Hunguest Hotel Forras and Aquapolis water park in Szeged – Can extended weekends match annual vacations?

Passengers enter the fast elevator which goes all the way up to one the highest points in the southern Hungarian city of Szeged – barefoot. The 30-m tower competes with the church tower and the TV tower on the other side of the Tisza and provides a view to almost the entire city. Blue and yellow waterslides descend into the indoor pools of the Aquapolis water center.

Even this adrenaline ride seems strangely calming here. This is thanks to the intelligent architectural solution and a little modern technology. From the comfort of one's hotel room, one can enter the elevator directly and then go to the swimming pool – in one's bathrobe, without even having to pass down the lobby. All this comfort is enabled by a smart “watch” on a blue hand bracelet given to guests upon arrival. It opens hotel doors, acts as a pool pass and runs the bill at the snack bar. The valuables remain in a safe and the keycard remains in the room. Anyone looking to have some fun and get away for a while is free to do so.

Hotel and water park, a winning combination

Aquapolis, a water empire right beyond the northern Serbian border, has been one of the most popular weekend destinations of Serbian tourists in the past years. It is connected to Hunguest Forras Hotel, which has been thoroughly renovated. The hotel has four stars, fully justified, and nearly 200 rooms. This place is a good host for everyone, but it is especially adapted to families with children. The mascot, a turtle called Szegi Teki, welcomes children on the ground floor.

Those who can't get away from work even here are also welcome to Hunguest Hotel Forras – the hotel features a conference section. Near the entrance are a modern bowling alley, a pool table, a bar with a large TV screen...

Within the board and room arrangement, breakfast and lunch are distributed fairly. Breakfast ends at 10 am (11 am on weekends) and dinner start from 6 pm. Free soup is served in the interim. The hotel chef is a world champion and the winner of a silver Olympic medal, the hosts emphasize. The menu offers a wide variety of dishes and the flavors can compete with those in good a la carte restaurants.

Upon arrival, guests enter their rooms after 2 pm and leave them by 11 am. The recommendation is to pay extra for a late exit, by 6 pm, as it means another day of carefree swimming. The reception staff is young, cordial and very helpful.

Hungarian plain's small metropolis

The center of Szeged, a city of around 150,000, features a large pedestrian zone and is remarkably arranged. Aesthetically, it is only the monotonous communist-era residential buildings that stand out in a wrong way. The local university is very well regarded, as is the city's theater festival. The city's center also features the 18th century Serbian Orthodox Church of Saint Nicolas. Just like the neighboring city of Subotica, Szeged has a monumental synagogue. However, the city is dominated by the outline of the cathedral built in the first half of the 20th century, one of the biggest cathedrals in Hungary. The square in front of the cathedral features an 11th century tower, the oldest building in the city. Several city palaces are worth a visit, as is the Water Tower from 1904.

Szeged is usually reached from Serbia by bus, van or car, whereas Budapest also features a rail connection. The use of Hungarian highways and main roads requires an e-vignette, which can be bought on the Serbian side of the border as well, for example, at the gas station on the highway near Horgos.

As for the Aquapolis water kingdom, it also features a medical section, with a dark liquid heated up to 40 degree Celsius used for treatment. Nearby, behind the jacuzzi and massage showers, is an opening through which an outdoor pool can be reached even in winter. Right next to it, in another water court, are waterslides. Left of them are large warm water surfaces, a water cave, rapids... Lifeguards are everywhere around the pool. Aquapolis also features a sauna, a quiet wellness section, forbidden for those under 16, a section for mothers and babies, a medical section... In the warm months, more water attractions will be available to guests at the outdoor swimming complex.

After three days in Szeged, the exposure to this intelligent relaxation concept makes one think. Can an extended weekend or more of them match a real annual vacation? Our northern neighbors apparently don't seem to mind.

(Photo: Mirko Radonjić)

Mirko Radonjic

Hunguest Hotels Zrt.

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