Budapest ruined mostly by the people

Posted by perpetualdepravity@reddit | budapest | View on Reddit | 20 comments

Just returned from Budapest with my husband and the locals were some of the rudest people we have ever encountered in all our travels - even in the tourism and hospitality industries. We are both polite and mindful people from a large global city so we are well mannered and situationally aware and it made no difference. It was wait staff, staff at public tourist attractions, museums, wherever - completely marred our experience of an interesting and historic city. I understand Hungary is comparatively economically depressed but doubling down on a miserable attitude for such a large industry won’t help matters.

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haaphaap@reddit

Sir, this is a Wendy’s

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AnarchiaKapitany@reddit

I wish it fucking were.

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picurebeka@reddit

Getting tired of being a mod? ;P

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AnarchiaKapitany@reddit

Nah, but I desperately miss Wendy's from Hungary. Since it exited the market, the whole fast food palette became crap.

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picurebeka@reddit

I want some cheeky Nando's instead - though a Wendy's does not sound bad.

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AnarchiaKapitany@reddit

Maybe it's the rose-tinted glasses of nostalgia from about thirty years ago, but BK and McDonald's had nothing on Wendy's back in the day. Every ice skating evening ended in the Wendy's on Oktogon.

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haaphaap@reddit

I could eat some Wendy's chili too

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eatfrog@reddit

you should not travel to places like russia, china, egypt.. there are far worse places.

i'd say budapest people are somewhere in the middle of scale, people are somewhat polite but no small talk or going out of their way to make you feel comfortable.

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WesternReputation825@reddit

I rented 3 months in Budapest without ever been here before, and I'm loving it and I'm not expecting people to be polite or "nice", they are just doing their work and 80% of people hate their 9-5 works so don't expect they treat you as a special little baby. Even so, I received very good trait in specific places and bussines, didn't have any issue even as a Latin American.. and I come from a Caribbean zone so I can tell the difference but I just don't care. Just ask what you need and trade what you need. Flow with city vibes and keep your mood for you. If someone's not nice, try you be nice and still tell thank you. The place is not ruined, it's beautiful and in a specific timeframe you are a part of it and you can make it even better or you can only come to share a partial view full of negativity on social media.

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kozmikushos@reddit

You are from Canada, probably the nicest country on the planet regarding its people, and visited Hungary, a very Eastern European country. I’m really sorry that you had a bad experience, but if you did some research beforehand, what did you expect? I’m asking this with true curiosity.

Most places in this area are famous for not being over the top polite, and just giving off a vibe that may seem rude to someone who isn’t from here, but that’s just the norm here. Also, we are drowning in tourists, so nobody has to go out of their way for them because they are everywhere. There is no “tourist season”, they come all year round. I know this sounds lazy and rude, but that’s probably what goes through their mind. Demand is way more than supply, so why bother.

The type of politeness and kindness you are used to and expected, is not realistic here. Honestly, even if it happens (e.g. in a restaurant), it’s kind of off-putting. Nobody gives a fuck. We mind our own business. I’m sorry that it was such a negative experience for you.

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igenigen@reddit

Awesome, fake news post. You failed to even make up a “rude” experience.

You won’t be missed. 👋

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tanacsotadok-veszek@reddit

Hmmm. Strange. I usually hear this the other way around. But understandable, we are in a bad situation right now and the general mood is pretty low. People also tend to have a shorted fuse or more temper. Regardless may I ask where are you from? Just curious as if you are from the US nothing can compare to the "hospitality" of the people there.

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perpetualdepravity@reddit (OP)

From Toronto, which is polite but cold, but have travelled many places

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Best-Storage2064@reddit

Unfortunately, I understand that you had this experience, and I’m not surprised. However, it’s important to consider that the current political and economic situation has a significant impact on people’s daily lives—the atmosphere and public discourse are very tense.

If you had visited the city a few years ago, I think your opinion would be completely different.

That being said, it would have been worthwhile to explore some of the less touristy spots as well, because these overly tourist-oriented areas tend to be problematic, overpriced, and “soulless” in every major city.

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uzaygoblin@reddit

yes, big part of the tourism industry is occupied by vultures and burnt out employees, although also be aware that smiling at strangers is generally not a thing in Eastern Europe, so that part is just a general cultural trait

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viobre@reddit

I think the situation got worse recently, but it was not much better before then too. Some of the people you encountered work in a menial job for low salary. Some of them are also frightened to talk to foreigners, because of lack of language skills. This all adds up for several people as feeling inferior, thus being rude.

I, as local typically don't encounter rudeness, simply blank faces in the city. I would be happy if people were more cheerful, but I admit I live in a safe space without existential threats, mostly unaffected by politics and the economy in general, so I don't have the right to blame them.

It is not justifying any rudeness, and I'm sorry what have happened to you. This rudeness also doesn't relfect my ideals of Budapest full of history, art and science. I just hope you understand the situation better now.

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West_Assistant8818@reddit

Your bitching is worse than any rudeness in the city. Stop crying and get a grip