Vagabond Grand'Or

For the price we paid, this was easily the best stay I’ve had. We booked a few weeks ahead and got an incredible deal. It felt like a proper one-bedroom flat, with a separate bedroom, hallway wardrobe, bathroom with bathtub and washing machine, separate WC, fully equipped kitchen, dining area, roomy living room with sofa, and even a balcony with a table. Everything was modern, spotless, nicely furnished, and smelled fresh. There was a TV with Netflix, dishwasher, oven, microwave, and pretty much everything you need. They’d even left laundry and dishwasher capsules. Check-in and check-out were both clear and easy.

The location was good and the rooms were clean, but the temperature and humidity inside were uncomfortable. It was 24-25°C with 15-20% humidity. We turned the heating all the way off as soon as we arrived and opened the windows, but it stayed on and never reached the temperature we set. With conditions like that, we woke up coughing each day, and it got worse over time. There’s no luggage locker, and you have to leave before 10 a.m.

We had two rooms for me, my husband, and my mum and dad, and we all thought the place was great. Having a washing machine was especially useful in the snowy weather. Getting in was straightforward, and the location was perfect for wandering around this lively area.

The heating was the biggest problem. The apartment was at 20°C when we arrived, and setting the thermostat to its 24°C limit made no difference during our three days there. When I raised it, the staff insisted the heating worked and said 20°C was normal in Budapest, while also telling me sleeping at a higher temperature was unhealthy. I kept asking for 24°C, but they acted as though I wanted 30°C. I hope nobody has to deal with that while traveling with a child. We also found the place poorly cleaned: dusting was only partly done, one blanket was stained, and the shower cover had gone yellow. The double bed came with blankets for one person, which was especially unhelpful in a cold apartment. Walls were cracked and scratched, with plenty of wear. We chose this location because of a last-minute discount and thought it would be a good deal. I should have paid more attention to the negative reviews, which turned out to be accurate. The area felt unsafe to us at night. By the government office beside the building, I counted two tents and seven sleeping bags, and some people kept asking us for money or cigarettes. We took a detour of more than 300 metres to avoid them. The whole stay was awful and left a sour mark on an otherwise great impression of Budapest. I know managing a property can be difficult, but the lack of cleaning and maintenance and the way support treated us can't be excused.