Budapest

[Guest pyell]

I'm going to be in Prague and Budapest in January for about a week. I've been reading the Prague posts, but we don't seem to have had any news of Budapest in ages.

 

So - where are the best places to stay, and where do you find the best guys?

 

I read from old posts that the park near the Marriott is a cruising haunt - is that still the case?

 

Any recommendations for good hotels?

 

Guides (never used one before, but always willing to change my mind)?

[Steven_Draker]

Budapest is famous for his thermal baths.

This article will help you to find out more about Budapest's thermals and hustlers

 

http://gayguide.net/Europe/Hungary/Budapest/budrep5.htm

 

Warm regards, Steven

[Steven_Draker]

ERRATUM: famous for its thermals

(Sorry for my English)

[sf traveler]

I used a service run by an American guy named Bob, I think. The prices were western Europe level but the quality was good. For what it's worth, the less English they spoke, the better the sex was. http://www.gaytailoredtours.com SF Traveler

[Guest BeguiledTraveler]

I concur with the last post. I don't post on the forum very often, but wanted to add my experiences in Budapest. I have visited Budapest every year for the past three years. The first year I stayed at the Hilton in the Buda Hills - an incredible hotel that is actually built into a UNESCO Historical Castle site on the hill. I enjoyed it, but it was removed from most of the action which occurs in Pest - on the opposite side of the Danube River. My past two visits, I have stayed at the Marriott - right on the river, and very convenient to most attractions. (It also doesn't hurt that I have Marriott Points!)

As the previous post stated, I also utilized the services of Bob at gaytailoredtours.com - Bob is an American who resides in Budapest and is very helpful in putting together vacations, guides, and/or escorts. The escorts I have been with have been great - you can see some of my previous reviews under Budapest.

And yes - the prices are comparable to Western Europe, but as the saying goes - "You get what you pay for!"

Next to the Marriott along the promenande by the river, is a small park before the Elizabet Bridge. Many hustlers there - mostly young men looking for some work. I never availed myself of any of these young men, so cannot comment. I was often approached most nites (and many days - seems to be most active around sunset). Never felt un-safe, and just politely refused.

Also - many woman prostitutes hang out near the Chain Bridge in the evenings - again - a polite refusal goes a long way!

Budapest is an amazing city - a blend of Western and Eastern Cultures. Beautiful architecture, great cuisine (I have fallen in love with goulash and pastrys!), culture, opera, music, clubs, etc.

There is something to do most every night, and it is an accessible city for walking and exploring.

I still recall the gypsy music you hear coming from many of the bars and restaurants.

Don't forget to visit the thermal baths (spas) - you can sit in old Turkish baths from 400+ years ago, which are still in operation. Very moody and worth the very small price of admission (around US $4).

The Art Noveau Gellert baths are pricer (around US $12) but also worth exploring.

Write to me if you need any additional info - BT

[Boston Guy]

RE: Budapest - how was the trip?

 

Hi -

 

I've been thinking about taking a trip to Budapest in the near future? How was your trip?

 

Do you have any info to share on guys/places/prices/etc? And did you use Gay Tailored Tours again? If yes, how did that go? Can you give us a feeling for how they operate and what they charge?

 

Thanks for any info you can share.

BG

[world traveler]

Yes, in front of the Marriott is cruising, it is quite in the winter, but you can find guys. There is a small park next to the Marriott and cruising goes on there also. Just walk along the river front in front of the Marriott and past the park. Don't go any farther as the cruising ends at the end of the park. Lots of good hotels, send me some email if you havent found one and I can recommend a few.

 

WT

[pauleiro]

Is it safe to cruise over there ? Where were you staying and where did you go ? What was the rate ? Lots of questions .... Thanks for your help. Pauleiro

[look4tops]

>I used a service run by an American guy named Bob, I think.

>The prices were western Europe level but the quality was good.

> For what it's worth, the less English they spoke, the better

>the sex was. http://www.gaytailoredtours.com SF Traveler

 

 

yeah right...an american running this business and ruining the prices for all the locals there who can not afford a price of 200 or even 300 Euros (which by the way is ridiculous for Hungary).

A lot of local friends of mine from Budapest are really mad about this policy because even regular hustler are already freakin' out and start charging something what is like the monthly income for a regular hungarian working man. Even people from wealthy Vienna are refusing now to hire Guys in Budapest because of the rates there...for example the same guy you pay in Budapest 250 who also escorts in Vienna charges only like a 100-120 there.

Same shit as it was about to happen in Brazil, although it never went that far - thanks to tri's constant work and educating skills

[Guest ihpguy]

I was in Budapest in April of 2003 and had an interesting time. WE stayed in a gay B + B. More like a private apartment with two bedrooms in a large, inner courtyard apartment building. No one else was there and no breakfast was served. Located on a busy street, certainly neither quaint nor precious. My best friend and I, although not lovers, are great travellers with each other. WE had a nice time strolling the streets of Buda and Pest, walked over the bridges, trolled the banks of the Danube for hustlers and even cruised and tried to take out a gay, Buda shopgirl one evening. We felt that gay life in town was very closeted. As warm as the Hungarians are, there is a definite language barrier which can make contact very difficult. The baths were fun, but Gellert definitely not gay, with lots of oversight by the employees. I have to admit that for a total bath "experience" with much better eye candy, shoot over to Baden Baden in Germany. And Vienna for the hustlers.

[gulliver]

Just got back today from a quick trip to Europe which included Budapest and Brussels. Was with another m4m buddy for the time.

 

I LOVED BUDAPEST and look forward to going again for a three or four night stay. I live in Rio half time so I am used to good looking, low cost rentboys yet I was most intrigued by my time in Budapest.

 

The weather was spectacular and so spent much time at a cafe on the Corso directly to the left of the Marriott when you approach the Danube. It was called Corso Cafe Central. Great Mojitos by the way.

 

It was a perfect place to sit for a few hours and watch the boys of BP strut there stuff back and forth. The number varied nightly. On Wednesday there were at least 6 very intriguing guys out of a total of 12 to 15, less on other nights. Not sure why some evenings the place was so busy and you had your pick or whatever you want but others were slow.

There was a variety which included some blond Russian or Czech types, some dark Roumanians as well as twink type maygars. Even though most do not speak a lot of English there is no problem with communication.

According to my friend Lucky Elpaso - the going rate is 20 to 30 for a visit back to the Marriott. There was no problem with security there. I had an encounter every day of the three I was there.

 

Did not try the baths (next trip) but rumor has it that the Kiraly Baths on the Buda side are the place for rentboys. It alternates days between men and women so check the schedule.

 

In terms of gay bars with rentboys - the following were mentioned. Darling, Action Bar, Capella, and Angel. The only one we tried was the Action Bar on Friday night and found it full of older guys and NO RENT BOYS. However, the boys we talked to apparantly frequent Darling bar often.

 

There are some rentboys out as early as 4 , 5 and 6pm although the staring hour seems to be about 7PM.

 

While this is no comparison to Brazil in terms of action, in its own way it is a splendid destination and just as exciting- just different.

Probably, in combination with a few days i Prague and vienna, -it would make for a great trip in nice weather. Cant imagine the boys are out in numbers like we saw when it is cold or rainy. My friend Lucky called the cafe - Corsojina's - the Corujina of Budapest and it is also a place for some great food although limited menu. It is not a late night scene on the corso however - by 1AM or so - pretty dried up

[Steven_Draker]

Gulliver, glad you had a great time.

 

I noticed that the link I have posted above regarding the thermals in Budapest has changed. Here is the updated link http://budapest.gayguide.net/Gay_Guide/Baths_Beaches_Saunas/budapest_baths.html

 

About the thermals, baths and saunas

http://budapest.gayguide.net/Gay_Guide/Baths_Beaches_Saunas/

 

General info about Gay Budapest

http://budapest.gayguide.net/

 

Steven Draker ~

[jonhansen]

I was in Budapest last weekend and did pick up a cute Hungarian guy, a 20 year old, at the park near the Marriot. He initially asked for $100 for the night, but was easily talked down to $50 (although I ended up giving him $125 for the night). Be sure to ask them what they like to do, as I met several Romanian guys who were straight and would not be interactive, at all.