Which are the bad habits of Hungarian tourists?

Photo: MTI/Czeglédi Zsolt

Most prejudices have truth in them and many stick because of the bad habits of a few. Many bad habits of Hungarians are frowned upon in foreign countries, resulting in the reputation of all Hungarian tourists being bad.

Here comes a list about the most common perceived bad habits of Hungarian people, collected by Bien.

Open Buffet

A great bogeyman for Hungarians is a buffet. While many don’t mind putting on a few pounds for tasting everything on the menu, it often comes with a lot of unnecessary waste. The problem doesn’t come from liking and eating everything but from putting each on a different plate and not finishing either at the end.

That is so aggravating for the staff as well as the owners of the hotel or restaurant since this habit reeks of wastefulness and imposition.

Not to mention, most Hungarians can’t stop themselves from taking the remains for their next meal.

Fair is fair

This bad habit most likely comes from many Hungarian families not being able to afford a holiday, especially big ones often. Because of this if they get to go from time to time, most feel like they have to max out their options.

They use every coupon they can, ask for new towels and new sheets every day, not to mention emptying the shower gel and shampoo bottles.

Based on “fair is fair” they reserve sunbeds with their blankets even when they only spend half an hour next to the pool, and of course, they stuff themselves at an open buffet.

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Rules are for everyone else

This bad habit is meant to get across the superiority of Hungarians, the “who if not me” mentality. Hungarians don’t like to follow the rules on main, let alone on holidays.

Hungarians are fairly selfish and tend to concentrate on their own well-being and interests; however, we are immensely offended when we get any insult.

For example, Hungarians shout on terraces late at night, drunk without any problem but we ask for a different room when a baby cried in the night in the next room. Hungarian people climb on monuments and rearrange the furniture in restaurants without asking for permission so that everyone can sit together and we use the toilet without consuming and despite request.

No tipping

Tipping is not a tradition everywhere; in fact, there are places where tipping is offensive – but they are not in the majority. Another characteristic mentality amongst Hungarians is the “I’m never coming here again” and “no one knows me here” so why should they tip?

Well, precisely because locals don’t view tourists as individuals but as the average. They will become prejudiced, and everyone will receive different service if there are a lot of negative experiences – just because some Hungarians misbehaved and didn’t even leave a tip. That is how it works, sadly.

Resourcefulness or stealing?

What is resourcefulness and inventiveness from a Hungarian’s perspective is most likely stealing in the eyes of locals. That is a nasty habit Hungarians have become famous for.

Some fish out lucky coins from fountains and some know that certain Hungarian coins fit perfectly in parking meters so that they can save on parking fees. But what could the operators and workers think about Hungarians when emptying the machines?