Having booked flights to budapest for the second week end in March, I am now looking for a nice hotel to stay in, mimimum 4 star.I am not sure even which is the best side, buda or pest, i would like to be near bars and places to eat, any info would be great.

I suggest "downtown" Pest, around Vaci utca. There are several good possibilities. The Marriott (5*) often can be booked for a very attractive rate. Intercontinental, Kempinski, and a few other 5* hotels are also in the immediate vicinity. Among them, price may be the deciding factor -- and may make looking at 4* not so attractive. (Caution, the Hilton in Pest is at a train station and indoor mall, not as central as the Marriott, Intercon. etc.)

We stayed in Buda at a wonderful hotel, Hotel Victoria ([email protected]). Each room (we had room 42) has huge picture window overlooking the Danube, staff very helpful, good breakfast and great location. Tram runs past hotel and subway station within walking distance. There were at least three restaurants nearby, including a nice French restaurant behind the hotel.

we stayed at the marriott last oct 2004. very satisfied. good location

Check out the Gellert.. (www.danubiushotels.com/gellert)

We stayed there in 2000 and loved it. Ask for a room overlooking the Danube, and don't forget to try the pools/spas!

Byrd

I just got back from Budapest and stayed at Le Meridien -- very nice newly renovated four-star hotel and perfectly located, right outside the station where the three metro lines join and a couple of blocks from the pedestrian mall on the Pest side, but still very quiet. I got a surprisingly good rate (99 euros a night) right after New Year's, from their web site (if you pre-pay you get the best rate).
I would definitely stay on the Pest side if you want to be closer to the bars and restaurants and most of the attractions; I spent one day on the Buda side and that was enough. I'd think twice about the Gellert after seeing the lobby and the baths; it's a beautiful old hotel but my impression was it has definitely seen better days.

Cheers guys, i will start looking at the hotels that you all have suggested, and try and get a good rate, now for some info on places to eat and what we should not miss while we are out there, many thanks.

Check out the Hilton on the BUDA side if you want fantastic river views..otherwise stay on the other side of the river.

We stayed at the Intercontinental Dec 04.Great location,good service and friendly atmosphere around the bar.We had the restaurant Cafe Kor reccomended,[ it is a 5 minute walk from the Hotel ]we were not disapointed.

Kate: Another vote for the Castle Hill Hilton on the Buda side.

This hotel was by far the best bargain on our last trip to Europe a year ago. We had a big, nicely-appointed room overlooking the Fisherman's Bastion (recently featured as the pit stop on "Amazing Race&quot, the Danube and the Parliament buildings which were lit up at night. Service was outstanding - they sent someone across town to retrieve my hubby's camera after he left it on the tour van and couldn't have been nicer or more professional.

We stayed on the Club Floor where we received free food and drinks 24/7, including a full breakfast. Included in the room price was a really neat tour of Budapest and a wine tasting in the Hilton's old wine cellar.

The Hilton had a very good gourmet restaurant, a good cafe and even a sushi bar! We ate in the cafe three times and by the second time the waiter remembered what we drank, how we liked our coffee, etc. The Castle Hill neighborhood had many bars, cafes and restaurants and was easy to walk around.

We visited most of the other nice hotels, including the new Four Seasons, and found the Hilton to have the best location. All this cost around 200 Euros a night including taxes - a real bargain compared to the other places we stayed!

Thanks for all your help have now booked the Artotel for £59 inc breakfast per night, cant wait to go now.