Villa Valeria

I travel a lot, but this was one of the worst places I’ve seen. There was a broken water installation, a window that wouldn’t close, and dirt and trash left in the room by previous guests. Breakfast was advertised but wasn’t available. The place is right next to a work site, where they were renovating the neighboring house and making a lot of noise. There was no English-speaking person on site. The conversation there was only in Russian and Hungarian.

The owner gave us great support, was extremely accommodating, and shared helpful insights. The place is centrally located and good for the money. The beds were a bit stiff, but it made for a nice night.

The location was convenient, just 500 meters from the city center, and check-in went okay. There’s no reception, so you arrange a time with the owner and he hands over the key. Still, having to submit all my details, including my address and a passport photo, through Booking.com was quite inconvenient. The room was a letdown. It was tiny, with a bathroom bigger than the rest of it, and looked old and utilitarian. The decor reminded me of my grandmother’s house, and this place didn’t feel like a hotel at all. The sofa bed was at least made up with fresh covers, but calling it a bed is a stretch. The photos only show double beds, while this very modest single room is hidden at the very end. Its mattress was so hard I could barely sleep. The TV was a disaster. There was only one channel, and I couldn’t turn it off with the remote, so I had to unplug it. The bathroom smelled of smoke, which I found disgusting, and the sink was so low I had to bend over to wash my hands. This room definitely isn’t suitable for older people. The price was the worst part: €82 for one night! We’re in a budget country like Hungary, not Hollywood. At that price I expect a three- or four-star hotel, with a proper double bed and nice furnishings, not a child’s bedroom. The villa looked appealing from outside, which made it even more disappointing that the owner apparently doesn’t care about making the inside remotely nice. I’m glad I only stayed one night.

The villa is near the city center, and the property replied quickly when we booked at short notice. Staff speak English and other languages, so getting information was easy. The bed was comfortable, and the linens and towels were clean, though the rooms got very warm and had no air conditioning. I wasn't keen on the smell or furnishings, and the standard felt low. The rest of my family liked it, though, so maybe that's just personal taste ;-)