Near the metro, and walking distance from many attractions
Some of the cheapest rates in the city
Simple, private rooms with clean, modern design
24-hour business corner
Luggage storage
Tiny rooms lack furniture (aside from beds), mini-fridges, or coffeemakers
No restaurant, bar, or breakfast
Fees for TV, Wi-Fi, hairdryer, iron, and ironing board
Full room cleaning is extra
Fee for self-parking
Budget travelers looking for a clean bed and a private bathroom near attractions in central Budapest will find them at the easyHotel Budapest Oktogon, but the two-pearl hotel -- based on the same concept as the budget easyJet airline -- offers little else. A concept hotel chain designed around bare-bones rooms and rock-bottom prices, the easyHotel charges guests for amenities on an à la carte basis. Everything from hairdryers to watching TV costs extra. The 59 secure, clean rooms may be a pleasant alternative for those avoiding communal rooms and shared baths at hostels, but you can find more amenities and even some private rooms at the nearby Aventura Boutique Hostel.
Scene
Functional budget hotel bathed in orange and cream
Owned by the European budget airline easyJet, this Budapest outpost of the easyHotel chain is decorated in a minimalist style similar to the airline, with simple white spaces enlivened by orange accents. The lobby is the hotel's most attractive space; its plain white walls are given a touch of character by original woodwork and spiraled columns. A pair of potted plants in orange pots sit beside the value chain's big orange sign. There are no other real common areas. Guests are primarily tourists on a budget.
Location
In the Terezvaros neighborhood, near Oktogon station
The easyHotel Budapest Oktogon is located on a narrow little street with some traffic, situated near the Oktogon and Vörösmarty Street metro stations, both a five-minute walk away. There are lots of restaurants along the nearby main streets, and many of Budapest’s top sights are nearby -- Kossuth Lajos Square, the Museum of Ethnography, and the Parliament building are just under a 20-minute walk from the hotel. For shopping, the large WestEnd City Center mall is about 15 minutes away on foot. The gardens of Szabadsag Ter are also within walking distance. Budapest Airport is a 30-minute drive, or about 55 minutes via public transportation.
Rooms
Tiny and basic rooms with no furniture or extras
Rooms at the easyHotel Budapest Oktogon have a compact and functional use of space reminiscent of the airline's design. Each of these tiny rooms has a double bed, with a small window and orange-on-orange decor, which may prove to be too much for some guests. A small bedside shelf provides a space for belongings near the outlets, and there's a wall-mounted reading light, but the rooms lack any additional furniture. Larger wheelchair-accessible rooms are available, but even these are on the small side. Every amenity costs extra, from the flat-screen TVs to hairdryers, which must be checked out at the front desk. The bathrooms define compact design; they're essentially a walk-in shower with a toilet and sink jammed into one corner.
Features
Business corner, luggage storage; everything for an additional fee
Like everything else at an easyHotel, the features are basic, and they all cost extra. The front desk provides luggage storage, which may be essential for some guests, given the tiny rooms' lack of floor space. There's a business corner with several computers that can be used by the hour, but they're the same price as the Wi-Fi.