On the Junket Frontline

Lauca Bercelli Let Loose in Budapest
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If you can answer yes to the following four questions I suggest you settle down, get the diary out and start making a few arrangements.

1. Do you frequent casinos?
2. Do you enjoy five-star luxury?
3. Are trips abroad up your alley?
4. Have you got a spare three grand?

Still with me? Well, if you are I suggest you take the opportunity to do your brains or make your fortune
in style.

BUDA and PEST - these twin cities sit astride the glorious Danube combining to produce what has to be
one of the best attractions for the European tourist. I went there courtesy of Casino Tours Abroad on a trip that promises to be completely free, subject to the following conditions: each player deposits three grand with the casino and plays for a total of twelve hours. If during that time you win, the proceeds are yours. If you lose.....you lose. Any deal like this will always raise plenty of questions, the main one being,
'What's the catch?' I hate to disappoint the sceptics amongst you but the whole thing turned out to be as
kosher as a Brick Lane bagel.

All the usual temptations are on offer such as Roulette, Craps and Blackjack (six decks are used and one can double down on ANY first two cards) and drinks are free for the players. Well they would be, wouldn't they?

If you have never been there and may be a bit wary of former eastern bloc then wise up before you go. This is a city that has it all. Friendly people, great food, old world mystique, and a newly discovered freedom that is being grasped with both hands. There seems to be one hangover from the old communist regime and that is the shortage of skirt material. This must be the explanation for the amount of local totty
strutting around in micro miniskirts. Rather friendly these babes are, but I wouldn't advise buying them a
round of drinks. Before you know it, the Soho surprise might be on you. Two hundred quid for four cokes, you know the kind of thing. Keep your beady eyes away from the Hungarian high heels and you'll be fine.

One of the best reasons for going abroad is always the weather and - surprise, surprise - Hungary's sunshine is more dependable than ours.

This climate has spawned a thriving cafe society, places that are usually richly decorated as the cakes they serve in abundance. This is not the place for a Weight Watchers convention.

Ask for egg, bacon and chips in Budapest and you'll be greeted with a slightly cooler response than a Bernard Manning punchline in Brixton, so stick to the local stuff. Believe me, traditional Hungarian food is a
revelation and the exquisite quality is more that matched by the quantity.

Although the hotel that you'll be staying in has it's own fitness room, sauna and swimming pool, the city's
famous thermal baths just have to be sampled. Many of them will suit the more dangerous of you, they're
nude; but the one we tried allowed us to keep our pants on - at least until we got to the massage table.
A slight tug of war ensued but the grisly old masseur got his way in the end. These experienced karate
experts really know their stuff and managed to untie my knots faster than a three-year-old playing pass the parcel.

All in all one brilliant place to visit and if you play your cards right the whole thing could cost you the price of a phone call.

THE DEAL:  Return flight, three nights in a five-star hotel (with meals), unlimited drinks in the casino and transport to and from the airport.

All you have to do is turn up with your passport, three grand and some suntan lotion. Play the mininum twelve hours at 25 Euro minimum (most guests play longer) and enjoy.

As one guest pointed out to me: 'This is my fifth trip and I am still waiting for the catch.'

Details of trips to Budapest and other destinations are available from the man with the plan, Alan Hughes,
Casino Tours Abroad, tel. 077233 95980, email alan@xposia.com.

Casino Tours Abroad also represent casinos in Malta, Tunisia, Prague, Bratislava, Monte-Carlo, Venice,
Estonia, Canada and a few more locations. Current and future junket information can be found at www.xposia.com.