Silvanus Hotel

I only came for a meal. The restaurant was nice, the staff really friendly and attentive, and the portions were generous. The food was tasty and reasonably priced, and the terrace has beautiful views.

The pool was ice cold, despite the receptionist assuring us by phone that it was warm and nicely heated. In mid-October, with about 13°C outside, it was unbearable. Everyone we spoke to there agreed, people got in and climbed right back out. The outdoor Jacuzzi was the only comfortable option, but it was constantly full and you had to rush to get a spot. The room also fell short of the hotel's photos. It was old and outdated, like it hadn’t been updated since the 1980s. I might normally overlook that, but the lack of honesty and care from staff made the whole stay worse. Hygiene was poor too: my boyfriend’s pillow was ripped, the floor hadn’t been vacuumed properly, and the heating pipes were old and dirty. I paid extra for a “forest view” and got an ugly iron roof instead. Breakfast was okay, but the hotel seemed understaffed. Dinner was terrible, with very few choices, slow service, and staff who seemed uninterested. We waited nearly 15 minutes for drinks, and my boyfriend had to go to the bar himself to ask. The bartenders were laughing, chatting, and drinking their own lemonades while guests were still waiting. I’ve stayed at many hotels in different countries, and this was by far the worst experience. Maybe you could enjoy yourself after a few cocktails, but the place is poorly managed, falsely advertised, and not worth the money. I’d never return.

We spent a Sunday doing brunch and wellness for a day, but I wouldn’t recommend either the spa or the buffet. The outdoor Jacuzzi was only 33°C. The Finnish sauna display said 90°C, while its internal analog meter showed 70°C. The steam room was barely warm, with only a token bit of steam, nowhere near a proper steam room experience. There was no cold plunge after the sauna. The food was overpriced for a four-star hotel, and although it was an all-you-can-eat buffet, some serving plates stayed empty for quite a while before they were refilled.

The restaurant and food were good, and we still had a great time, laughing a lot at some of the staff attitudes. The spa was nice enough, although the cold shower by the sauna and the outdoor hot tub weren’t working. Some waiting staff were lovely professionals, while others ignored us or were simply rude. The eye-rolling when we asked for drinks was hard to miss. This hotel could easily be one of Hungary’s best, and the location is fantastic. Our standard premium room with a view was a bit small for two suitcases, and the safe was broken. We asked twice to have it fixed because we had jewelry and cash with us, but nothing happened. The TV remote was missing too; we asked housekeeping to replace it, and again nothing happened.