14circle

Wife & i staying in Budapest for first time for 3 days & would appreciate suggestion of nice moderate price hotel on Pest side near Danube.

Thanks

joannyc

Marriott has a great location on the river in Pest. Very nice hotel, all rooms have river view, I believe. A number of folks on this site have reported getting very cheap rooms via Priceline. I stayed using points.

Also, on the Buda side, Hilton looks very nice. Again, folks have mentioned getting good prices there on Priceline.

Try doing a search for both on this site to get an idea of the price. I think some were $59-69/night... a bargain!

Enjoy! I loved Budapest!!!

ellen75005

I bought Rick Steves and ended up booking the Gerloczy, a small hotel that he recommended for our trip in August. It has good reviews on tripadvisor, too. It's in Pest, not right on the Danube, but a couple blocks from it. You might want to look at it; here's the site.

http://www.gerloczy.hu/rooms_delux/

Ellen

jrjcolllins

We stayed at the Budapest Marriott last summer and loved it. Location was great and one wall was windows facing the river. The view of the castle and bridge lit up at night was fantastic. We got it on Priceline (the bidding part) for $65 USD.

Barblab

We too stayed at an apartment and had a wonderful local experience. We used Budapest Vacation Rentals at bvr.hu and stayed in Max, which was incredible. The owner, John, maintains a wonderful website everythingbudapest.com which has tons of great info on the city. Have a great trip!

farago

It's always great to hear from barblab, even indirectly -- we own the apartment she stayed in and are very proud that she recalls it warmly enough to mention it here, but I'm actually writing to say that if you're looking for a moderately priced hotel you should take the Gerloczy very seriously ... we recommend it regularly, and encourage all of our guests to dine (or simply lounge) in their cafe. Location is marvelous, but the milieu restful and old world. The views at the Marriott are grand, and I am a big fan of the Marriott chain as one of the last privately held hospitality-driven international hotel chains, but it's really relentlessly Marriott and relentlessly American in furnishings and feel. For some that may be a plus, but for me it's the Gerloczy any day. Of course, our first preference when we travel is, as others have suggested, the value and comfort of renting an apartment. But that's a matter of personal taste... I'd note that our http://everythingbudapest.eu website is unrelated to our apartment rentals, has no advertising or revenue-generating activity of any sort, and is meant to be a resource for all travelers to the city ...

Sher

Barblab. Did you write a trip report? If so, I missed it. Can you remember some of the cafes and restaurants where you ate?
Would love it if you could.
Sherry

letsgo39

We stayed at the Marriott Millenium Executive Apartments for 3 days before a rivercruise. The price is good and the location is perfect on the Pest about 1 block from the river and just 1/2 block from Vaci Utca. We found it thru Tripadvisor and we really enjoyed staying there.

letsgo39

I forgot to add that the Marriott Millenium Executive Apartments is owned by the Marriott and is about 2 blocks away.It is much smaller and is actually 3 room apartments.

farago

I like the Mariott Apartments as well, and love the building, but the furnishings are pure Marriott and the views (which is the great benefit of the Marriott Hotel), at least from what I've seen, is nothing very special.

The Gerloczy is about three blocks away, essentially the very same part of town - the center of the center city, or Belvaros - and is the most wonderful of the nearby cafes. Also check out the Cafe Alibi, not far away on Egyetem ter. The Auguszt Cukraszda on Kossuth Lajos utca very nearby, is a marvelous pastry shop with both very traditional and more modern recipes. The Jeg Bufe is a more modern pastry shop, for takeaway more than eating in, and a bit aunsting to deal with, but absolutely marvelous cakes and savories. For a fancy traditional meal, consider the Muzeum Kavehaz, for a snack Vapiano. The Marriott's own Sunday brunch is pricey but wonderful and comes with the view especially in spring summer and fall; the Kempinski's, very nearby, is arguably better as to food, as is the Meridien's.

Check out the Godor Klub in Erzsebet ter as a nearby venue for art and music (young) and skateboarders. For a wonderful bowl of gulyas soup, the Castro Bistro in the porte cochere of the massive Madach Imre ter apartments...

Also an easy walk, a great artisanal chocolate and ice cream shop on Veres Palne utca, Bonbon Manufaktura. Around the corner from the Alibi sits another: the Rozsavolgyi chocolates shop.

ellen75005

When we travel in Europe, we much prefer smaller hotels. I like getting to know the proprietor, and often smaller places feel more cozy and "authentic". When I travel in the US (often on business) I love the convenience of the bigger chains, and Marriott is among my favorite.

Farago, I was happy to see your comments on the Gerloczy. Can't wait to visit Budapest!

Ellen

Barblab

Sher, I really don't remember the names of places we ate but we got most of them from John's (Farago's) personnel reccomendations and website everythingbudapest.com. I am not related to him and was suspecious of how helpful he was at first but he really is almost too good to be true. The apartment we stayed in overlooked a small local park. Looking out on it, sitting in it, and shopping at the small stores that circled it, made it feel like such a local experience, and was one of the fondest memories of our trip to eastern europe. Budapest is great, enjoy!

Sher

Barb. I guess I am catching your answer to this and glad you saw it.
I have emailed John several times. I am very happy with his responses and I like the idea that he is from New York. It makes me feel that he is much easier to communicate with.
The apartment we think we are going to take is two blocks from the one that you rented. So basically it will be the same neighborhood.
Thanks

tedgale

If you are lucky enough to stay on one of the top two floors of the Marriott suites, there are great views across to Buda and the castle. Wonderful sunsets too.

Below those floors you are just looking into a dull courtyard/atrium.

Given the foul weather in Europe this winter, we just took a pass on travelling to Vienna and Prague in mid-March, after our Rome sojourn. We'll stay in Italy instead (where the weather is also lousy, BTW). But my choice is already knawing at me. I love Budapest!

Jadee3

I realise these are quite old replies but i could not find anything more recent. In June this year we made our first visit to Budapest and stayed for 5 nights at Apartment Max, Karolyi Kert. We then had a further 2 nights at Apartment Liesel, Szervitza Ter. Both apartments are in great locations. Apartment Max, mentioned above by Barblab, is opposite a delightful garden so you can sip a glass of wine on the balcony and enjoy the beauty and peace. It is very easy walking distance to a lovely square with Cafe Alibi and plenty other restaurants. The second apartment Liesel is smaller and just around the corner from Vaci Street but still a quiet area. We loved the traditional courtyard style of both apartments and it helped us feel that we were part of Budapest for our short stay. Both apartments are well decorated and have everything one could possibly require. The owner is patient, helpful and increadibly knowlegeable about Budapest. His personal guides are in each apartment and are well worth delving into. If you are visiting Budapest you could do no better than enjoy your stay in spacioud Apartment Max.

jean_moss_583

For a moderately priced hotel in Pest, I would go with the Novotel Budapest Centrum:
http://www.novotel.com/gb/hotel-3560...um/index.shtml

It's a 4-star, great location, and the rates are excellent.

If you want to splurge just a bit, there is a spectacular historical 5-star, just across the Danube (in Buda) in an absolutely perfect location. The rates are more, but still a steal by American/European standards. It's called the St George's Residence:
http://www.stgeorgehotel.hu/

This is where we stay on our small group tour to Prague, Krakow & Budapest:
http://www.ipswichtours.com/small-gr...ue-to-budapest

Either way, I'm sure you will have a wonderful time exploring this magical city. But, you will not be disappointed if you choose to splurge, trust me!

All the best for a wonderful trip!

Jean Moss
www.ipswichtours.com