive and rivals any quality medical facility in the U.S in cleanliness, staffing, modern facilities and state of the art equipment. Staff appear personable and unrushed promoting a comfortable atmosphere conducive to doctor patient communication.
Dr. Istvan Szemerey, a plastic surgeon with an individual practice in his own office named Mediburg, exhibits not only the aforementioned positive qualities but is very personable promoting an atmosphere akin to a family practitioner. His office, efficient and warmly decorated with the help of his family, encourages the guest to be comfortable and relaxed. During the tour of his state-of-the-art facility, I was immediately cautioned not to step into the operating room so as to maintain antiseptic conditions. Dr. Szemerey, also skilled in English and German, has been practicing privately since 1991 specializing in breast augmentation, liposuction, laser rejuvenation, forehead lift, hair removal and burn scar correction, many of which are outpatient procedures with minimal recovery time. He has privileges at a full service hospital when applicable and is also a member of the Hungarian Society of Plastic Surgeons, Association of German Plastic Surgeons and International Society for Plastic, Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgery.
Dr. Szemerey advises you begin your preparations well before you travel and plan on staying in Hungary 3 to 4 weeks for most procedures. Begin by contacting him with your intentions and schedule. You will likely need to see your own physician for a check up and to let him or her know of any potential conditions, which may affect the surgery. The physician will need to provide the information to Dr. Szemerey. Upon your arrival to Budapest, he will provide an initial examination and consultation to discuss the procedure(s) in detail. You will need to avoid drinking, smoking and certain medications a couple of weeks, and possibly be prescribed antibiotics a few days, prior to surgery. Minimize chances of infections and exposure to flues and colds, eat nutritiously and take appropriate supplements, including vitamin C. Avoid crowds, unnecessary contact and wash your hands frequently, especially when undertaking air travel and public transportation.
While Budapest is fascinating and provides a myriad of opportunities, you will want to save more rigorous sightseeing and budget accommodations for another trip. At this point you have given yourself permission to pamper yourself for two to four weeks so you will want to arrange accommodations to do just that - without sacrificing value. Living well is comparatively inexpensive in Budapest and you will find most transportation, dining and entertainment to be near communist era prices. Selecting a hotel need not be daunting since many of the better ones (four and five stars) have comparable features in the range of $100 to $180 per night. This rivals any equivalent US hotel in price and may exceed them in value by available amenities. Many of these Budapest hotels have spa facilities and medical/health services also for substantially reduced prices. Keep in mind that, for hotel booking, the high season is the spring and fall due to increased business travel while the high season for airfare tends to be during the summer, typically from June 1 to September 15. You may have to weigh the lower fall airfares against the higher fall hotel rates and visa versa to see which provides the greatest net savings. The doctor you select may likely be on vacation during part of the summer which would narrow your options.
If you want familiarity, comfort, rest and practicality, the five star Hyatt Regency on Roosevelt ter (square) will exceed all your expectations in value. Exuding style and superior aesthetics without being overwhelming, the Hyatt is ideally located along the Danube River in walking distance of many points of interest. Once inside, you may find little motivation to venture out. Some of the reasons include a full service fitness center (the swedish massages are a bargain at $15 dollars for one half hour), swimming pool, business center with three pentium powered work stations, highly efficient concierge service, beauty salon, Malev Hungarian Travel Agency and Airlines office, gift shop, casino, multiple dining facilities and spacious rooms with multinational cable TV and modem/fax connections. The culinary choices are endless with three eating establishments offering Hungarian and international cuisine including a dinner buffet and a complimentary full breakfast buffet. Many rooms provide a sweeping view of the river and the Buda side of the city rivaling that of a post card. When you do venture outside, you will find much of the city, including its cultural centers, accessible by foot and a highly efficient metro. The jogging possibilities along the Danube River are endless, safe and anything but boring. Should you need a taxi, a reputable one with a Hyatt insignia is always available for a reasonable price. This is a valuable amenity, since Budapest taxi drivers are known to occasionally take advantage of foreign visitors.
If you are looking for a hotel with spa and medicinal packages or just something different, the Danubius Hotels, a Hungarian hotel chain, offers numerous four and five star choices in Budapest as well as other Hungarian cities. Each hotel is unique in some way whether in services, location, scenery or architecture. Some of the Danubius hotels are located in more secluded and quiet areas of the city. Depending on the amenities desired, you will find the two and three week Spa vacation packages at approximately $600 to $650 per week to be the best value. These hotels provide a plethora of pampering offering such luxuries as medical check ups and consultation, dental procedures, wellness and weight loss programs, massage and physical therapy, mineral baths and beauty/cosmetic programs, all at relatively inexpensive prices, especially the dental services.
The length of your stay and the surgical procedures you choose will dictate how much of Budapest you want to experience. Don't feel too compelled to do something just because you are there. That is not the primary purpose of your visit so make the best of your recovery time where you are. However, if you follow your physicians' recommendations regarding physical activity, you will likely be able take in a few experiences. Many of the minor procedures have only one to two week recovery times allowing for numerous possibilities. You might want to consider scheduling any rigorous activity before the surgery. Only you can decide where and when you may or may not want to be seen with any bandages, but that is also a problem you would have at home. Instead, deal with the dilemma in pleasant and comfortable surroundings. The best sources of impromptu ideas and what's happening around town is the Budapest Tourist Office (a couple of blocks from the Hyatt) and your concierge often rivaled by the hotel club bartender.
Arranging airfare to Europe can require some effort if you want to get the best price possible. With the arrival of the Internet, choices have become even more numerous. Airfare websites may, but don't always, have the best deals. The same with travel agents and even the airline offices themselves. However, some factors will narrow the search. While purchasing tickets directly from an airline generally is not the least expensive choice, some unannounced specials may arise which may not make it to an agent or the web. Since there is so much potential for variation of international airfare prices depending on source, dates of travel and route, you should generally consult the following sources; airlines, airline tour offices, websites, ticket consolidators and your favorite travel agent. Similar approaches apply for hotel booking as well. Frequently you will get a better price by purchasing a package for both airfare and hotel from the same source.
One of the options I recommend for North American travelers is to consider a direct flight to Budapest from the applicable North American city. Typically, when shopping for passage to an Eastern and Central European destination, you are offered an evening departure from the US to a Western European city (i.e., London, Frankfurt, Zurich) arriving in the early a.m. your time. There you will have to wait for a connection flight to Budapest. This type of route can offer the most selection and maybe a better price, but is lacking in convenience and ease. A nonstop flight can be booked with Malev, or its US partner Delta (which allows you more valuable frequent flyer miles) departing from New York, Chicago, Los Angeles or Toronto. If you need a connecting flight to one of these cities, changing over is a lot easier and less fatiguing in the afternoon or evening here before the major leg of your journey. A refreshing nap in your hotel upon arrival at an earlier time will be less likely to disrupt your ability to have a good nights sleep later that evening and minimizes the domino effect of jet lag. Malev has come a long way in overcoming past perceptions of unpopularity. They use the same wide body jet aircraft as the US airlines with the same associated transatlantic amenities and are no less comfortable. The return flight does have the possibility of a connection toward the end of the journey but is less debilitating because you depart in the morning from Budapest and arrive in the afternoon, local US time, without cycling through a "nighttime" period. Since you hardly notice it, wait a few hours and return to your customary sleep schedule renewed, rested and relaxed.
Contacts
Dr. Istvan Szemerey
Mediburg Clinic
Lovas 10, 1012 Budapest
Email: mediburg@mail.matav.hu
Telephone: (011 361) 202 1178
He is directly available Mondays and Wednesdays
3:30 to 5:30 local time
Fax: Utilizes same number
Dr. Gusztav Gulyas
Viranyos Clinic
Viranyos ut 23/d, 1125 Budapest
Email: viranyos-klinika@euroweb.hu
Telephone: (011 361) 275 0374 or 5
Fax: (011 361) 275 0376
Web: home.euroweb/viranyos-klinika
You can purchase transportation and accommodations from the following sources through travel agents and travel web sites, sometimes for a better price, so shop around.
Malev Hungarian Airlines and Airtours
Telephone 1 800 223 6884
Web: www.malev.hu
Delta Airlines
Telephone: 1 800 241 414
Web: www.delta-air.com
Hyatt Regency Budapest
Roosevelt ter 2, 1051 Budapest
Telephone: (011 361) 266 1234 or 1 800 233 1234
Email: reservation@budapest.hyatt
Web: www.hyatt.com
Danubius Hotels Group (for all their hotels/resorts)
Szent Istvan ter 11, 1051 Budapest
Telephone: (011 361) 374 7229
Email: danubius@hungary.net
Web: www.danubiusgroup.com
(has links to all their hotels and email addresses)
Typical fee comparisons of some plastic surgery procedures in US Dollars
US Hungary
Laser Skin Resurfacing 2000 - 3000 1000 - 1500
Breast Augmentation 5000 - 6000 2500 - 3000
Tummy Tuck 4000 - 5000 1500 - 2000
Nose Reshaping 3000 - 4000 1000 - 1500
Resources
Hungarian National Tourist Office Telephone: 212 355 0240
150 East 58th Street, New York, NY 10155 Email: info@gotohungary.com
Web: www.gotohungary.com
The above office can provide you with an extremely concise magazine-like travel planner and information resource as well as a delightfully quirky book titled Budapest: A Critical Guide by Andras Torok, an insider guide to popular and more subtle attractions including some mapped out walking tours.
Budapest Tourist Office (a few blocks from the Hyatt) Embassy of the Republic of Hungary
Marcius 15 ter 7, 1056 Budapest 3910 Shoemaker Street, NW
Telephone: (011 361) 266 0479 Washington, DC, 20008
Email: info@budtour.hu Telephone: 1 202 362 6730
Email: hungembwas@attmail.com
Web: www.hungaryemb.org
(also has good links to other sites)
The Federation of Hungarian Medical Societies (MOTESZ), of which the Hungarian Society of Plastic Surgeons is a member, has a fully registered IATA member travel agency specializing in a wide range of services for medical related travel including hotel accommodations and social programs. Check it out by contacting:
Agnes Ratalics, MOTESZ Telephone: (011 361) 311 6687
Nador u 36, 1443 Budapest Fax: (011 361) 383 7918
Email: motesz@elender.hu
Other Tips
Currency: As of December 2000, one US Dollar equals approximately 300 Hungarian Forints. Check this before you leave, because the Forint has been known to fluctuate significantly.
Tipping: It is expected and appreciated. An entry for a tip will also be on your hotel bill at checkout. Although some consider it rude or lacking in etiquette to check a restaurant bill, do so anyway. Like some taxi drivers, waiters have also been known to take advantage of foreigners.
Telephones: The numbers referenced in this article include international area codes (011 361) needed to dial from the US. To dial them in Budapest, use only the digits not in parentheses. Calling North America from Hungary for some reason costs three times as much as the reverse. If you must call, it is easiest to use the credit card swipe pay phone in the hotel lobby and dial 001 then the area code. Local calls in Budapest are all charged per minutes of use regardless of distance. In other words, there is no such thing as local calling areas. Since this can put a crimp in surfing the web, you will find all computers rigged to only go online during the moment of transmission. Nevertheless, it is a lot cheaper to use email than telephone. For overseas communication, use an internet café or the Hyatt's business center pentium work stations at five dollars for the first fifteen minutes. For local calling, purchase a phone card from the hotel gift shop and use the lobby payphones. As in the US, phone calls from your hotel room will have exorbitant surcharges.
Public Transportation: It is efficient, cheap and reliable. Between the underground metro, commuter trains, trolleys, streetcars and buses, one of them will be heading to where you want to go. A ticket costs about 70 cents and allows you to travel as far as you want on the vehicle you board. It is up to you to punch it in a device, which is periodically set to put three predetermined holes in your ticket. Most riders do not do this because they purchase a monthly berlet or pass. Do not be tempted to "let it go" because enforcement officers are consistent in their random and unpredictable verifications. Get a discount a book of ten tickets, from the hotel gift shop, useable for all forms of public transportation.
Restaurants: Much of Hungarian life and social interaction revolves around food and meals. While your choices are too numerous to discuss here, for convenience, avoid the over-priced tourist oriented restaurants. I suggest the Merleg Restaurant on Merleg utca (street). If you want an authentic meal in downtown (two blocks from the Hyatt), the Merleg will exceed your expectations. The menu is typically Hungarian, delicious, frequented by locals and three persons can stuff themselves for about $25.
Shopping: Consult your guides for the best shopping opportunities. While the Vaci utca downtown area is one of the most popular suggestions, beware of overpriced goods, pickpockets and prostitutes. If you need more common items for yourself or for gifts and yearn for familiarity or just an all day shopping fix, an efficient, but not necessarily better, alternative is a three level American style shopping mall called the Duna Plaza at the Gyongyosi utca metro station (website: www.plazaclub.com). Every kind of vendor you might want in one place is in the mall including a food court, movie theatres, casino, billiards, bowling, ice skating and fitness center. Value Added Tax (VAT) can be refunded on goods only in excess of 50,000 Forints. You must keep and present all receipts at point of departure (airport customs) which can take some time. You can also do it by mail. Detailed information on the procedure is available from the aforementioned tourist offices.
Hot Tip
Anytime you plan to be in Hungary for an extended period with a flexible schedule, check out round trip air travel to other destinations from Budapest by buying the airfare (and accommodations) in Hungarian Forints at a local travel agency. The prices in dollars are significantly less expensive even without advance purchase. For example, a "walk-in" price quote for next day departure from Budapest to Baltimore (my route in reverse) with connection in New York was approximately $400, two thirds less than most equivalent fares purchased in the US. Other similar fare bargains are available for other destinations. Depending on seat availability, the possibilities for a side trip from Budapest to, say, Spain, Russia or even Japan and back are numerous. If you are able to acquire "locally purchased" airfare in advance, the fare is even less. There are numerous walk-in travel agencies in Budapest which are surprisingly busy, well run with knowledgeable staff and manage crowds efficiently. They seem to have embraced the customer service aspects of privatization. I suggest the following two for starters.
Vista Travel Agency and Center Telephone; (011 361) 267 8600
Andrassy ut 1, 1061 Budapest Website including email: www.vista.hu/english
Vista proclaims on its home page to have the "best fares in Hungary from Budapest to anywhere" and also provides information regarding tourism, incoming travel services, concerts and events as well as a visitor center, booking for ground transportation, the "best currency exchange rate" and an internet café.
For familiarity, you can always rely on the American Express Travel Agency (and they do take American Express) two blocks from the Hyatt at Deak Ferenc Ut 10, 1052, Budapest, Telephone: (011 361) 235 4300.
Websites
The internet provides unlimited information regarding travel and Hungary. In addition to the aforementioned websites, you can start at any of your favorite portals like Hotbot or Yahoo. The travel planner from the Hungarian National Tourist office has the most thorough list of Hungarian internet resources I have ever seen on page 22. I often use the intuitive search site Ask Jeeves (ask.com) where you can ask complete and specific questions rather just enter a word or phrase. Here are some popular sites to get you started.
www.ask.com
www.atevo.com
www.priceline.com
www.discountfares.com
www.worldsbesttravelagents.com
www.expedia.com
www.lowestfare.com
www.travelolcity.com
www.netguide.com/travel
www.hungary.com (excellent subdirectories)
www.hungarytourism.com
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