Shotgun

Try www.auto-europe.co.uk

Never used them in Croatia, but they have always been ok elsewhere.

Seems to be about £150 for a week at Zagreb airport (small car, in September).

Shotgun.

Rural Hungary

Hi all, just to let you know that I have copied the threads relating to car hire to the "Car Hire" thread which can be found here

Thanks for the input, I'm sure it will be very useful to members

Hi Tapsony and welcome to the forum. I'm the concierge for the Hungarian section, if you need any assistance or have any questions about using the site, just send me a PM. We have a great bunch of users on the Hungarian section of the site and there is usually always someone around to answer your questions
The Flybalaton airport closes in the winter. Currently, there are no flights from the UK to the airport. Zagreb airport is open all year round.

tapsony

Thank you Richardmc, Shotgun and Rural Hungary for your comments. Perhaps it might be best for me to fly to Budapest and hire a car there. (at least until I have a few trips over and back under my belt and am familiar with the situation) Are there any B&B type accommodation available in the Marcali area that I could use... say for a week or so. I would appreciate any information about the area - things to do/visit etc.

Rural Hungary

Hi Tapsony, I have sent you a PM

Rural Hungary

The council of Hévíz has offered to settle the debts owed by the FlyBalaton Airport at Sármellek and would be interested in becoming involved in the airport's operations in the long term, Mayor Gábor Papp announced.

Mayor Papp told reporters that it is in the interests of his city that the airport operate without any problems, and for this reason they are willing to cover the Ft 15 million (€55,000) owed by the airport to government companies.
(source vg.hu)

Couple of questions? What about the outstanding debt to Ryanair - isn't it more important to clear this in the hope of securing a new contract ? Surely, the government would be willing to wipe clean the debt from CCA to help ensure the survival of the airport? What has happened to the funding for the cleaning of the land around the airport in preparation for development?

Whilst driving to Tapolca on Sunday, we were discussing the various ways by which the subsidy for a budget airline could be raised. The figure banded about was, I think, 150,000 euro/year. If 10 of the more affluent local municipalities (all of which would benefit) contributed 15,000 euro each, subsidy covered. If each of the 80,000 passengers (the number who flew in 2008) paid a 2 euro airport subsidy tax, again it is covered.

The situation is really quite ludicrous now and I for one would welcome the involvement of other parties and more transparency in the running of this airport.

tapsony

Thanks Rural Hungary. I believe I can now open a PM as this is the required 3rd posting. I find the "Hungarian Forum" very informative and interesting. I intent to move over to Hungary in the near future and have many questions in relation to this. So I hope that I do not become a pain in the backside with my queries. I consider the "on the ground information/experiences" posted to be very trustworthy and know that it will help prevent me from "making mistakes" with my move to/living in Hungary.

Rural Hungary

Hi Tapsony, I have copied your post to a new thread, which you can access here

Pollypaprika

I saw the following link re FlyBalaton - not looking that promising

http://www.bbj.hu/business/bye-balaton-airport_59765

Rural Hungary

Thanks for the link.

Personally, I think the whole thing stinks and there is certainly more going on than we are privy too.

OGSG

I don't think we want Michael O'Leary back here with his business practices.

He closed an airport earlier this year in Germany after they local state government i.e. the taxpayers had invested 23 million Euros - his was the only airline flying there. He opened another one in a nearby state later that month - similar amount of investment, that is closing down "for the winter" - we know the rest of the story!

Source: ARD Panorama
If you understand German it's worth watching:
http://daserste.ndr.de/panorama/arch...archiv197.html

Rural Hungary

I don't think anybody wants them back but no other airline is interested!

Rural Hungary

Interesting report on SCD Group!

Rural Hungary

SCD again.(in Hungarian)
Never did I envisage myself asking the same questions as a member of Jobbik!!

Rural Hungary

I'm sure most of you will have heard the recent news that the current operators of the airport are under liquidation.
Considering the previous disastrous management attempts, this might be for the best and open up an opportunity for the airport to be ran by people who actually care about tourism in the area.
Knock airport in Ireland had a 10 euro tax payable when flying from Knock, surely a similar scheme could work at Flybalaton? How many businesses in Keszthely and Heviz benefited when Ryanair flew to Sarmellek? Wouldn't the aforementioned businesses be willing to contribute an annual payment which, along with the airport tax, should surely be enough to entice back the likes of Ryanair. Who, remember, were still interested in flying to Sarmellek and entered into negotiations with SCD group.

The mayor of Heviz has, on several occasions, announced his commitment to helping develop the airport. There must be British residents or holiday home owners with the necessary contacts to at least start the ball rolling or at the very least, speak with the mayor (any Heviz residents here?)

mamasue

I'm watching closely.....my dentist is in Heviz, and I need another visit...
He's better than any dentist in the USA or UK !!!