The Kempinski Hotel Corvinus in Budapest. Photo / Getty Images
Simon Wilson checks into the Kempinski Hotel Corvinus, Budapest.
Getting there: Picked up at the airport by shuttle, an easy drive to downtown hotel location.
Check-in experience: Arrived around 9am after flying for a thousand hours and the room wasn't ready until 11am. Nothing offered to make the wait easier.
Price: Around $330 per night.
Room: Even the standard rooms are excellent: good size, view to the street below.
What's so good about this place? Centrally located, good food, comfortable, well-appointed.
And the bad? If it exists I didn't find it.
What's in the neighbourhood? Parliament, the Danube and the Chain Bridge across to the old city.
Food and drink: Very good breakfast buffet in Es Bistro with range of different cuisine stations including good local food. There's a Nobu restaurant in the hotel — one of 41 worldwide — serving Nobu Matsuhisa's trademark Japanese/Peruvian fusion food.
The bed: Comfortable but not exceptional.
A room with a view? To the street.
Bathroom: Marble everywhere but also not exceptional.
Free Wi-Fi? Yes.
Noise: No.
Value for money: Yes.
Exercise facilities: Pool with pool bar, boutique gym, full spa services.
Contact: kempinski.com/en/budapest/hotel-corvinus
Perfect for: A great base for exploring. Special welcome to pets.
The bottom line: On the strength of this experience I'd be happy to stay at any Kempinski hotel — the German/Swiss company has 75 five-star hotels, mainly in Europe, China and the Middle East.
Holiday home owners fear angry people will show up at their door demanding money.