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-   -   Room with a view - Budapest (https://www.fodors.com/community/europe/room-with-a-view-budapest-499525/)

bbj Jan 29th, 2005 01:59 PM

Room with a view - Budapest
 
Travelling to Budapest in May and would really like a room with a view of the Danube. Considering the Inter-Continental, Marriott, Hilton (Castle Hills), Hyatt Regency. It seems the Kempinski, art'otel and Meriden, although recommended, do not have river views. Any info. on the hotels that do and which is the nicest would be much appreciated.

Patrick Jan 29th, 2005 02:03 PM

Well, this is in a whole different class, a simple, but very nice 3 star, but the Hotel Victoria sits practically on the Danube and the rooms have great expanses of windows facing right across to the Parliament building. But if you rely on room service and love big American style hotels, this won't be the place for you.

Clifton Jan 29th, 2005 02:10 PM


I agree with Patrick on all counts. Really enjoyed the Victoria, but it is not of the upscale variety, which is a plus as far as we're concerned, but of course, not everyone is the same. Still, it was comfortable, pleasant, the staff are great, and the views were wonderful.

This is a couple of shots taken from our balcony in room 93 (elevator for 8 floors, one flight of stairs to 9th floor)

http://www.travelisfatal.com/hu/Buda...nbridge10.html

http://www.travelisfatal.com/hu/Buda...%20island.html

http://www.travelisfatal.com/hu/Buda...rliament2.html

These shots were all taken from the same exact spot. Room was 79 euro when we were there in November, I believe it's 102Euro in higher season. www.victoria.hu

Spygirl Jan 30th, 2005 08:44 AM

Ah, bbj, this is a question for me. I checked out ALL of the hotels you've mentioned this past Nov. while I was enjoying my excellent stay in Budapest, and the Marriott, is IT-in every way. A hotel that sits right on the Duna promenade, that is well-integrated into Budapest life-lovely, spacious rooms-but OH, THAT VIEW! I can think of few city hotels (maybe none) that I have stayed in around the world that have the stellar view one has from their large balcony at the Marriott, overlooking the Danube and over to the Castle District. The Royal Palace, Gellert Hills, Fisherman's Bastion, St. Matyas- all lit up golden at night-and you can just stand there and stare, while you're drinking a glass of excellent Hungarian Merlot, a bottle of which is provided on your minibar!

And that pastry bar in the lobby? Imagine each day, 6 or 7 luscious cakes and torts-the famed Hungarian Dobosh Torte, lemon, poppy-seed, what have you, accompanied by not one, but two bowls of freshly whipped cream-one regular, the other light pink-mulberry whipped cream!

I can go on and on about the Marriott. You'll have no need to bring any kind of adaptor/converter if you stay there-they have a universal strip on the wall-just plug in your appliance, as if you were at home-very nice touch for the traveler who dislikes those problematic things!

And it is SO conveniently located-I had no need for a Budapest Card-I could walk to Gellert Spa, -(a bit yucky, but the Art Deco bldg. is nice-wouldn't think of staying there though!), to the Opera, to the excellent Angelika's or Ruszwurm Kaffeehaz. Right across the street from the Marriott-50 feet away, actually- an excellent gourmet wine/sandwich shop, also, two 2 min. walk to the Vaci Utca, (pedestrian shopping street) 15 mins. to the Operahaz-you can't beat the location.

Most of the 5 stars, with the exception of the Buda Hilton, are located along the Promenade in Pest, but the Hyatt and the IC struck me as same old impersonal international chain hotels, (Hyatt has a somewhat tacky Casino, Casino Las Vegas I think it's called-on a separate entrance, which brings in a certain crowd-the far better casino I think is directly across the river from the Marriott-the Varkert Casino)
where the Marriott, did not. Staff are great, very helpful, the breakfast buffet is awesome, really. Check out the reviews on tripadvisor.com-everyone is happy there!

P.S. And since you'll be there in May (maybe I will too!) Marriott will have their Bier-garten set up so you can sit and people-watch along the Promenade, as well as enjoy the Danube river traffic and the lovely monuments on the Buda side-now this is my idea of living large!

Bedar Jan 30th, 2005 09:29 AM

Stay at the Hilton in the Castle District. Wonderful. Not only have the view but be in a terrific district.

detraveler Jan 30th, 2005 10:15 AM

We stayed at the Intercontinental and the view was wonderful from our room. I preferred the view from the Pest side than the Buda side although both are really nice. I have read that the rooms are nicer at the Intercontinental than the Marriott but I have not stayed at the Marriott so no personal experience. There are many reviews written by other travelers on tripadvisor.com for all of these hotels.

Spygirl Jan 30th, 2005 10:33 AM

The Hilton is very nice, as it is built right up alongside an 11th century convent, and is situated in the heart of the historical center, but few of the rooms have a view of the Danube, and those that do cost more. I know, because I asked the concierge about them. By contrast, all but a very few rooms at the Marriott have full-on views of the Danube-with large balconies.

And I agree-the view from the Pest side, with the monuments all lit up, is truly stunning.

As far as the rooms at the Marriott, I found them to be beautifully appointed-above the ordinary.

sqskybed Jan 30th, 2005 11:56 AM

As a frequent Budapest traveller I can recommend the Marriott if you really want the river view. However the Marriott is not really special compared to my favourites the Meridien and the recently opened Four Seasons. The Meridien indeed doesn't offer river views but has excellent service and I really get the exclusive feeling there. The Four Seasons offer Danube Superior Rooms and they have river view. I think the Four Seasons is the best hotel in Budapest, but of course this comes with a matching price tag.

Spygirl Jan 30th, 2005 12:19 PM

I too, went to the Four Seasons Gresham Palace, and it struck me as quite sterile and impersonal-gorgeous building though, very well located right there on the Chain Bridge, but I think very few of the rooms have good views of the river-most would face towards Pest or their inner courtyard. Plus there's a big construction job going on nearby, so I'd think that might be a problem.

The Meridien is a very nice hotel, very modern, but it is in the middle of Pest, not along the river, with no view to speak of, so right there I wouldn't want to stay there. Also, I think there have been mixed reviews about service at that hotel as well.


hsv Jan 30th, 2005 12:41 PM

Just for the record: The Hyatt Regency has been re- branded and is now managed by French Accor Hotels as a Sofitel.

Spygirl Jan 30th, 2005 01:08 PM

Yes, you're absolutely right. It is a Sofitel now, but it still has some Hyatt logos about. I didn't particularly care for the location/layout of this hotel-it looks like it's all driveway-and then that flashing Casino sign at night looks a bit tacky. Again, I think only the most expensive rooms here have a good river view. The public reception rooms are nicely appointed.

bbj Jan 30th, 2005 01:32 PM

Thank you to everyone for all the useful, first hand information. Right now I am leaning toward the Marriott or the Intercontinental. Are these hotels close to each other with the same view? Also, I have read that the rooms are a little nicer at the Intercontinental, but with everything Spygirl commented on about the Marriott--maybe that tips the scale. Any final thoughts?

Spygirl Jan 30th, 2005 01:51 PM

Yes, I think you'll be paying a heck of a lot more at the IC for the best river rooms, and you don't get a balcony. (and I hate to say that, cuz I think the Marriott rates, for what you get-uniformly good views with balcony- simply cannot be beat-so maybe I don't want too many people to know how great it is).

If you get a Marriott suite, as one of my colleagues did, then you'll think you died and went to heaven. Top floor, wrap around windows in sitting room with a full view of the Danube all the way down both directions. Spectacular. I want to do this some day. At any rate, I would encourage you if you can to get on Marriott's Executive Level floors. Really, in all respects, from the excellent Hungarian wines served in the lounge, to the buffets, to the friendly concierge staff who were able to get me a last minute ticket to an opera, to the lovely rooms, it was one of the most pleasant city hotel stays I've had in a long, long time.

PALLI Jan 31st, 2005 03:04 AM

Intercontinental,great views and a lively,friendly Hotel bar.

Spygirl Jan 31st, 2005 04:15 AM

There are mixed reviews about the IC on tripadvisor.com. Apparently some people weren't too happy with their stay there.

sfowler Jan 31st, 2005 04:47 AM

My husband just stayed at the Marriott last December and thought it just fine. If the view is important I'd pick the Marriott -- as almost all rooms have it. There is also a Thai restaurant right next door!

We normally stay at Hotel Victoria -- but they couldn't give him the two rooms needed for the dates in question.

Spygirl Jan 31st, 2005 04:50 AM

All rooms at the Marriott have either a full or partial view of the Danube, but not all rooms have balconies-most do, however.

sqskybed Jan 31st, 2005 05:39 AM

Spygirl
Le Meridien is not a modern-style hotel. I mean it's very new but the interior style is more traditional with antiques etc.
By the way I managed to walk in 5 minutes to the river and enjoyed the beautiful view there.

Nevertheless, The Marirott is also an excellent choice. I'd prefer the Marriott over the IC.

Spygirl Jan 31st, 2005 05:57 AM

Yes, you're right-although I've not stayed there, the interior style is a sort of French Regency, but the exterior building is new and modern-it's right next to the subway station, I believe. I know a couple who stayed there, and weren't too happy with the service, but they loved their rooms, esp. the bathrooms.

sqskybed Jan 31st, 2005 10:59 AM

Spygirl, I also heard some comments about the service in Le Meridien. When I was there in the summer, it was also a kind of chaos. There was staying a celebrity(I still don't know who) in the hotel and the lobby was filled with 10 bodyguards. First i thought they just were hotel bodyguards, haha. So this was really a mess. But I found a nice letter on my room from the management and they apologised to all the guests for the chaos. The concierge managed nice restaurants for me and they also transported limousine service for me. It was very nice. But you shouldn't forget it's a big hotel and it stays a chain hotel, so service might drop down from times to times


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