CALCULATED COMPROMISES
LOCATION
Set vis-à-vis Margaret Island, the hotel greets guests on the Pešta side of Budapest. The hotel is four kilometres from the city centre and the landmarks. The best way to reach the city centre is by opting for public transport or taxis. The XIII. district of Budapest is famed as a peaceful and tranquil residential area characterised by the Danube. Almost every hotel room offers spectacular views of Margaret Island and the hills of Buda. The vicinity of Margaret Island is one of the greatest advantages for lovers of recreation and sports. Sziget, the legendary music festival, takes place there annually. The hotel’s location is thus ideal for festival-goers. Unless you wish to sleep in the city centre, in the thick of it, the hotel’s location will convince you.
ACCESSIBILITY
Guests arriving by car will find plenty of outdoor parking spots. We advise paying the parking ticket or risk paying a fine. Our recommendation is to park your car in one of the nearby parking houses. You can walk or cycle to the city centre on a picturesque path beneficial for your health, right next to the Danube. Budapest’s public transport runs like a well-oiled machine, and the tickets apply to all modes of public transport. We recommend opting for the clean metro that never seems to run late. One of the metro stations is only five minutes from the hotel, and so is a tram station. A cruise on the river is perhaps the most romantic way of navigating Budapest. From the airport to the hotel you will need around half an hour. Yet, be prudent about the prices of selecting a taxi, as they can vary massively.
COLD STARTER - Architecture and aesthetics
Four Points by Sheraton Budapest Danube is situated in a brand-new residential and business complex. The hotel occupies the south area of the complex, where the rooms overlook the mighty Danube. Its architecture boasts a typical monolithic architecture and an uncanny resemblance to similar hotels within the hotel chain. Vertical hotel balconies adorn the elegant hotel facade. Although neat, the architecture does not stand out from other surrounding buildings. What caught our eye were the various furniture pieces dividing the lobby into different areas. However, the generic furniture, including loungers and chairs, does not differ from any other Four Points by Sheraton. The retro tourist posters of Budapest adorning the hotel elsewhere are a bright exception. Still, such details are used in most similar hotels across the globe now. Thus, the architecture of the hotel appears generic and unsurprisingly conventional.
WARM ENTRÉE - The staff and the culinary experience
The staff exudes positive energy. We hope the personnel can maintain the same level of energy in the future. We must praise the receptionist, who seemed to know the hotel like the back of his hand – from the cellar to the roof. The staff at breakfast was friendly and welcoming, too. Although breakfast was solid, it did not amaze us in any way. In line with the expectations, the breakfast included generic store-bought juices and a relatively poor choice of fruit and vegetables. The hotel appears well-maintained, barring the occasional errors in design. We believe the management will correct those mistakes in the off-season. In all honesty, the hotel delivers on the brand’s promise and will satisfy guests.
MAIN COURSE – The meetings offering at the hotel
Hotel rooms
When booking a room, try to select one overlooking the Danube, which boasts a smaller balcony. Such rooms are more spacious and, most importantly, pamper guests with beautiful riverside views. The rooms facing the atrium are much less spacious, perhaps even dim. We appreciated the stylish tourist poster and the quality bedframe. The work desk was much less impressive. Guests have to open it themselves, only to find little room for work. Despite this, the flooring and great bed ensure a quality stay. The furniture in the room is inspired by industrial design, an omnipresent fad in the hotel industry. In line with our expectations, the bathroom was classic and featured elegant beige tiles that matched beautifully with the industrial design of the bathroom set. We were bothered by the light from the sprinkler system at night and the light emitted by the air conditioning system.
The bed is among the best in the hotel chain, and the furniture in dark wooden hues is not the average IKEA haul. Like similar hotels in the region, though, the room lacks creative solutions, such as outlandish lights or cosy loungers. We felt as if the room lacked character, despite its attempts at standing out from similar hotels with the honeycomb pattern adorning the wall across the TV or the stylish Budapest posters on the hotel corridors.
Meetings centre
The hotel offers two rooms for organising events. The centrepiece is an elegant boutique conference hall fitted with modern equipment. It can accommodate up to 50 attendees. Alternatively, the rooftop bar can be reserved for meetings. Events for up to forty guests can take place there.
DESSERT – The extras
All hikers and runners will appreciate the location. We suggest the hotel management create an app or interactive map with running programs and routes around the hotel.
FLOP – NEGATIVE SURPRISES
There is no space for a proper work desk because the rooms are cramped. Instead, the rooms have an extendable one. Although user-friendly, we suspect the hinges will become shabby soon.
TOP – POSITIVE SURPRISES
We hope the enthusiastic staff stays positive in the future, giving guests the same experience.
SUSTAINABLE ACTIVITIES
Apart from standard measures, such as soap dispensers and eco-friendly shampoo, the hotel does not advocate any sustainable initiative.
FINAL IMPRESSION AND CREDIBILITY
The new four-star DoubleTree by Hilton Budapest showcases the brand’s aim to marry simple elegance and classic Marriott design. How well they succeeded is another matter altogether. The architecture, first and foremost, is perhaps too generic and less in-your-face, as other hotels from the same brand. We did appreciate the interior, though. The pleasant ambience and neat design subtly ooze the feeling that the hotel is well-made. The hotel is not boastful; instead, it is a typical four-star hotel where business guests will feel at home. Despite some drawbacks, the hotel’s affordable price makes it a convincing choice. At the moment, a hotel at a similar price in Budapest, where you will feel as welcome as here, is hard to come across.
FINAL GRADE: 4.79 SILVER City Meeting Hotel
GOLD final score from 4.81 to 5.00
SILVER final score from 4.61 to 4.80
BRONZE final score from 4.41 to 4.60
