Welcome to Budapest - BUD T2 arrivals area

Magyar Meandering

Clearing passport control was pretty easy, and of course having no checked bags means a simple walk right out the door into the arrivals area.

First priority - need some currency. I found a sole ATM in a corner of the arrivals hall. Thankfully it has English and it accepts my 28 Degrees Mastercard. A quick inspection of the ATM to check for suspicious devices, then a couple of minutes later and I'm charged up with Forints, which is a 'large' currency (i.e. get used to handing over hundreds and thousands of the stuff).

Next, I'm going for my transport. There is a shuttle bus service where you pay a nominal fee depending on destination zone and collects pax as required (both from BUD T2 and T1). Nice, easy and hassle free, and a good price, too. I paid for my spot on the bus, and didn't have to wait long before I was called up for the next service, with no other pax around. The bus did have to pick up some other pax from the other terminal, however, but we weren't packed to the gills and were soon off towards Budapest city. My accommodation was in Buda in the Castle area, which can be quite expensive.


Accommodation: Hilton Budapest (Castle)
Room: Executive King


Entry of vehicular traffic into the Buda Castle complex is controlled with boom gates and guards. The Buda Castle is a UNESCO Heritage site and presents wonderfully, with old style facades and cobblestone roads. There are two Hilton properties in Budapest - one on the Buda side (this one) and the other on the Pest side (downtown). I managed to get my stay with a combination of points and cash (plus the regular Hungarian city tax that must be paid in addition), which, though I was on a tight budget, made the whole expense more palatable. Thank goodness for points (as well as HHonors benefits like Executive Lounge and free breakfast)! The hotel is located right next to Matthias Church.


Frontage of the Hilton Budapest (Castle)

The shuttle drove right up to the door and soon I was outside the property. As I walked in, it felt a bit unusual, as the staff were probably expecting someone who was rather well dressed and carting a small rollerboard or even a larger bag, not a casually dressed tourist with not much more than a backpack. Nevertheless, as I walked up to the front counter, the staff greeted me with a hearty Hungarian salutation, and then proceeded to check me in, offering me an upgrade to an Executive room in the process.


The old courtyard outside the lobby of the Hilton Budapest. The courtyard is still used for special events and dining.


Lobby lounge area of the Hilton Budapest, which also overlooks the old courtyard.

The decor of the property is likely anything but modern, but rather reflects the very traditional setting where the hotel is situated - old world grandeur. I've been told that the property still reflects a lot of the designs and motifs from the old Soviet communist days.

The Executive Floor is rather unusual. The Executive Lounge, rather than being a separate "room", is actually located in the middle of the floor such that, to get from the lifts to my room, you had to pass through the lounge. I know that's pretty hard to visualise without a map, but try and believe me here . The hallways of the property are quite dimly lit. I was fortunate to have a room near the corner of the property, and overlooking the Danube River.


The Executive Lounge, viewed as you enter from the hallway leading to the lifts. The hallway in the distance (12 o'clock position in the photograph) leads to other guest rooms, including mine.


A darker anteroom of the Executive Lounge, containing a few seats, a computer workstation, and stain glassed windows.


Dark hallways of the Hilton Budapest.

Entering my room, again the decor is quite old world, but quite comfortable. The window opened out to a wonderful view of the Danube River and the Pest side of the city, including Hungarian Parliament. The bathroom was quite large with both a decently sized shower and a bathtub. The bar area is kept in a small compact corner of the room. It's a nice big room, and I'd say quite generous on quite a few measures. Nice for a Category 5 property!


Entering my Executive Room at the Hilton Budapest.


Open bar area.