Luxury hotel interior designs

A collection of subjective opinions of hotel guests (not of Luxury Hotels Budapest.com)

TripAdvisor

"As a frequent traveler throughout eastern Europe, I have become used to the "standard" 5* business hotels (Hyatt, Hilton etc). This hotel is a cut above the rest. The room was fantastic, the staff attentive and the food was awseome. Just walking into the building you feel like you are entering a palace!"

"This hotel was an attraction in itself, with people coming inside just to look at the main hall. I cannot in words express how perfect the hotel was. The staff all spoke perfectly, did everything to help, refused to take tips, were polite and not snotty. The package 'love and romance' was incredible value for money, with the meal in the hotel better than that I had at Jamie Olivers restaurant. The reception did everthing for us, not only did they recommend great restaurant to suite our moods and what we fancied, but they booked window tables, and on one occasion asked the manager of whiteheaven which was full to fit us in, not only did they do this, but they arranged for us to have two free drinks waiting for us on arrival (as a friendly jesture). The spa was something out of a James Bond scene, it was free too, and I went three times, and still sat in my robe looking about as if I was in a imaginary underworld place. The hotel was very quiet, the way it was layed out makes you feel like your the only guests. The porters are so friendly, giving you reccomendations, remembering your names and what you did asking how it was - not the personal service you expect at such a large 5* hotel. It was better than any other 5* I have stayed in, the room was incredible - more like a Junior Suite as someone else mentioned before. The maids must keep track of when your in and out, we never saw them, but on one day made the bed twice for us, after we had a mid afternoon nap!"

"Was really looking forward to our 5 night stay here as the reviews of the hotel were very good. The hotel itself is an amazing building and the breakfast is tasty but could do with more of a selection. The problem with this hotel at the moment is they are adding additional bedrooms and work is going on 7 days a week until early '08. We had not been advised there was building work & were woke up at 7am by the builders every morning - even at the weekend!!!. When we brought the issue to the attention of the management to see if we could change rooms we got no satisfaction & were actually advised were we could go to buy earplugs to help us sleep!!! check before booking to see if your room is close to building work - if so AVOID !!!"

"I strongly, strongly recommend not staying at the Boscolo. Here's a sample of our issues with the hotel: There was no shower in the room - just a bath with a shower head 1 meter off the ground. It took a full 25 minutes (believe me, we timed it) for the water to get hot. While, strangely enough, the minibar was somehow actually hot inside. They lost a package we had left with the concierge for a full day. The window shades wouldn't close. They gave us the wrong bill, and we snotty when we asked for our actual bill. We were in the room - with a Do Not Disturb sign up - when they wanted to clean it one afternoon. They knocked twice in 10 minutes, and then called us 5 minutes after that, and actually asked us the leave. Other days, they failed to clean the room. When we voiced our concerns, complaints were met with ineptitude and feigned or real ignorance - either equally ridiculous for service professionals. All of these problems show systematic training and attitude issues across all functional areas of the hotel. The hotel is lovely inside, yes, but don't let the opulence of the hotel get to you. It's not worth it, and you could do much, much better (for a lot less!) in Budapest. If you must stay here, make sure you insist on a room not on the 6th floor - where they stuck us. It's the renovated attic - and it feels that way."

"A masterpiece of building refurbishment. Big rooms, good restaurant. Budapest is still not nice and sophisticated in all its areas. Only a small part of town near the Danube is pretty. This hotel is in an area that used to be downtown in the XIX century, but today you need to walk 15 or 20 minutes until you reach a nice pedestrian shoping and restaurant area. Therefore I would recomend the Gresham Palace."

"I just came back from my first trip to Budapest. My stay at the Boscolo New York Palace was extraordinary. The building, rooms, restaurant were all first-rate. Equally impressive was the service. I was there for 4 nights and the concierge and entire hotel staff could not have been more helpful and pleasant. Everyone spoke English perfectly and were eager to help at any time. I highly recommend this hotel. Although there are no views to the River from here, the location is very central. I walked everywhere from here without hesitation. BTW, you must eat at the restaurant it was incredible"

"We have just returned from a three night stay at the New York. Palace. We booked the Love and Romance package through the Boscolo web site and have to say it was a great deal. The package include transfers too and from the airport, breakfasts, a dinner for two, a private city tour and sparkling wine on arrival. The best part though was an upgrade to the next class of room which resulted in us staying in a deluxe room on the fifth floor (515) which was huge. All the staff were very attentive especially Thiery on reception who was very helpful. The hotel incorporates a very ornate cafe which is something of a local landmark. A little pricey but worth a visit just to admire the extremely ornate interior."

"An absoutely stunning hotel with a mix of history and the contemporary. Overall the owners should be proud of the work they have done from the sumptous bedrooms on the upper floors to the visually splendid features of the lobby and food outlets and the unusual (but effective) leisure facilities in the basement. HOWEVER, someone needs to give the staff a bit of formal training! The reception staff are rarely to be seen and when they are there it takes an age to do something simple. The barman is extremely pleasant and ready to serve, but there are times when he is so busy (even though the bar is small) you sit and wait for an eternity. This may be the case in most hotels in Budapest as it certainly seemed to be the case in the shops and restaurants. Either way, I would stay again and again. Forwarned that I need to have more patience of the local slowness of the team"

"The location is fair. Everything is within 1 hours walking distance. There is a metro stop a 3 minute walk from the hotel which works well (and will get you to the main tourist areas in 5 minutes) but it's still not in the heart of the tourist sites. It would be better to be closer to the river. ... Some of the best bedding and linens I have seen in a hotel. Bed is so comfortable it's difficult to get out! Down pillows are perfect! LIGHTING: Great in both bedroom and bathroom. SHOWER: Great water pressure, beautiful bathrooms. Only complaint is the water temperature changes from hot to cold constantly. Heated mirror is a nice touch. TOILETRIES: High quality, very nice (Etro). Room and common areas are spotless. A/C: Quiet and works very well. CLOSET SPACE: More than average space for 2 people. ROOM: Gorgeous. Amazing chandelier and furnishings. FOOD: I am very picky about food and the New York Cafe for dinner was fantastic. Very impressed. Went back the next day for a milkshake and desert and was less than satisfied. Went back a 3rd day and it was better than average. TV is a nice size with several English channels. Wired internet in room for a charge. Staff is very nice. Experienced one service issue in 4 nights. Overall, it's been good. COMMON AREA: Gorgeous! The only problem with this hotel is the location. I would prefer to be closer to where the tourist sites are but this hotel is so beautiful it’s worth the walk. I checked out the common area of the 4 seasons and it is also stunning but in a better location. You’ll be happy with either one! Stay here and you won't be disappointed!"

"Myself and a friend had a mid week break in Budapest in May we stayed at the New York Palace. It was the most beautiful hotel i ever stayed in. The staff were very friendly and welcoming. The bedroom was really nice and the marble bathroom was lovely too. Our room was cleaned on a daily basis and beds turned down for a well deserved sleep on our return from a busy day sightseeing. Coming from Ireland I love tea but don't think the Hungarians know that you boil the water in order to make tea!!! The hotel Piano bar is seriously expensive, its a no no if you are on a budget! The New York cafe is fabulous the decor has to be seen to be believed."

"This hotel definitely has the wow factor from the moment you enter the sumptuous marbled lobby. My husband and I, along with my parents have just spent 3 nights at the New York Palace and we loved it. The rooms are a good size and decorated in a luxury contemporary style. The beds were really comfortable and the fantastic feather pillows were huge. Our bathroom was large and decorated throughout in marble, with both a rain shower and a hand held shower situated in a fab circular bath. The room contained all the usual 5* facilities and could not be faulted. The reception staff were friendly and professional at all times and nothing was to much trouble. The New York Cafe is not to be missed for sheer opulence alone. All in all, a fabulous place from which to explore this facinating city."

"Having done a thorough research on Budapest hotels, I had decided to try the two new Art Nouveau hotels available - Gresham Palace and New York Palace, for our recent trip. After spending a night at the former, my husband and I spent the next 3 nights at the New York Palace, from 23 to 26 June. After checking the hotel's wesbite, decided to book their 'Love & Romance Package'. After much calculations, found that it is a rather good value package with Champagne and chocolates, drinks on arrival, free two-way airport transfers, free 3 course dinner at its Deepwater Restaurant, rose petals bath, free use of its fitness area, free upgrade to the next room category, free one hour private guide tour ... Upon entering the hotel and checking in, I was amazed by the extreme beauty of its grand opulence... everything from the entrance to the lobby was covered in Italian marble of matching colour tone (white, yellow and brown), Crystal chandeliers abound with an interesting but informal check in area. The New York Cafe alongside with its upmarket Deepwater Restaurant resembled some musemn rather than some eateries ... it was grandeur of the highest category, to say the least! Our Deluxe room on the 5th floor (room 511) was very spacious indeed, probably some 50 meters square, easily a Junior Suite at some other hotels. It has a balcony, too, with views of the Royal Palace on the Buda side (very surprised indeed). Facing the side street, our room was very cosy and quiet - important for jet lagged travellers like us. The bathroom was big, too and covered in green and white marble - though not as attractive as the Gresham Palace toilet, but who cares so much about toilets anyway? On the first two days, we hardly see any hotel guests in the lifts, lobby and at breakfasts and felt like we ''owned'" the whole palace to ourselves! Breakfasts was superb, with its wide range of yummy cakes, crispy croissants, fruit juices, yoghurt, egg cooked to order, ham and bacon - the choice and quality offered here outshines that of the Gresham, anytime, trust me! On our second last day, we even make time to enjoy its spa facilities, namely the Turkish bath (somewhat strange concept), swimming pool and Sauna steam room. Again, we were the only ones using the whole Spa basement floor, felt like we own the place again! Regretfully, the Gresham has only a small segment of their 5th floor converted into a spa but this hotel dedicated a WHOLE BASEMENT to its Spa .....just imagine the difference! The free 3 course dinner at its Deepwater Restaurant was definitely alongside the same standards as our Gundel's meal but given to us for free cos we stayed 3 nights under its 'Love & Romance Package''. Otherwise, it would have costs us a whopping 150 euros for 2 persons (you may choose any 3 course on its limited menu eg a salad, a main course and probably a dessert. ) Overall, my husband and I felt the same way about these two grand Art Nouveau Budapest landmarks - that the New York Palace definitely outshines the Gresham Palace anytime, esp. its outside facade, its marble-layed interiors, its Cafe and Restaurant, its Spa size and facilities, its Room size and decor, its overall ambience. What the New York Palace loses out is in terms of SERVICE. Its Cafe and Restaurant staff seem to have some kind of attitude problem, but we were unfazed. Also, its receptionist and doormen does not speak as good English as the Gresham staff and are not as well trained nor knowledable as well. Plus, the New York Palace is not situated in the touristry part of the Pest side. Its located in the working area of the locals where you can find a Metro stop on the same block of the Hotel (merely a few doors away), many buses and tram lines, cheap Chinese and Kebab takeaways, two supermarkets. Also, there are little or no views (with the exception of our 5th floor room) across the Danube. After weighing the pros and cons, I am glad we picked the New York Palace over the Gresham Palace for the bulk of our Budapest stay"

"We recently spent 3 nights at the Boscolo New York Palace Hotel. This was our 2nd trip to Budapest and had formerly stayed at the Marriott. Although we loved the Marriott and it's location, the Palace was FAR superior. The level of service, the sumptuous breakfast, spacious rooms and bathrooms--the simply palatial feeling made it a great place to be. The location was very central, and the service of their private car from hotel to airport or port was very efficient. I would recommend this hotel to anyone wanting an extraordinarily upscale experience in Budapest. Shop around for a good price, as we paid less than $250 USD per night."

"Lovely Hotel in a great position in the city. But it lacks the finer touches that make a 5* hotel. While we were in Budapest the weather was in the 30s. The hotel did not have any air conditioning in the main building only in the rooms. The breakfast was a bit limited and they were slow replacing items that had run out. The doormen were not always present and they did not all dress in uniform. Tiles were missing in the swimming pool. No one on the desk in the spa, so no towels. This is a good hotel but does not come up to the standard of the Corinthia Grand Hotel Royal that is just down the road."

"I stayed at the Boscolo Luxury Hotel, New York Palace for 3 nights from the 21st May 2007 having booked through the hotel website on one of their package options. I had contacted the hotel prior to arriving to arrange a transfer from the airport, which despite my flight being almost 1.5 hours late; a well dressed driver was still stood in arrivals with the name card. I was conveyed quickly to the hotel in an air conditioned Mercedes. On arrival at the hotel the driver took my bags into reception (The Concierge was elsewhere) and I was checked in by a very pleasant English speaking receptionist from a very interesting reception desk! I had requested a high floor room (thinking of city centre noise levels) and was very pleased to be told I had been allocated room 419 on the 4th, out of 5 floors. After checking in the Receptionist took the time to take me on a short tour of the ground floor pointing out all the hotel amenities. By this time the porter had whisked my bags to my room. The Room: Was wonderful! By most hotel standards my room would have constituted a suite, but I am reliably informed it was a 'Deluxe Room'. It was Palatial, with a VERY comfy King bed, huge walk in wardrobe, enormous marble bathroom with twin basin, bidet, toilet, separate shower cubicle and bath, robes, slippers and designer toiletries provided. The room decor was exceptional, with everything in place. I had a bottle of champagne on ice and selection of handmade chocolates waiting for me when I arrived as included in the room package. All requests to reception were met promptly, and the standard of housekeeping was first class! The New York Palace is quite centrally located on the Pest side of the city, about a 10-15 min walk (or short taxi ride) to the river, as this is where most of the shops and bars are, as is the historic chain bridge used to cross to the Buda side. Most of the city can be enjoyed within walking distance of the hotel. The Food & Drink: Is expensive, although very very good. All menus are in Hungarian, English and Italian, which at first seemed confusing but you soon get used to filtering out your native tongue. The 'Deepwater' restaurant is exquisite; the fixed price menu for 3 courses was 17,200 HUF per person, which is about £46 at current rates. The service from the waiters was impeccable, first rate. The New York Cafe must not be missed, if only to sit & marvel at the decor, although the food and coffee is also first class with plenty to select from (the ice creams are especially good). Hotel Amenities: The hotels bar, the 'Cigar Bar' is wonderfully intimate, and well stocked. The hotel has a spa in the basement with a small pool with Jacuzzi, a Sauna, and an amazing Turkish Bath and also offers many exclusive spa treatments. On the Whole the hotel is opulent beyond comparison especially the New York Cafe. The public areas and rooms alike are palatial. The Service: Was very good, of a consistently high standard. However it was not quite up to 5 star standards that you may expect from other parts other world. Room Service staff for example did not seem to have a clue what was on their own menu; staff in the Cigar Bar were inexperienced and did not know their products. I should stress though that on the whole my experience of the both the Cigar Bar and of Room Service was very good. Reception staff were friendly, helpful & efficient. The two waiters in the 'Deepwater' restaurant gave exceptional service, and the service in the New York Cafe was also very good. In Summary: I you are going to spend the money to stay 5* in Budapest then their are only two real contenders, namely the 'Boscolo Luxury Hotel New York Palace' or the 'Four Seasons Hotel Gresham Palace' having stayed at both I would say it depends on what you want. Luxurious surroundings, total relaxation, a seriously comfy bed and efficient service then the New York Palace has everything you desire and more, if you prefer prime location, seamless service, and understated luxury then the Gresham Palace will deliver...Even if you don't stay at the New York Palace Hotel, no one visiting Budapest should miss out on a visit to the New York Cafe at the Hotel, "The Worlds most Luxurious Cafe".

"We spent five fabulous days at this hotel to celebrate my 60th birthday. The hotel is very beautiful from the exterior to the interior. We checked in and was shown to our room. To our surprise we had been upgraded to the New York Suite room 107. The suite was enormous, large hall which contained his and hers wardrobes. The hall could also be used as a dressing area as it was so large. The lounge had a magnificent settee and armchairs, coffee table and a very useful desk. The bedroom was huge as well, with a very comfortable kingsize bed and soft feather pillows. The lounge windows also opened onto a small balcony. We wanted to go on two tours and Thierry booked both for us. He was extremely helpful with a marvellous personality. Nothing seemed to be too much for him. Julia on reception was charming and we chatted a lot to her. Both Thierry and Julia really made our holiday. All the staff were excellent and very courteous. You did not feel as though you were just a "number". This would be the hotel when we go back to Budapest."

"Flight left Dublin at 8 am so we arrived in Budapest at about 11:30am. Got a taxi to the Boscolo New York Palace for 19 euro. We were met by a very friendly concierge who too us to a very informal reception area and we were quickly and efficiently checked in. We got to our room which was a 'Classic Double' and we were not disappointed as the space and decor was exquisite. The beds were very comfortable (sensafoam). There were the usual toiletries and bath robes in a first class marble bathroom. Breakfast was taken in the breakfast room on the 1st floor. This room was very modern and the food on offer was of an exceptionally high standard. General decor of the building was excellent but you must visit the New York Cafe for a taste of opulence. The front desk will organise any tours you wish to go on. I would recommend the 'Danube bend' tour, which lasts all day. Budapest is a very interesting city and there is lots to see and do. All and all it was a very pleasant experience and I have no problem in recommending this hotel."

"My daughter and i stayed at the Boscolo at the beginning of April and i have to say we thoroughly enjoyed the whole experience. The staff were friendly and helpful, the service impeccable and the hotel itself beautiful. I wouldn't hesitate to recomend this hotel to anyone. My only negative comment is the prices in the restaurant, we had a very basic meal and were charged about 70 pounds. The decor can be appreciated just as well in the cafe (adjoining the restaurant) and the food and service in there were excellent. We stayed in a classic room which was very comfortable we had everything we needed, including staff to check that we had everything we needed. The spa was relaxing, and the staff helpful. Breakfast was included in our (very reasonable) price and there was a huge choice of food and great service. We will definitely be paying another visit."

"We stayed at the New York Palace, Budapest from 4-7 April 2007. The building itself is very old & grand, the interior has recently been refurbished and lives up to its 5 star billing. The lobby which also leads to the excellent New York Cafe is very elaborate. The staff are very friendly & courteous and helped plan our days for us, special thanks to Thierry for that! We had a classic room which was are tastefully furnished and had everything we could ask for. The buffet breakfast which was included in the room rate offered much choice, hot or cold. The cellar of the hotel has been turned into a stylish spa, most of which is also included in the room rate (gym, turkish baths, sauna, pool), the only extras that have to be paid for are massages, facials etc....). We will definately book hotels in the Boscolo chain again......."

"Check in was a breeze. There was some comfusion as you whether I had already paid for my room or not. I had to show my email confimation to clear the matter up. Our room was on the 5th floor. Unfortunetly, it was a room on the backside of the hotel and there is a HUGE construction project going on (the building of a tall building and they are now working on the ground floor). Besides Sundays, be prepared to be woken up at 0700 by loud noises. We did the breakfast buffet the first morning. Great selection of food but not worth it unless you can eat your weight in fruit, cheese, eggs and meats. Hotel is situated perfectly in town. We were able to easily walk to places and catching the metro/tram was convienent. The staff was helpful when we asked for a map. She even circled where things were in relation to the hotel. Resteraunt on the lobby level worth a visit. Look up and be awed. I would definetly recommend this hotel but would vigilantly warn about the ongoing construction."

"I have to say this was the best hotel I have ever stayed in - it exceeded all my expectations. There are so many hotels that you see on a website that disappoint when you arrive. This hotel was even better than the professional photos on their website. I went with my girlfriend for one night for my birthday and it was an incredible experience - 5 star all the way. Rooms are lovely but the highlight is the building itself - the inside has to be seen to be believed. Amazing breakfast too. Something else that really makes this hotel so special is the spa - it's the best I've ever been to. Sauna, steam room, pool, gym, treatments... Definitely recommend this hotel - you won't be disappointed."

"Stayed at the New York Palace in September in a junior suite. Right away we were bowled over by the grand lobby space and in our room the marble bathroom with rainforest bath. Great looking things though often don't function as well as you'd think. The check in desk is a gorgeous circular glass table with laptops so it hardly looks like a check in desk and wasn't manned when we arrived. Had to wait about 5 minutes for someone to show up. The marble rainforest bath with a surround drain and glass enclosure was very cool but the water kept splashing out of the shower and onto the floor. Except for that first impression at checkin I found all subsequent service requests actually went above and beyond the call of duty. The porters helped pack all our luggage (including baby stroller and crates of fruits) into our compact car when we despaired of ever getting everytyhing to fit. A request for a gift bag to wrap a hospitality present in resulted in a dedicated search for just exactly what I was looking for. Location is very convenient on Budapest's main ring road and near metro and trams. The New York Cafe is about as historic a Budapest cafe as you can get, and it's been updated in a cool way but acknowledges its past so it's not some lifeless modern redo. The buffet breakfast is expensive for what you get, in my opinion, but you cna eat either on the terrace overlooking the lobby courtyard below or in another sleek space. My only other complaint would be with the spa which is very minimalist, like a Prada suit, all black slate and dim lighting. Not all that relaxing really. I felt like i was in an underground magic cave."

"Decided to spend some money on a 5star hotel for once in our lives, and were amazed at the beauty of this building. Its only just opened after reburbishment, and they are still building a carpark next to it. But there are no problems with noise. Our room was probably the best one, as we had the balcony on the second floor. The room was so large it was more like an apartment, and the bed was so comfortable. Its next to a metro station so its easy to get around from there, and there are lots of restaurants and bars near by. We didn't have breakfast included in our price, but took out own kettle and teabags. The breakfast there is around 15 pounds for continental and 20 pounds for an oriental style one. On the last day we ordered breakfast at our room, and although we only ordered a couple of eggs they brought us fruit, bread, coffee, yoghurt and jams at no extra charge. When we checked out they hadn't put it on our bill, and when we told them they had no account of us ordering it. So after 10 minutes waiting for them to find it, they decided to give it to us free. People may complain about the service there, but sometimes its useful they don't know what they are doing. The only bad thing was the lack of service and atmosphere in the cigar bar, which had very expensive drinks. They needed music in there, or at least a barman. The restaurant had a limited menu, so its worth going somewhere esle for food. I would definitely go back there, just for the bed!"

"We stayed 5 nights at this hotel in January 2007. We were upgraded on arrival to a room with a balcony on the 5th floor. Check & book a hotel deal which includes breakfast (otherwise its v expensive). The hotel is exactly like it appears in the hotels website. Its very grand -although beacasue it only has 100 odd rooms its not too big. The hotel has only been open since may 2006 - which is why in my opinion it has not yet made the guide books top hotels lists. The New York cafe is spectatular - its red and gold - very regal looking. We ate here 3 times & had coffee. One night we ordered wine & 3-4 starters which were fantastic. The hotels restaurant was always a little empty, so the cafe (was cheaper) and a better atmosphere. During January the hotel was very quiet. We therefore got fantastic service - However the hotel is still quiet new and i think behind the sceens there maybe some teething problems - i can imagine they may been seen at busy times - which is why i think the guys who have written reviews for their stay over christmas probably DID get bad servce. The rooms are large and splendid with marble bathrooms. ours was in a very quiet corner. Nothing was too much trouble. the hotel does have some renovation going on next door, but this caused us no problems what so ever. Becasue of its new ness i'd rate it a 5 star for location and 6 star for decoration and 4 star for service. The location is fab - metro and tram stop within 200 meters (however I think the metro is having work done to lines until 3 march 2007). When we were there we had 2 problems. 1. because we were on the 5th floor and the hotel was very quiet it took ages and ages 15 mins for our shower to heat up...over the weekend it was fine (beacuse of more guests so we were not heating the pipes we suspected) we were offered another room though striaght away, but stayed put as we had a lovely roof terrance and balcony. 2. the swimming pool was out of action for 5 days - but the steam room is fab) Great place highly recommended"

"We have just returned from a long weekend at the New York Palace in Budapest. The hotel is magnificent but the service needs to be improved a lot. The palace by itself it is an experience... The cafe and restaurant, definitely are from a real luxurious palace, very well renovated. The staff, in general, try hard to be nice to people, but the lack of trayning is hudge... As an advice, I would give them an year untill the service can be improved... Dispite this, if you are in Budapest, do not miss the New York Cafe!!!"

"Our decision to stay at the New York Palace in Budapest for our Christmas visit to the city was influenced by the reputation of Boscolo Hotel brand and also the building of the Budapest property, along with the website of the hotel. After our stay here, I do not think I will be recommending the Boscolo Hotels to my friends or colleagues, nor do I expect to be a repeat guest. Unfortunately, the stay left a lot to be desired for a luxury 5 star hotel. Budapest has become somewhat of a Spa destination, especially due to its thermal waters and many known Turkish baths. The day we arrived we used the Spa facilities in the hotel. There was no hot water, but we were not told beforehand. So I ended up taking a cold shower. I asked the Spa manager if she could increase the steam in the steam room. Her attitude was quite arrogant, and she insisted that the temperature was at the appropriate level. I soon realized it must have been probably lack of training that left her a bit unable to deal with clients, so I politely dropped the subject and did not make use of the steam room. That same night, I tried to take a shower in the room. To my surprise, there was no hot water either. Typically, when such incidence occurs, the hotel staff send a notice to the guest rooms to advice there will not be hot water, or advicing there is a problem. I understand problems sometimes happen, but this one could have been handled better. I ended up not showering before dinner. The next day, the front desk manager (Endre) apologized and politely offered to give us a free transfer to the airport. The experience at the restaurant was very good, and the level of service, and quality of the food was commensurate with a first class restaurant. Kudos to the New York Caffe Staff! The visit to the hotel is worth it if only because of the New York Caffe, which is probably the best known café house in Budapest. I cannot say the same for our experience at the Cigar Bar the following night. We waited a good twenty minutes before the waiter came to take our order. We ordered a glass of wine each, and the waiter responded how we intended to pay! I found such comment unnecessary when the drinks had not even made it to the table. After leaving the Bar, we witnessed a 'screaming match' behind the reception, where there were people arguing very loudly and talking to each other in rude, inappropriate language. Needless to say, this 'fight' left a very unfavorable impression. The fight was between two staff members who were screaming in English to each other. Also, my experience with the concierge was not very positive as he clearly did not know the city very well, which is not what I expect from the concierge service of a luxury hotel. Quite to the contrary, the concierge should be there to guide and provide recommendations, something he was not able to do. Upon asking to buy a Budapest City Card (which he offered), he casually commented he did not know the price because not a lot of guests use public transportation. I found the comment out of place and unnecessary. To sum up, the hotel is beautiful, the quality of the food is very high, but the whole stay was full of easily avoidable mistakes, mainly as a result of poor service and what we concluded to be lack of training and supervision from the management. Just as a comparison, we had a cocktail at the Four Seasons Budapest before dinner last night. The experience could not have been more positive, with very friendly attitude, fine attention to detail, every staff member made eye contact with us and asked if we needed anything. The New York Palace is as stunning a property as the Gresham Palace (probably even more so), but it is the staff members that made our experience at the Four Seasons be pleasant and memorable. The impression at the Boscolo is that the staff sometimes have an arrogant attitude, although there have been exceptions, especially Greg at the Breakfast, as well as Endre, Front Desk Manager."

"This Hotel looks good on paper, that's where it stops. Myself and my wife went there for 4 days over the festive period for a relaxing break. Firstly, they gave us the wrong room, they changed this without much fuss. The cafe/ main restaurant/ bar was freezing, I kept my coat on while drinking my first and only coffee there! This hotel lacks service, warmth and passion for excellence, and yet it charges very high prices. I would not recommend it unless you are planning to use it as a sleep only base. They tried to charge us for breakfast which was included in our rate on two seperate occasions. There appears to be no service manager. The staff never smile and appear to have no interest in looking after their guests. The Gala Ball was held in the main foyer of the hotel, it cost €200 per person and we decided not to go. We were told we would have to leave the hotel and find a bar locally, as all hotel facilities would be for gala guests only, even though we were residents. One of the architectural features of this hotel is the fact that all the floors have a balcony type view into the main atrium/foyer. this meant that the sound of the trumpets from the jazz band could be heard until 3am, with only 6 people dancing between 2am and 3am, while the rest of the hotel could not sleep with the noise. To top it off the hotel porter looked like he had never seen us before each time we entered the hotel, even on our fifth and last day."

"This hotel takes the five star experience to the highest level. We stayed in a corner suite and it was gorgeous. It contained a sitting room, his and hers walk in closets, huge bedroom and huge bath with separate dressing area. The hotel itself is beyond gorgeous. They spent a huge amount of money restoring it to it's former grandeur (it was the headquarters of the New York Life Insurance Company in Budapest prior to WWI) and did a stellar job. You just can't stop looking. The breakfast is unbelievable and the breakfast area contrasts with the rest of the hotel in that it is very modern and chic. The service is unparalleled. In fact, I think it is the best service I've ever had anywhere in any property five star or otherwise. The spa is a dream world. All I can encourage you to do is go look at their website and believe that all you see is much more fabulous in reality. We were there for four nights and honestly we hated to leave. The only drawback is that it is located in an area not convenient to either the river or the shopping streets; however, taxis are very reasonable and the bellman will get one for you AND you can charge it to your room. When we return to Budapest, there is no doubt in our minds that this is where we will stay."

"What a wonderful hotel! True 5* luxury! The building is absolutely stunning, inside and out. The Italian renaissance styling is so striking that I am amazed I didn't walk into people as I wandered through the lobby for the first time. They really have got it spot on with this hotel. The rooms are beautiful and comfortable, and that's just for the most basic, delux rooms. The top end suites must be out of this world! My boyfriend and I stayed there just recently for a 5 day city break and it is a great location for sightseeing - very central in Pest with good transport facilities and easy walking distance everywhere. The staff were very helpful and friendly to us; no job was too much trouble. We were also very lucky because on the Saturday night there was a fashion show being held in the lobby which all the guests are invited to. We truely felt part of the event, with a champagne reception, 2nd row seats for the show and then free drinks at the after show party at the hotel. What a treat! The spa is just heaven, especially after a long day sightseeing on foot. The pool is stunning and don't forget to try the aromatherapy rain shower...."

"A friend and I stayed here for 2 nights and enjoyed it from start to finish. From the moment we walk through the door we received amazing service. The hotel is beautifully designed it has the perfect mix of luxury, modern design and comfort. The reception desk is a round glass desk which when checking in automatically makes you feel more chatty with the concierge. We had an upgrade to a Deluxe Room and WOW it was truly amazing. The room was immaculate and very large, one of the largest rooms I have ever stayed in. Our first night was spent in the Cigar Bar, the drinks may seem expensive compared to the rest of Budapest but compared to London hotel prices they weren't that bad. The service is quite slow in the bar, cafe and restaurant but if you resign yourself to that fact at the start of your holiday then it stops being an issue. The breakfast was a surprise as it was very much a continental breakfast, there was a chef available to cook an omelette, a very fine one, but I do like my sausage and bacon. The hotel restaurant was great except for the food, the service was good, the surroundings nice but everything was over salted so we never finished any of our food. If you like it salty though you'd love it. On our last day we never left the hotel, the Spa and Wellness centre is fabulous, wonderful treatments, lovely surroundings, great staff....why would we want to leave! for 3 and half hours in the Spa with treatments (didn't have time to use the pool or other facilities) it cane to 120 pounds each, I think that is good value for money. The New York Cafe is fabulous, very grand, you feel like your at the Ritz. Again the service is slow but it's a great place to sit and watch the world go by. They also have a designer hand bag shop in the hotel, so sit back in the cafe and contemplate whether or not to make that purchase! Lovely hotel, I would definitely go back and would stay in a Boscolo hotel again."

"Have just stayed at the New York Palace for 3 days. Absolutely fantastic hotel, staff very helpful. The hotel is situated next to a Metro station so ideal for getting around Budapest. Breakfast was expensive cost us equivalent of 25 pounds for two people! Much cheaper to have breakfast in their New York Cafe if you don't mind having a toasted sandwich or croissant. Hotel recommended Rezkakas Restaurant for Hungarian meal, it was brilliant with live gipsy music, go if you can."

"I went early June with some of my friends to have a drink at the New York hotel, and we were extremelly disappointed by the service. We had to wait, they came up with the wrong orders many times, no smile... in Summary, if you go just check the building it is breath taking and go and have a drink somewhere else e.g. at the Corinthia, 150 meters from the New York Palace or even better go to the Four Seasons Gresham where the service is really good (Number 1 in Budapest), what you would expect for a palace! not like the ones that you were exposed to at the New York palace!"

"Opulent splendour! This was the icing on the cake in Budapest. We stumbled upon the hotel after going into the New York Cafe. It was awe-inspiring. We checked out of our previous hotel and spent a night here. The rooms are huge and the last word in luxury, the staff are SO eager to help in every way possible and it is just a magnificent hotel. We would thoroghly recommend anyone to stay here, especially if it's a 'special trip'."

"My boyfriend and I stayed here after reading a review of it's opening in the NY Times. The hotel is in one of the most gorgeous, awe inspiring buildings in Budapest, inside and out, and the staff and service are top class. The hotel was still being built when we stayed there (got a great discount), so they gave us a suite with our own balcony and a room the size of a house. It was private, immaculate, and I bigger than our NY apartments combined. I also loved Budapest in general, but I think that is partly due to my posh accomidations there. I definitely recommend this for a first class romantic and memorable vacation. The attached New York Cafe is spectacular as well."

Expedia

"This hotel was amazing right from the moment you entered the lobby. The rooms were excellent and the staff extremely helpful and polite. The New York Cafe was the jewel in the crown with food and ambience of the highest quality. The hotel made our stay in Budapest just perfect."

"A wonderful hotel - the restoration has been beautifully done. Really friendly staff and wonderful room quality."

"Wonderful hotel, but not happy with the location. Probably would not choose to stay there again based solely on that factor, opting instead for one closer to the river."

"The lobby, hotel, cafe, & restaurant are beautiful. The service was pleasant & attentive. They are shooting for the best in town, evidenced by the very high rates, for this I am critical. The check in circular desk with laptops is awkward. No business center. Room decor is beautiful but storage space is meager, shower was extremely tight (barely able to turn around) bathroom shower fixtures were cheap and already damaged, some insanity had them chose 32" tube TV (not LCD) sitting on the desk with poor viewing from bed or chairs. Internet (not wireless)is about $30/day, minibar is extra (at these prices why nickle & dime them for cheap extras). The spa missed the mark, with a space age decor between cool and cheesy but nothing like the grandior of the hotel."

Go to the official website of New York Palace Boscolo Hotel Budapest to make your booking.