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Maria and István are ideal hosts, irresistably full of genuine proprietorial joy. Their good vibrations transcend their broken English with room to spare.
The winning couple rents out two rooms in their own apartment as well as two rooms in a flat located nearby. The former quarters, near the Museum of Applied Arts, are spic and span. Rooms are filled with homey touches like doilies, framed reproductions, and well-maintained antique furniture. The common living space houses a library filled with useful travel guides and a large, wooden dining room piece fit for King Mátyás, head honcho of Budapest during the city's (15th century) golden era.
The decently-sized common kitchen is big enough to prepare a proper feast. Toilet and shower rooms are separate from another, shared exclusively by guests. So never fear—Maria and István have their own private facilities.
Though we did not visit the second residence, István did not hesitate to share his family photo album of pictures. Like a devoted father, he apologized for his charmingly unprofessional photos, which manage to catch antique dining room furniture and freshly-made beds from every imaginable angle.
István also shared his incredibly thick sign-in book. The two have hosted 6,000 guests in 22 years. We'd be shocked out of our minds if many of those thousands weren't repeat guests.
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