Hard liqueur, vintage cars, thatched cottages, sunflowers and authentic Hungarian Goulash are just a few of the reasons we chose Hungary as the location for Jeff Wood’s event videography ‘Love what you do’ workshop // retreat. Oh yes, and then there are the return flights for under 50 quid from Stanstead!

(There are also flights available for under 100 Euros from most European countries)

Image by Jaksa Timea Photography

When Jeff emailed us for a suggestion on where to hold his ‘Love what you do’ Workshop there was no doubt in my mind where to send him.

Filled with historical charm, stunning architecture, incredible food and some serious love for a party I had to recommend Hungary.

Budapest in particular is one of the most compelling cities I have ever visited, with a fantastic foodie scene, great bars, incredibly friendly people and stunning vistas owing to the River Danube running right through its heart. Ogle along the river banks of either Buda or Pest and see the Parliament houses or the fairy tale tower of Buda Castle in all their magnificent glory. Watching them twinkle at night under a humongous sky is one of my favourite experiences of all time.

Image by Benedek Sas

Away from the city Hungary has stunning lakes and rivers, more thermal baths than you can shake a stick at and beautiful hilly plains that stretch for miles. Peace and tranquillity is within easy reach and you can literally be in the middle of nowhere within an hours drive out of the city. Fields filled with sunflowers line the roadsides, cattle graze lazily and you have to play spot the Trabi on your way into the countryside.

Planning a workshop in Hungary is a pretty straight forward affair as the country is very well set up for receiving international guests, and none more so than Hotel Varga Tanya. The purposely rustic looking Estate with its thatched cottages fits in perfectly with its locale in the Puszta or, Hungarian grasslands and is surrounded by forests. The landscaped gardens offer a tranquil setting in which to learn, the only distraction being the beauty around you. The wellness spa is a tempting place to unwind after a long day of engaging your brain with comfy loungers, two Jacuzzis (because one is never enough right?) and a Finnish sauna, all finished (pardon the pun) to an incredibly high standard to help you relax and prepare for dinner and Palinka…and trust me, the traditional dish of Goulash is worth preparing for.

The food at Varga Tanya is very well thought out with great traditional dishes alongside healthy modern cuisine and a lot of the food is prepared on an open wood-coil fire in the rustic barn which lends a lot to the ambiance of the evening. With it being November the weather will be chilly but nothing that a couple of shots of Palinka wont fix…plus the Hungarian cuisine is perfectly autumnal with great stews, braised vegetables and delicious stuffed peppers.

You may be wondering what on earth Palinka is but once you have tried it you will never forget it; a locally grown fruit brandy that can be anywhere between 37.5 and 86% proof. Its warming, dizzying and will get you ready for the traditional dancing which you MUST take part in! The Hungarians know how to get a party going and that Jacuzzi will look even more appealing the following morning!

So if you haven’t already made your mind up to get your flights booked (Ryanair fly from Stanstead for under 50 quid return) to Jeffs ‘love what you do workshop’ maybe the authentic Puszta horseshow will be the deal clincher.

The grand finale is just amazing and is quite rightly World-renowned, the unique Puszta-ten. In a nutshell, one man basically rides TEN horses all at once. It’s pretty epic and an incredibly unique experience and that is before you even lay eyes upon the humongous beasts that are the oxen, or locally known as ‘grey cattle’. Huge horns and big floppy chins paired with eyes that can see straight into your soul, the majestic animals kick up a storm of fine dust as they are herded across the plains.

All of this excitement is included in your workshop // retreat price. You get to learn from the best, experience a whole new culture that is right on your doorstep, relax in not one but TWO Jacuzzis AND drink Palinka and eat Goulash. You will stay in stunning accommodation and fall in love with the surroundings and you will leave after 3 days with a renewed love for your industry and probably a pretty memorable hangover.

Join Jeff Wood in his ‘Love what you do’ workshop // retreat and get more than you bargained for.