Ask Away: Horsing around in Hungary

The Great Hungarian Horse Show. Photo / Martha de Jong-Lantink

Eli Orzessek answers your travel questions.

Could you give me any information about a tour to The Great Hungarian Horse Show somewhere between Mohacs and Kalocsa?

We are on a Danube cruise in July 2019 and will be in this vicinity on July 13. The cruise books their tours in a block for the entire cruise and I cannot find any information on doing this excursion by ourselves.
Anne

From what I've found online, Kalocsa Korona Tours (koronatours.hu) seems to be the main company working in the area and they organise trips to the Puszta Horse Show. According to their website, the Bakodpuszta Equestrian Centre only accepts pre-bookings. You can contact them for more information on your particular dates — the email address is sales@kalocsakoronatours.hu.

You could also talk to a travel agent about the possibility of booking a private tour guide, rather than joining a group.

I notice the schedule shows there is either one or two shows a day — so there is a high chance you might just end up at the same show as the rest of your cruise anyway. It may just be best to go with the cruise line's own shore excursion — even if you're getting sick of the people on board. If any other readers have visited the horse show and have any advice, send it in and I will pass it on to Anne.

I'm thinking about planning a trip to New York City to visit a friend. What would be the best way to get there from Auckland?
Sarah

I'd recommend flying with Air New Zealand to Houston. It's a bit of a marathon flight at 13hr 35m, but it will take you much closer to where you want to be than if you flew via a west-coast city.

From Houston, New York City is only around a four-and-a-half hour flight away — and there are plenty of domestic airline options to choose from, so you're bound to find a good deal.

And while you're at it, it's the perfect opportunity to enjoy some Houston hospitality on a southern stopover, and will give you the chance to get over your jetlag before you hit
the Big Apple.

I'd recommend an overnight stay if you can — you could even stretch it out to a few days, as Houston has a lot to offer. Enjoy some authentic Texan BBQ, check out the Houston Space Center ("It's awesome," says Travel Editor Winston Aldworth), catch a football game or explore the Museum District. I'm sure you'll find something that takes your fancy.

Email your questions to askaway@nzherald.co.nz

Eli cannot answer all questions and can't correspond with readers.

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