ESCALA Hotel & Suites — Hotel in Budapest

"Executive-Suite"? More like an old apartment. Not worth 300€/night!

Me and a friend booked last Sunday (29.12.24) the so-called "Executive-suite" at this Hotel for one night. With a room price of over 300€ per night and the pictures of the hotel, we had expectations.

Due to a change in our flight, we arrived late in the evening. When entering the hotel, especially when entering the ‘executive suite’, we were slightly shocked. The reception was more like a ticket counter at the railway station.

The ‘Executive-Suite’: The "suite" seemed like it had not been renovated for years and not cleaned for weeks. Some of the curtains were so worn that they had tears. The dining table was so worn that you could see stains and damage everywhere. No joy in eating on that table. All the inventory had some form of damage. The kitchen was ok. It had a fridge, but no drinks (no minibar). You could at least expect some small water bottles for 300 €/night. This is not what one could understand as a suite. It's a small apartment marketed as a suite, which is totally wrong!

The Bedrooms: Next we went into the bedrooms. Another thick film of dust on every shelve and table. My clothes were dirtier by the end than before. There were piles of dust in a corner next to the bedside table. I found long hair on the pillows, so restful sleep was impossible. A clear sign that this room does not fulfil the minimum hygiene requirements!

The Bathroom: There was only one large bath towel and a few small towels. We checked all the towels in case we had overlooked something. We decided to take a shower in morning after complaining.

For a suite that is supposed to be designed for 4 people, this is not acceptable. Should 4, or in this case 2 people share one bathing towel? The soap dispenser in the bathroom was worn out and had no soap. How could not anyone notice this? The bathroom itself also had a thick film of dust, as did the hairdryer. Some of the towels were dirty and torn. The shower head was partially damaged and the handle was splintered. Risk of injury! Like the rest of the bathroom, the very cheap-looking shower curtain also had clear signs of mould. This is a health hazard! The bathroom looked as if it was under construction.

Due to the late hour, our fatigue and the fact that there were no spare rooms, we could not be helped in the evening. In the morning, before breakfast, we informed the hotel of our complaints and we were only helped with a set of bath towels. We checked out after breakfast. I informed the two staff members present at that time once again that I would like file a complaint and that these conditions are not acceptable for an ‘executive suite’ in a 4* star hotel for €300/night. Apart from the statement that this can sometimes happen and that I can write an email, we received no help, apology or other compensation. Totally no acceptable behavior of the situation for a 4*-Hotel.

If you don't have rooms that meet minimum hygiene standards such as cleanliness, then you shouldn't offer them, especially not for this exorbitant price!

The conditions we experienced in no way justify the price paid nor the description, it almost borders on fraud! This room is not even worth half the price. I have stayed in many hotels in Budapest with 3* or less for 1/5 of the price. Compared to this hotel they were luxury.

Maybe it was just this room. It can happen. But then again paying 310 €/night you can except basic hygiene and professionalism from the management. Overall I can't recommend the hotel. We were fooled by the good reviews and old photos. We have already contacted Expedia for compensation and expect the management of this hotel to handle our...

Fraser Residence Budapest is located in a quieter area of Budapest. It’s very easy to find it & there are many public transportations to the city center.

Location

Fraser Residence Budapest is not located exactly in the center but I loved its location. It’s in a quiet & safe neighborhood. There are a lot of trams & buses connecting the Apartment with the center.

Since Google Maps are deeply integrated with Budapest’s transport system, its very easy to find the apartment.

Staff

The staff of Fraser Residence Budapest was warm, friendly, well-behaved & elite. The person at the reception knew a lot about the city (more than the tourism board according to the Manager! :D). He helped us a lot to get around in Budapest.

The manager had a little chat with us & he was courteous & friendly. The cleaning staff & the kitchen staff were good as well.

Sleep Quality

The best part is here. We stayed in a studio apartment. The bed was amazingly comfortable & we slept like babies. The room is very well decorated & it has everything that one might need. The cleaning takes place every day & the cleaning staff is always on time.

There was a small balcony in our room which offered good view. Overall, Fraser Residence Budapest has amazing rooms with comfortable beds & useful utilities.

Kitchen Facility

You might not expect this from a luxury apartment chain but Fraser Residence Budapest has a small kitchen inside every studio apartment. Every room is equipped with a fridge, a microwave, an electric kettle & a lot of utensils.

Their breakfast is simply WOW. There were a lot of varieties of juices, beverages, cheese, meats, breads & fruits. Do not miss their breakfast because it’s one experience you definitely do not want to miss during your stay at Fraser Residence Budapest.

Other Amenities

A long list is about to begin. Every room has an excellent connectivity to Wi-Fi & television. Fraser Residence Budapest also offers parking for guests. Just 120m away, they also have a gymnasium, superb swimming pool, sauna facility.

Other services like laundry, baby-sitting, airport transfers & concierge are moderately chargeable.

Overall

There are a very few apartments which can maintain the balance between luxury & usefulness. Fraser Residence Budapest strikes the perfect balance & that’s why we loved it.

Make sure you stay here during your visit...

I stayed for two nights at Fraser Residence, and I'm very pleased with the experience. It's a great choice for travellers who are staying in Budapest for longer as well! The location is close by city centre, two metro stops or ~15 minutes walking, also there's a shopping centre with grocery store, restaurants, cinema half a block away. The staff was very friendly and helpful, I got a lot of advice on what to see in Budapest and directions how to get to my must-visit places the easiest way. I was pleasantly surprised that the hotel manager greets all the guests during breakfast, I liked the personal attention and the manner in which all the guests are taken good care of. The breakfast was simple and tasty, every morning the dining room staff offered a different type of fresh fruit-vegetable juice. As the weather was sunny, I chose to have breakfast in the backyard terrace, which is a nice small space, full with greenery. I really liked how spacious the apartment is, and how well equipped the kitchen is, there's everything I would need if I chose to stay in and prepare a meal "at home". And I found the washing machine and dryer very convenient as usually it's a paid service in hotels, but staying for longer time, it becomes a need to wash clothing. Every apartment has a spacious balcony with a table and two chairs, which is a nice addition for dining in at summers. All in all my experience with Fraser Residence was very satisfying and I highly recommend this place to anyone who is visiting the beautiful city...