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Travel Guide
Please Note
This is a generalized travel guide and it is intended to coalesce several resources, which a traveler might find useful, regardless of a particular destination. As such, it does not include travel warnings for specific "hot spot" destinations.
For travel alerts and warnings, please see the United States Department of State's listings available at URL:
https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/traveladvisories/traveladvisories.html/
Please note that travel to the following countries, based on these warnings, is ill-advised, or should be undertaken with the utmost precaution:
Afghanistan, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Central African Republic, Chad, Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), El Salvador, Guinea-Bissau, Haiti, Honduras, Iraq, Iran, North Korea, Lebanon, Libya, Mali, Mauritania, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Pakistan, Palestinian Territories of West Bank and Gaza, Philippines areas of Sulu Archipelago, Mindanao, and southern Sulu Sea, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan, Syria, Turkey, Venezuela, and Yemen.
International Travel Guide
Checklist for Travelers
1. Make sure you travel with the proper documentation. This may include passports, travel visas, consent for travel with minors, and international driving permits, if necessary. Get the necessary visas for the country (or countries) one intends to visit - but be aware that a visa does not guarantee entry.
2. Protect one's personal information by making copies of one's passport details, insurance policy, travelers checks and credit card numbers. Taking copies of such documents with you, while leaving another collection copies with someone at home, is also good practice for travelers. Taking copies of one's passport photograph is also recommended, as well as leaving a copy of one's passport photograph and details at home is also recommended.
3. Take time to learn about one's destination country and culture. Read and learn about the place one is traveling. Also check political, economic and socio-cultural developments at the destination by reading country-specific travel reports and fact sheets. Always have the contact information for the embassy or consulate of your home country.
4. Keep in regular contact with friends and relatives back at home by phone or email, and be sure to leave a travel itinerary. As well, keep a list of your emergency contacts handy and create a communication plan for reaching family and friends in the event of a crisis.
5. While it may be appealing to travel "off the grid" and without attention to current events, it is inadvisable to travel internationally without paying attention to the news and current events taking place "in country." Monitor local radio, television, and other sources for news and updates. Make contacts with staff at hotels and/or in the community so you are able to stay informed.
6. Phone lines are usually affected during a crisis. Think about other ways to communicate. For example, update your social media status often and send messages as regularly as possible to let friends and family know how you are doing.
7. Know the laws of one's destination country and culture; be sure to understand the repercussions of breaking those laws and regulations. Often the transparency and freedoms of the juridical system at home is not consistent with that of one's destination country. Become aware of these complexities and subtleties before you travel.
8. For longer stays in a country, or where the security situation is volatile, one should register one's self and traveling companions at the local embassy or consulate of one's country of citizenship. Be prepared for crisis situations and have an exit strategy to ensure you can easily evacuate from a volatile situation. Have more than one way to get towards safety as a crisis event may make some roads unpassable or unsafe.
9. Stay healthy by taking all possible precautions against illness. Also, be sure to take extra supplies of prescription drugs along for the trip, while also taking time to pack general pharmaceutical supplies, such as aspirin and other such painkillers, bandages, stomach ailment medication, anti-inflammatory medication and anti-bacterial medication.
10. Do not carry illicit drugs. Understand that the punishment for possession or use of illegal drugs in some countries may be capital punishment. Make sure your prescription drugs are legal in the countries you plan to visit.
11. Women should take care to be prepared both culturally and practically for traveling in a different country and culture. One should be sure to take sufficient supplies of personal feminine products and prescription drugs. One should also learn about local cultural standards for women, including norms of dressing. Be aware that it is simply inappropriate and unsafe for women to travel alone in some countries, and take the necessary precautions to avoid risk-filled situations.
12. If one is traveling with small children, one should pack extra supplies, make arrangements with the travel carrier for proper seating that would adequately accommodate children, infants or toddlers. Note also that whether one is male of female, traveling with children means that one's hands are thus not free to carry luggage and bags. Be especially aware that this makes one vulnerable to pickpockets, thieves and other sorts of crime.
13. Make proper arrangements for accommodations, well in advance of one's arrival at a destination. Some countries have limited accommodation, while others may have culturally distinctive facilities. Learning about these practicalities before one travels will greatly aid the enjoyment of one's trip.
14. Travel with different forms of currency and money (cash, traveler's checks and credit cards) in anticipation that venues may not accept one or another form of money. Also, ensuring that one's financial resources are not contained in one location, or by one person (if one is traveling with others) can be a useful measure, in the event that one loses a wallet or purse. Contact your credit card companies ahead of departure to notify them of your travel plans and be on the lookout for suspicious activity.
15. Find out about transportation in the destination country. In some places, it might be advisable to hire a local driver or taxi guide for safety reasons, while in other countries, enjoying one's travel experience may well be enhanced by renting a vehicle and seeing the local sights and culture independently. Costs may also be prohibitive for either of these choices, so again, prior planning is suggested. If you plan to drive "in country," as indicated above, ensure you have proper international driving permits.
16. Be aware that other countries use different voltage. Travel with a voltage adaptor pack if you will need to power up a laptop, phone, or medical device. It is also advisable to think in terms of power supply, and be sure to find backup power or other ways that will sustain your device or equipment during a power outage.
Tips for Travelers
A passport is required. A visa is not required for tourist stays of 90 days or less. If you plan to reside or study in Hungary, a residence permit must be obtained from the nearest Hungarian Embassy or Consulate in your country before entry into Hungary.
In an effort to prevent international child abduction, many governments have initiated procedures at entry/exit points. These often include requiring documentary evidence of relationship and permission for the child's travel from the parent(s) or legal guardian not present. Having such documentation on hand, even if not required, may facilitate entry or departure.
Hungary has a low rate of violent crime. However, street crime, which occasionally involves violence, has increased, especially at night near major hotels and restaurants and on public transportation. Theft of passports, currency, and credit cards is a frequent problem, especially in youth hostels, at train stations, and on public transportation. The loss or theft of a passport should be reported immediately to local police and the nearest appropriate embassy or consulate. The number of burglaries has risen substantially, and vehicle thefts, particularly of high value automobiles, is a major problem.
Foreigners may also experience problems with excessive billing and/or extortion at some restaurants and nightclubs featuring "adult entertainment." Do not order beverage or food service without first seeing a menu and verifying the cost.
The number of highway robberies has increased over the past few years. Drivers should be cautious when stopping at gas stations and highway parking lots (especially at night), and while fixing flat tires or other mechanical problems. There have been reports of scams perpetrated on unwitting victims while traveling on the highways. This potential scam involves someone who attracts the driver's attention by saying that there is something wrong with the car (e.g. a smoking hood, or a flat tire) in order to encourage the driver to pull over to the shoulder of the road. Once pulled over, while the driver is busy inspecting the alleged trouble, these scamsters will remove purses, passports, etc. from the car and drive away. Luggage and valuables should not be left unattended inside any vehicle.
Tourists who become a victim of a crime in Hungary are strongly encouraged to call a 24-hour multi-lingual crime reporting telephone number from 8am to 8pm at (36-1) 438-8080 (after hours: 06-80-66-00-44). There is also a 24-hour police Tourinfo office that provides service in English and in German and is located in one of downtown Budapest's busiest tourist areas: Vigado Utca 6, 1051 Budapest.
At best, adequate medical treatment is available in Hungary. Physicians are generally well trained although there is a lack of adequate emergency service facilities. A language barrier can exist as well, if one does not speak Hungarian. Doctors and hospitals usually expect immediate cash payments for health services.
While in a foreign country, you may encounter road conditions that differ significantly from those in your country. The information below concerning Hungary is provided for general reference only, and may not be totally accurate in a particular location or circumstance.
Safety of public transportation: good
Urban road conditions/maintenance: good
Rural road conditions/maintenance: fair
Availability of roadside/ambulance assistance: good
In Hungary, the number of fatal traffic accidents is approximately 1,200 per year. Also, there are approximately 7,000 traffic accidents per year that result in serious injuries. Road travel is more dangerous during the Christmas season, summer months, and at night. Roadside assistance is generally available. Ambulance service can be reached by calling 104 and the police can be reached by calling 107.
Bus, train, and taxi services are readily available for inter-city travel.
Hungarian highways are generally in good condition. In urban areas, roads and road maintenance are also good. However, in rural areas, roads are narrow, badly lit, and can be in a state of poor repair in some places. These small rural roads are often used by pedestrians, agricultural machines, and farm animals. This requires increased caution on the part of drivers.
Hungary has a policy of zero tolerance for driving under the influence of alcohol. Police often conduct routine road checks where breath-analyzer tests are administered. Persons found to be driving while intoxicated face jail and/or fines. Possible penalties for a car accident involving injury or death are one to five years in prison.
Police have also instituted a more widespread practice of stopping vehicles to check driver identity documents in the search for illegal aliens and residents in Hungary, and to check vehicle registration and fitness documentation, particularly in Budapest.
Hungary recognizes international driver's permits (IDP).
The speed limit for cars and motorcycles on the limited access highways is 130 km per hour (approximately 81 mph); on highways, the limit is 110 km per hr (approximately 69 mph); and, in town and village areas, the speed limit is 50 km per hr (approximately 30 mph). Also, special seats are required for children under age 12. Physically handicapped people are exempted from paying fees in any parking area.
In the past, it was commonplace for fines to be collected on the spot by the police for any alleged traffic violation. Now, tickets are written up by the police, thus documenting the infraction and payable fines. The police will give the offender a postal check (money order), on which the amount of the fine to be paid is written, and this postal check can be presented and paid for at any Hungarian post office. Sometimes, in disputes about the fine or the offense, the police will confiscate the person's passport and issue a receipt for the passport as well as an "invitation" letter to appear at a police station the next day or the day after to resolve the dispute. The passport is given back after resolution and/or the payment of the fine.
Seat belts are mandatory for everyone in the car. Unless another instruction sign is displayed, yielding right of way is prevalent. Making right turns during a red light is prohibited. Flashing the high beams means a driver is giving you precedence at an intersection or calling your attention to the presence of something that may affect your driving.
The Hungarian authority responsible for road safety is the national police headquarters, telephone: 36-1-443-5651. At the national police headquarters, English is not widely spoken. "Utinform" provides road condition information in Hungarian at tel: 36-1-322-7052.
While in a foreign country, you are subject to that country's laws and regulations. Persons violating Hungary's laws, even unknowingly, may be expelled, arrested or imprisoned. Penalties for possession, use, or trafficking in illegal drugs in Hungary are strict and convicted offenders can expect jail sentences and heavy fines.
The acceptance of traveler's checks and credit cards is not universal. The presence of ATMs is increasing in Budapest and other major cities.
Note: This information is directly quoted from the United States Department of State Consular Information Sheet.
Sources: United States Department of State Consular Information Sheet
Business Culture: Information for Business Travelers
Business customs are similar to those in the United States and Western Europe. Typically, Hungarian business people prefer to develop a personal relationship on which to base a business connection. Normal business hours are 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. It is not uncommon for businesses and government offices to close in the early afternoon on Fridays. Luncheons, receptions and dinners are a familiar mode of doing business.
Sources: United States Department of State Commercial Guides
For more information on etiquette in Hungary, please see our cultural etiquette page.
Online Resources Regarding Entry Requirements and Visas
Foreign Entry Requirements for Americans from the United States Department of State
http://travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw/cis/cis_1765.html
Visa Services for Non-Americans from the United States Department of State
http://travel.state.gov/visa/visa_1750.html
Visa Bulletins from the United States Department of State
http://travel.state.gov/visa/frvi/bulletin/bulletin_1360.html
Visa Waivers from the United States Department of State
http://travel.state.gov/visa/temp/without/without_1990.html - new
Passport and Visa Information from the Government of the United Kingdom
http://www.bia.homeoffice.gov.uk/
Visa Information from the Government of Australia
http://www.dfat.gov.au/visas/index.html
Passport Information from the Government of Australia
https://www.passports.gov.au/Web/index.aspx
Passport Information from the Government of Canada
http://www.voyage.gc.ca/preparation_information/passport_passeport-eng.asp
Visa Information from the Government of Canada
http://www.voyage.gc.ca/preparation_information/visas-eng.asp
Online Visa Processing by Immigration Experts by VisaPro
http://www.visapro.com
Sources: United States Department of State, United Kingdom Foreign and Commonwealth Office, Government of Australia: Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Government of Canada Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade
Useful Online Resources for Travelers
Country-Specific Travel Information from United States
http://travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw/cis/cis_1765.html
Travel Advice by Country from Government of United Kingdom
http://www.fco.gov.uk/en/travelling-and-living-overseas/travel-advice-by-country/
General Travel Advice from Government of Australia
http://www.smartraveller.gov.au/zw-cgi/view/Advice/General
Travel Bulletins from the Government of Australia
http://www.smartraveller.gov.au/zw-cgi/view/TravelBulletins/
Travel Tips from Government of Australia
http://www.smartraveller.gov.au/tips/index.html
Travel Checklist by Government of Canada
http://www.voyage.gc.ca/preparation_information/checklist_sommaire-eng.asp
Travel Checklist from Government of United Kingdom
http://www.fco.gov.uk/en/travelling-and-living-overseas/staying-safe/checklist
Your trip abroad from United States Department of State
http://travel.state.gov/travel/tips/brochures/brochures_1225.html
A safe trip abroad from United States Department of State
http://travel.state.gov/travel/tips/safety/safety_1747.html
Tips for expatriates abroad from United States Department of State
http://travel.state.gov/travel/living/residing/residing_1235.html
Tips for students from United States Department of State
http://travel.state.gov/travel/living/studying/studying_1238.html http://travel.state.gov/travel/tips/brochures/brochures_1219.html
Medical information for travelers from United States Department of State
http://travel.state.gov/travel/tips/health/health_1185.html
US Customs Travel information
http://www.customs.gov/xp/cgov/travel/
Sources: United States Department of State; United States Customs Department, United Kingdom Foreign and Commonwealth Office, Foreign and Commonwealth Office, Government of Australia; Government of Canada: Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade
Other Practical Online Resources for Travelers
Foreign Language Phrases for Travelers
http://www.travlang.com/languages/
http://www.omniglot.com/language/phrases/index.htm
World Weather Forecasts
http://www.intellicast.com/
http://www.wunderground.com/
http://www.worldweather.org/
Worldwide Time Zones, Map, World Clock
http://www.timeanddate.com/
http://www.worldtimezone.com/
International Airport Codes
http://www.world-airport-codes.com/
International Dialing Codes
http://www.kropla.com/dialcode.htm
http://www.countrycallingcodes.com/
International Phone Guide
http://www.kropla.com/phones.htm
International Mobile Phone Guide
http://www.kropla.com/mobilephones.htm
International Internet Café Search Engine
http://cybercaptive.com/
Global Internet Roaming
http://www.kropla.com/roaming.htm
World Electric Power Guide
http://www.kropla.com/electric.htm
http://www.kropla.com/electric2.htm
World Television Standards and Codes
http://www.kropla.com/tv.htm
International Currency Exchange Rates
http://www.xe.com/ucc/
Banking and Financial Institutions Across the World
http://www.123world.com/banks/index.html
International Credit Card or Automated Teller Machine (ATM) Locator
http://visa.via.infonow.net/locator/global/
http://www.mastercard.com/us/personal/en/cardholderservices/atmlocations/index.html
International Chambers of Commerce
http://www.123world.com/chambers/index.html
World Tourism Websites
http://123world.com/tourism/
Diplomatic and Consular Information
United States Diplomatic Posts Around the World
http://www.usembassy.gov/
United Kingdom Diplomatic Posts Around the World
http://www.fco.gov.uk/en/about-the-fco/embassies-and-posts/find-an-embassy-overseas/
Australia's Diplomatic Posts Around the World
http://www.dfat.gov.au/missions/
http://www.dfat.gov.au/embassies.html
Canada's Embassies and High Commissions
http://www.international.gc.ca/ciw-cdm/embassies-ambassades.aspx
Resources for Finding Embassies and other Diplomatic Posts Across the World
http://www.escapeartist.com/embassy1/embassy1.htm
Safety and Security
Travel Warnings by Country from Government of Australia
http://www.smartraveller.gov.au/zw-cgi/view/Advice/
Travel Warnings and Alerts from United States Department of State
http://travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw/tw/tw_1764.html
http://travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw/pa/pa_1766.html
Travel Reports and Warnings by Government of Canada
http://www.voyage.gc.ca/countries_pays/menu-eng.asp
http://www.voyage.gc.ca/countries_pays/updates_mise-a-jour-eng.asp
Travel Warnings from Government of United Kingdom
http://www.fco.gov.uk/en/travelling-and-living-overseas/travel-advice-by-country/
http://www.fco.gov.uk/en/travelling-and-living-overseas/travel-advice-by-country/?action=noTravelAll#noTravelAll
Sources: United Kingdom Foreign and Commonwealth Office, the United States Department of State, the Government of Canada: Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade, Government of Australia: Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade
Other Safety and Security Online Resources for Travelers
United States Department of State Information on Terrorism
http://www.state.gov/s/ct/
Government of the United Kingdom Resource on the Risk of Terrorism
http://www.fco.gov.uk/servlet/Front?pagename=OpenMarket/Xcelerate/ShowPage&c=Page&cid=1044011304926
Government of Canada Terrorism Guide
http://www.international.gc.ca/crime/terrorism-terrorisme.aspx?lang=eng
Information on Terrorism by Government of Australia
http://www.dfat.gov.au/icat/index.html
FAA Resource on Aviation Safety
http://www.faasafety.gov/
In-Flight Safety Information for Air Travel (by British Airways crew trainer, Anna Warman)
http://www.warman.demon.co.uk/anna/inflight.html
Hot Spots: Travel Safety and Risk Information
http://www.airsecurity.com/hotspots/HotSpots.asp
Information on Human Rights
http://www.state.gov/g/drl/hr/
Sources: The United States Department of State, the United States Customs Department, the Government of Canada, the Government of United Kingdom, the Government of Australia, the Federal Aviation Authority, Anna Warman's In-flight Website, Hot Spots Travel and Risk Information
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