Hotels Prague and Budapest

Thats so good to hear. I always feel like i am sticking my neck out when i recommend a hotel. We've stayed there a half dozen times over the years and its always been good; and thats my favorite area in Budapest (which just seems to get better each year).

We found an incredibly convenient and enjoyable hotel in Prague; the Hotel Ventana barely a block off the old town square. Not cheap, but very, very much worth the price (3 years ago at least). Still one of our all time favorite hotels. The train is the way to get to Budapest if you are coming from Vienna. Spend a night in Gyor on the way and see the old city center and the Archabbey. Its really worth the time. Cars are sort of useless in Budapest and you will spend a lot of money just trying to park it. Like most big cities the train station isnt in the absolute best part of town, but being convenient to the train station is not a necessity. The transit system is convenient, easy to figure out and sort of fun. The taxi services are also inexpensive and reliable; but you have to call a cab. Don't use the ones that park in front to the train station. Taxis are not regulated so you want to be in a name brand cab not just a car with a light on top. This is probably the only inconvenience in Budapest and it occurs only at the train stations. "City Taxi" is reliable (tele: +36 1 211 1111; if you aren't sure about using your cell phone in Europe let me know). They will take you to just about any hotel in central Pest for under $15.00. By the way if you call a Cab then; while standing in the train station looking up at the clock in the front wall of the building go out the doors on your left and you should see the Chineese restaurant(where the City Taxi dispatcher will tell you the cab will pick you up).

Now for the hotel. It does come down to what you like and how much you want to pay. The Four Seasons in Budapest every year is voted as being one of the top half dozen hotels in Europe. For the cost of the rooms it should be. The Le Meridien is another great 5 star for first time tourists. If you want to say you slept where the great dignitaries, heroes and villains of the 19th and 20th century slept you can go to the Gellert which is nice but a little tired and a little removed from the center of things. Buda has some nice hotels too but I think they are too much removed from the center of things for a first time visit. The one hotel I have sent people to (and where I have stayed myself) is the K&K Opera. I think the location perfect for seeing and understanding Budapest. Reasonable rates, very clean, great service, great breakfast. There are so many good hotels in Budapest that it really comes down to location so I published a pdf file with my preference of the area to find a room in. Go to http://budapestflat.shutterfly.com/fivedaysinbudapest and on the right hand side look for a file called "Hotel Zone". That same list on the right also has some other information that you may find useful. Budapest is sort of a hobby so let me know if I can help out.

We just stayed at the K & K Opera last week and it was perfect. Centrally located, 1/2 block from metro, wonderful breakfast, clean and friendly. Can't go wrong if you stay there.

Hotel Ventana is very, very nice. Can help better with hotels for Prague if you can give us an idean of price.

Pension Green Garland in Prague and Kalvin House in Budapest were two great, affordable hotels that we stayed at in May of 2011. We found them both in Rick's books, and have had excellent results with his hotel recommendations in many countries in Europe. The trams are very convenient in both cities, and you will not have any trouble getting from the train station to your hotel. I strongly recommend staying near the river in Budapest, probably on the Pest side as we did. Near the old town in Prague is great, but comes with tourist crowds.

Jon, I'd also recommend the Green Garland Pension in Prague. It's reasonably priced, the rooms are clean and well maintained (albeit basic, with no TV), the staff are wonderful. It's close to the old town and the Charles Bridge, and there are some nice restaurants nearby. Hotels located near the Old Town Square are not exactly convenient to the train station, so I'd suggest using a Taxi when you first arrive. DON'T use the "no neck thugs" (as Rick calls them) that operate the Taxi from the station. Walk across the street from the station and look for an AAA Taxi (details in the Guidebook). When you leave Prague, ask your Hotel to arrange transport. Happy travels!

We liked Kalvin House in Budapest, a couple of blocks from the Kalvin Square metro station, easy walk to restaurants, the Great Market Hall, and the Danube.

The construction of Metro 4 is back underway so that boarded up construction site you saw next to the Kalvin ter subway entrance should be up and running again. I don't know how much disruption that will cause in the area. The best thing about Kalvin ter is that it is near Raday utca which is a decent pedestrian restaurant street. Because it's on the fringe of the center the area has a number of decent low cost hotels. It's not a bad zone but you will spend some time on the metro getting to the usual tourist attractions. But the Budapest metro is easy to figure out, inexpensive and can be fun in its own right. If you stay near Kalvin ter you will be passing very near the Auguszt Cukrászda when you walk to Andrassy or to the Parliament. I highly recommend the pastry shop. If it's a river view you want then the two most popular hotels in Pest are probably the Intercontinental, Marriott and the Sofitel. Sofitel is nicer and has a great outdoor dining area with a view of the Chain Bridge just a stone's throw away but the Intercon. is closer to the metro stop and has great dining on the promenade that looks towards the castle in Buda. All of the Marriott rooms have a view but it's a little far south and not super convenient to the metro. I have walk into, but not stayed at any of these so I cant make a recommendation other than location notes., I wouldn't recommend staying in Buda.

Another vote for the K&K Opera. We have stayed there and would love to return.

Jon, in Prague, the House at the Big Boot (http://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowUserReviews-g274707-d311877-r118263595-House_at_the_Big_Boot_Dum_u_velke_boty-Prague_Bohemia.html)is one of my all time favorite B&B. And, in Budapest The Butterfly Home was a five star B&B (http://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowUserReviews-g274887-d2181177-r136222832-Butterfly_Home-Budapest.html). Ciao.

We also liked the Big Boot and the family there; they had parking in front of the house. It was an easy walk downhill to walk across the Charles Bridge or catch the tram. Very good breakfasts. We've also stayed at an Ibis in the thick of things, fairly close to the train station, and much preferred the Big Boot and its pleasant rooms and quiet location in Prague.

I would recommend the Kapital Inn in Budapest. Albert is wonderful...it's almost like having a personal tour guide, and he did our laundry for us when we got there at no charge - it was waiting outisde of our door first thing in the morning, folded and ready to go. It is also located very close to the metro and within easy walking distance to some great restaurants.

The Kapital Inn is located about a block off Anrrassy ut near the Vorosmarty stop on the M1 Metro. Just a tiny tad far out but with the M1 right there its not bad at all. The M1 is the oldest underground rail on the continent, small, enjoyable and a breeze to use. It will take you right down to Vacu utca and the river front. But do the have an elevator? Rooms are all at the roof level.

The Kapital Inn is located about a block off Anrrassy ut near the Vorosmarty stop on the M1 Metro. Just a tiny tad far out but with the M1 right there its not bad at all. The M1 is the oldest underground rail on the continent, small, enjoyable and a breeze to use. It will take you right down to Vacu utca and the river front. But do the have an elevator? Rooms are all at the roof level.

I was in Prague in September. LOVED my hotel! It was Hotel Maximillian. About a 3 - 5 minute walk to Old Town Square. Hotel was very comfortable, clean, super friendly staff, EXCELLENT buffet breakfast included, great location, free internet in business lounge (including American style keyboard), ipod docking station in room and the offer of a goldfish companion in your room if you like! if i return to prague, i won't even bother doing hotel research. it's back to Maximillian for me.

In Budapest we enjoyed K&K Opera Hotel next to opera house. In Prague Hotel Grand Praha across from astronomical clock on the square (pedistrain zone). We used expedia and got a good rate. Location is perfect and much better than the congested rail station area. you can walk from rail to this hotel in about 15 min.(flat, easy & safe. you will not need a car in Prague for tourist sights. Thankfully some cities are better on foot.we stayed at these hotels in May 2012 and would gladly stay there again.