On Wednesday March 17th, the Irish celebrate St-Patrick’s Day as well as many across the globe. As early as the 17th century, the Irish have been wearing green ribbons and shamrocks on this day.  It is said that the Saint Patrick used the shamrock to explain the Holy Trinity to the pre-Christian Irish, and since …

Driving in foreign countries can seem like a hassle especially with the differing payment systems depending of the country and size of the road. But do not let this be a set back as getting the right information early on will enable you to have a trouble free driving experience.
Numerous countries across Europe use a …

One would think that paying for utilities, such as water, gas and electricity consumption, is a relatively straight forward thing to do.  However, when relocating to a new country with different payment systems and cost itemization options, such a simple procedure suddenly becomes a nerve-racking hassle.
Download the definitive guide to paying your utility bills (PDF  …

The low humidity common in many parts of the world during winter can cause dry, irritated skin. When skin becomes dry and irritated, eczema can flare.

Farsang, or Hungarian carnival, rooted in pagan spring festivals, in later years Farsang came to follow the Roman Catholic tradition of feasting before the forty day Lenten fasting period in the run up to Easter. In these secular times, however, the party tends to rock on until spring is firmly established.
Once Farsang was a time …

Gentlemen take note, it’s coming. Put a big red circle round February 14th, better still, make it heart-shaped. Valentine’s Day is on its way. So, if you want to hit the brownie-point jackpot this year, you’ll start thinking of the most unique, romantic gift you can muster.  Expat Echo has put together some suggestions to …

When we moved to Budapest six an a half years ago, we found ourselves trying to figure out Hungarian menus (many were not available in English at the time).  Our struggle to make sense of the ingredients or even ’styles’ of cooking left us often times disappointed when our dishes would arrive to be the …

Recently, our family (we have three children under the age of nine years old) has started to enjoy eating out on Sundays. There are lots and lots of fantastic Sunday brunch options in town, however, we are more of a breakfast OR lunch type of family. It has become something that my husband and I …

Eating out and shopping for groceries in Budapest while suffering from Celiac’s disease can be quite frustrating.  There aren’t as many options as one might be used to.  Expat Echo has dug up some valuable information to help with Gluten-Free shopping and dining.

It’s anyone’s worst nightmare: you return from a heart-warming trip with your family, only to find that back in Budapest your house has been turned upside down, your most precious belongings – gone. Burglary is an awful crime, not only for what is stolen but because of the frightening sense of invasion it lends.

With all the excitement of moving to a new country and setting up a new life, it can be easy to overlook things that are common considerations back home. One of those is the issue of fire safety.

The air is thick with rumors about the swine flu vaccination in Budapest. Some are partially grounded in fact (doctors may be held legally liable for infecting patients if they do not immunize themselves), others are ridiculous (conspiracy theory about injecting computer chips for surveillance along with the vaccination).  Even among physicians there is a …

Sunday Brunch is a tradition in North-America and the United Kingdom; the idea is that you get to sleep in late but still get to enjoy a nice big breakfast! There are several hotel restaurants offering lavish brunch buffets right here in Budapest. For those who get up at the crack of dawn with the …

Is your child’s birthday right around the corner?

There are plenty of great party opportunities offered in Budapest!