Aquarius Hotel - Budapest, Hungary     

Booked through Expedia, we chose this hotel because we wanted a decent spot in Budapest with a swimming pool. On arrival it was immediately obvious that there would be no swimming, as the pool was empty. We were too tired to sort this out on arrival and after checking our booking realised that Expedia offered more than a booking facility. After calling the Expedia helpline we were referred to a new hotel with a pool. We were very impressed. The staff at Expedia were helpful and sorted new reservations with a minimum off fuss, plus, we got a full refund for the cancelled stay at the Aquarius. So, regarding the Aquarius itself; Not a bad Hotel, but nothing special, In the middle of a commercial area which is being redeveloped the suroundings are unatractive. The staff were friendly and the food OK to good (but breakfasts poor). The rooms were a bit worn but OK. Thanks God the rooms had double glazing - the road and railway would be very noisy other wise.

We picked this hotel for our family of 5 because of the price and size (according to what I read on this site). First the pros: 1. The suite was a good size for our family. 2. The front desk staff during the day was excellent. They were very helpful. The night staff was not so. 3. Free parking and you can't beat the hotel price. However, even these perks would not compensate for the overall experience at this hotel. Here are the things I didn't like about the hotel: 1. They advertised that they're air conditioned, but the machine didn't work at full capacity. We were still uncomfortable in the one room where it's located. The other room was very hot, but they were kind enough to provide a fan when we asked for it. 2. The water temps were inconsistent in the bathroom. We wouldn't have minded if it was always cold as it was very hot in Budapest during our stay, but we almost burned ourselves when the water changed to hot in the middle of the shower. 3. The toilet seat lid wouldn't stay up, so it was really uncomfortable when using the potty. 4. The breakfast was nothing special. They served scrambled eggs and what looked like vienna sausages. The fruit was not fresh-looking. One morning, they stopped serving the hot foods before 8:30 because, the server said, the gas didn't work. So for that day, we had some stale bread and jam for breakfast. 5. I knew beforehand that this hotel is not in the center, but it's not only 30 minutes by bus to the center, as what others claim. It's a good hour to the tram station that can take you to the center. So, you're talking at least 1-1/2 hours before you can see anything and that's one way! 6. The pool closed at 9pm, too early for those who like to sightsee during the day. 7. They advertised that they have a minibar, but the drinks never turned cold because the frigde turned off every time we left the room. 8. They only provided liquid soap and a shower cap for toiletries. We would have appreciated some shampoo and conditioner, and lotion. Next time we visit Budapest, we will pay the extra money to stay at a nicer hotel near the center.