Crisis Takes Toll On Vacation Budgets In Western Romania Hungarian Swimming Pools In Demand

Paula Bulzan,

Arad

As the ongoing crisis is preventing many Romanians from the western part of the country from spending their vacation in Spain, France or other usual European destinations, the low-budget mini-vacations to Hungarian swimming pools are becoming increasingly popular.

The Hungarian towns of Gyula, Battonya, Hajduszoboszlo and Oroshaza are attracting hundreds of Romanians from the counties of Arad, Timis, Bihor and Satu Mare every weekend. The quality of the water, the clean artificial beaches and the quality of the services seem to be unbeatable arguments. "The water in the pools is very clean and there is practically no risk of catching a skin disease. Prices are not high in Hungary and the quality of service is beyond reproach. Customers are respected," said Ilona Tamas from Arad.

Baile Cetatii in the Hungarian town of Gyula is considered to be as one of the most beautiful spas in the neighbouring country. A swimming pool with artificial waves imitating natural waves at sea is one of the main attractions. The facility in Gyula has a total of 20 swimming pools, a small aqua park for children and tens of water chutes. A ticket costs 2,000 HUF (some 29.5 RON), minus discounts for pensioners and children if applicable. The price covers admission to all indoor and outdoor swimming pools in the facility. The management of Baile Cetatii said the annual traffic was approximately 1 million tourists, most of whom Romanian. The water used in the spa springs from a depth of 2,005 metres at a temperature of 72 degrees Celsius. Accommodation is available in hotels, camping sites, private households and bed & breakfast establishments.

Battonya is another increasingly popular facility in Hungary. Located some 27 kilometres from Arad, Battonya has two swimming pools, designated pools for ball sports, a thermal water spa and tens of showers operating continuously. The use of the showers is mandatory for all visitors wanting to use the pools. A ticket to the facility in Battonya costs approximately 1,000 HUF (approximately 14.5 RON).

Europe"s largest spa, located in the Hungarian town of Hajduszoboszlo, has been attracting increasingly more tourists from Arad in the past few years. The facility has 13 thermal water pools built on a total area of 30 hectares. It also offers an aqua park, indoor thermal water pools and over 40 types of thermal water treatments. The facility is open throughout the year. The town also has a Romanian police station to handle the very large number of Romanian tourists.

Those interested in spending small vacations in Hungary can find lodging in many bed & breakfast establishment offering, among others, colour television and Internet access. Lodging in a double room costs between 18 and 26 EUR per day per person for a six-night stay. A three-star hotel will charge between 32.5 and 55 EUR per day per person for the same duration of the stay. Thus, while a vacation in Greece, Spain or Italy costs between 300 and over 1,000 EUR/ person, a vacation in Hungary can be as inexpensive as 120-300 EUR/ person.

Noticing the increasing numbers of Romanian tourists, the spas and resorts close to the eastern border of Hungary have created websites in both Hungarian and Romanian.