Hotels

Budapest's accommodations range from beautiful, historic gems that were built in the early 20th century, to drab, utilitarian establishments that are products of the city's Warsaw Pact days. A slew of four- and five-star hotels have opened recently, the most notable among them being the stunning Hotel Four Seasons Gresham Palace. Other distinctive Budapest hotels include the historic Art Nouveau Hotel Gellért, the Hotel Béke Radisson, and Castle Hill's Hilton Hotel -- and they are among the city's priciest lodgings. Accommodations rates in Budapest, however, remain relatively palatable compared to the rates of other European capitals. Competition, also, has resulted in the prices for hotel rooms remaining stable in recent years.

With the addition of many new hotels and pensions (small innlike hotels) that have opened in recent years, Budapest has been playing catch-up, and as a result is not a city lacking in guest beds, as it once was. This said, in high season -- or, say, during the Formula 1 weekend in August -- it can still be quite difficult to secure a hotel or pension room or a hostel bed, so make reservations and get written confirmation well in advance of your stay.

When booking, keep in mind that if you want a room with a double bed, you should specifically request it; otherwise, you are likely to get a room with twin beds. Single rooms are generally available, as are extra beds or cots. Hungarian hotels often use the word "apartment" to describe connected rooms without a kitchen. In these listings, we have referred to such rooms as "suites," reserving the term "apartment" for accommodations with kitchen facilities.

Budget Lodgings -- Although there is an unfortunate dearth of recommendable budget hotels in Budapest, travelers can take advantage of the wealth of good alternative accommodations. Small pensions, rooms in private homes, and a number of good youth hostels make the city inviting to travelers on any budget. Remember that location plays a significant role in cost: The norm is inflated prices for centrally located accommodations. Budapest's efficient public transportation means that reaching downtown from points outside the center of the city will not be as difficult as you might expect; if you're on a budget, consider staying outside of downtown in a room removed from the din and smog (and prices) of inner Pest. Pensions in the Buda Hills are far cheaper than downtown hotel rooms, and what's more, these pensions are generally located in quiet residential neighborhoods and often have lovely gardens. We have selected what we consider to be the nicest of the many pensions in the Buda Hills. We also urge you to consider booking a room in Buda's sleepy, but centrally located, Watertown neighborhood, home to a number of recommended hotels.

Accomodations Agencies -- Most accommodations agencies can secure private room rentals in private homes, help reserve hotel and pension rooms, and book you into a youth hostel. The most established agencies are the former state-owned travel agents Ibusz , MÁV Tours (tel. 1/182-9011), and Budapest Tourist (tel. 1/117-3555). Although newer private agencies continue to bloom, the older agencies tend to have the greatest number of rooms listed. There are agencies at the airport, in all three major train stations, throughout central Pest, and along the main roads into Budapest for travelers arriving by car. You can also reserve online through many of the agencies listed below.

The main Ibusz reservations office is at Ferenciek tere 10 (tel. 36/1-485-2700; fax 1/318-2805; www.ibusz.hu), accessible by the Blue metro line. This office is open year-round Monday through Friday 9am to 6pm.

Seasons -- Most hotels and pensions in Budapest divide the year into three seasons. High season is roughly from March or April through September or October. (The weekend of the Grand Prix, which is the second weekend in Aug, is especially tight.) The week between Christmas and New Year's, Easter week, and the period of the Budapest Spring Festival (mid- to late Mar) are also considered high season. The months of March (excepting the Budapest Spring Festival in mid- to late Mar) and October and/or November are usually considered midseason. Low season is roughly November through February, except Christmas week. Some hotels discount as much as 30% in low season, while others offer no winter discounts -- be sure to inquire.

Price Categories -- Most hotels and pensions in Budapest list their prices in euros. Listing rates in euros is not just intended as a means of transition to the E.U. currency (Hungary is expected to adopt the euro sometime after 2010), it is also a hedge against forint inflation (though the forint has been surprisingly strong over the past few years). All hotels in Budapest accept payment in Hungarian forints as well as in foreign currencies. Where prices are quoted in euros, we provide a dollar conversion. The exchange rate as this guide goes to press is 1€ equals US$1.20. Exchange rates fluctuate over time, of course, so the price of a room in dollars will change as the euro-to-dollar exchange rate changes.

All hotels are required to charge a 12% value-added tax (VAT). Most build the tax into their rates, while a few tack it on top of their rates. When booking a room, ask whether the VAT is included in the quoted price. Unless otherwise indicated, prices in this guide include the VAT.

Hotels in Hungary are rated by the international five-star system. In our view, however, the ratings are somewhat arbitrary and are not included in our entries for that reason. However, we have included our own star ratings throughout the guide.

Note: We have found that the websites of hotels are frequently inaccurate with respect to rates, so make sure to call the hotel to confirm.