Agree that it's a pity that Budapest City has gone. Based on your report I will continue going to the castle Hilton since my first visit when it was the first Hilton behind the iron curtain back in the late 1970s.
Excellent, welcoming staff who know their job.

"To me it seems like staff are trained to just say no to everything" sounds like a throwback to the old days when the standard answer to any request was why it was not possible. Unfortunately that attitude still exists in some places.

One benefit of the Leiden HGI was the free underground parking, and pre-pandemic they always gave me an upgrade to a large room on a high floor. I see that they now charge €7, although is is still cheaper than most other Hilton group hotels in the Netherlands. DT Soestduinen still has free parking, but for how much longer?