Vicky

I will be turning 60 in November and despite two trips to Europe this year (French Riviera in May and upcoming trip to Tuscany in Sept) I would really like to do something special in celebration of this special birthday. Budapest has been on my radar and I have four days off over Thanksgiving (can extend my time). With a companion, we could do 4 nights once there for around $1000 each - maybe $1100 including 4 or 5 star hotels. I have a friend who is interested in going. My question is: does anyone have experience with hotels in Budapest and recommends a particular one? I would like an Old World rather than modern - with the lavish lobbies and elegant rooms.
I would appreciate any hotel recommendations (I have the guide book and have been looking at pictures online but a personal experience is so much more helpful). Also any particularly good coffee houses, shops, etc. that you personally enjoyed.

Thank you!

centraleurope

Hmmm... I live in Budapest so I do not stay in hotels. But I would consider the four seasons and the Gerloczy. The later houses one of my personal favorite cafes.

If you want cafe opulence, it is hard to beat the New York cafe. There is no lack of cafes in Budapest.

Check out what is scheduled in the opera house. I like the ballets as I am not an opera fan. The venue is surberb.

In any event, enjoy a wonderful birthday in a fantastic city.

joannyc

Well I wouldn't call the Marriott on the Danube 'old world' but the hotel is very nice and the views over the Danube to Buda are fantastic! I've read of people getting it on Priceline for about $65/night! A steal!!!

bettyk

We recently stayed at the 5* Corinthia Hotel. Very modern yet splendidly decorated. We enjoyed our stay very much.

http://www.corinthia.com/en/Budapest/home/

centraleurope

Btw, the Four Seasons is the restored Gersham Palace at the base of the Chain Bridge in Pest. I have been in the hotel but not in the rooms. When it opened it was very expensive, but now with the financial situation in Hungary, I have seen some relative deals on it.

I have stayed in the Marriott. Great location (not far from the four seasons). But not what you described.

LouisaH

I'm going to Budapest for the first time in September and will be staying at the Kempinski based on a friend's recommendation. I looks nice.

Mathieu

For 'old' and 'old world' and a little bit of faded imperial grandeur as well as some history, I'd throw in the Hotel Gellert. I've stayed there many times and have done so largely for the excellent location, being directly in front of the Freedom Bridge, being literally on the Danube and affording beautiful views of it and the surrounds. It's also right beside the citadel which is a landmark set in a beautiful hill park that's great to walk up in the Autumn. You are a very short walk to the Elisabet chain bridge, the Vaci Utca (pedestrian shopping street) and 5 minutes to the interesting Food Hall and Market just by walking over the Freedom Bridge, and then onto the rest of the city, in whichever direction you go. The restauran area is alos close to the Food Hall. St. Stephens church and Fishermans Bastion is a pleasant 15 minute stroll along the Danube as well. Best of all, there is a bus and tram hub right outside the hotel door to connect you anywhere you want.

The hotel itself is reminiscent of a huge castle and quite atmospheric. Once described as 'faded' it has been undergoing a restoration for the past several years with good effect. Large public spaces, brocade/velvet drapes, stained glass panelling, a sweeping staircase, interior mezzanine balconies looking into the large lobby, domed ceilings, a uniformed bellman, large bright breakfast buffet over looking the Danube...that sort of thing. The rooms are being similarly spruced and modernised (from 50's era furnishings) and those rooms/suites facing the Danube are very nice. Try to get get one of those since you're there only for 4 days. Also nice is the famous Art Deco Gellert baths that are attached to the hotel, and for which you get some complimentary time, robes and a private entrance for hotel guests. It is a wonderful Hungarian experience that you should try at least once.

If I was there for 4 days (or more) and wanted to be located in a place that had all of this within easy reach as well as some atmosphere and charm, I'd go here (and I have). It's not that far from Marriott nor the Four Seasons so in the same general area, but could be closer to the experience you have in mind.

http://www.tripadvisor.ca/LocationPh...l_Hungary.html

http://www.danubiushotels.com/our_ho..._hotel_gellert

Bobandco

I am really biased here. I bought an apartment in Budapest a few years back and now I cant imagine vacationing anywhere without looking for an apartment to stay in. A lot of them are junk but when you find the right one and you get the opportunity to live close in to the sights and in a building full of locals where you become a part of the fabric of the city; nothing beats it for an intimate one of a kind vacation. For hotels my favorite location is the le Meridian, my favorite style is the Corinthia and my favorite for history is the New York Palace. The Four Seasons is always rated as one of the top few hotels in Europe. The Gellert is a great place to visit but its a little worn. Best place for the money is the K&K Opera. Really no better deal in town. Best apartment management company is Budapest Apartments Direct http://www.budapestapartmentsdirect.com/patys-place/l16

Bobandco

Let me know if I can help with the trip, things to see and do, etc....

centraleurope

Hey bob... I moved to Budapest 6 months ago... We always stayed in a small b&b in the Budapest hills ( not my favorite location, but we loved the owners ). I would stay at the Gerloczy. Love the location, the cafe, and the old world feel. (And close to Le Meridien).

We live on Szent istvan park... My absolute favorite location... But no hotels (and nearly no tourists) closeby.

Delaine

The Four Seasons Gresham Palace is beautiful and in a great location right at the end of the Chain Bridge in Pest. It is in a grand art nouveau building from 1907.

For an opulent cafe, try Cafe Gerbaud at Vörösmarty tér 7. It is probably overpriced, but is quite lovely and actually had good pastries.

Bobandco

Centraleurope, the Gerloczy is a love it or hate it place. I know, love and respect a lot of people that just rave about the cafe and the hotel but I just detest the place. That doesn't make me correct and please don't take it personally as we are with absolutely correct.

Bobandco

Centraleurope, I have an apartment on a narrow street behind the old Ballet Academy across the street from the Opera House. We just loved Andrassy, Kiraly, the ease of the M1 to get around town, just a great neighborhood for our interests. Unfortunately we only get there about 5 weeks a year.

Vicky

The Four Seasons is out of our price range. I am still looking at the suggestions; some of these are more recent but I am still checking back. I'm not not an apartment person on vacation unless I could stay a month. I love hotels and have no interest in cooking. I do have a dream of renting an apartment perhaps near Todi, somewhere in the French Riviera for a month or two once I retire, but not for a short stay. I know it works for some though. I think the Buddah Bar hotel looks interesting as well as some you have mentioned

Bedar

We liked the Hilton up in the Buda Castle District. We loved the area with all the antique shops. Made us feel we were a couple of centuries in the past. You should be able to get a deal on the rooms.

Delaine

I have also stayed at the Buda Hilton. The location in the Castle District was lovely. It is next to the Matthias Church and Fishermen's Bastion and within easy walking of the Castle. There are lots of cute shops and restaurants. The hotel incorporates two ruins into its design: a 13th-century Dominican church, with a tower rising above the hotel, and the baroque facade of a 17th-century Jesuit college. Views from the rooms across the Danube to Pest and Parliament are beautiful, especially at sunrise.

One of my favorite pastry shops is nearby. It is tiny and not grand but their kreme is delicious, Ruszwurm Cukrászda, www.ruszwurm.hu, Szentháromság u. 7

centraleurope

No worries Bob... I never stayed at the Gerloczy - so I can not vouch for the rooms (but it gets really high TripAdvisor scores)... I only do coffee at the cafe (never food - the food is not my favorite). I just happen to love sitting in such a quiet place and still be in the middle of the city. And I love the feel of the cafe.

For the OP, lots of people rave about staying up in the castle area. And if you want to be in the oldest part of town, it may be fantastic for you. It's just not the location I would pick - a bit too isolated from everything except the old town....and although the restaurants might be fine for some, they are more expensive than they should be, and lower quality than options in other areas.

Bobandco

I am with Centraleurope on the location in Buda. 90 percent of what you go to Budapest to see is in Pest and it takes a good 30 minutes to get to Pest no matter how you do it. But yes, Buda is lovely and it is a place for half to a full day. And yes, each time I am in town I go to the Hilton to sit in the bar and look through the old abbey ruins to the Parliament across the river. Its an amazing view. And there is a courtyard across the street from the entry to the Hilton that has some really great shops. But stay in Pest.

The zone I always recommend is described this way: Get a map, find Andrassy ut and then the Oktogon metro stop on Andrassy ut. Now draw a line from the Oktogon down the center of Andrassy ut and further until you hit the River. Now find what interest you one block north of the line to three blocks south of that line. My two favorites would be Le Meridian and the K&K. Two opposites. One reasonable and one extravagant.

When you find hotels that are in your range and appear interesting, take the time to list them here and let people comment on the neighborhoods. AND, don't believe everything you read on trip advisor. Figure how a hotel with 30 rooms that has been open 10 years gets ten times more reviews than a hotel that has 100 rooms and has been open 20 years. Makes no sense to me. Then the reviews say "best hotel in Budapest" but the reviewer only stayed in one hotel and that was for two nights.

magyarlany

Hello Vicky,

I would like to recommend you 2 great hotels in a center of Budapest. Please watch these films:
http://www.xxtravel-hungary.dk/#!hot...-priser-/c1f01
and http://www.xxtravel-hungary.dk/#!bos...st-hotel/c1fla

I would be happy to help you if you need any help to plan your stay.
My name is Hanna and I come from Budapest. In a past 20 years have been living in Denmark and have a travel agency called XX Travel Hungary - relaX & eXperience, that ´s why my website is in Danish. Please write me [email protected], if you need any help.

Best regards

magyarlany

Sorry Vicky, her is the film about Hotel President
http://www.xxtravel-hungary.dk/#!hot...-budapest/ck9y