Warning :The new name of the infamous Galaxia Bar is the Belvarosi etterem (restaurant)
Located up from the La Pizza (Szervita ter).
Near to Cigar Tower and on the same stretch of road as United Colours of Benetton
Address is : 1052 Budapest Vienna Street. OTP bank opposite side of road corner.
When you are happily walking around this wonderful city as I found mainly around the Vaci utca area, girls would approach (normally in two's one blond and one black hair) you and speak in Hungarian (I guess they are asking do you speak English) your obviously response would normally be sorry ... I do not understand , then they would say do you speak English then they would ask if you know where .... is , you may not or they would ask if you have a map (just to keep you talking and find more information out about you) then they would say we are going for a drink would you like to join us. They seem helpful and friendly and you feel that there should be no problem going for a quick drink with them.
Another way is they ask you where such a place is , and get you talking , where you are from do you like Hungary etc.
Do not go with them for a drink as they will take you to one of the expensive bars as shown in the pictures and videos within this blog.
You will find one of the girls will be a lot more vocal than the other one , the other one will be more friendly and ask you more about yourself.
Basically the girls work for the Bar and will order many drinks and continue to have a laugh with you and find out more about you. They in my situation order food which when you look at the menu the prices seem reasonable so you think the prices for the drinks should also be. But they are well over priced and when you get the final bid, so called waitress(scam member) they ask how you pay the bill, when it comes the girls pass the bill to you and you are expected to pay it rather then splitting the bill, the so called waitress suggests if you do not have enough money then you can be escorted to the nearby cash machine to withdraw the necessary payment, you will find out that the girls will have hardly have any money on them to help to pay for the bill. If you suggest the POLICE they say you will get a charge for calling them out and could double your bill. THIS is a lie as I asked them no charge for calling the Police out.
If you have bank withdrawal limit on your card they ask if you could get your passport and go to a local exchange kiosk (they will sometimes give you a terrible rate of exchange so check) that's if you are going to continue with the payment. BUT don't as I mention the prices are terrible within the bar , I suggest Call the Police out.
Bill shock -
In my case I got off lightly the bill was for 205250 HUF. (ROUGHLY ABOUT £600) I did NOT pay this.
I had heard from the girl on reception from my Hotel that another guess in my hotel had previously been scammed/ripped off for £1000 , and had got very drunk as they order/ supply the strong drinks and drink them quick. I did speak with him he was from the Czech Republic and this totally spoiled the rest of his holidays.
They only have a price list shown on the window not in the actual building if you knew the price you would NOT pay it.
I would of thought that the girls , get free drinks (as you would be paying for them) and may get a cut of the profits when you have attempted to pay the bill or at least paid some of it.
They will take you to a near ATM machine shown here.
Having read the Internet now , this scam/rip off as been going on for years. see here google results.
I wouldn't of known about this if the girl on reception from my hotel showed me this blog that had been written about this issue.Namely :http://belvaros.blogspot.com/2010/07/galaxia-bar-atvedlese-hienabol.html
I have also got hold of a email address for the local police based near to the Palace.
email : 05rk@budapest.police.hu
This is destroying the tourism of Budapest/ Hungary if this type of scam is to continue. These bars need to be closed down and large fines given to the Bar owners.
Click picture to Enlarge.
