Le Meridien has a vrey good location. Located on the Fashion street, it is three minutes walk to Varci Street, one of Budapest's main shopping street, and five minutes to Andrassy Street, Budapest's high end fashion street. Subway station is just at the front foor, though it is not suggested tourists to use the subway. Currency exchange is just around the corner, and the rate for Forint is better than in a bank.

The lobby is relatively small, especially comparing to Kempinski Hotel located just next door. Reception staff is very fine. Concierge staff is very good and very helpful. The only restaurant, Le Bourbon, is located a few steps away from the main door. Nicely decorated and have a very high ceiling, the restaurant gives you a very pleasant feeling.

The room also has a relatively high ceiling. The room provides a flat screen TV, a writing desk, a sofa, bed, mini bar, electric kettle, in-room safe, Wi-Fi, but I found the closet relatively small, for a suite. There is a chandelier in the room so making it rather classy. Plus other lightings, the room is illuminated enough. Bath room has the biggest problem, the shower has a serious leak of water. After fixing by the hotel, water leaks at other points from the shower. The housekeeping always forgot to replenish one towel or antoher. Room tempereautre is adjustable by the thermalstat, which is a very good feature to suit different guests' need.

Breakfast has a reasonably wide selection of hot and cold dishes. Even Champagne is served during breakfast.

My worst experience with the hotel is the Le Bourbon restaurant. One evening I and some friends paid a visit to the restaurant. We ordered some seafood platters which the hotel said is freshly flown in from France. When the captain came to ask us how was the food, we gave a very frank comment that the mussels and some of the oysters was not good. Then the captain kept saying that the seafood was fresh, it was sent in from France every week...... but he would not listen to our comment. He simply kept saying his own version. If he can not accept the fact that some of the seafood is not good, why bother coming to ask us for comment ? As a matter of fact, I just stayed in Paris for a few days before coming to Budapest, so of course I know how a French seafood platter should taste. I am not arguing the seafood was from France, but even seafood from France does not necessarily mean they can not be bad.

Beware that seafood on a seafood platter served in a French restaurant in France does not mean all the seafood are originally caught or farmed in France. I once told by an owner of a French resaturant in Paris that quite many of the seafood are imported. So whether the seafood was from France was not important, what served to the customers was, and the service. On the other hand, other staff at the restaurant was very good.

One thing interesting though is that a bottle of water charged in the restaurant is even more expensive than a bowl of onion soup !

Overall the hotel is a fine one.

We just spent a weekend in Budapest at the Le Meridien Hotel which is located in the inner city from where you can walk to all shopping and sightseeing locations (Vaci ut, Castle area, ) and leave your car in the garage. The hotel is providing real well equipped 5* rooms including a very comfortable King size bed, separate bath & shower and also necessary communication infrastructure including large flat-screen TV and free-of-charge internet. I also like to mention the helpful and friendly staff at the reception and concierge desk . We really enjoyed this hotel and have already booked again for our next visit in Budapest
Dietmar

I have to say I found this hotel very good. The whole experience from the moment you arrive was very good. The grand appearence of the reception area coupled with the layout of the hotel I found very good and classy. The staff at reception were polite and helpfull. The rooms were very well laid out with all the modern comforts and free internet connection. Tea and coffee plus well stocked fridge. The en-suite was excellent you would struggle to find better. Water pressure was excellent complimented with the free issue soaps etc. The linen was first class clean and fresh as was the bedding. The bed was comfortable and I slept well during my whole stay. The location was good close to town centre where you could experience good quisine of all varieties. The bar stayed open until you left. The room service was excellent if you wanted it however there is a premium cost to it. I would stay here again. Cost 130 euro's a night corporate rate!

I've been to Le Meridien Budapest at the end of January 2012 for a couple of days.
The hotel is located in the middle of downtown and it guarantees an easy access to all the attractions. The hotel is in a typical "Le Meridien" style. Classic environment, very luxury but never kitsch!
My room was at 4th floor looking at the pedestrian area. The room was big, a big king size bed, a large desk, flat tv. The bathroom was big with shower and bath too, fully equipped.
The restaurant: i've tried it only for the breakfast: continental style; excellent!
The staff always helpful but never invasive.
I had also the opportunity to try the spa. Spa is located at the 8th floor. There is a large gym with Tecnogym machine, massage area, sauna, swimming pool and a fantastic hydro massage with water temperature around 36 degrees: excellent.
I suggest this hotel mainly for business people. For sure i'll be back again!!