Search Travel Market Report

UNI
UNI
mainlogo
  • News
  • Tours & Packages
  • Cruise
  • Hotels & Resorts
  • Destinations
  • Retail Strategies
  • Niche & Luxury
  • People & Events
  • Training
  • Who We Are
    • Dan McCarthy
    • Denise Caiazzo
    • David Cogswell
    • Marilee Crocker
    • Richard D'Ambrosio
    • Steve Gillick
    • Mary Gostelow
    • Maria Lisella
    • Jessica Montevago
    • Paul M. Ruden
    • Daine Taylor
    • Barbara Peterson

Four Seasons Hotel Gresham Palace Budapest, Ideal for Pre- or Post-River Cruising

by Mary Gostelow / February 25, 2019
Four Seasons Hotel Gresham Palace Budapest, Ideal for Pre- or Post-River Cruising

The Four Seasons Hotel Gresham Palace Budapest is a mere two minutes' walk from the Pest end of Budapest's signature Chain Bridge.


As always, every week from March through to October, about ten top-level Danube river cruises

start or end right in the center of Budapest, Hungary. Although the vessels can be up to 443 feet long, their width is governed by narrow canals further upstream, which means they carry an average of only 130 passengers. Most of the visitors getting on or getting off will choose to stay at least one night in beautiful Budapest.

The most stylish pre- or post-hotel is, without a doubt, the Four Seasons Hotel Gresham Palace Budapest. For a start, its location is unique: It is a mere two minutes' walk from the Pest end of Budapest's signature Chain Bridge. And just look at the 179-room hotel's exterior, designed by English architect William Tierney in 1839, and later rebuilt by local architect Sigmund Quittner as the headquarters of Gresham Life Assurance.

is a mere two minutes' walk from the Pest end of Budapest's signature Chain Bridge
The hotel's Kollázs Brasserie & Bar.

In these days of the importance of history, consider this: The six-floor palace was blown up in both World Wars, and it was briefly the headquarters of the Red Army. In 1998, a Toronto-based lawyer, Béla W Fejér, a friend of Isadore Sharp, acquired development rights to what was an empty shell, replete with rocket holes. Jump forward to June 2004, and thanks to brilliant work by both architects and Richmond International, we have the Four Seasons Hotel Gresham Palace Budapest.

Yves Giacometti − a Parisian who, after obtaining a law degree, diverted to hotel management − has been at the property since 2010. This is a hotelier who is not afraid to make decisions. He and the current owners, Oman's State General Reserve Fund, decided to evolve the former fine dining restaurant to what must surely be the world's most luxurious Hungarian bistro, Kollázs Brasserie & Bar. This is an all-day, first-floor space, with 120 seats, that local A-listers and politicians, as well as hotel guests, love. At breakfast, choices range from must-try foie gras omelettes through to jolly-good coffee to-go from Kollázs' own kiosk.

Yves Giacometti, GM Four Seasons Hotel Gresham Palace Budapest, in the hotel lobby (
Yves Giacometti, GM Four Seasons Hotel Gresham Palace Budapest, in the hotel lobby.

On the lodging side, my favorites are the pair of 915-square-feet Chain Bridge Suites, both on the second floor, both facing the bridge and the river. And, they come with round-trip airport transport.

One of the many outstanding memories of my stay here, by the way, was that the Nespresso machines come with exquisitely hand-painted floral porcelain cups and saucers, by Herend porcelain, still made, as it has been since 1826, in that Hungarian town.

Just over 58 percent of all hotel guests are from North America. Repeaters know to take swim gear, for the 70-foot indoor pool, which is up at the enclosed rooftop level, just below the good Technogym, opens 6 a.m. In the summer, really keen runners can opt for a cardio-testing zigzag circuit over the bridge and up the hill to Buda Castle, two miles from there and back. The hotel's spa offers Biologique Récherché, as well as Hungary's own Omorovicza products.

Shopaholics may have to trek ten minutes to Déak Street for the best selections. But, if you can keep away from retail therapy here, at the hotel, you have style and elegance, coupled with history and entertainment. The hotel's lobby, for instance, was used as movie set in the 2015 movie, “Spy,” with Jude Law. And, with 9 percent of the total rooms business coming from Budapest's highly active movie industry, you can be quite sure a hotel stay may coincide with such names as Harrison Ford, Tom Hanks, Rosamund Pike, or Charlize Theron. The hotel's concierge team, led by Peter Buday, can also arrange visits to some of the movie studios, about a 30-minute drive away. Origo Film Group, for instance, has nine complete soundstages, one of which was used for the main shooting of “Blade Runner 2049,” with Ryan Gosling and Harrison Ford (though some shots of what was supposed to be a Los Angeles casino were filmed in Budapest's former Stock Exchange).

The hotel's Presidential Suite.
The hotel's Presidential Suite.

  0
  0

MOST VIEWED

Brought To You By
  1. The 15 Most Anticipated Hotel Openings in 2020
  2. U.S. and U.K. Issue Advisory for Women Traveling to India
  3. Abercrombie & Kent Acquires Cox & Kings UK
  4. What is the Process Like for Getting a REAL ID?
  5. Black Friday and Cyber Monday Hotel Deals
  6. Here are the Airlines Where You are Most Likely to Get Bumped

MOST EMAILED

Brought To You By
  1. State Department Issues Travel Advisory to Hong Kong as Unrest Continues
Tip of the Day
Brought To You By

“It’s our responsibility to become resources and be known with our congresspeople so they know who we are. As travel companies, we are continuing to grow and all that helps both our local constituents and local economy. We don’t just want to go to them when there’s a problem, we want them to go now.”

Jennifer Wilson-Buttigieg

Valerie Wilson Travel 

 Share...
Daily Top List
Brought To You By

Best Budget travel destinations

1. San Antonio, Texas

2. Puebla, Mexico 

3. Hawaii

4. St. Helena

5. Province of Laguna, the Philippines 

6. The Balkan Peninsula 

Source: Forbes.com

 Share...
Previous Daily Top List
TMR Recommendations
Villas of Distinction
Explore over 2,000 luxury villas, backed by our award-winning service & 25 years of experience.
hbar
RSSC
Enjoy... It's All Included. You really can have it all aboard Regent Seven Seas Cruises.
hbar
Luxury Gold
Delve into breathtaking Colombia with Luxury Gold's New 2020 journey #luxurygoldmoments
hbar
Riviera
Explore Europe's iconic waterways with the UK's leading river cruise line, earn lifetime commissions
hbar
South Africa Tourism
With activity-rich experiences that demonstrate excellent value for money, now's the perfect time to #MeetSouthAfrica
hbar
Top Stories
What Successful Travel Advisors Have to Say About Deciding on a Niche
What Successful Travel Advisors Have to Say About Deciding on a Niche

Travel advisors reveal their secrets of how they developed travel specializations that bolstered their businesses.

 Read...
Four Seasons Signs Second Resort on Mexico’s Baja Peninsula
Four Seasons Signs Second Resort on Mexico’s Baja Peninsula

Set to open in 2022, the new-build resort will sit on more than 50 oceanfront acres, with sweeping ocean views and a mountain backdrop.

 Read...
New York Times Tells Consumers to Use an Agent for Luxury Travel
New York Times Tells Consumers to Use an Agent for Luxury Travel

The columnist learned first-hand that when booking a high-end vacation, using a travel agency can mean scoring perks and benefits that would cost hundreds, at no cost to the traveler.

 Read...
Specialization Shift: 5 Tips on How to Reinvent Your Travel Business Through Specialization
Specialization Shift: 5 Tips on How to Reinvent Your Travel Business Through Specialization

Whether its destinations or demographics, safaris or family travel, it’s clear that travel advisors embrace specialization because it allows them to stand out with customers.

 Read...
Hurtigruten Names MS Roald Amundsen in Antarctica
Hurtigruten Names MS Roald Amundsen in Antarctica

The ship is a first of its kind for the cruise industry, as the world’s first hybrid vessel, dually powered by diesel engines and massive battery packs onboard.

 Read...
The 10 Most Festive Christmas Towns in the U.S. for 2019
The 10 Most Festive Christmas Towns in the U.S. for 2019

As these destinations bring to life the spirit of Christmas, each is worth visiting in its own right, or any of these places can be added onto a nearby, scheduled family holiday visit.

 Read...
News Briefs
  • Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection Names First Ship
  • Upscale Travelers Continue to Seek Out New Destinations
  • Luxury Gold Unveils 2020 Worldwide Launch with Three New Journeys
  • The Ritz-Carlton, St. Thomas to Make Its Return in December
  • Scenic Adds Two New Itineraries to Eclipse’s Debut Season
  • Hyatt Announces Plans First Alila Branded Resort in Europe
TMR Outlooks
Ocean Outlook 2019
River Cruise Outlook 2019
Niche Outlook
View All
About Travel Market Report Mission Editorial Staff Advisory Board Advertise Travel Trade Readership Report
TMR Resources Webinars Calendar of Events
Subscribe to TMR
Select Language
Do You Have an Idea Email
editor@travelmarketreport.com
Give Us a Call
1-(516) 730-3097
Drop Us a Note
Travel Market Report
243 South Street, OysterBay, NY, 11771
News|Leisure Travel|Land Vacations|Cruise|Canada Retail Strategies|People|Luxury|Training
© 2005 - 2019 Travel Market Report, an American Marketing Group Inc. Company All Rights Reserved | 243 South Street, Oyster Bay, NY, 11771 USA | Telephone (516) 730-3097| Terms and Conditions
Cookie Policy Privacy Policy