Summer Holiday conundrum - Budapest, Riga, Tallin or Bucharest??

[dowie]

Thanks for all the input chaps. Seems that Budapest has clinched it
So far then it looks like we'll be going for 4 nights in June flying from Bristol (nearest but only 2 flights per week) and the 7 Season Appartment or Bohem Art Hotel seem to be ticking a lot of boxes atm and seem to be pretty close to the city centre.
Would be interested to hear where you Budapest veterans stayed too

(read: please forum - sort my holiday)

Haven't stayed in either of those but out of those two I'd personally prefer the location of the 7 Season Apartment place... that's more or less in a perfect spot in terms of easy access to transport and puts quite a few things within walking distance.

Hotel Zara is worth a look, not as good a location as that 7 season apartment place you've mentioned - but as you're going in June with a gf its worth a look as it has a swimming pool on the roof and is located in the old Jewish quarter

here's the link though obv do a search via trip advisor for discounts:

http://www.continentalhotelbudapest.com/en/

rooms are a nice standard (though seem to be a bit small) - suites are a better size

Opera Gardens Apartments:

http://www.operagardenhotel.hu/ - no roof top pool but you get a small kitchen and the location is good (IMO)

Obviously if your budget allows it then perhaps also check out the Four Seasons...

http://www.fourseasons.com/budapest/

It was originally built to house British people living in Budapest anyway...

 

[ak22]

I've been to Estonia a few time Tallinn has good night life and cafe culture, I would drive to parnu if your going in the summer as it estonias summer capital if you enjoy beach you could treat your misses to spa/mud bath.

 

[AdladUK]

As a side note the Romanian friend we had with us for most of Hungary and Romania refused to take us to Bucharest

Just curious... What were the main spots/highlights of your Romanian tour?

I've been to a couple of cities here and they are all worse than Bucharest. There seems to be a general theme all over Romania of crappy cities with absolutely bugger all to do. Bucharest may look pretty bad, but at least it has a decent number of modern facilities, clubs, restaurants and such

 

[daz]

Went to Budapest last February, had an excellent time. Lots to do and lots of culture and everything was so cheap! The ruin bars and the baths are excellent.

We got a cracking deal and stayed at the Corinthia.

 

[rossk26]

Thanks for all the input chaps. Seems that Budapest has clinched it
So far then it looks like we'll be going for 4 nights in June flying from Bristol (nearest but only 2 flights per week) and the 7 Season Appartment or Bohem Art Hotel seem to be ticking a lot of boxes atm and seem to be pretty close to the city centre.
Would be interested to hear where you Budapest veterans stayed too

(read: please forum - sort my holiday)

I stayed at the Corinthia Hotel, quite easily the nicest hotel I've ever stayed in. Got a free upgrade when I checked in too.

http://www.corinthia.com/hotels/budapest/

Excellent location with the tram stop just outside the front door (Budapest is massive, so you'll need a 3/4 day travel card).

 

[AdladUK]

I stayed at the Corinthia Hotel, quite easily the nicest hotel I've ever stayed in. Got a free upgrade when I checked in too.

This place looks lovely. I've actually decided to take my GF to Budapest for her birthday and we'll stay here, so thanks for that. Also gonna do the gun place (thanks to whoever posted that).

I actually fired guns in Bangkok and it was grossly over priced and way too short. This one in Budapest looks 10x better.

It's less than a 2 hour flight from Bucharest, so it won't be too bad

 

[task]

Just curious... What were the main spots/highlights of your Romanian tour?

I've been to a couple of cities here and they are all worse than Bucharest. There seems to be a general theme all over Romania of crappy cities with absolutely bugger all to do. Bucharest may look pretty bad, but at least it has a decent number of modern facilities, clubs, restaurants and such

Driving the Transfagarasan was great fun and probably the highlight for me was some awesome views and some refreshing cold air along with the activities hotel we stayed in after we'd driven it.

Sighisoara was stunning and pretty interesting, Brasov was a genuinely lovely place. Great bars, lovely surroundings with the mountains and ski resorts etc (although they were shut as it was summer).

We spent 2 nights in Mamaia/Constanta in a resort, which the GF loved but I wasn't so impressed with.

Our final stop was 2 nights in Cluj, which seemed like a pretty nice place in general, couple of nice bars and some good food.

I keep threatening to do a write-up on our whole road trip, I have 100's of photos and a few videos, I'll get round to it one day.