Simon Wilson checks into the Kempinski Hotel Corvinus, Budapest.

Getting there:

Picked up at the airport by shuttle, an easy drive to downtown hotel location.

Check-in experience: Arrived around 9am after flying for a thousand hours and the room wasn't ready until 11am. Nothing offered to make the wait easier.

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Price: Around $330 per night.

Room: Even the standard rooms are excellent: good size, view to the street below.

What's so good about this place? Centrally located, good food, comfortable, well-appointed.

And the bad? If it exists I didn't find it.

What's in the neighbourhood? Parliament, the Danube and the Chain Bridge across to the old city.

Food and drink: Very good breakfast buffet in Es Bistro with range of different cuisine stations including good local food. There's a Nobu restaurant in the hotel — one of 41 worldwide — serving Nobu Matsuhisa's trademark Japanese/Peruvian fusion food.

The bed: Comfortable but not exceptional.

A room with a view? To the street.
Bathroom: Marble everywhere but also not exceptional.

Free Wi-Fi? Yes.

Noise: No.

Value for money: Yes.

Exercise facilities: Pool with pool bar, boutique gym, full spa services.

Contact: kempinski.com/en/budapest/hotel-corvinus
Perfect for: A great base for exploring. Special welcome to pets.

The bottom line: On the strength of this experience I'd be happy to stay at any Kempinski hotel — the German/Swiss company has 75 five-star hotels, mainly in Europe, China and the Middle East.