Would appreciate any advice on the best 5 star hotels in Budapest - Prague & Vienna. Maybe rooms with river views etc. We will be traveling in May. Thanks in advance.

I stayed at the Budapest Hilton (in Buda in the Castle District) it is 5-star and has a great location next to the Fishermen's Bastion and a fabulous view of the Danube and Pest. You could also check out the Four Seasons Gresham Palace, located on the bank of the Danube at the end of the Chain Bridge in Pest. It is beautiful, but I preferred being in Buda.

In Prague I stayed at the Intercontinental. It is located on the Vltava at Pařížská Street (the street that leads to the Old Town Square)in the Josefov.

The Hilton and Intercontinental were both very nice and furnished in a modern style.

In Vienna I have stayed at the Bristol and the Grand Wien. They are both located on the Ring (Opernring) within a block of the Staatsoper. Both hotels are the traditional European grand hotel style and are quite luxurious. The Imperial and the Sacher are very similar and in similar locations.

I stayed in very nice Marriott's in all 3 cities.

The Sofitel in each city was very nice

I stayed at the Hotel Pariz in Prague which I really liked, it is Art Nouveau style, and very centrally located. No particular views, however.

I think in Prague if you want 5* and river location you have to pick the Four Seasons. I'd go with that, it is most convenient. There is an older Czech one on the northern part of the city on the river which is supposedly 5* but that location isn't as convenient. It's pretty famous, though, and used to be where all the celebs or important people stayed (as it was one of the few top hotels), the President. You'd have to check them out to see what their current standards are.

I think the Hilton in Prague is a 5* but I would avoid it, it isn't in a convenient location.

Delaine and DDD...looks like Delaine agrees on the Budapest Hilton and it's Buda location..two Fodorites can't be wrong?!? DDD, I responded likewise on your other thread.
stu

Kempinski
Mandarin Oriental
Alchymist

President in not 5 star - the older hotel by the river is probably Intercontinental.
Four seasons I would avoid unless you can afford to pay the top dollar for river view rooms

The Sofitel in Vienna isn't a five-star hotel. It's an ok 4-star choice, but be advised it's a common Priceline winner and also gets a lot of tour groups. And if you do stay there, Unless you are a chain smoker, make sure you get a non-smoking room

For Vienna, I've stayed in many 4 stars and a few 5 stars. I did not like the Intercontinental at all. The bar attracted an interesting crowd (many international TV correspondents), the rooms could have been in any business class hotel anywhere. I didn't like the Meridien that much - too much white, those flat screen TVs are older versions, not very high resolution, it's a corporate hotel now.

For a 4 star, we like the K&K Maria Theresia (be advised, the decor is modern, nothing "oldy worldy" about it). For a traditional 4-star, we like the Kaiserin Elisabeth. For a 5 star, we'd go with the Grand Wien (the Ring is good too but we like the Grand better). The Imperial and Bristol just didn't ring our bell and the Sacher is of course, a name to be reckoned with, but we didn't like the crowds surrounding the hotel. The Grand is more serene, but that's just our preference.

Thank you for all the helpful information...Happy traveling to all !

I don't know what the official designations are in Prague by the govt (or even if they have anything official), but the PResident calls itself a 5* hotel and a lot of hotel or tourism webistes I've seen do, also. I don't know if I'd call it that, but I feel that way about a lot of hotels. Prague has seen a lot of luxury hotels being built or opened in the last few years, it seems to me, and it is definitely older than the new crop, although I don't think that is a positive (it's not old enough to be historic, it's about 25 years old). The IC is also about 30 years old in a similar modern style, that was what was around in those days.

There is a problem that there are just not that many hotels in Prague with river views, so sure, you would have to be willing to pay for that if you chose the Four Seasons, that is one reason people choose it. I wouldn't pay for it, but that's what some people like. I've never heard anything bad about it. I thought of another, the Hotel Savoy up near the castle is a luxury hotel. I'm not sure I'd find that location so convenient, but it might have good views.

Keep in mind that in European rating systems the stars say nothing about the quality of service provided, ambiance, location, etc. Stars are based on a check list of features some of which you might not care about (e.g., size/location of the lobby, do staff members wear uniforms, is there a banquet room, is there on-site or valet parking), not quality. It may be more likely that a 5-star property will be a "better" experience than a 3 or 4-star, but not always.

In some countries, a property can also elect to take fewer stars than it is entitled to for tax purposes.

Many hotels that areconsidered 5* in Europe would notmake it in the US - but are more upscale business hotels (andlike 4*). Not aware of any dcent hotels in Vienna near a river and very few in Prague. In Budapes there are several hotelsright near the river on both sides - not sure if any are really 5*

I wold have a look at Trvel and Leisure and Cone Nst TRaveler web sites to see the best hotels in the world - and you can be sure that they are really 5*.But expect very big $.

The Mamaison Riverside in Prague is not a 5 star - it is more like a 4 star - and the rooms are small - however I got a great rate on hotels.com ($130 per night for Oct - no breakfast) and it had a river view, elegant furnishings, and it was conveniently located on the river. No bells and whistles like gym, business center, destination restaurant. The furnishings in the room were of high quality.

Budapest - get a Danube Deluxe room at the Four Seasons for a special treat

Prague - Four Seasons (I really like the Renaissance rooms) or Rocco Forte The Augustine

Vienna - The Bristol or the Imperial


BTW, all of these hotels are members of Virtuoso - meaning you can get free breakfasts, room upgrades, and other complimentary amenities if you find a Virtuoso travel consultant.

travelhorizons.....You are my kind of traveler. My 1st thought was the 4 Seasons Danube deluxe room. For Prague, I am not sure. Either the 4 Seasons or The Augustine. I really love the Savoy Hotel in Florence & The Russie in Rome ( both Rocco Forte hotels) So maybe The Augustine. The Bristol Hotel has a good location, but I think maybe something more contemporary would be better. Thanks for the Virtuoso tip.

Yes, if you like Rocco Forte, you like luxurious hotels with a contemporary flair. If you want something more contemporary in Vienna, you might look into The Ring Hotel (Preferred Hotel Group).

The Hilton in Budapest is a good choice but I wouldn't pit it in a 5 star category.

HappyTrvlr: a five year old thread . . .