Bastion Hotel Budapest

The location was convenient for our six nights exploring Budapest, with a large metro station just around the corner. The hotel was fine for taking breaks and sleeping, though the photos on Google and booking sites had led us to expect more. We met five receptionists. Two were really friendly and helpful, the others were just OK. The cleaning lady was friendly too. Our room was fine, with adjustable air-conditioning that we appreciated, though I needed time to get used to the hard mattresses. A light stopped working during our stay and needed replacing. Showering also left a fair amount of water on the floor. Housekeeping was odd at times. Sometimes our towels were replaced with floor towels. One day the garbage bag was left in the bathroom, and they took our hand soap before it was fully used without leaving a replacement. Breakfast was decent, but the tables were loose and there weren’t enough for everyone at once. Some guests had to wait for a seat.

The hotel is just a minute’s walk from the subway and close to many Budapest attractions. The staff were friendly and helpful. Still, the booking-site photos gave a misleading impression, and I wouldn’t call it a four-star hotel. Our room was dark, the floor uneven, and two bulbs didn’t work. I could hear the neighbors moving around and using the toilet as if they were in my room. Breakfast was OK, though there were only a few tables for guests. The reception was just a desk almost in the same area as breakfast. The hotel was next to a construction site on a small side street.

The location was the only good thing. The pictures are deceptive, and the room was just about manageable for two nights. The beds were as hard as prison beds. There were cobwebs in the bathroom, the toilet was disgusting, the shower leaked, and the hot water stayed lukewarm. When we complained, they didn’t seem to care and blamed it on too many guests bathing at the same time. Reception was somewhat helpful, but the service was very basic. I strongly recommend not staying here.

This isn’t close to a four-star hotel, one star at most. Check the photos. The so-called king or double bed was just two singles pushed together, and they separated during the night. It had single sheets too. There’s also a photo showing where they keep the “clean” sheets. The hygiene was disgusting, absolutely 0/10. The rooms were dirty and dusty, and we had to change rooms three times because the bathrooms kept having problems: a leaking tap or shower, or a toilet that wouldn’t flush. Customer service was nonexistent, and the management was terrible. I wouldn’t stay here again even if it were free.