Accommodation - The Rough Guide to Budapest - page 217

Prices Accommodation rates are usually quoted in euros; where prices are given in forints,
we have followed suit, but note that you can always pay in forints. Rates given in our reviews
reflect the typical cost of a double or twin room in high season. That said, rates fluctuate
wildly according to both season and demand, and you can find some terrific deals, particu-
larly in some of the top-end hotels - indeed, book early enough and out of season, and you'll
often find prices much lower than the ones given here. The cheapest rooms in a three-star
hotel or pension go for between €50-70, while you'll typically pay upwards of €100-120 for
a room in a four-star or design hotel. Beyond this, in many of the five-star establishments,
you're often entering the realms of the stratospheric. Hostel dorm beds vary between €10 and
€15, with a double room (with shared facilities) going for around €35-40, while a private
double room in a hostel costs about €45. Note that some hotels do not include twenty percent
VAT ( Áfa ) and three percent tourist tax in quoted prices, so check before you commit your-
self.
Internet Nearly all the hotels listed here have internet access, and the majority of these have
wi-fi. Access is usually free, although a handful of places still charge. In any case, it's always
best to check first.
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HOTELS AND PENSIONS
The greatest choice of accommodation, particularly hotels and hostels, is in Pest , which is
where you'll also find the greatest concentration of restaurants and bars - though you will
have to contend with more traffic noise. The grand hotels that lined the riverbank were all
destroyed during World War II, and while their replacements - such as the Marriott and In-
terContinental - offer fantastic views, they don't have quite the same elegance. Going in the
other direction, there are plenty of hotels along and beyond the Nagykörút (the larger ring
road) and up towards City Park. Across the water, Buda offers more restful possibilities, es-
pecially within the Castle District where there are several first-rate hotels, with more along
the riverfront. It's on this side of the river, too, that you'll find Budapest's most appealing
pensions, notably up in the Buda Hills , which is within easy reach of Széll Kálmán tér. In
this city of baths, it's no surprise that several of the big hotels offer spapackages : the Gellért
and the Danubius (on Margít-sziget) hotels were built next to springs, while several other
five-star hotels in the centre have luxury spa complexes.