Checking In: Budapest hotel news and deals – July 2018

Continental Hotel Budapest completes first phase of thorough renovations

Since opening in 2010 as a full-service city-centre hotel within a statuesque Art Nouveau structure that once housed a thermal spa, the Continental Hotel Budapest has continually flourished with high room-occupancy rates, bringing about the need for thorough renovations across this deluxe District VII property. In June, the Continental management announced that the first phase of an extensive renewal plan is now complete, as 100 guest rooms were refurbished with a fresh earth-toned design, new bedding featuring Hungarian goose-down pillows, and modernised workstations. The renovation efforts will continue with all other guest rooms receiving similar improvements, while the lobby is already refreshed with sleek new Italian furniture inlaid with Sicis mosaics, and the hotel’s popular ARAZ Restaurant will be equipped with a state-of-the-art kitchen. Log onto the Continental Hotel Budapest website for additional details.

Corinthia Hotel Budapest presents pop-up Sky Lounge rooftop bar

Hang out on a hidden rooftop terrace of Budapest’s historic Corinthia Hotel building, where the pop-up Sky Lounge now welcomes everyone to watch World Cup games and other sports screenings through early September. Set before a sprawling panorama over Pest’s urban skyline, this sophisticated summertime playground is centred by an enclosed igloo bar styled like a giant soccer ball, while open-air sofas provide comfy vantage points for multiple screens showing every World Cup match. In addition to a selection of special cocktails, bar guests can enjoy grilled steaks, burgers and salads, while the daily all-you-can-eat lunch offer between noon and 3pm includes a drink on weekdays (5,500 HUF + 12% service charge) and unlimited drinks – including wine and beer – at weekends (8,500 HUF + 12% service charge); check out the Corinthia website for more info.

Budapest’s Four Seasons Hotel offers upscale sailing excursions on Lake Balaton

Guests at the Four Seasons Hotel Gresham Palace Budapest can indulge in an extraordinary day trip this summer: travelling by limousine from the hotel’s landmark Art Nouveau building on the Danube riverfront to beautiful Lake Balaton for a deluxe shoreside picnic before setting sail on the Hungarian Sea aboard a brand-new yacht. This five-star getaway provides an ideal introduction to the charms of Central Europe’s largest lake (covered extensively in English by our sister website, WeLoveBalaton.hu), with the voyage on a sleek Bavaria 33 sailboat featuring sweeping views over Tihany Peninsula and lakefront villages spread before vineyard-grooved hills. The Four Seasons kitchen caters the optional alfresco lunch, and Kreinbacher sparkling wine flows throughout the excursion. The cost? 1,600 euros and up. To learn more, see the Four Seasons Budapest website.

Buddha-Bar Hotel hosts exclusive Hungarian Grand Prix after-party

Mix and mingle with international motor-sports masters when the Buddha-Bar Hotel Budapest Klotild Palace once again hosts the city’s premier after-party following the Hungarian Grand Prix, a major event of the global Formula 1 racing circuit. After the big winner’s champagne shower at Hungaroring racetrack on Sunday, July 29th, prominent F1 drivers head to Buddha-Bar’s sixth-annual celebration full of melodic beats and sophisticated surprises. The public can join this high-octane happening – ticket prices begin at 120 euros (including unlimited drinks and access to the dance floor), while anyone with 10,000 euros can book a VVIP table featuring a private hostess and waiter, gourmet dishes and six bottles of Dom Pérignon, among other perks. Visit the Buddha-Bar Hotel website to reserve tickets.

CNN highlights notable Budapest hotels that occupy historic buildings

In early June, CNN.com posted an article about Budapest’s diverse selection of hotels occupying refurbished historic buildings, featuring architecturally notable accommodation in varied price ranges. Travel writer Carolyn Bánfalvi highlighted the Aria Hotel Budapest – located in a once-crumbling downtown edifice completely modernised with musical themes in every room – among the luxury options, along with the Castle District’s stylish Baltazár boutique hotel in the mid-range category (praising the “vintage furniture and fun touches” in each of the 11 individually designed rooms), while the budget section includes the Hotel Palazzo Zichy, which indeed offers excellent value for staying in the grand 19th-century urban palace once occupied by Count Nándor Zichy. To read the entire CNN article, click here.

The Wall Street Journal showcases unique lodgings in Budapest district guide

The Wall Street Journal published a well-researched Budapest travelogue in late June, presenting attractions of the Magyar metropolis in a district-by-district guide that includes high-end hotel recommendations citywide. Journalist J.S. Marcus suggests the Hilton Budapest – located directly beside Matthias Church and Fishermen’s Bastion – for visitors enamoured with the centuries-old sights of Buda’s Castle District, while the architecturally striking New York Palace is advised for visitors staying in District VII (described as “Brooklyn-on-the-Danube”). The article also highlights District XII’s palatial Writer’s Villa, a grand 19th-century mansion surrounded by lush greenery and appointed with contemporary flair by the team behind Brody House. To view the complete Wall Street Journal guide, click here.

Enjoy bucolic Buda with the Petneházy Club Hotel’s Family Splash package

Stay in a rustic countryside chalet within Budapest’s borders by visiting the Petneházy Club Hotel, a charming resort tucked amid the forested Buda Hills. This summer, this quaint lodge is enticing parents with its Family Splash package, welcoming two adults and two children to stay in one of the property’s wooden cottages (each featuring its own kitchen, living room, terrace and sauna) while enjoying full usage of the hotel’s spa area and outdoor pool. The package includes other active attractions such as tennis-court access and a local map for nearby hiking trails, along with sweets for the kids. The Family Splash package is available through August 17th for 110 euros per night for a minimum of two nights; check the Petneházy Club Hotel website for more details.