Ensana Grand Margaret Island in Budapest

We chose this hotel based on its many positive reviews, but unfortunately our experience fell well short of expectations.

Upon arrival, the minibar in our room was not working. Reception informed us that no maintenance staff were available and offered either to store our food on another floor or change rooms. As we had arrived extremely exhausted after a delayed journey and had already unpacked, neither option was practical. Later that evening, we discovered the shower was also not functioning and the bathroom light was flickering, leaving us unable to shower at all on our first night. The following morning, reception’s response was a brief and dismissive “sorry, it happened,” with maintenance sent later that day.

We stayed for nine nights, and unfortunately this poor start set the tone for the rest of our stay.

Breakfast quality was consistently disappointing. Hot items were often lukewarm, eggshells were found in the scrambled eggs on the first morning, and cutlery on the tables was sometimes visibly dirty.

The television could not be connected to the internet and only Hungarian channels were available, with no English subtitles. After the shower was repaired, water pressure remained extremely weak. Despite being advertised as soundproof, noise was a constant issue, including doors slamming, loud conversations, and late-night disturbances from neighboring rooms.

Three days before departure, renovation work began in a nearby room before 9:00 a.m. We were never informed in advance, and the noise made it impossible to sleep or work from the room. When we raised the issue, we received no apology—only a vague assurance that the work “should finish today,” which it did not. We were woken up the next morning by the same constant thrilling noises before 9am. The thrilling lasted full days until the night. If we had only known about the 3-day renovation that was taking place during our stay we obviously would have chosen another and quieter place for that period of time.

As a long-time hotel employee, I understand that issues can occur, but they are usually met with empathy or a goodwill gesture. Here, responses felt minimal and insincere.

There were, admittedly, some positive aspects to our stay. The architecture of the hotel, both interior and exterior, is beautiful, and the public transport connection to the city is excellent, with a bus stop located directly behind the hotel. The breakfast staff were also consistently kind, attentive, and professional. Nevertheless, due to the ongoing lack of proper rest, repeated disturbances, and the overall careless handling of our concerns, we were relieved to leave by the end of our stay. We have never experienced this feeling in any other European hotel we have visited.

Overall, due to repeated disturbances, lack of rest, and the dismissive handling of our concerns, this hotel does not meet the standards expected of a 4-star superior property. We will not be returning and cannot recommend it. For the price paid, there are many alternatives that offer a significantly higher level of comfort, service, and professionalism.