Friends -
request your feedback on hotels for Budapest. We are a family of three .. looking for
- clean rooms
- central location, close to public transport - we prefer to walk everywhere, if possible
- breakfast
If you have been to H2 Hotel is Budapest - please share your feedback.
Thank you
Never stayed there. Walked past it once or twice.
Its hard to beat that hotel for $100 a night. The location is fair, especially since you say you like to walk (the nearest public transportation is about a 10 minute walk). The immediate streets are quiet at night but the the Basilica square is close and that is usually interesting in the evening.
Thanks Mister E -- appreciate your feedback.
With the $$$ you save on the room, walk up Andrassy ut about 6pm to the old Dreschler Palace, now the W Hotel. Sit in the outside bar, look around and across the street and understand just how beautiful Budspest is while you drink a $7 beer in a $2.50 beer town.
Back in March we stayed 3 nights at the Hotel Moments and were very pleased. Beautiful property and easy walk from many sites. Check it out at: https://hotelmomentsbudapest.hu/
Mister E -
Don't see $100 rooms at H2 Hotel -- I got 4 nights for $900 (or 225 a night)
KBK -
Unfortunately Hotel Moments seem to have rooms for only 2 adults :(
Oh, I just went to booking com and stuck in a random date .... maybe I read wrong.
For how many adults?
techtrainer61, just thinking outside the box here - but have you considered an apartment instead? Budapest has a lot of options and you might wind up with more space (no breakfast, though) for less money.
Hi Mister E -
we are three of us, me, my wife and daughter
Hi TexasTravelmom - we are certainly open to it. If there are
any recommendations, please pass them on.
Separately - any feedback on these two places ?
Onyx Luxury Budapest : 1078 Budapest, 12 Marek József utca, Hungary
Estilo Fashion Hotel Budapest: 1056 Budapest, Váci utca 83., Hungary
Thanks very much for your help.
My very subjective opinions based solely on location.
Onyx Luxury Budapest : 1078 Budapest, 12 Marek József utca, Hungary
Perfect on your 3rd trip. Too far removed for a first trip.
Estilo Fashion Hotel Budapest: 1056 Budapest, Váci utca 83., Hungary
Not a terrible place for getting around. Like a 3.5 out of 5. But on Vaci utca which is River Boat Tourist Disneyland. Which in Budapest is still good but a little like Prague Old Town.
You haven’t said when you will be there. I will message you a few. But if my go-to is booked, I start with booking.com (also Air BNB and compare), use filters and the map feature, read reviews, and avoid Király u. (for lodging because of noise).
Thanks Mister E :
I've cancelled out Onyx Luxury and Estilo Fashion Hotel
TexastravelMom :
Our dates at Sept 8-12 (4 nights) in Budapest .. which will give us three full days.
Thanks for your help -- really appreciated.
Sent you a PM with some ideas. :) I hope you have a wonderful time!
The Hilton Garden Inn has a "King Family Room" for about $220 per night. The location is excellent.
Excellent and guarded by the captain.
Thank you all --
I found Medosz Hotel :
1061 Budapest, Jókai tér 9., Hungary
This appears right in the heart of the city.
Reviews generally look good - it is a 3 star hotel and includes daily breakfast.
I went ahead and booked this.
If you have stayed here, please share feedback.
Thx
Walk past it almost every day. Nice location and we have a RS person that stays there and will maybe chime in.
I think you've made a lovely choice. You'll be close to the Metro or tram at Oktogon, making it easy to access everywhere you want to go.
I would recommend dinner one evening at Menza, which is just a few blocks away. It can get busy so if it looks interesting to you, be sure to make a reservation.
You're also super close to Stühmer Édességbolt, some of the best chocolates in Budapest. =)
Thank you christy.
Thank you all .. Mister E, Texastravelmom for taking the time in guiding us.
September and October are shaphing up to be rather busy RS in Budapesty months.
I booked Kalvin House Budapest, 3 nights €250 down near Great Market Hall. Its rooms seemed larger and more interesting than my tentative booking. I was looking at ‘Perfect place in heart of downtown’ which had 3 bedrooms (we only need 1BR) for almost the same price but a little further north which I cancelled. Both seemed to have similar access to transit and the river. Neither had breakfast included but I’m sure there will be plenty of places to get some breakfast. Or buy some supplies and make coffee in the room.
Q: What is a typical Hungarian / Budapest breakfast? My experience is that in Italy, France, Spain & Portugal the locals seem to go with a ‘continental’ breakfast, coffee (often espresso) and a pastry except for the big fancy hotels that cater to rich tourists with extensive buffets.
In some ways, you pay your money & take your chances. I will see in October.
Bundás kenyér
Lekváros bukta
Búbos rántotta
Palacsinta
Are all "traditional" and a good chance you will see it on menus in some of the tourist restaurants. But you are in a very cosmopolitan city so if you go out to a breakfast shop you will be faced with sausage, bacon, eggs; almost always with bread and a little collection of greens and tomato probably. Among my favorite places is Stika which does bagels in various forms. I guess not too out of line since Budapest is a Jewish city.
Karoly krt and Muzeum Krt on the left as you walk up from your hotel are lined with old book stores which I find pretty interesting. The national museum is near. If you want a night out the Opus Jazz Club is behind you a few blocks and there is an interesting spice shop at 10 Karoly krt (in the central courtyard).
You are near the end of Vaci utca which is always worth a walk at least once and you are not far from the 2 Tram which is arguably the best tram ride in Europe (according to the National Geographic). And it takes you along the corso to the Parliament.
Nearby Kalvin ter has a stop for the 47/49 tram and the 3 and 4 metro line. Fovan ter has the 47/49 and the M4 stops. Once you have walked or used the tram to Andrassy ut once, then you may want to move around a bit faster and the M3 and M1 will do that for you. So you need a metro pass. The Kalvin ter and the Astoria metro stations are “interesting” and worth a look see.
Thanks. You’re making me work getting the traditional breakfast translated: bread, jam tart, fried eggs or pancakes. Your other recommendations sound interesting.
We will take a taxi from the airport which seems to about €32 and then get 3 day transit passes and do the loop you described earlier up Pest side #2, cross Margrit Bridge, down Buda side #19 or #41 and back across at Liberty Bridge. With some stops along the way, including the Great Market Hall, this should help us orient ourselves, learn how to use transit and get over some jet-lag. This may be too much but with trams, we can ride back to a couple of blocks from our hotel. I like to sit at a cafe with a view have a coffee or beer and try the local foods and drinks so, as always, we’re hoping for sunny weather, or at least, no rain.
Things on my list include next day: Szechenyl Baths morning and then Heroes’ Square and if we still have the energy, walk down Andrassy possibly stopping at the Opera House and back across to our hotel by Vaci Utca. If we have the energy, that night, we will try the Kadarka Wine Bar that you mention in a number of posts.
Next day and an half are open, based on what we see on the first afternoon and first full day. Viking offers an included excursion on our first day on the boat but it seems to a quick overview.
Thanks.
techtrainer61 my apologies your thread sort of got hijacked.
Babyboomer
1. Get your transit pass at the airport. After you pick up your bag and through the door to the arrivals hall, look to your left and you will see BKK
2. I guess you arrive fairly early for that tram loop. If you want to stop for the view and a drink I suggest you take the tram, or walk, to the Market Hall. In the center median where the trams load and unload, towards the bridge, you will see stairs going down. The 2 Tram stop is at the bottom of those stairs. Take it left to right and two stops down will put you in the heart of the Corso with restaurants with outside seating and views. On the other side of the river at the Várkert Bazár tram stop is Felix with similar views but in the opposite direction across the river. You might get in without a reservation.
3. Great Market Hall has somewhat limited opening hours, so google to see them and work into your plans
4. How are you getting to Szechenyi? Tram to Deak Ferenc then the M1 is the cleanest I guess. After the bath and heroes square remember the M1 runs under Andrassy ut so you can walk a stop, ride a stop, walk a stop. I would suggest, even if you are tired, walk two stops down to Kodály körönd then ride the M1 to the Opera Stop and get off again.
5 “stopping at the Opera House and back across to our hotel by Vaci Utca” It’s a hike. A) walk to Vorosmarty ter then down Vaci utca. B) take the M1 from the Opera to Vorosmarty ter and then down Vaci utca C) From the Opera walk to the 47/49 tram and take that home ……
no no no Mister E ...
it is my pleasure to read your feedback and I am learning from it.
Our trip is coming up soon, so it is only helping us ;)
Thank you so much.
Techtrainer61, Sorry to have hijacked your thread.
Mister E, thanks for your info. We arrive at airport 13:20 so I don’t know how much we will do that afternoon. Our hotel is a block or 2 from the Great Market and the #2 tram if I’m reading the various maps correctly.
not at all babyboomer :)
I'm learning from it too.
That means checked in and ready to go out about 3pm. I know its a short trip and you will probably not need it, but download the CityTaxi App. If the ocassions does rise, then you have it.
Any way, your hotel is a few minutes walk from the 4749 Tram but you are between stops so just walk down to the market hall. This late, probably best to save for another day But board the tram to cross the river. On the opposite side is the Gellert Hotel. Great history, great bath, under renovation though. The tram stop is a bit confusing at the Gellert, but get off and look for the 19 or 41 going up river.
This late I think this will be a sightseeing tour more than anything else. Sit on the river side and enjoy the view. Get off maybe at Batthyány tér for a photo shoot and selfies with the Parliament, then another stop up to Margit híd, budai hídfő stop (mouthfull) where you will find the 4/6 tram across the street (dont worry, big modern tram crossing bridge, cant miss it). On the other side of the bridge the first stop you get off and look back towards the river a few feet and up the first side street and you will see a florist shack and the 2 tram. After you cross under the Chain Bridge there is a stop.
Then go one more stop and get off and you will be at https://www.dunacorso.hu/hu/index.php this is the best view with a drink in Budapest. If you can guess your time, you might make a reservation, but generally you can get a seat.
If you dont get off for pictures and to look around the trip is about 45 minutes.
If you go straight to Duna Corso (maybe walk up Vaci utca to get there) and you relax and unwind after the trip; then take the tram ride after sunset it is particulraly beautiful.
And do remember that is you mess up, get on the wrong tram. or go the wrong way that nothing bad happens. You just get off and make a correction,. Every inch of where you will be is safe and interesting.
Mister E, TTM, Friends :
We will be mostly using Credit Cards wherever possible, but may need Hungarian Currency for some usage
during our 4-day visit.
Any pointers on how much Hungarian Forints (HUF) should we exchange ? And where should be the best
place to do this .. we want to avoid high ATM fees if possible.
On the same lines, how much should we exchange for :
Euros - 5 days in Austria (Vienna and Salzburg) ..
Czech Korunas - 5 days (4 in Prague, 1 in Cesky Krumlow)
Thx
techtrainer61, on my last week-long trip to Budapest in March, I spent @ 6,000ft cash ( for just me). However I had with me leftover cash from a previous trip (when I arrived with no cash to a broken taxi card reader). So I like to have enough for an initial taxi ride from the airport, if going that route (@ 11,000-12,000 ft) just in case.
My last trip to Prague was Dec, 2021, but I spent very little cash. I just don’t have a good record of how much.
Edit: I don’t worry about ATM fees, as my Cap 1 360 checking debit card doesn’t charge foreign withdrawal fees and the local fees, if they occur (as they do in Prague), aren’t much.
Spent almost no cash for 3 days in Salzburg last month. Maybe €20 for a tour tip and a bagel.
Get maybe 10.000ft. An expensive ATM might cost you $3 extra on the $30.00. 0r pick a bank ATM to save on the $3.
Thank you TTM, Mister E
$30 worth is about right (10,000 FT)
For rough estimates right now, 1.000 forints is $3. (It's really about $2.85, I think)
We never spend more than $120/night. In Budapest, we stayed in Ibis Budapest for about 70-80/night. We also stayed in BoatHotel Grand Jules. Both are close to transport. The breakfast at the Ibis is great.
Just checked Ibis Heroes Square - double bed - 75/night in September. Rooms are pretty spare and utilitarian. But who goes to Budapest to sit in a hotel room?
