The 420-room Mercure Korona is one of Budapest's largest business hotels and is conveniently situated for the inner city district. It's at a hub in the city's public transport network and offers traffic jam-free access to the main highway to the airport.
But take a taxi from the rank outside to the airport for €25 (Dh97) as it will cost the same as the hotel transfer bus does per person, and the yellow Mercedes limousine taxis also offer a better ride.
While this hotel does not have a large conference centre, there are a total of nine meeting rooms to seat from 15 to 40 people. They are purpose-built for corporate events, with breakout facilities as well as projectors, whiteboards, microphones and free internet.
Budapest is increasingly popular for such company events because it represents a value-for-money destination with plenty of excellent restaurants as well as sightseeing and other leisure options for team bonding.
Bedrooms in the hotel are compact in the typical European executive travel style, but with every comfort, including 6.3 Mbps free Wi-Fi, a small desk with three plugs – although you will need an adapter – tea and coffee making facilities, and a small flat-screen TV with Bloomberg and CNBC.
Room service is €14 for grilled salmon and rosemary potatoes and €8.30 for a club sandwich. A Coke is €4 and Evian water €5.30.
This is actually quite pricey by Budapest standards and you would be better off dining out with literally dozens of restaurants within a few minutes walk from the hotel, from the Michelin-starred Costes to a modest local bistro such as Ruben in Magyar Street behind the hotel.
The most basic room starts from €57.50, with prices going up to €147 for the top suite. Go for the higher level rooms if you want more space. The largest room size is 25 square metres, and the smallest a tad claustrophobic at 15 sq metres.
The hotel’s main selling point is its location and the number of rooms available to accommodate corporate events on site. The downside is that this can make it rather crowded at peak periods.
q&a three-hour feast for €19
Peter Cooper expounds on his stay at Budapest’s Mercure Korona:
What else did you like or dislike?
I liked the shoeshine machines on every floor by the lifts, and the general standard of cleanliness. But if you want an iron you have to head up to the dedicated ironing room on the eighth floor with key card access. There is no laundry service.
How about the restaurants?
The all-day Tokaj restaurant on the first floor has nice views over the Kalvin Square and National Museum, a dead ringer for the British Museum in London. The buffet breakfast is substantial with good croissants and a corner for Hungarian specialities, though it does get very busy between 7am and 8am. There are also club-style facilities available in the Bridge Lounge on the lower level of a bridge linking the two wings of the hotel above a service road. Here you pay €19 for three hours of unlimited food and beverages, ideal for the solo traveller with an evening to kill.
And the business centre?
This is next to the reception area on the ground floor and a bit noisy as it’s open plan. It has three Microsoft computers and a printer and is unmanned, apart from the reception desk staff nearby.
Any other notable facilities?
The hotel boasts a small indoor swimming pool and complimentary sauna, but there is no gym. The spacious lounge bar next to the reception area is always busy with comfortable seating and is a useful place to meet people.
business@thenational.ae
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