Is the Ibis Styles Budapest City hotel located near the city center?

Yes, the hotel is within walking distance of the city center and offers stunning views of the river.

What kind of breakfast spread can I expect at the hotel?

The hotel offers a varied and delicious breakfast spread, with something for every taste and dietary need.

Is the hotel's parking lot available for guests?

Yes, the hotel has its own parking lot, making it a major plus for those planning to rent a car.

Can I expect a quiet and peaceful stay at the hotel?

Yes, the hotel is committed to cleanliness and quiet, making it the perfect retreat for weary travelers.

Is the hotel's staff friendly and helpful?

Yes, the staff is friendly and helpful, always willing to lend a hand or offer advice.

Can I expect a hassle-free checkout process at the hotel?

While the hotel's checkout process could be a bit more streamlined, it's not a major issue.

Is the hotel's Wi-Fi reliable?

The hotel's Wi-Fi can be a bit spotty at times, but it's not a major issue.

Can I expect a good workout at the hotel's gym?

The hotel's gym is small, but it's sufficient for a quick workout.

What are the hotel's check-in and check-out times?

The hotel's check-in time is 2 PM, and the check-out time is 12 PM.

Budapest River View Adventure: A Hidden Gem in the City

Our Spontaneous Getaway to Budapest: A River View Adventure to Remember

We embarked on our first big trip together, and I'm still not used to staying in far-off hotels. Unless you count that amazing week in a kibbutz in northern Israel, which was a real experience. Since I can only compare our hotel to others by looking at photos, I know the three-star Ibis Styles Budapest City isn't exactly the epitome of luxury for those who want to unwind in comfort. Maybe someday we'll go back to Budapest and splurge on a fancy hotel like the New York one.

But for now, for crazy dogs like us who don't mind a seven-hour drive, what matters most?

Cleanliness and warmth in the roomA peaceful night's sleepA beautiful view from the window in the morning and eveningA delicious and varied breakfastAnd we got all that at the hotel we chose.

The location is super convenient: it's about 15 kilometers from the airport (we took a taxi, but if you're planning to rent a car, know that the hotel has its own parking lot). It's close to the river and the city center, and the metro is just a short walk away. We mostly walked or took a taxi if we were in a hurry, but there's also a Hop-on Hop-off bus – I'll write about that separately.

The hotel entrance has a ramp, and the reception desk is just to the right of the door. There's always someone working at the desk, and they speak multiple languages, including German, English, French, and Italian, as mentioned in the hotel description.

We communicated in English, and it was enough to understand each other and be satisfied. You can also grab a city map at the front desk - I highly recommend it. It's easy to use and really helpful.

We paid for our stay, got the keys to our room, grabbed our bags, took the elevator, dropped off our stuff, admired the view from the window, and got settled. We even charged our phones and headed out to explore the city.

Check out our room! This is the info we got about our room. The total cost for 6 nights was 637.39 €, including 5% VAT and 4% city tax.

Our room could fit up to two people and came with satellite TV and a bathroom that had either a shower or a bathtub. You can even book it with a River View or a Garden View.

We opted for the standard room for two people with a single large double bed.

The view of the Danube - we mentioned earlier that we specifically wanted a room with a view of the river. There was another option in the courtyard, and when we first came down for breakfast, we saw a very quiet and peaceful scene through the window: a residential house at a decent distance.

You can fully appreciate the view by stepping out onto the balcony. The balcony is quite narrow, and you can only fit a single chair and a pouf, which were provided in the room, but we didn't bother. It was chilly outside.

Or you can simply push back the curtains and open the door, which closes tightly and mutes the sounds from the street. In the evening, it was really cozy to sit like that with a cup of tea or a glass of wine right on the carpet, stretching out our tired legs and watching the lights on the waves of the Danube. It was breathtaking.

Surprisingly, the shared bathroom is located right inside the room - and that's another plus: we wouldn't have wanted to drag ourselves to the end of the corridor, nor would we have wanted to follow a schedule to use the communal shower.

Now that I've settled in, I've got to say that everything is pretty great. The shower has always had hot water and good pressure, and I've really enjoyed the soft water - it's been a lifesaver on those chilly winter days.

In the bathroom, I found a shower gel and hand soap with a unique fragrance that's either a blend of spices or herbs. It's definitely a nice touch, but we ended up buying our own shampoo, toothpaste, and other essentials at the corner store.

There's a hair dryer, but I haven't used it once - my hair dries out quickly in the warm air, and I just use my fingers to dry it since it's short.

The towels are always clean. As per the hotel's rules, if you want to replace them, you just leave the used ones on the floor and get fresh ones in return. And that's exactly how it works - they only replace the ones that have been used, so nothing gets washed unnecessarily. This isn't about saving money - it's about being eco-friendly!

But if you don't put a 'do not disturb' sign on the door, the lovely ladies will come in and change your bedding and tidy up while you're out. Every day.

The bedding is simple but comfortable. I read that the pillows are special, but I didn't get to experience it - it turns out there was an extra pillow in the closet that I only found later. And the blanket was nice. I slept okay, but I think it was just the heat or my own emotions getting the better of me.

Or maybe it was just the streetlight shining in my eyes - I mean, I should have closed the curtains better. I've got both thin and thick curtains to choose from, after all.

I was really impressed by how quiet the room was. We only heard a faint murmur of someone talking and laughing in another room, possibly on the floor above, once during the day, but it was very muffled.

The room had a conditioner. It was always too hot in the room, and at night, it was even a bit stifling. We didn't realize we could adjust the temperature at first and just kept opening the balcony door.

The room also came with a safe, but we never figured out how to use it. I think we got a dud - it beeped like a lost puppy and didn't respond to any inputs.

We loved the eco-friendly touch - the room keys are made of wood, and you can take them as a souvenir or leave them in the designated container at the front desk when you check out. The lobby had recycling bins for paper, plastic, and batteries. It was a nice touch.

What really bugged me was the condensation. It was weird – the toilet would start sweating a bit, leaving tiny puddles right under my feet. Not a leak, mind you! Just a thing that happens when there's a temperature difference... I'm not even sure how it works, but the puddles would pop up from time to time. Luckily, the room was super cozy, and anything I quickly wiped down would dry out by morning: t-shirts, tights, and even the socks I'd occasionally step into puddles with. We meant to tell the hotel staff, but it slipped our minds. So, be on the lookout!

The room also came with a TV and a bunch of channels – but I'm not going to go into details because we only flipped through it for kicks. We stumbled upon a Hungarian channel and listened to some Magyar speech, then found MTV and stopped there. The TV worked fine, no complaints. We didn't use the phone much, just a couple of times in the morning to wake up and a couple more when we had dinner in the room.

I'm pretty sure there's no rule against eating in your room, but I only just realized that now. Unfortunately, there was no mini-fridge or any snacks in the room. Maybe it's mentioned in the fine print somewhere. We didn't make a mess or leave a trail of crumbs, so that's gotta count for something, right?

I was worried you'd all die of thirst, but the lobby has a coffee machine. I got hooked on lattes during my break, my husband had espressos, and we made tea in the evenings - they had a selection of teas available too.

There's also a bar and a vending machine with sandwiches and nuts - I'm pretty sure it's like the 'Guest from the Future' movie, but not free. We didn't try either of those.

Next to the lift in the lobby, there's this intriguing collage.

Accor's story is one that I had to dig up myself - it's the tale of two friends, Paul Dubrule and Gérard Pelisson, who opened their first hotel, Novotel, back in 1967 when nobody in France believed in their new hospitality model. Thanks to their creativity and boldness, they pushed the boundaries of what was possible. Today, the Accor network spans over 5,100 addresses in 110 countries worldwide. The ibis team continues to reinvent tomorrow's hospitality and bring their love for guests to life.

So, these guys are essentially the co-founders of the global hotel chain - they've got a range of hotels with varying levels of comfort, from Luxury to Economy. Our ibis is the 'economy' option, and there are a few of those: just ibis, ibis budget, and ibis Styles.

I'm still not entirely sure how the theme of lemons and bicycles ties in, but I guess it's either 'no sour taste when cycling sustainably' or 'vitamin C and wheels are the best travel buddies' - either way, it's a bit of a mystery to me.

I couldn't find this info anywhere, but these two chaps have definitely made their mark on the hotel's design, from the rooms to the corridors to the dining area...

The Elevator. You can just hop in and go, but to access the floors, you need to use the electronic key card. Swipe your card, and you're good to go.

Time to Eat! Breakfast is included in the price.

I've got to give props to the Ibis Styles hotel for serving up some great meals. They're simple, but delicious. And I love the proactive sign they have up – it's all about reducing food waste, just like I mentioned earlier.

Let's reduce food waste together!

Make food, not waste!

Take what you can eat, and eat what you take!

I've got to say, the hotel's 'Make food, not waste' motto really resonated with me. It's not just some poster on the wall, it's a non-profit organization and movement that's all about reducing food waste. I'm all about that!

I've always been amazed at how much good food ends up in the trash just because of silly rules or impulsive purchases. When I used to work as a waitress, I'd see customers ordering way too much and then leaving it uneaten. And even in our school cafeteria, I'd see plates with barely touched food being thrown away. It's like, you've already paid for it, but still... My grandma always taught me that wasting food is a sin. All those people who worked hard to make something like a sandwich or a bread roll, and then just tossing it in the trash? It's just not right.

I think it's great that the hotel is taking a stand against food waste.

So, what did they serve for breakfast?

The bread was to everyone's taste, and you could toast it or just warm it up. It looked like you could even make toasties.

Cereals, oats, milk.

Fats, veggies, pickles...

I was spoiled for choice with the cold cuts and cheese, yogurt, and salads.

The two heated containers for hot meals were a game-changer - I was switching them out every couple of days.

Omelets and frittatas, meatballs and sausages, spaghetti with greens and casseroles - I'm not even going to try to list everything.

The fresh fruit and condiments in jars - ketchup, mayonnaise, and mustard - were a nice touch, but the mustard was a particular favorite of mine.

There's even a vending machine for juice and coffee right next to the jam.

I was really impressed with the breakfast-to-go service. If you're checking out before 6 am, just let the front desk know and they'll pack you a breakfast bag with a sandwich, some fruit, and a juice box. It was super handy, thanks!

We only stayed for 5 days and 6 nights, but we packed in a lot of activities and exploration outside the hotel. So, we mostly appreciated the peace and quiet, the hospitality, and the cozy atmosphere from sunset to dawn. And we left feeling more than satisfied. The room with a view of the Danube was a great choice, if I do say so myself!

But what if you change your mind?

Canceling your booking. You can cancel your booking for free up until 00:00 on the day of arrival. If you cancel after 00:00 on the day of arrival, you'll be charged a cancellation fee equal to the first night's stay. In case you don't show up, the no-show fee will be the same as the cancellation fee. The cancellation fee is €0 before the expected date of arrival and €147 from the scheduled date.

Honestly, if you don't have super high expectations for living arrangements during short breaks, you might end up loving the Ibis hotel just as much as we do.