I stayed at Botel Lisa for six nights in July 09. It is easy enough to get to places of interest (Vaci Utca, Chain bridge, Fisherman’s Bastion) by taking a bus and either one or two streetcars which run frequently enough. Having said that, it still takes approximately one hour which makes for a tiring day, given that if one is taking public transport, it makes it difficult to go back to the hotel to unwind for a couple of hours in the afternoon and then go back out again. I booked this hotel because it was within my budget; however I discovered that there are a few places in the centre that are suitable for those on a budget. As one reviewer mentioned, the food served in the restaurant for dinner is good. As well, sitting on the deck with a drink is a lovely way to unwind after walking around all day. Two things that drove me a bit crazy while I was there: 1) the windows in my room couldn’t open and people smoked in their rooms which vented into my room and 2) the sound is terrible – anyone walking by or walking overhead sounded like a herd of elephants! One other small thing is that the towels were thin and frayed to within an inch of their lives!! Though it had many shabby elements, I have to say that there were no issues with the cleanliness of the hotel. As a solo female traveller, I felt relatively safe here; however I always made sure to come home before it got dark as I didn’t trust the area around the hotel to be safe after dark. The only reason I didn’t change hotels while I was there was because I had paid up front for this hotel and didn’t want to lose the money. Overall, I’m glad I experienced it but I wouldn’t stay here again.
- Botel Hotel Budapest
