POR Thapae Gate

Tucked into a side alley, the hotel stays clear of the main road noise. Shops, restaurants and massage places are all within walking distance, too. The rooms are roomy and have all the amenities, and I really liked the strong shower pressure. Breakfast was very good, the staff were polite and helpful, and they put out free snacks during the day. I'd stay here again.

The staff were welcoming, and my room was clean and comfortable. Breakfast had a great range of choices, and it all tasted homemade. I'd happily return and recommend the place to anyone coming to the area.

The hotel is clean, with water and fruit available all day, but my experience turned into a huge frustration. It was the first hotel of my trip, and I left my car key and 120,000 forints, a little over 300 euros, in the safe. I didn't notice until later because neither forints nor car keys were any use while traveling around Thailand. Reception only contacted me on day five, when I was due to fly to the Maldives the next morning. There was no way to rebook, and it was the only flight. I urgently asked them to send the items by post office delivery, and for four days I also asked for their account number so I could pay for that service if they couldn't exchange the forints. My car was at the airport in Hungary, 120 km from home. I live in another country and had just flown out of Hungary, so I needed the key before I got back. My husband planned to meet me, and we'd leave the airport in two cars. After four days with no resolution, I wrote directly asking why they were keeping quiet and whether they would send the key and money, so I could find another solution. They eventually asked for 70 euros, which my husband sent to their account in the back. They kept the 300 euros worth of forints. The key was sent on the day I departed and arrived five days later, damaged and unusable. I lost the 120,000 forints, paid 70 euros plus fees for a non-working key, and I'm still paying for parking in Budapest.

We weren't there long enough to explore the neighborhood, though there's a small shopping complex opposite. The hotel is tucked down a side lane, so it was quiet, and the rooms were clean and a good size. We got complimentary drinks at reception throughout the day, plus fizzy drinks in the room. Breakfast was nice, and the staff were lovely and welcoming.