Photo by little_petal

We don’t mean to sound like mommy, kiddos, but, if we’ve told you once, we’ve told you a thousand times. Plan ahead.

Every guide book to Budapest mentions May Day, usually around page six.

Today, inside the Yellow Zebra Bike Tours and Rental shop near Déak Tér, tourists the world over who failed to heed the page six warnings are facing their worst bedtime nightmares. Without a reservation, it seems to be impossible to book a bed for tonight. As we type in this alert to you, expletives fill the air.

Another anecdote: While checking out of the Mellow Mood youth hostel in central Belvéros yesterday morning, we overheard a French school teacher—one of two in charge of 60 kids—arguing with a surprisingly calm hostel staff.

Apparently, she forgot to request breakfast for les enfants. First, she could not understand why May Day meant a four-day weekend, then she was incensed that the hostel was unable to provide 62 croissants when 90% of the businesses in town are closed. And, oh, she needed them the next morning at 6 a.m. Actual quote, en français: “We are leaving the hotel.”

And going where, madame? With 62 children? On May Day weekend? Best of luck.

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