Benczur Hotel

Located in a classy diplomat neighborhood, the three-star Benczúr serves up well-priced utilitarian rooms close to Hero's Square, the City Park and the gorgeous Széchenyi Baths.

The hotel offers up a whopping 90 standard rooms, 58 superior rooms and a handful of suites and apartments. Furnishings have a mostly chain hotel feel; nightstands, chairs, desks and lamps are made of a light wood. Beds are outfitted with minimalist comforters, all in pleasing colors. All are equipped with a TV, phone and minibar. Bathrooms feel more rustic, with pull-chain toilets and funky shower tile mosaics.

The Benczúr is unexpectedly utilitarian. Much of the hotel is quite lovely and modern. The first floor boasts an ample terrace and a souvenir shop. But some aspects feel like leftover Communist chic without, err, much in the way of "chic." Staircase railings are actually metal slabs painted steel blue. Carpets are 1970s-era orange. You get the picture.

The Benczúr, as you might imagine, is popular with members of both the business and economy classes. More services and amenities can be found here than at most Cheapo spots, but be prepared to live with some unsightly, strictly pragmatic finishes. We suppose that if the Benczúr was good enough for the Pope (who stayed here in 1994) it's good enough for today's proletariat.

Breakfast is included. Note that air conditioning is only available in some of the rooms.