Accommodation
A Place to Stay
Hungary now offers places to stay for all tastes and budgets, all over the country. Visitors should have no problem finding somewhere to stay, even in peak season.
Hotels
Hotels are graded according to the familiar star system, but there are significant variations in quality and price within categories, and rates also vary according to location and season. Breakfast is usually, but not always, included in the price. Budapest's top hotels are listed on this site in their own accommodation section.
Pensions
Pensions, often small, family-run affairs, offer an excellent alternative to larger hotels, particularly outside Budapest, where they are ever increasing in number. The definition of a panzió is fairly loose, some even include camping facilities and bungalows. The local Tourinform office will help you make a reservation.
Private rooms
Lodging in private rooms is generally very cheap (around £10 for a double), and tourist areas are littered with “Zimmer frei” and “szoba kiadó” signs. At Lake Balaton, whole houses and apartments are often available to rent at very reasonable rates. To find a room, either visit the local Tourinform office, or just ring the doorbell of a house with a sign hanging outside.
Village tourism
This is a boom sector in Hungary, particularly in more remote parts of the country. The Hungarian equivalent of the French gîte offers a unique opportunity to stay with a Hungarian family and immerse yourself in the rural way of life. A night’s stay in a double room will set you back around £10, but you will have to pay extra for food. For more information, contact the Hungarian Federation of Rural Tourism, who also have an excellent website.
Youth hostels
For the cheapest accommodation, track down one of Hungary’s many youth hostels (ifjúsági szálló). A bed in a dorm costs around £5 a night, but in some cases, you will need to be a member of your national youth hostel association. Most student dormitories welcome visitors during the summer holidays. It is possible to make bookings through tourist agencies, but it is often enough to just turn up at the college building (kollégium).
Campsites
Camping is very popular around Lake Balaton, but there are plenty of campsites to be found elsewhere, look out for signs marked kemping. Standards vary, but the better sites provide sporting facilities, and some are in attractive wooded locations.
Hungarian Tourism Quality Award
The new Hungarian Tourism Quality Award programme was launched two years ago. It aims to help tourists chosing the best hotels and restaurants all over the country. The Q brand is a guarantee for the highest standards, thus these premises provide maximum guests’ satisfaction and meet all the authorities’ requirements.
For the winners click 'read more'.
(read more...)
