Hungary is no longer the bargain-basement destination for foreign travellers that it was even five years ago, but it is still cheaper by a third or even a half than most western European countries. If you bunk down in private rooms, eat at medium-priced restaurants and travel on public transport, you should get by on €30.00 a day in the provinces without too much scrimping, though Budapest will cost you closer to €40.00 a day. Travelling in more style and comfort - restaurant splurges with bottles of wine, a fairly active nightlife, stays in small hotels/guesthouses with 'character' - will cost about twice as much €60.00 in the provinces and €80.00 in the capital). Those putting up at hostels or college dormitories, eating burek street food for lunch and at self-service restaurants for dinner could squeak by for €20.00 a day.

Although Hungary is now part of the EU, it will retain its own currency until at least 2010. Prices in shops and restaurants are uniformly quoted in forint, but many hotels and guesthouses and even MÁV, the national rail company, give their rates in euros. In such cases, you can usually pay in either euros or forint.

ATMs accepting most credit and cash cards are everywhere in Hungary, even in small villages. The best ones to use are the Euronet ATMs, as they dispense sums in units of 5000Ft. Many of the ATMS at branches of Országos Takarékpenztár (OTP), the national savings bank, give out Ft20000,00 notes, which are difficult to break.

It's always prudent to carry a little foreign cash, preferably euros or US dollars, in case you can't find an ATM nearby or there's no bank or travel agency open to cash your travellers cheques. You can always change cash at a hotel.

Credit cards, especially Visa, MasterCard and American Express, are widely accepted in Hungary, and you'll be able to use them at many restaurants, shops, hotels, car-rental firms, travel agencies and petrol stations. They are not usually accepted at museums, supermarkets, or train and bus stations. Many banks, including K&H and Posta- Bank (represented at post offices nationwide), give cash advances on major credit cards.

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.