Hey lobo_mau; Sorry about the spelling error. I thought that was a very interesting analogy of the hotel during WW2. We stayed at a hotel in Budapest where the Russian Army command stayed after the 1956 takeover. Our stay at the Avenida Palace was nine years ago in April and cost us about 200 US with breakfast. Todays cost is over 300US with breakfast in October. Such an elegent hotel, we would stay there again and cut costs somewhere else. On their web site, it shows some of the square from the hotel and that is the view we had--loved it. But you have provided good information and now the poster can decide. Happy travels suec1