Page 185 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Budapest

WHERE T O ST A Y  183

making international telephone
calls from your room.
Most hotels have their own
car parks. Some, such as the
Sofitel Budapest Chain Bridge
(see p188) or the Victoria Hotel
(see p186), offer off-street or
garage parking, for which a
modest fee may be charged.

How to Book
The Budapest tourist season
starts in the middle of June and
lasts until the end of September.
Opulent guest room at the Buddha-Bar Hotel Budapest Klotild Palace (see p187) During this period, but part-
icularly around New Year
Hotel Prices
Prices in Budapest’s hotels and and the Formula 1 Hungarian
Room tariffs reflect the hotel pensions are usually quoted in Grand Prix weekend (see p63),
classification, though with online euros, but you can pay in forints. hotels can be booked months
booking now prevalent, there in advance. Otherwise, it is
are some great deals to be had if Hidden Extras advisable to book at least two
you book far enough in advance, weeks ahead. Nearly all hotels
even amongst the luxury hotels. Both VAT and resort tax are accept bookings made via
Generally speaking, however, included in the price of the online booking systems.
a centrally located, higher room (resort tax is charged It is possible to find
category hotel will be much because Budapest is classed as accommodation without
more expensive than in an out- a health resort), but there are booking in advance, but rooms
of-town, lower category hotel. often hidden surcharges that may be harder to come by,
Relatively cheap rooms can be can greatly increase the overall especially in high season.
found in pensions, and even cost of a stay. Avoid, for Bookings can be made in the
cheaper ones in hostels, many of example, hotel currency tourist offices at the airport or
which now offer double rooms. exchange desks, which offer at any of the Tourist Information
Hotel prices usually include a poor rate of exchange, and offices located in the city centre.
breakfast, which in hotels with
three stars or more typically
means a self-service buffet.
Pensions also offer good value
meals. Hostels may charge extra
for breakfast.
Many luxury hotels offer
substantial weekend reductions
in the low season (mid-
September to mid-March).
During this period a three-night
stay would cost the same as a
two-night stay during the high
season. Guests can also stay an
extra night free of charge.
In spa hotels, such as the
Danubius Hotel Gellért (see
p187), which offer hydrotherapy,
the fee for using the pools and
sauna is included in the room
price. However, any treatments,
such as massage, will incur an
extra charge. Check these details
with the hotel in advance.
Note that prices are often
ramped up massively over the
Christmas and New Year period,
as well as around the time of
the Formula 1 Hungarian Grand
Prix and the Sziget Festival. Stained-glass window in the Danubius Hotel Gellért (see p187)

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