Budapest Budget Hostel

I was lucky to have neighbors from Pakistan and Bangladesh. Still, after five months at B.B. Hostel as an exchange student, I came away feeling the administration was inflexible and indifferent to student needs. They offered discounts for positive reviews, and some favorable reviews look like they may have been written by staff, which is easy to check. The district felt safe, with little shops and cafés nearby. It was a convenient location, around a 7-10 minute walk to Corvin Shopping Mall and a 7-minute tram ride to Lurdy Ház. I was allowed to check in an hour early, and staff were generally polite and replied to emails, though sometimes I never got a clear explanation. The hostel calls itself student-friendly, but the rules made it uncomfortable. There were cameras everywhere, and even small issues could bring fines. My neighbor was fined just for reporting a broken microwave. I was charged 5,000 forints for “the shortfall to maintain accurate bookkeeping,” although I had paid the full amount in euro as written in the rental agreement. I also had no privacy. Twice, strangers were brought into my room to show it to a “potential tenant.” I objected because my belongings were there, but they ignored me. The administration seemed not to care whether I was asleep; they would show the room anyway because they needed to sell it. The building was old, and appliances were banned except for a computer and phone. Drafts came through the wooden window frames, leaving my room cold, and I had to fix that myself, as hotel workers told me on arrival. Bathroom water pressure dropped whenever a neighbor used water. A lamp cover fell on me at night, and took about five days to get fixed. Visits from guests were allowed only during set hours, with no exceptions even for family, or there could be a fine. My deposit was returned in forints instead of euros, costing me about €30 in conversion.

Living there felt like being in a school dorm. They seem to target new students who don't know much about staying in Budapest, and they often don't return deposits when people move out, coming up with weak excuses. I was affected, along with many of my friends. I have enough proof if anyone wants to check.

Don't book here. Once I'd booked a room for 120 euros, they demanded a 200-euro deposit, twice the room cost, to be sent to a strange bank account within 24 hours or they'd cancel the booking. It felt like blackmail. This wasn't shown anywhere before booking, which I believe is illegal. I wouldn't trust a place like this.

The landlord and workers were extremely rude. The receptionist said he had a meeting when we wanted to talk, then kicked us out of the room and came back into it a few minutes later in front of us. It was embarrassing and ridiculous. When we left, they wouldn't inspect the room and kept our deposit. We were two students who needed that money for food. There are plenty of better places for less, so don't go here. I lived there for four and a half months, and this was the worst place I'd stayed in Budapest. The rent was already far too high, then the landlord raised it by 20% without warning and without evidence that gas prices had risen. The place wasn't heated well. Using their expensive washing machines and dryer cost a fortune, and they barely worked, even though they wanted us to pay over 80K for utilities, which realistically should include washing. The parking lot had potholes, and they wouldn't open the door beside the building to make moving in and out easier. In response to their reply, we aren't the only ones. We spoke with at least four tenants who were all leaving. We left the room in good condition and still have the inventory list showing we returned it as received. We didn't break the contract, they did. Their helpful employees run away when someone wants to speak with them. On move-in day we arrived at noon and asked the receptionist to open the gate, but he refused during his working hours. Of course they'll defend their business publicly, so I don't expect honesty if it would hurt their reputation. Maybe the money they took from foreign students for food will help them when they lose business over unfair actions and poor service.