Our top hotel finds include:
Hotel Nemzeti, Jozsef Konul 4 on the Pest side of the river: Located in an area with many shops and restaurants and across from a tram line and metro stop, this is a great place to stay when in town. The rooms are reasonably priced yet contemporary and attractive. The staff was very helpful. They also have a very nice buffet breakfast downstairs in the restaurant.
Corinthia Hotel: This is a beautiful neo-classical Hungarian hotel that might have inspired Wes Anderson to write his Academy Award winning film, The Grand Budapest Hotel. The former Grand Hotel Royal was beautifully renovated in 2002 and they welcomed Anderson with a behind-the-scenes tour that might have inspired the film. They have a lovely cafe serving wonderful chocolates and desserts. Erzsebet Korut 43-49.
Four Seasons Gresham Palace: For the best luxury in Budapest, this is a stunning property, along the Danube, with wonderful views of the Buda Castle. The former palace from 1906 has been beautifully restored. Szechenyi Istvan ter 5-6.
Brody House: This 10 room hotel is getting great press as a hip, boutique spot to stay on the Pest side of the river. Brody Sandor Utca 10.
Also getting some good press is the five star Boscolo Budapest Hotel, formerly the New York Palace. It is an Autograph Collection hotel. It looks like a lovely property after eating at their New York Cafe restaurant, for dinner, on my last night in town. Erzsebeth Korut 9-11.
The NY Times also likes the colorful, new Aria Hotel which opened March 2015. The pictures look wonderful and it has a rooftop bar. It is also in a great location at Hercegprimas Utca 5.