Family-run guest house with homey atmosphere
Set in quiet, residential area a short walk to the bus stop
Clean, basic rooms with minibars and electric kettles
Apartments include separate living rooms with kitchenettes
Most rooms open to terraces or balconies with city views
Free parking and fast Wi-Fi throughout
20 minutes outside the city center, with little nearby
Simple, old-fashioned decor throughout
Tube-style TVs in rooms
Breakfast not included in standard rates
The Hotel Pension Helios is a lower-middle-range, family-run guesthouse located on a hillside in a residential neighborhood overlooking Budapest. There's little within walking distance, and it's a 20-minute bus ride to the city center. Most of the 17 rooms, which include six apartments, open to outdoor spaces with views over the city; apartments have lounge and dining areas with kitchenettes. The hotel serves a daily breakfast with hot and cold dishes, but strangely for this type of accommodation, it's not included in standard rates. Another local, budget-friendly alternative is the Korona Panzio, where breakfast is included.
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Scene
Homey, family-run guest house set in leafy garden
Almost completely hidden behind a throng of pine trees and shrubbery, the four-story Hotel Pension Helios guest house sits amid a thick, leafy garden with a goldfish pond, surrounded by a rust-colored rail fence. Inside, carved-wood paneling, traditional patterned rugs, paintings of rural scenes, and old-fashioned furniture combine to create a rustic and homey atmosphere. Service at this family-run property is personal and friendly, and the staff is on hand to help with luggage -- there's no elevator. A cork-board map invites guests to pin their countries on the board -- indicating that most of the clientele has come from Europe and North America since the property opened in 2000.
Location
Hilltop setting in a quiet residential neighborhood overlooking Budapest
The hotel is located in a quiet residential neighborhood on a hillside above the Buda side of the city. There's little in the way of restaurants or tourist attractions within walking distance, though Farkasret Park and its cemetery -- one of country's largest graveyards where numerous famous Hungarians are buried -- are 10 minutes away on foot. A bus, which connects to Ferenciek Square and Budapest's central Inner City, stops within a five-minute walk of the guest house, and the trip takes about 20 minutes. Budapest Airport, on the other side of the city, is about a 40-minute drive.
Rooms
Simple room, including apartments, which have separate living areas and kitchenettes
The Hotel Pension Helios' 17 rooms include 11 Doubles and six Apartments. All are simply styled, with wood-effect furnishings, coordinated crimson fabrics, and herringbone-pattern parquet floors. Standard amenities include minibars, coffee- and tea-making facilities, and tube-style TVs (with a few English-language news channels); in-room Wi-Fi is free of charge, and is fast and reliable. Apartments include separate living rooms with sofas, dining areas, and kitchenettes with electric burners, microwaves, and mini-fridges. Bathrooms have walk-in showers (some shower/tub combos) and wall-mounted hairdryers and soap dispensers, though some are prone to humidity problems. Most of the rooms and apartments open onto furnished balconies and terraces, many with views over Budapest.
Features
Buffet breakfast and free, fast Wi-Fi throughout
Like most hotels in its category, the Pension Helios doesn't offer much in the way of extras -- it's for guests seeking a home-style vibe outside the city. A buffet breakfast of cereal, yogurt, fruit, and bacon and eggs is served in the quaint, country-style breakfast room, but oddly for a guest house, it's not included in standard rates. The hotel can also arrange food delivery from local restaurants. On-site parking is available, and Wi-Fi is free throughout the property.
