Starlight Suiten Hotel

Built in the year 2000, the Starlight Suiten Hotel is bright and clean. Public spaces have a chain-hotel look, but it's not unpleasant. The lobby, with royal blue chairs, wooden furniture, and a small reception desk, has more of an office vibe versus a homey one, as does the breakfast room, with a blue-and-yellow color scheme, although modern artwork livens up the walls. The property attracts mainly tourists -- many are return guests -- but business guests get several perks -- even a Meeting Apartment -- and frequent it too.

The Starlight Suiten's location is ideal for sightseeing. It’s centrally located but on a quiet, one-way side street. It’s within a five-minute walk to the banks of the Danube River, and there are plenty of sights nearby, including St. Stephen's Basilica and the iconic Szechenyi Chain Bridge, both under 10 minutes away on foot. Several restaurants are also close; there's an excellent Indian restaurant next door to the hotel. The famous shopping street Vaci Utca is a five-minute walk away. Over the river is Buda Castle -- within a 15-minute walk. Vorosmarty Ter metro station is within a five-minute walk.

The blue and yellow color scheme continues into the suites and apartments, which are clean, airy, and bright with separate bathrooms, tiny kitchenettes, and living areas. But the decor is a touch dated and some of the rooms feel spartan, lacking warmth and wall art. Rooms are large, with big windows overlooking the quiet street. The kitchenettes have marble countertops, mini-fridges, microwaves, crockery, cutlery, and free tea and coffee. The Meeting Apartment has a conference table that can sit six. All rooms have flat-screen TVs with satellite channels, free Wi-Fi, air-conditioning, and desks. White-tiled bathrooms are small; they have hairdryers, toiletries, and shower stalls or shower/tub combos. 

The hotel's biggest drawback is the lack of an on-site restaurant, but the Starlight Suiten attempts to fill the void with its bar and cafe, which are open all day for drinks and snacks. A free continental breakfast is served every morning. Business guests are well catered to here -- there’s a Meeting Apartment with a conference table that seats six, and laptops can be rented from reception with a 24-hour technical-support line available to guests. Free Wi-Fi is available throughout the property. Guests can make use of the fitness center, though its barely equipped with a single elliptical, treadmill, bike, a weight machine, and an old tube TV. Post workout, a small sauna and treatment rooms are available for massages. Secure, on-site parking is available for a fee, and airport shuttle transportation can be arranged. There’s also laundry service, and a 24-hour front desk.