Hotel President Budapest

The Hotel President's entrance is refined and elegant. White columns lead into a hallway with patterned marble flooring, more columns, and decorative skylights, with plenty of potted plants and seating areas near the wooden reception desk. Light floods the space from a large atrium. The Wellness Center and the breakfast room are in the basement, and as a result somewhat gloomy. The hotel attracts lots of tourists, but many of its guests are here on business or VIPs.

The Hotel President is located on the Pest side of the Danube River -- a peaceful and convenient area for visiting many of Budapest's sights. The pretty gardens of Szabadsag Ter are across the street, while the river, Hungarian Parliament Building, Museum of Ethnography, and the grand St. Stephen's Basilica are all within a 10-minute walk. The stunning 19th-century Duna Palota palace is also less than 10 minutes away on foot, as are a wide variety of restaurants, ranging from Hungarian cuisine to Italian to Tex-Mex. There are two metro stations nearby too -- Arany Janos Utca is a three minute walk, and Kossuth Lajos Ter is eight minutes away on foot.

Most of the 75 air-conditioned guest rooms at the President have a brown and cream decor, with bright accent colors such as orange or teal. Single and Double Twin Avenue rooms have Art Deco-style furnishings and balconies, and artwork portraying the city's famous sights. Rooms are generally quiet, given the property's peaceful location, and many offer pleasant views over the street or garden. All rooms come with free Wi-Fi, laptop compatible safes, minibars, and flat-screen TVs. Beige-tiled bathrooms have towel warmers and large walk-in showers or shower/tub combos, and come with basic toiletries. Junior and Standard Suites are bigger and bolder in design, and have separate bedrooms and living areas. The 1,500-square-foot Presidential Suite -- designed in shades of gun-metal gray -- has two bathrooms, a hot tub, meeting rooms, a kitchen, four TV screens, and a Bose sound system. 

The hotel has a smart Wellness Center, which is open to the public and includes an indoor swimming pool, a hot tub, saunas, a fitness center with workout equipment, and waterproof screens so guests can watch TV from loungers after a swim in the pool. Yoga classes and massages are also available but access requires a fee. Breakfast is not included in the room rate either, the buffet choice is limited -- guests can likely find better value at one of the many nearby cafes. The hotel's Michelin-star restaurant is open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, serving elegant dishes like smoked salmon and beef carpaccio -- it's Hungarian cuisine with an international twist. During the summer, diners can eat on the hotel’s rooftop, which offers panoramic views of the city. The Presidential Suite that meets NATO security standards. Free Wi-Fi is available throughout the hotel, which has conference facilities for up to 200 people. Parking and an airport shuttle are available for an extra charge.