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Currency, credit cards, VAT refund. Currency: Forint (Ft) Hungary remains a bargain destination for foreign travellers. If you stay in private rooms, eat at medium-priced restaurants and travel 2nd-class on trains, you should get away on about EUR 35 per day without scrimping. Those putting up in hostels, dormitories or camping grounds and eating at self-service restaurants or food stalls will cut costs substantially. You can exchange cash and travellers' cheques up to 30,000 Ft at banks and travel agents, usually for a commission of
1% to 2%. Post offices almost always change cash, but rarely cheques. ATMs accepting credit and debit cards can be found throughout the country, but it's always useful to carry a little foreign cash, preferably US dollars or EUR. Credit cards can be used in up-market restaurants, shops, hotels, car rental firms, travel agencies and petrol stations. Hungary is a very tip-conscious society and virtually everyone routinely tips waiters, hairdressers, taxi drivers and even doctors, dentists and petrol-station attendants about 10%. Not leaving a tip, or leaving a very small tip, is a strong signal that you were less than impressed with the service. Never leave money on the table in a restaurant: tell the waiter how much money you want to leave as a tip as you are paying the bill. Bargaining is not the done thing in Hungary, but you can try a little gentle haggling in flea markets or with individuals selling folk crafts.
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