58816EAS
- Routine passport checks no longer take place at either of the border crossings, but have them available for spot checks. , Your driver will likely need to stop for a Slovakian toll box and other formalities, which can take 20 minutes or so.
- The speed limit in Hungary for coaches is 80kmh (50mph). If your driver sticks to this, this can make the journey seem long and a little dull. Have lots of interesting commentary prepared!
- Austria and Slovakia are both in the Eurozone. Hungary is not. Warn the group and have conversion rates to hand to advise them.
- It is no longer permitted to drop off by the UFO Bridge/Old Town outside the Park Inn Bratislava without a permit!
VIENNA to BRATISLAVA: 80km A4/A6 – 1 hr 15
BRATISLAVA to GYÖR: 72 km 1 – 1 hr
GYÖR to BUDAPEST: 122km M1 – 1hr 30
Bratislava – visit (See Bratislava c/s & fft pages.)
Bratislava is a small, easy and attractive town for a stop and informal sightseeing. It is the highlight of the day, so allow plenty of time to explore (2.5 to 3 hours including lunch and shopping). You may need not run a formal walking tour (unless itinerary states that you will) but you can show them quite a lot in a short time so do prepare some commentary!
The coach may no longer drop off for the Old Town in front of the Park Inn Hotel Danube without a permit! Instead the bus park is around 400m further East of the “UFO Bridge” along Rázusovo Nábrežie, on the waterfront by the Slovak National Museum. This is a shorter walk to the main square, but means it is a longer “hike” down to the cathedral and synagogue memorial.
Lead the group into the Old Town and main square. If they do not leave the pedestrian section they cannot go more than 10 minutes in any direction.
There are plenty of restaurants and shops in the Old Town, as well as ATMs. Public toilets are limited (there are some not too impressive ones at the far end of Hviezdoslavovo Square, to the right of the Slovak National Theatre), so they are best using the facilities of the place where they had lunch.
Arrange a rendezvous and, on their return, lead them back to the bus.