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In the bedrooms the picture positioning provides the balance between the strong, if somewhat stark black white and red colour scheme and the monochromatic art work, the whole also enhanced by the gentle grey of curtain fabrics and leather upholsteries.
Lighting is strong and in the suites is occasionally installed on top of the wardrobes where it provides a strong accent as well as lifting the lighting levels in rooms that are occasionally very tall in the older buildings. The lighting in the bedrooms is a mix of general lighting with table and floor lamps and bedhead lights, all together providing a sensible overall level with pools of light giving richness to the spaces.
Room plans are not easy in the old building but are well handled, whilst in the new building a window in the lift lobby provides an unexpected viewpoint to see the castle on the hill behind the hotel. Rooms on the front of the hotel enjoy views of the Danube and the Parliament, and as in London, where the same owners are building on the south bank of the Thames, this location is at odds with most hotels which are on the opposite bank. Only the Hilton, a bunker of a building defacing the castle grounds would appear to offer a similar view of the city.
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Bathrooms are generous and in the larger rooms in the old buildings provide a separate shower, but they come together more coherently in the new building, as one might expect from something custom built rather than converted.
The hotel deserves the accolades it has received in recent years. As Budapest's leading four star it is busy and bustling. With its own underground garage and easy access to tube (subway if you use the other English) and tram lines it makes access to the rest of the city straightforward, although like London and Paris Budapest is an enjoyable city to walk around.
Hungary was the leading economy in Comecon prior to 1989 (the date the 'Iron Curtain' melted) and the sophistication of Budapest and its tourist market are helping to maintain this position today. World tourism has grown in 2004 by 13% and this growth rate promises to continue to keep the hotel busy for many years to come.
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