Frequently Asked Questions:
Who is best suited for this tour?
This tour was designed with the artist’s soul in mind. It’s ideal for women traveling alone or with girlfriends. Male/female couples are welcome as well, if our companion men are comfortable in the presence of artist bohemian ladies. The benefits of staying under one roof allows us to share a tribal space, similar to the Bohemian artist vibe at the turn of the century. This is not your typical sightseeing tour. There will be discussions about art and soul, and in invitation to soul query. You can participate as much of as little as you’re comfortable, but the experience will be most meaningful to those who come with a sense of adventure and a desire to share their heart, art, and life experiences with the group.
What is a typical day like on a Muse Juice Tour?
Everyone relates to mornings differently, so we’ll start gently each day, around 10 a.m. Breakfast can be made right in the apartment (there are markets nearby so you can have on hand what you’d like) as there is a fully operational kitchen. We’ll leave as a troupe around 10am each morning and set out for adventure. We’ll take in the sights, and plan on sitting down for lunch around 1pm. We’ll be back on our hooves around 3pm to see more sites, stopping for a coffee or champagne break around 5. More sights will follow, and we’ll break for dinner and drinks, or drinks and dinner around 8pm. We’ve booked night time adventures and entertainment for a few nights, but the remaining nights you can spend on your own or just flow with the vibe of the group. My tours tend to be quite excitable events, and you’ll likely find yourself singing karaoke, dancing on table tops or haunting the cemeteries come dark.
The key to having fun each day is to be flexible. Very few of our set plans are fixed in stone. We will factor in each day the weather, group vibe, and other circumstances to determine the biggest bang for our tourist buck. We’ll move with the wind and let the gypsy soul guide us. Spontaneity and fun and deliciousness will trump ALL plans, so get ready for adventure and surprises!
What about food?
Dining out is incredibly affordable in Budapest (you can eat a delicious lunch and drink a beer for under $10.) We’ll be eating a lunch out every day, and most days we’ll have dinner and a show, or dinner with optional entertainment. Expect to pay between $20-$25 for dinner, sans wine or alcohol. The adult beverages are quite affordable, too, so let’s make a toast! We’re bohemians and we’re gonna eat and drink like we belong!
Do I need traveler’s Insurance?
Insurance coverage is not available through Muse Juice Tours and the choice to take or reject it is at the discretion of each traveler. If trip insurance brings you peace of mind, by all means get it! Insurance is offered by many online services, such as www.travelguard.com. Please take the time to research your options.
What are the living arrangements?
Our tribe is always tiny, and maxed out at 6 participants. We rent a local apartment and live as a family during our stay. A typical apartment features several bedrooms, 1-2 bathrooms, a living room, kitchen, appliances, cookware and a small washing machine (no dryer). Your tour package is based on double occupancy. If traveling alone we will place you in a single bed in a shared room, unless you are traveling as a couple and would prefer a double bed. Single occupancy is sometimes available for an extra charge, but must be arranged at the time of booking, at least 120 days prior to travel. A note about European apartments: rooms are tiny by American standards, so pack light because you may be stepping over your suitcase every time you want to go to the bathroom. And speaking of bathrooms, European ones can be quite quirky in comparison to their American counterparts. I found this article by Rick Steves to be very true to my experience. Read up if you want to know what to expect: https://www.ricksteves.com/travel-tips/health/hotel-bathrooms
Will the apartment have Internet?
Wifi is available in the apartment. In Europe, it can get pretty dodgy, but Budapest has a pretty good track record, though, with 90% of the apartments having a good signal. And don’t worry, if you have a pressing need for wifi or phone access, you’ll be traveling with a tribe who’s got your back.
Bathing:
European bathrooms can be quite quirky in comparison to their American counterparts. It’s good to know what to expect when traveling in Europe. I found this article by Rick Steves to be very true to my experience. https://www.ricksteves.com/travel-tips/health/hotel-bathrooms We’ll be in a large apartment, sharing bathroom space, and to avoid any hot water shortages, some of us will bathe at night while others will bathe in the morning. (I, personally, am a night bather.) Basic toiletries like towels, soap, shampoo and hair dryers are provided.
What time is check-in/check out?
Check in is 12 noon on the day of arrival. Check out is 12 noon on the day of departure. If you need to make other arrangements, please contact your travel muse. Pre and post dates are sometimes available for an additional fee.
Mobile phone/device/Sim Card:
Here’s a thread on getting a Sim card in Budapest if that’s important for you.
Do I need an electricity converter to charge my equipment?
Yes, you’ll need a converter to charge your devices. See the deets on gizmos here.
What is the best way to get local currency?
Budapest uses the Hungarian forint. And of course you can withdraw funds from an ATM, which always the best way to go when you need money in Europe. BUT! Hungary is unique in that it does not have much of a money changing market and therefore, if you want to change euros or dollars, you pay almost NOTHING in fees. Exchange offices are available in lots of locations and it’s easy and cheap to make an exchange.
How much will I be walking?
You can count on a good eight to ten hours on your feet daily, with rest stops every few hours. Our typical day will start at 10am, and conclude around 8pm, or later, depending on what’s happening in the evening hours. You won’t be on your feet this entire time, but you will be walking a good bit, so wear comfortable shoes and be prepared to stroll! And dance!
What about free time?
There are a two mornings set aside for free time. On those days we do not meet up until 2pm. You’re welcome to indulge in a little extra resting time, me time, meditation time. Or you can catch one of the sites not on our itinerary. Also, at any given time you can break away from the tour, should the need or desire arise. All we ask is that you let us know your plans, as keeping up with the schedule and meeting back up with the group is your responsibility. Also, there are only a small amount of keys that we are authorized to give out to the guests, so we ask that you stick with the group as much as possible.
How will we be getting around?
Our main mode of transportation will be our own feet, but we’ll also use the metro. Like everything else in Budapest, travel is hugely affordable. For $18, you can buy a 7 day travel pass so we can hop on the metro or trams at any time. See the details here:
http://www.budapestbylocals.com/budapest-public-transport.html
Taxis are also fairly economical and given that we can divide and conquer the bill, we’re likely to take them to a few of our out-of-the way destinations.
Can I see photos of previous tours?
We’ve uploaded most sites on the tour itinerary to Pinterest. Take the virtual tour here!
Do I need to speak Hungarian?
No. And neither does your tour guide. Hungarians are a really friendly people. With a few basic words and phrases -and a smile! – you can get most anyone to help you out. Learn to say the basic phrases like “Hello” “Excuse me” and “Thank you” here.
Bathroom breaks
There are a few public toilets around Budapest but damn if I can ever find one when I need one. Food and drinks are so cheap in Budapest I just go into a cafe to order something small and pee while I’m there. We can do this as a pack, and honor the pack bladder.
Arriving to Apartment from Airport:
You’ve just traveled 10+ hours to arrive in Budapest. Do yourself a favor and get a taxi to the apartment. Quick, easy, safe and about half the price of what it would take you to do the same in Paris. Expect to spend between 20-30EU. Read all about your airport transfer options here, but trust me on this. The taxi is your friend. (Use the official taxi service, Fö Taxi. They accept cash in most currencies AND credit cards.)
What should I pack?
Your passport
Layered clothing
Good walking shoes
Rain jacket, portable umbrella
A small journal/sketch book
A backpack or fanny pack (or both!)
A camera
Eye mask
Ear plugs
Comfy robe or lounging accouterment
Flip flops (and robe) if you want to participate in spa day
Sleeping aid
Vitamins
Small sacred object – to put on our inspiration altar!
Your sense of humor
Your flexibilty
How should I dress?
Comfortable, comfortable, comfortable. A gypsy skirt and a shawl keeps you in the right frame of mind, but always consider that comfort trumps style, especially when you’re sightseeing for most available daylight hours. To know what to expect for June weather, and how to be prepared for weather fluctuations, read up here: http://goparis.about.com/od/parisbymont1/a/Paris_in_June.htm
What kind of weather should I be prepared for?
It can get quite warm and balmy in June and a rainstorm or two is not unheard of. Stay cool and dry! See more about the weather here.
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