Budapest has three subways lines, Yellow, Blue and Red. There is no
"free transfer" from line to line as there is in New York City, London
and Paris. Instead one must validate a new ticket (70 cents each in a
pad of 20) when transferring from line to line. My wife and I learned
this the hard way when we were stopped by a police officer while
transferring from the Blue to the Yellow line.

Fortunately we came out ahead on the deal when the cop saw my passport
(which I awlays carry in a shirt pocket) and informed me (using a pad
and sign language) that since I was over age 65 I was allowed to ride
the subways and buses for free.

Just to make sure I had the desk clerk at our hotel (the Orion on the
Buda side) write me a note in Hungarian that stated that I am over 65
and ride for free. I never had another problem on public
transportation, which we used extensively during our five days in
Budapest.

I was told that this free-travel rule applies to all people over age
65 throughout the nations within the European Union. Does anyone know
if this is indeed true?

My wife and I loved Budapest, an absolutley gorgeous city and very
affordable. Go now before the Euro is adopted and prices soar.

I would recommend the Great Western Orion, which being on the Buda
side of the Danube is a little out of the way, as a good value, about
$115 a night for two including breatfast.

"Traveler" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected] ups.com...

> I was told that this free-travel rule applies to all people over age
> 65 throughout the nations within the European Union. Does anyone know
> if this is indeed true?

No!

The position varies from country to country and even between areas in a
single country.

Here in the UK, for example, some areas give free transport to people aged
60 or older, on production of a travel pass. I have recently reached 60 and
have moved back to my home town, Walsall, in the West Midlands conurbation.
I have a pass giving free travel on buses and trains in the former West
Midlands Metropolitan County (Birmingham, Coventry, Wolverhampton, Sandwell,
Dudley, Walsall, Solihull), and the Birmingham-Wolverhampton tram, valid
after 9.30 a.m. Mondays to Fridays and all day Saturday and Sunday. A
similar pass is available in London. In both cases, the passes are only
available to residents, and thus not available to visitors, even tose having
a pass valid elsewhere in the same country. (i.e. I would have to pay faes
in London.)

Alan Harrison