Andrei - The Great Room
Location: Budapest, Hungary, Europe (Budapest's Left Bank -- Galleries, Cafes, Museums and Pubs) View Map
Accommodations: Apartment, 1 Bedroom + Convertible bed(s), 1.5 Baths (Sleeps 4-5)
UNIQUE OFFER: January 10 - February 29 is our slowest season, but we love this apartment so much that we rather see it doing something of value than sit empty in mid-winter. We ourselves are retired academics and welcome proposals from retiree and academics of any age who have a reason to be in Budapest this winter ,,, tell us about your trip (about 200-500 words) and how much you can afford (one week minimum) and if we are in sync, you can SET YOUR OWN RATE
We list several Budapest apartments on VRBO, each with a distinctive and different personality, designed to appeal to a different sort of traveler. Apartment Andrei is our newest, with a casual elegance for a relaxed and civilized stay. Larger than our others, a bit further from the din of the business district and the tourists flocking like lemmings down pedestrianized theme park streets, Andrei is still in the heart of town, within the innermost ringroad (Korut) that arcs in a semicircle on the Pest side of the Danube.
Easy access to public transit -- the 4/6 tram along the Korut, the north/south Blue Metro -- all the major sights are nonetheless within an easy walk ... the nearest are just a block or so away (the Museum of Applied Arts and Raday utca, the gallery and café center of the city); the National Museum is a bit further; the farthest are less than two miles away (Parliament perhaps). In between lie the Basilica, the Great Synagogue, the Opera House, the Operetta Theatre, the Music Academy, the Central Market Hall, Vaci utca ... all just an amble away, a stroll interrupted by a cup of coffee at the Eckermann, a glass of fresh limonade the Cafe Alibi, a Francia Kremes at the Auguszt patisserie, a Soproni beer at the Cafe Gerloczy.
You enter the apartment from the walkway above the courtyard, walking through a foyer past the bedroom with en suite bath, the wc, the washer/dryer/utility room into the spacious and stately living room -- 26' x 18' with its long far wall and high ceilings opening onto a 25' balcony that overlooks the verdant historic churchyard in the heart of the IXth district. The town hall is on this same square (Bakats ter), and it fronts on the bustle of the semi-pedestrianized Raday utca. But here at the back of the square, it is tranquil and soothing ... all you hear are the birds, all you see is the slightly tattered landscaped park behind the church.
A vacation away can be more than a hurtle at warp speed from one tourist geegaw to the next. It can be a restful sojourn, a respite from a busy life, an immersion into a familiar but pleasantly alien culture. A step sideways in space, a bit backwards in time, Andrei is comfortably situated in a Budapest lifestyle that is not just reminiscent of the grand cafe life between the wars, but actually presents its embodiment and draws you into it as though you were a family member not a traveling stranger.
Priced like apartments half its size, with twice the grace and a unique ambience, Andrei is ideal for up to four guests, manageable for up to five. We recommend a stay of five or more nights to capture the city's rhythm and immerse yourself into the warm bath of its lifestyle.
Our basic philosophy as hosts is not about providing the fanciest or grandest place to stay (though there’s nothing wrong with fancy or grand). What we want to create is the magical sense that you have just walked through a formerly locked door in your own home, a door that you’ve somehow never noticed before. And on the other side of that door you discover a small suite of rooms, indisputably yours -- a continuation of the rest of your apartment or house, comforting and cozy and everything in exactly the place you expect it to be -- and when you look out through the windows you are gazing into the heart of Budapest.
A recent guest pretty much sums it up:
"As a very busy owner of a small, medical education business, I travel ALOT all over the world and try to find apartments that have the amenities I need but also allow me to experience something more that the board room or conference center of a chain hotel. When searching for a place for me and my staff to stay in Budapest, I came across two connecting apartments in the heart of town. Although not the luxury penthouses that I might usually gravitate to, they had a special quality about them that caused me to enquire about them to the owner. From the moment I started interacting with John about his and Jeanne's apartments Sarah and Belle, I was transported wonderfully and amazingly to a country and city I have never visited: With the help of John's detailed descriptions and user-friendly Budapest manual, I felt supported in my trip in a manner I had never previously experienced. Not only were the apartments immaculate, sweet and complete, we never once were at a loss of what to do, where to get something we needed and who to contact for those little--and big--situations that are bound to occur on any trip. All four of us had a wonderful time, but we would not have had half the good time we had w/o staying at this very picturesque Budapest apartment. I could sing opera about the entire thing ..."
Vacation Rental Features
- Amenities
- Air Conditioning
- Linens Provided
- Elevator
- Washer
- Dryer
- Beds
- Queen Bed
- Convertible Bed
- Entertainment
- Cable/Satellite TV
- DVD
- Video Library
- Stereo System
- Kitchen
- Full Kitchen
- Cooking Utensils Provided
- Refrigerator
- Dishwasher
- Microwave
- Outdoor Features
- Balcony
- View/Location
- Monument View
- Communications
- Telephone
- Free Long Distance
- Cell Phone
- Computer
- Broadband Internet
- WiFi (Wireless Internet)
- Other Amenities
- Free unlimited international calling, use of a Hungarian mobile phone, Nespresso coffee system and coffees, high speed internet, printer/fax, washer/dryer/dishwasher/convection oven/microwave.
- Suitability
- No Pets Allowed
- Kid Friendly
- Smoking Not Allowed
- Activities
- Shopping
- Antiquing
- Live Theatre
- Restaurants
- Cinemas/Movie Theaters
- Museums
- Other Activities
- This is Budapest's bohemian district, its Greenwich Village or Rive Gauche. Teeming with cafes and galleries, just blocks from the National Museum and the Museum of Applied Arts, one block from Ray utca, two blocks from Krudy Gyula utca, across from a historic church, with a panoramic 25' balcony overlooking the churchyard. There are music festivals and book fairs down Raday and in front of the church several times a year, an ATM at the corner, a world-class patisserie one block away, the Cafe Eckermann of the Goethe Institute around the corner. Music and art at the IF Cafe just down the street, blues clubs in three directions... Three minutes to the Danube on foot, seven minutes to the Central Market Hall, a block from the Ring Road and the 4/6 Tram line or the Blue Metro. The vibrant Budapest beyond the tourist venues and the shopping malls.
Rate Details (In Euros)
Winter: Nov-March 15 .......... €60/night (1-2 adults), min 3 nights
SUPER WINTER SPECIAL: 1 adults, 8+, €25/night, or apply to PAY WHAT YOU CAN AFFORD
Spring, Fall: April or October ...... €100/night (1-2 adults), min 3 nights
Summer: May-Jun-Jul-Aug-Sep .. €110/night (1-2 adults), min 3 nights
Each additional guest (maximum of 5) +€15/night
Christmas-New Years (Dec 15-Jan 10) at Summer rates
Cleaning fee of 25 Euros/week,
everything is included-linens, utilities, int'l telephone
Note: Until confirmed, rates are subject to change without notice.
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Credit Cards Accepted:
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Map & Owner's Profile
Year Purchased: 2008
Why the Owner Chose Budapest
We are passionate about Budapest and want to share that enthusiasm with our guests. We would be happy to assist in any way we can to help you have a wonderful trip whether you stay with us or elsewhere. Unless you speak Hungarian, booking tickets to concerts or events can be daunting, and are best handled in advance because so much sells out so swiftly...we are happy to take care of this kind of thing, advise about the city, or book a reservation in a restaurant for the day you arrive (though you may be weary by then).
The Unique Benefits at this Apartment
Apartment Andrei combines the amenity of our other apartments -- careful restoration, antique and period furnishings, luxury kitchens and baths, high tech infrastructure, plush towels, free unlimited international phone calls, Nespresso coffee system -- with the 19th Century grace and charm of a distinguished location overlooking a historic churchyard. A 26'x18' living room with a 26' long balcony over the landscaped courtyard, modern kitchen, dishwasher, washer, dryer, custom shower, separate wc...
A restful vacation rental, lovingly restored with period antiques and modern technology. Majestic 26' x 18' living room opens onto a 25' balcony overlooking the heart of Budapest's bohemian IXth Dist
Owner's Map of Budapest
Jeanne and John visited in 2001 with John's father's younger brother, spent a weekend and fell in love with it. We purchased and renovated these apartments for our own use (Belle and Sarah are our daughters, Max is our son; Andrei and Olive our grandchildren) and only rent them when we are not using them ourselves for friends and family (we have another apartment where we stay ourselves, not very far away).
Property Photos
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- Andrei - The Great Room - Budapest Apartment Close to the Major Sites
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- Your street... - Budapest Apartment Close to the Major Sites
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- Your 26' balcony overlooking the park... - Budapest Apartment Close to the Major Sites
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- Entering Apartment Andrei
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- The dining area in Andrei's Great Room
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- The entertainment area with sofabed (chairs also join to form a single bed)
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- Antique deco computer workstation
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- Kitchen with granite counters and Nespresso bar
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- Kitchen pass thru to great room
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- The bedroom with sliding mirrored closet door
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- En suite bathroom with custom shower and antique vanity
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- Dressing Corner of Bedroom, at entry to bathroom
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- WC with antique washstand
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- Wazsher/Dryer corner of WC
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- Night view of the square from the living room.
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- Floor plan
Traveler Reviews (21)
Wonderful Apartment in Budapest
Guest: poshardqueen
(Pleasant Hill, CA USA)
Date of Stay: 10/11/11
Review Submitted: 02/06/12
We stayed at Apt. Andrei for 5 nights in October 2011. Communicating in advance with the owner John was very convenient. He is full of good information and very responsive to questions and providing pertinent advice. This apartment is in a convenient part of the city with easy access to public transportation, both the metro and the bus/tram. We felt safe in the neighborhood at all times of the day and night. The apartment itself is in a nice building. It has been renovated while still maintaining the charm of an older building, for example beautiful molding and doors and some antique furniture blended with a modern kitchen and dining area. The kitchen offered a nicely stocked small refrigerator with items such as milk, eggs, cheese, lunchmeat, etc; a Nespresso machine with plenty of coffee “shots”; several plates of fresh pastries; a wonderful bottle of good wine. There was a washer and dryer, which was a huge help as well as a money and time saver. John provided a bathing bag, which made going to the baths so easy (we went to Szechenyi). We were a family of four, two parents and two adult children. The apartment has one bedroom and the living area has a very comfortable leather couch that folds into a queen bed. Although we didn’t use it often, there is a large flat screen TV and a nice assortment of DVD’s. Also provided is a cell phone, a computer, and power strip that could charge multiple US electronic items. Budapest is a wonderful city, and we could not have picked a better place to stay than Apartment Andrei. It truly feels like a “home away from home”.
Recommended for:Romantic getaway, tourists without a car, sightseeing, adventure seekers, girls getaway, age 55+, families with teenagers.
Home Away from Home
Guest: Kris and Brian
(Allentown, PA)
Date of Stay: 10/21/11
Review Submitted: 11/13/11
Beautiful apartment. All the conviences right at your finger tips. Beautfully furnished; no Ikea furniture to be found anywhere. Nice location. Its away from the hustle and bustle but yet a short walking distance to the Metro. Also very close to restaurants and a wonderful bakery. The owner John was extremely helpful, and even called the day we arrived to make sure everything was in order. He also left us wine and flowers for our anniversary! Would recommend this apartment as a top notch stay!
Recommended for:Romantic getaway, tourists without a car, sightseeing, adventure seekers, age 55+, families with young children.
Loved the city, love the apartment
Guest: Kazuyo
(Portland, Oregon)
Date of Stay: 10/06/11
Review Submitted: 11/08/11
This apartment made our first visit to Budapest a very special one. Located in a quiet street in front of a church, this apartment building is historic and elegant but inside was with modern facility including wifi, flat screen TV, washer/dryer, nice shower room, and modern kitchen with wonderful coffee maker. We felt at home immediately. What made our stay special was Rader Street and the owner's city guide. We found on Rader Street many great restaurants and cafes. We also loved the neighbor bakery's traditional cakes right around the corner from the apartment. The restaurant guide was fun and we enjoyed some of the best restaurants in the city thanks to it. We fell in love with Budapest and would love to go back and stay in Andrei.
Recommended for:Romantic getaway, tourists without a car, sightseeing, adventure seekers, girls getaway, age 55+.
Classy, elegant, well-located in Budapest
Guest: Michigander
(Sao Paulo, Brazil)
Date of Stay: 05/24/11
Review Submitted: 07/01/11
The Apt. Andrei really has everything you'd want in Budapest. Washer and Drier, balcony overlooking church square, hardwood floors, walk-in shower, and so much more. Really, a comfortable, convenient, and quiet place.
Recommended for:Romantic getaway, tourists without a car, sightseeing, age 55+.
Andrei the best place to stay in Budapest
Guest: Clara and Joe
(Hilton Head,SC - USA)
Date of Stay: 05/20/11
Review Submitted: 06/29/11
My wife and I wanted to enjoy Budapest as part of the local scene. Apartment Andrei made that happen for us and gave us great memories. The Apartment is located in a great neighborhood, with one of the best pastry bakeries in Budapest down the street, is adjacent to a street full of wonderful cafes, and is located across from a park with an old church as it's centerpiece. We had a group of 16 over who were going on a river cruise with us for a Bon Voyage party and the living room and dining room handled this group with ease. The proximity to the Main Market made shopping for the snacks an adventure in it's own right. The apartment has excellent features including a great bathroom complete with a showers that is relief after staying with so many small ones where you felt like you were in a closet. The LAN computer, free international phone, (also workd for local calls) was a great help in coordinating our get together and checking in with the family at home. The owners guide to Budapest is a guide book in itself. His tips and suggesting for dinning were excellent and we passed them along to our whole group. He called to check on our stay and was most helpful. The apartment was well stocked with essentials for our arrival and you had the feeling that He really wanted us to have a enjoyable stay. Getting to the apartment was a snap using the driver recommended and he became our transportation coordinator arranging for cabs at different times to take our guests home at night. We mostly used the subway for our visits and tours of the city and the nearby station was close, the trains convenient and easy to use with fast service. This rental turned out to be one of the best VRBO rentals we have had over several years and we would highly recommend staying here to anyone wishing to enjoy Budapest as a local.
Recommended for:Romantic getaway, tourists without a car, sightseeing, adventure seekers, girls getaway, age 55+, families with young children, families with teenagers.
Fantastic Budapest Apt for Family
Guest: Heather M.
(Woodstock Ontario Canada)
Date of Stay: 10/31/10
Review Submitted: 02/09/11
We stayed at apt Andrei with our 10 year old daughter. It was set up great for a family, fully equipped in every aspect, all needs anticipated, minutes to cafes, grocery shopping, boutiques, transit, museums - there were no drawbacks. Driver was arranged with apt owner so no searching for a cab at the airport, property manager greeted us at the apt, explained the amenities, even stocked the kitchen with fresh pastries, a bottle of wine and noshes. The computer access provided is a brilliant amenity - never had this at any other rental. Dvds, music, books, and antique accents made the apt feel like a home. The best thought out and most useful item that came with this rental was the huge pdf file provided by John that was better than any travel book I'd read from the library, pre-arrival. Anything I needed to know was contained within -from grocs to wine to great hidden gems of places to eat, drink, and people watch. We spent much time on the balcony with morning coffee and evening wine, watching people come home from work, taking their dogs for a run in the churchyard across the way or their little ones for before dinner playtime. If you rent this apt - go and go often to the Cafe If on Raday utca. The owners refer to it as a favourite spot - it was ours the week we spent at apt Andrei. We plan to return to Budapest, we will rent apt andrei again if we go and would tell family or friends to rent this or anything else the Faragos have on offer - they are superb hosts.
Recommended for:Romantic getaway, tourists without a car, sightseeing, adventure seekers, girls getaway, age 55+, families with young children.
Superb Budapest Apartment
Guest: J & M
(Denver, Colorado)
Date of Stay: 07/25/10
Review Submitted: 10/16/10
This apartment exceeded our expectations. We enjoyed everything about the unit. It has a large living room with TV, full kitchen, dining area, good size bedroom and bathroom, and a balcony with a great view of an old church. It was very clean and had been recently remodeled, so everything was in very good condition. The location was perfect for walking to all the nice restaurants and shops in the main district. The Danube was within walking distance as well. The apartment had several maps and guides to Budapest, including a short guide written by the apartment owners that described some of their favorite restaurants and shops. If we go back to Budapest we will definitely rent this apartment again.
Recommended for:Romantic getaway, tourists without a car, sightseeing, adventure seekers.
An elegant apartment in an elegant city!
Guest: Andrea
(Melbourne, Australia)
Date of Stay: 08/25/10
Review Submitted: 09/13/10
As I have read in a previous review, I could rave about Apartment Andrei for pages. My husband and I are in Budapest for 2 months and have rented Andrei for the entire period so we really have a feel for what a great apartment and location it is. We love being a couple of blocks from the Danube. The apartment itself is very large with high ceilings and every home comfort you could ask for – heating, air conditioning, laundry, coffee maker, full kitchen, washer/dryer, satellite tv, dvd player with dvds, an excellent wifi connection and a computer if you don’t have your own. The owner, John, has written easy-to-follow directions for absolutely everything. He has also written up many suggestions for local food and entertainment. The neighbourhood is within the bounds of the inner city but differs from staying right in the center. In District IX, you feel you are more of a part of the real Budapest with locals, tourists and ex-pats around. It is easy to get by with English or German at the many restaurants close by but there are also grocery stores and shops where you can have the fun of trying to communicate with people who only know a few words of English. We very much enjoy being out walking with locals who are going to work or doing their shopping instead of just ending up in a crowd of tourists fresh off their boat or bus. Raday utca is only metres away and is full of restaurants and bars to suit all prices ranges – from cheap to Hungary’s first Michelin-starred restaurant, Costes. Our current favourite is a jazz café around the corner open from 8 am until late where you can go for anything from breakfast, coffee, lunch, dinner or live music. You can comfortably walk to the north end of the inner city in only half an hour but the heart of the city can be reached in 15 minutes. There is also easy access to trams, buses and trains to take you anywhere you want to go in the inner or outer city, on either the Buda or Pest side of the river. You simply couldn’t have a better contact person than John to make your stay in Budapest perfect.
Recommended for:Romantic getaway, tourists without a car, sightseeing, adventure seekers, girls getaway, age 55+, families with young children, families with teenagers.
Don't stay anywhere else in Budapest (except for the other 5 apts. from same people)
Guest: Lisanne
(Seattle, WA)
Date of Stay: 06/21/10
Review Submitted: 08/27/10
I rented two apartments in Budapest from the incredibly helpful and detail-oriented owner, John Farago. He so graciously helped us in every step of the way. We were two adults and four 20-somethings. From the beginning I could tell that this would be a deluxe top of the line apartment rental experience. I have rented many apartments, in the US and in Europe, and I have never had such a feeling of excellence in all aspects of the process. Nor has a host ever imparted such a love of a city (Budapest) and its people with quite obvious joy and wonder. John offered several combinations of apartments that might work for us. I am so glad we took one of his suggestions--my husband and I would take (the very spacious) Andrei, and the four kids could all fit into the smaller but oh so lovely Olive. This was the best of everything. We also went with John's recommendation to have his driver pick us up, a great idea. I agree with all the other 5 star recommendations here. From the minute you arrive in one of the apartments, there is such welcoming and comfort. Wine, cheese, snacks, eggs, butter, coffee! Andrei--it is not in the main part of town, which I really liked. Still very much in town, though. Right near the Danube, across the river is the Gellert Spa and the cool hill to climb. Andrei is close to the metro, short walk to the awesome Central Market (one bridge length away). It took us about 15 minutes to walk into the main part of Budapest, where Olive is. Lovely walk. Always different and always something new to see. Great little stores around to pick up last minute milk, wine cheese, ajvar! Right out the windows of Andrei, sitting on the long balcony, you see the church, all lit up at night. So beautiful. We did not sleep in the bedroom as there are no windows there, we slept in the spacious living room with the lovely, comfy fold out couch. I had all the windows open. It was quiet at night. Andrei has a huge living room, dining room and TV area all in one. We never watched the TV or the movies, but the kids in Olive did and were very happy with the choices. I loved the bathroom and the shower--hot water, clean, light, roomy. John even has extra contact lens soln. available in the vanity! Along with little packets of shampoo, shaving cream, etc. I cannot imagine returning to Budapest and NOT staying in one of John's apartments. I would change my dates to accommodate the schedule if need be.
Recommended for:Romantic getaway, tourists without a car, sightseeing, girls getaway, age 55+, families with young children, families with teenagers.
Amazingly good value
Guest: Ken
(San Diego, USA)
Date of Stay: 07/08/10
Review Submitted: 08/22/10
My daughter and I stayed at Apartment Andrei in early July 2010. I was stunned by the apartment when I first walked in. The high ceilings, the decor, the amenities that John has included, were all absolutely first-rate. The attention to detail was fantastic. John strives to make the place seem just like home, and he succeeds admirably. I cannot recommend John and this apartment more highly. In fact, my sister and her husband are considering a trip to Budapest and I've told them they HAVE to stay in one of John's apartments! It was extremely hot during our stay, so we made full use of the portable air conditioner. It lacks the capacity to chill the entire apartment the way a central AC system can, but it certainly made our stay much more comfortable. John has also thoughtfully included a large floor fan, and between that and the AC we were perfectly comfortable temperature-wise. This apartment is a bit off the beaten track, and older tourists might prefer to stay closer to the major attractions. Even so, we walked to most places, taking the subway or trams occasionally on particularly hot days. There are many restaurants within easy walking distance (John describes them all in the guides he's written and leaves in the apartment). The food and wine in Budapest were excellent, some of the best I've had anywhere. In short, this was the best home-away-from-home I've ever seen, for a price comparable to or less than staying at a hotel. I wish all my trips could be this good! Thank you John!
Recommended for:Romantic getaway, tourists without a car, sightseeing, adventure seekers, families with young children, families with teenagers.
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