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Budapest

FUDcon EMEA 2012 - Budapest

Local Team

Date

  • October 26-27-28, 2012
  • alternative: October 5-6-7, 2012

Brief description of the city

Budapest is the capital of Hungary. As the largest city of Hungary, it serves as the country's principal political, cultural, commercial, industrial, and transportation centre.

Further useful information

  • Official currency: Forint (HUF)
  • Time zone: CET (UTC+1), CEST (UTC+2)
  • Electrical ratings: 230 Volts/ 50-60 Hz, EU plug (Schuko)
  • Important telephone numbers:
    • Emergency Telephone Numbers (Emergency, Ambulance, Fire, Police): 112; 104, 105, 107
    • National Directories: 198

Outline of local mass transit

Budapest public transport is provided by BKV the company operates buses, trolleybuses, trams, suburban railway lines, the metro, a boat service, a cogwheel railway, a funicular, and a chairlift, called Libegő. Day services operate from 4:30 a.m. until 11:30 p.m. each day. Night traffic (a reduced overnight service) has a reputation for being excellent.

Airports and their distance from lodging and venue

Budapest Ferihegy International Airport (also called Budapest Ferenc Liszt International Airport) has two passenger terminals: Ferihegy 1, which tends to serve the many discount airlines now flying to and from Budapest, and Ferihegy 2 'Skycourt'. The airport is located to the east of the centre in the XVIII. district in Pestszentlőrinc.

Fore more info refer to Wikipedia or the airport's official homepage.

Ferihegy Terminal 1: Domestic and European flights

  • 18 km from city center
  • estimated costs by bus is 260 HUF (~1 €) per line ticket - Bus No.200E and No.93 to "blue" metro subway Köbánya-Kispest, and 20 min to Deak Square (City center)
  • estimated costs by train is 360 HUF/person (~1.30 €) to Train station West (Nyugati), tickets are available from Tourinform office inside at Terminal
  • estimated costs by airport shuttle and for taxi nearly the same - 5000 HUF (~18€)(http://www.airportshuttle.hu/)

Ferihegy Terminal 2 'Skycourt': Intercontinental flights

  • 23 km from city center
  • estimated costs by bus is 320 HUF (~1€) per line ticket (Bus No. 200E)
  • estimated costs by train - directly not available, first you have to catch Bus No 200E, and then to Terminal 1.
  • estimated costs by airport shuttle and for taxi nearly the same - 5000 HUF (~18€) (http://www.airportshuttle.hu/ and www.fotaxi.eu)
If you purchase ticket from the driver on bus, it's more expensive.
Usually it's around 300 HUF, but on the bus 400 HUF at least. For more information about the public transportation of Budapest and the timetable of buses, see the public transportation company offical website.

Night services

What if you are arrive late night or really early in the morning? Well, No Panic!

  • From 4am to 11pm you can travel by bus 200E.
  • During the late night hours (from 11pm to 4am) you can travel by bus service 900 between Liszt Ferenc International Airport and the bus garage in Dél-Pest. BKV provides connection for the buses 950 and 950A at the bus stop of Bajcsy-Zsilinszky út in order to get to the city centre. Passengers travelling to the airport may change from bus 950 or 950A to bus 900 at Honvéd utca (Üllői út).

Schedule of Bus No.900

Taxi Service

  • If necessary, we have an reliable and quick taxi company calles TaxiPlus. They are cheaper than any others, and the operators are speaking well English.
    • They have few (about 5) cars nearby to Airport Terminal 1.
    • If necessary, they could provide driver who speaks your language, just ask from the operator when you arrive.
    • Basic costs from Airport is around cca 2000 HUF, you're inside the city with 3500 HUF / 12 EUR. Transfer prices
  • We will check for Hotel Transfer or organize a Shuttle... possibly by www.abusz.hu

Estimated costs of flights major airports that attendees will travel from

Costs from US to BUD (The prices for the US are generated by orbitz.com.)

  • New York - American Airlines, British Airways: cca. 11 hrs, around/from 970 USD
  • Boston - American Airlines, British Airways: cca. 12 hrs, around/from 750 EUR
  • Washington - American Airlines, British Airways: cca. 12 hrs, around/from 768 EUR
  • Los Angeles - Iberia Airlines: cca. 15 hrs, around/from 907 EUR

Costs inner Europe There are a lot inexpensive Airlines in Europe: For 50-150€ you can fly from the most spots in Europe.

  • Amsterdam: 105 EUR
  • Berlin: 87 EUR
  • Brussels: 95 EUR
  • London: 151 EUR
  • Madrid: 157 EUR
  • Paris: 158 EUR
  • Rome: 148 EUR

There might even be cheaper options. You can choose Easyjet, RyanAir from UK and west EU, for other locations you could choose WizzAir.

Travel by Train

Austria and Germany

  • Vienna: return ticket by train (takes < 3h) starting at 39 Euro
  • Other OBB tickets:
    • Wien - Budapest - Wien: 39 EUR
    • Linz - Budapest - Linz: 45 EUR
    • Salzburg - Budapest - Salzburg: 59 EUR

Czech

  • Brno: You can take the Avala EuroCity train (EC 270/271), Hungaria EuroCity (EC 170/171), Jaroslav Hašek EuroCity (EC 272/273) or Slovan EuroCity (EC 274/275). all goes to Bratislava through Sturovo and arrives to the Keleti (Station East). Journey takes around 4 hours, cost is 55-60 EUR with return ticket.

Other international trains

Trains with timetable

Possible Venues

Brief description of on the ground resources and their experience with FUDcon/other large events

Primary option

(Hotel/Conference/Fudpub):

Hotel

  • Danubius Hotel Gellért
    • can host 150 people in Double Rooms around 60 EUR per night per person with breakfast and free entry to the famous Gellert Bath (tried to push down the prises, no-go)
    • 4 Stars Standard
    • free wifi possible
    • free secured parking for the guests

University

  • Budapest University of Technology and Economy (shortly called BME)
    • 4 Rooms + one great auditorium + technics (total costs is 2,870 EUR, and if we choose this have to pay forward 30%)
    • Free fast Wifi
    • We can use Forum for the Talk-Bids
    • Distance from Hotel ~ 10 min walk
    • Hosted the FSF Conferences in the past with around 300 people
      • we gained direct contact to the events lead planner Robert Hajos.

FUDPub

  • http://www.kisrablopub.hu
  • H-1111 Budapest, Zenta u. 3.
  • Opening time: everyday 11:00am - 02:00 am
  • Description: This is an exclusive Restaurant and Pub together, with a design of an true old XVI.century pirate ship. They have 2 separated place inside with a hosting capacity of 50 and for upper ship part for 160 person. The location and age-specific matching with food, drinks and cocktails waiting for you.

Secondary option

Hotel

  • Accor Hotel Mercure Korona (4 star) - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1jJL2ffciLI
    • The 4 star Mercure Budapest Korona hotel is located in the heart of the city center, opposite the National Museum and a few minutes walk from the river Danube. Direct access to metro station (Kálvin square) at the entrance of the new Main Street of Budapest. The hotel offers wide range of services for both leisure and business travelers like: free WiFi, pool, sauna, Internet corner, upgraded Privilege room, 2 restaurants, lobby bar, garage, souvenir shop.
      • The earlier quote has expired, new has been asked - costs were: 80 EUR for 2 person with breakfast. Rooms are fully equipped, no-so-fast bust stable free wifi available.

University

FUDPub

  • Fat Mo's Pub - Budapest, V. Nyáry Pál str. 11. - http://www.fatmo.hu/
    • Prohibition came into law in 1919, and by 1933 liquor became legal again after the general public had acknowledged that prohibition had failed. The Roaring 20's gave rise to many colourful characters. "Fat" Mo Smith and Izadore "Izzy" Einstein were the greatest and wackiest prohibition agents of all time. They were men of integrity, tipping the scales at 240 pounds (110 kg) each. The pair raided speakeasies from 1920-1925, often in disguise dressed as rabbis, fisherman, bootleggers and football players. They made 4397 arrests and impounded over 5 million bottles of rot-gut liquor. Fat Mo's Speakeasy and Music Club extrapolates on this story from the roaring 20's with Fat Mo finally succumbing to the old saying "if you can't beat 'em, join 'em" and opening up his own speakeasy in 1927.
    • Optionally we could have live jazz or funky music

Lodging and estimated costs

ER alternatives

  • Golden Ten (Aranytíz) Educational Center, http://www.aranytiz.hu
    • 1051 Budapest, Arany János utca 10.
    • Fully equipped different sized rooms, together on 3 floors. On the 3rd floor is an complete theatre, with stage.
    • We have offer from our contact, Eva Antal Kis -> we could have 4 small rooms (sized for 30-40 people), and the theatre level for few hours, 2 rooms can be opened into self to one if necessary
    • Costs are: around 1800 EUR

Hotel

  • Hotel President [1]
    • brand new hotel, premium 4 star quality, but with good prizes -> their offer is 99 EUR/double, and +11 EUR for bath/wellness as option
    • perfect kitchen, swimming pool for guests, and perfect round panorama to the city
    • closest subway: Arany Janos str.
    • sadly they have only available rooms for us at oct. 13-14.
    • Hotel President walk-through video
    • free wifi

FUDPub

    • 1051 Budapest Vörösmarty tér 7-8.
    • Opening time: Brauhaus: 12:00 - 22:00
    • Description: Gerbeaud stands on Vörösmarty Square, with a complete offer of modern hospitality. Today, the Gerbeaud House provides the widest range of event facilities in Budapest, and offers virtually all types of dining and catering. Whether you feel like having scrumptious pastries at the turn-of-the-century Café, tasty snacks prepared by Gerbeaud’s own butcher at the Gerbeaud Pub, or sumptuous gourmet meals at the Onyx Restaurant, Gerbeaud House has them all.

Behind the Gerbeaud name is a 150-year tradition ensuring that the gifts you give are worthy of your business partners and family members. The exceptional and unique famous Gerbeaud gifts go beyond the ordinary. The flavors of Gerbeaud, beautifully packaged in wooden and paper boxes, will delight everybody.

Possible sponsorship by companies

  • Balabit - syslog-ng, Lumberjack upstream developers. Request has been sent, awaiting answer.
  • ULX - local JBOSS distributor and Red Hat partner. Request has been sent, awaiting answer.

Outline of proximate restaurant locations

  • a lot, this is a tourist place!

Deadlines for event reservation, etc.

  • still enough time for feedback

Cost calculations

This is only an estimated cost coverage between the current available scenarios, but the team tries to keep things as tidy as much possible.

Preferred venue estimated costs for 150 people:

  • ELTE IT campus or one of the ELTE buildings - new offer is coming at next week
  • Hotel Mercure Budapest Korona (4 star): 40 EUR / person with breakfast - total: 80x100 = 8000+ local taxes (sum:100 Eur - 100 people/day)
  • Hotel Mercure Budapest Duna (3 star): new quote coming - the old quote was 35 EUR/person with breakfast (tax is the same)
  • FudPub - Friday night, dinner, optionally with live music -> new quote is coming.

Worst scenario calculation: Note: The only problem that the team is facing with is between the two coasts there is the Danube. You have to know that historically Budapest is two cities, witch means Buda has less possibilities then Pest, and Buda side is lot more expensive than Pest.

Pros and Cons of the proposed location

Pro

  • is very well located in the middle of Europe
  • BRNO Office is virtually around the corner
  • Budapest is very nice city
  • People who hate flying, have the opportunity to drive by car and make car-pooling
  • Great Venue and Lodging for a good price
  • Good Art of Living (good food, wine, music, weather ...)
  • First Fedora Conference in Central Europe - conquer new areas
  • support from the Educational Institutes - still to check
  • local production of swag is cheap
  • We have several companies RH related, who wants to attend (Ulx, Balabit)

Cons

  • Small team - still growing community
  • Language barrier at the location - not many locals speak english
  • Maybe the city is so nice that people get distracted
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