Budapest - Golden Park Hotel

I am usually happy if my hotel is clean and feels safe. Golden Park is certainly that. But it sits on the Teleti Station Square at the edge of the Eighth District. So we arrived. The Hotel is pleasant if a little jaded and sat down to read our copy of the Rough Guide and it said that the eighth district is to be avoided as were the Underpasses and subways of Teleti Station. We bought a 48 hour bus tour ticket for a cheap 5000 HUF. And set off to enjoy the day. We were constantly approached by beggars and when we returned that evening to be approached, close to the Hotel, by a gang of four drunks begging. That put the kybosh on any night time activity. Fortunately next to the Hotel is the very good Italian Restaurant, Etna II.
Breakfast at the hotel was unappetising. The Hotel caters for school groups from over Europe, who it must be said were all very well behaved.
Budapest itself is very attractive, there is a lot of improvement work going on. The streets of Pest have a very Parisian feel. It was very safe to wander down back streets. Take a look into courtyards where behind closed doors there is some amazing architecture. There are lots of good restaurants at ridiculously good prices. Buda is completely different, see that on the bus tour, get off and go up to the castle in the Funicular. Szentendre is well worth visiting, but it gets very busy in the summer. In all we felt that we didn't gel with the place and that perhaps we should have taken a shorter break.
So all in all the break was spoilt by the location of the Hotel.