Useful Information

Wine shipping – for Wines of the World program

Should you bring wines for the “Wines of the World program” please inform our office in advance at registration@FICB2010.com mail address including the name and quantity. Furthermore please send us a short description about the wine itself and its producer.

In case of shipping, please note the following:

From EU countries:

pro-forma invoice (incl. name, quantity, value of the wine)
- notes - “Not for sale only Commercial sample for FICB 2010 Congress”
AAD document
Invoicing address (same as shipping address)
- Team Spirit Kft. 1095 Budapest, Soroksári út 160.
- Att. Mr. Péter Dobronyi, FICB 2010

From non-EU Countries:

pro-forma invoice (incl. name, quantity, value of the wine)
- notes - “Not for sale only Commercial sample for FICB 2010 Congress”
Custom tariff code for wines, which are valid for the sending country (non EU)
Shipping address:
- Att. Mr. Péter Dobronyi, FICB 2010 (as a consumer)
- 1095 Budapest, Soroksári út 160.

Please send a copy of all mailings to the organizers as well (registration@FICB2010.com) Please arrange shipment to arrive in Budapest at the latest by May 7, 2010.

Free intornization

One free intronization per brotherhood (or chapter) is offered by the local wine brotherhoods in 4 cities. It has been discussed with the Grand Masters who to be honored complimentary.

Arrival / Departure

Please send us your arrival and departure details via e-mail to registration@FICB2010.com address

Special dietary requirements

Please inform us in advance if you have any special dietary requirements, at the latest by your registration upon arrival. Should you have listed them already at the registration form, please disregard this.

Cancellation policy

Pre-booked services can be cancelled until 31st March 2010 - without paying penalty
In case of any cancellation made between 1st April 2010 and 30th April 2010 - 20% of the total participation fee will be charged as a penalty.
In case of any cancellation made between 1st May 2010 and 15th May 2010 - 50% of the total participation fee will be charged as a penalty.
In case of any cancellation made after 16th May - whole registration fee will be charged as a penalty.

Visa

No Visa is requested from EU countries, from the USA or Japan, only a valid passport. Should you have any doubts, please visit the www.kum.hu homepage.

Invitation Letter

An official invitation letter will be sent to participants who may need it to obtain visa or funding, etc. on individual request, please mark on the registration form. It does not constitute a commitment to provide any financial support for travelling and staying expenses. The invitation letter will only be sent upon receipt of the registration fee.

Travel By Plane

Budapest has direct flight connection with every capital of Europe and other major cities and hubs in Europe and world-wide as well. Besides the Hungarian National Airlines (MALÉV) the major Airlines are also presented in Budapest. Any point in the world can be reached to and from Budapest. Budapest Ferihegy airport has three terminals roughly 28 kilometers from the city. Since 2004 several low cost airlines have been running their flights between Budapest and the large European cities. (Wizzair, Germanwings, EasyJet, Air-Berlin, Snowflake, Jet2.com, Sterling, Norwegian Air,Ryanair)

From the airport

Taxi – the company Zóna taxi provides a fixed rate service to the city depending on the destination. Price: 3500 – 5400 HUF. Tariff from the airport to the downtown hotel which is located in the Zone #2 is HUF 4800.--

Airport Minibus – Airport Minibus service can be reserved at the Airport Minibus desk. Price: 2990 HUF (one way), 4990 HUF (return ticket).

By Train

Budapest is connected to the European railway system. There are direct railway links between Budapest and 13 capital cities of Europe and 47 international scheduled trains arrive daily in Budapest. Many international trains have dining and sleeping cars or couchettes. Most international express trains arrive and depart from the Eastern (Keleti) Railway Station.

By Coach

Volánbusz Rt., being a member of Eurolines, operates scheduled services to 15 countries: Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, France, Germany, Great Britain, The Netherlands, Italy, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, Sweden, Switzerland, Ukraine.

Parking

If you drive a personal or rented car, always try to park at a guarded parking lot and do not leave any valuables in the car. Please note, that Budapest is divided into paying areas, with one parking meter in each street. The maximum parking time duration is 2 hours, tariffs may vary.

Public Transportation:

Budapest has a well functioning public system. The trams, underground, suburban railway and bus services operate on a standard tariff - for a single journey in a given direction within city limits HUF 290-- if purchased from a ticket vending machine. One can purchase tickets in advance in tourist information offices, many travel agencies, hotels, and museums or in one of the official ticket offices. Tickets have to be invalidated before or when entering one of the public transportation systems. The busses, trolleys, trams and the underground run generally from 04:30 a.m. to 11:00 p.m.

Climate

The climate of Budapest is continental. In May usually nice warm weather can be expected with a max. temperature of 20-25 °C, while the lowest temperature during the night ranging between 10-15 °C. Rain is not usual in this season.

Insurance

The registration fees do not include provision for the insurance of participants against personal accidents, illness, cancellation, theft, property loss or damage. Participants are advised to take adequate personal travel insurance.

Safety

The practical advice for tourist going to Hungary is the same as for any other country: keep all travel documents (passports, driving license, etc) and money in the safe of your hotel. On public transport (especially on crowded trams, metros) keep cameras or video cameras in sight, not in a backpack or bag at your side. Do not exchange money on the street. Before taking a taxi, verify rates with the driver.

Currency

The Forint (HUF), the official national currency, is convertible. There are coins of 5, 10, 20, 50 100 and 200 forint. Notes come in denominations of 500, 1000, 2000, 5000, 10 000 and 20 000 forint. The 10,000 and 20,000 Forint notes are difficult to get changed especially by taxi drivers or in small shops. Foreign currency may only be exchanged at places with official permission. The exchange rates applied in Budapest banks, official exchange offices and hotels may vary. Commercial banks are usually open Monday to Thursday 8.00 – 15.00, Fridays 9.00 – 13.00. All banks are closed on Saturdays and Sundays. Numerous money change offices are open at the weekends in the Inner Town of Pest (5th District) and in the Castle District (1st District). Currency can be exchanged at hotel receptions, night and day. Outside business opening hours, you can also use automatic cash machines (ATMs) located throughout the city.
Current exchange rates
1 EUR = 270 HUF
1 USD = 196 HUF
1 GBP = 320 HUF
Exchange rates as per June 16, 2009 - subject to change.

Cheques, credit cards and deposit books

Most currency exchange bureaux will cash foreign currency travellers cheques. Eurocheques and bank cheques in currencies officially registered by the Hungarian National Bank. A passport or other personal identification is required in order to have cheques cashed.

All the major credit cards - VISA, EC/MC and American Express - are accepted in Hungary in most restaurants, cafés, shops and petrol stations displaying the emblem at the entrance. 

Stores and Shopping

The opening hours of Budapest stores are generally 10.00-18.00 on weekdays and 10.00-13.00 on Saturday. The shopping centres are open from 10.00-21.00 from Monday to Saturday and from 10.00-18.00 on Sunday.

Eating out

The many types of Hungarian cuisine across the country are worth discovering, from cafés to luxury restaurants and from fast food outlets to “csárda”s (country inns). Menus are generally written in English and German as well, offering international as well as Hungarian dishes. Virtually all kinds of international food can be found in restaurants in Budapest.

Electricity

The voltage in Hungary is 230V, 50 Hz AC. Plugs are the regulation two-pin continental-type.

Water

Tap water is clean and of high quality, safe to drink without preparation.

Time Zone:

Budapest is on Central European time (CET). GMT + 1 hour, Summer time (March to the middle of October): GMT + 2 hours.

Emergency numbers

Ambulance: 104
Police: 107
Fire station: 105
Directory Information: 198 (domestic), 199 (international)

Telephone

Hungary’s country code is “36”, Budapest’s area code is “1”.
For long-distance calls in Hungary: dial “06” first.
For international calls from Hungary, first dial “00” (wait for the international dialling tone), followed by the country and area codes and then the number.
Public telephones operate either with coins or a telephone card. For coin-operated telephones, 20, 50 and 100 forint coins are used. Telephone cards in message units of 50 and 100 can be bought at post offices, newsagents, tobacconists or in the hotel.

Tourist Information

The information services and activities of the Hungarian National Tourist Office are provided by the network of TOURINFORM offices across the country.
For more information please visit www.hungary.com or www.tourinform.hu

Good buys are

Antiques, Jewelry, Furs, Leather, Tapes/Records/CD's of classical music, Books, Crystal, and Herend Porcelain.
Typical Hungarian Items: Herend Porcelain, AJKA Crystal, Tapes/Records/CD's of classical music, Paprika, Apricot Brandy, Tokai wines and Salami.
Typical Handicrafts would be: embroidery, woodcarvings, painted eggs and ceramics.

Hungarian language

Hungarian language belongs to the Finno-Ugric language family and is fundamentally different from other European languages.