travel with aimee

We left Split on the 8th of March and found ourselves praying for a bus instead of a train, never thought that would happen! We had a layover in Zagreb again however in a different hostel this time (Hi Hostel) and got up early to get the train to Budapest. We set off at 7 am and arrived there at some time past 9pm. No clue how but the journey turned into being 14 hours and it was a pretty long travel day compared to what it should have been.

We got to Onefam hostel and were immediately met with music, laughter and a massively upbeat atmosphere. Drinking games were taking place in the main area which the hostel hosted every night before going out to a club or bar. As we are very easily influenced, Ben and I ended up ditching a ‘chill night’ after Inej , a volunteer staff member, convinced us to join them at the bars. We got changed and went with Inej to the first bar. I can’t remember the name but it was a great vibe and had a whole area to dance. One girl stole the show by creating a dance circle of which she absolutely slayed. We then moved on to a place called Instant which is sort of a club but with lots of different bars connecting to one main dance area. We stayed for a bit but the DJ wasn’t on top form in our opinion so left earlier than the rest. It was a really good night and we had a lot of fun. A great introduction to Budapest.

10 March –

The next day we wondered around Budapest. We saw the Hungarian Parliament, Shoes on the Danube, and St Stephen’s Cathedral.

When we got back, we made sure to join in with the drinking games which were so good. They included beer pong, a horrible game where i had to drink beer, and our new favourite : Pizza Box. It was a perfect sort of icebreaker game which allowed everyone to get to know each other more and definitely one that Ben and I will teach to our friends.

The way it works is, there’s a whiteboard with around 4 rules written randomly with circles around them such as hotseat etc. Then everyone writes their name and circles it. You throw a penny and if it lands on a rule, you do it. If it lands on a name, they drink. If it lands on a blank space, you write a new rule. And if it lands outside the board…you have to down your drink. It was such a laugh.

11March –

We went a bit further out of the area today to go to the zoo! It was such a good zoo, with amazing enclosures that looked like buildings from a theme park. The range of animals was extensive and often they were just walking around on the path! It was only around £10 to get in and it was so worth it. It did advertise koalas online however i was very disappointed to find the only koala being a stuffed teddy bear. In one area there’s lemurs which are literally free to roam and you can get so close to them you could touch them! I also made an enemy there as i sat by the monkey enclosure and one literally attempted to attack me. Thank god there was a glass barrier. We had some lunch at one of the zoo’s cafes called the Lazy bistro and both really enjoyed what we had. I did lose Ben for a bit though as they had ‘Rio 2’ playing on the TV and so he was glued.

After we left the zoo, we headed to Vadjahunyad Castle which I’d seen online. It’s super cute and based off Dracula’s castle. Bonus points if you find the mini Dracula statue!

After that we walked to hero’s square which is an iconic tourist spot and location of Budapest before getting the tram back towards OneFam.

The hostel event of the night was, obviously drinking games to begin with, and then going to Hoff House for kareoke! My favourite memory, and now an inside joke of mine and Ben’s, is of Nick and George. Two Australian guys who everytime we played pizza box would obsess over ‘BODY SHOT’ and just made everyone laugh each time. In fact, Ben even did a body shot off George!!! We got a free shot on entry at Hoff House with the hostel then went down to the room which they had hired for the night. It was such a good vibe and everyone was getting up and singing. Ben and I sung ‘money money money’ and I also joined some girls to sing songs with them. It was so fun!

Ben indulged quite a bit that night and so I took him home earlier than everyone else. It was a very difficult and long journey but alas we made it back. However he did attempt to steal a scooter on the way back…

12 March –

Ben was very hungover and had little recollection of his scooter steal attempt. We had a very relaxed day, allowing him to re cooperate.

We did join in with the drinking games at night as they were just too good to miss however when everyone left to the club, we stayed in as Ben was feeling very poorly.

13 March –

We embarked on a long walk across the river to see Buda Castle and Fisherman’s Bastion, both equally as iconic. Beware there are MANY stairs! We got a drink at Panoramia Cafe at the Bastion and enjoyed an amazing view over Budapest. Then we began our descent down, passing by Buda Castle.

We visited the well-known Karavan food court for tea which is full of different street food venders. I got some bao buns (delish!) and Ben got a chicken burger. 10/10 all around.

14 March –

We started our day off by going to a place called Indoor golf where there was three different themed rooms with glow in the dark mini golf. It was a really good activity and filled our day nicely. What made it better is that I won! New Tiger Woods incoming!

After my victory we went back and got ready for our next event : The Danube River Cruise. We had booked it on Get your Guide for £23 each and on entry you get a glass of prosecco and then unlimited cocktails for the 90minutes. It was a serene ride as all the buildings were beautifully lit up and the Hungarian Parliament Building was the star of the show. Pretty tipsy, we got back to OneFam in time for our favourite event : the drinking games. The alcohol kept on coming.

We then all headed out to the hostels event which was visiting a very famous bar/club called La Siesta. It’s well known for pouring alcohol on the bar and lighting it on fire every so often. It was so full, super boiling but the atmosphere was great. Inej and I danced on the bar at one point (life goal complete) and then, feeling very very drunk…Ben and I headed back.

15 March –

I woke up this morning and felt like death. I went to the bathroom twice in hopes to throw up to rid myself of the feeling but alas it didn’t work. I was dying. I messaged Ben from my bunk, telling him to come down to my bunk as it felt like my final moments. He held me and forced paracetamol down my throat. Suddenly i felt it. I committed possibly the most embarrasing act in a hostel ever and threw up into Ben’s plastic bag which he had been using as a wash bag. It was then we realised the bag actually had a hole in the bottom and so now my bed was infected. Not a great start. Ben went to reception and asked for new sheets which they happily provided. After a while, the idea of food began to appeal to me. Ben planned to get some picky bits from the hot counter at the nearby spar, but returned empty handed as it was shut. i’d picked the perfect day for a hangover , my first ever, as it was a Hungarian National Holiday so every shop was closed.

Desperate for food and fresh air, we set out in search of a maccies. It was a very slow and shaky walk but we made it. Once i ordered, i realised the toilet was once again calling and so, ran to rid myself of what was left from the morning. I sat down, and spent a long time eating my little mayo chicken.

When we got back, my sick bedding had been put back on my bed, genuinely the cleaner had it out for me and you’ll see why. So we went back to reception and they got me a new duvet. After a very restful day where I genuinely could not do anything, I decided a shower might fix me. That was then i realised my shampoo, body wash and razor were gone. The dorm was fully girls and all lovely so very trustworthy and none of them had taken them. I concluded it was the cleaner.

Ben lent me his stuff, once i’d finished my strop, and I went to shower, rinsing the events of last night off.

Our last night at Onefam and we made sure to say all our goodbyes in case we didn’t see anyone in the morning. It was bittersweet but we had the best time ever. I couldn’t reccomend this hostel more.

We met some amazing people there including Inej, Ciara, Nick, George, Alan, Simon, Chloe, Ella, Toa etc. We formed great friendships with each and every one.

MUST DO’s:

• See Danube shoes
• Visit the Hungarian Parliament
• Visit the Fisherman’s Bastion
• Visit the Buda Castle
• Go to Vadjahunyad Castle and find Dracula
• Go to the Thermal Baths (We didn’t end up going as we were planning on going to the ‘Sparty’ on Saturday night but sadly I was too hungover and €50 was quite a lot)
• Book on to the Danube River cruise
• Drink at Szimpla Kert Ruin bar (super cool plethora of bars set in a super cool setting, one room is even full of mats which you can just lie on!)
• Eat at Karavan food court