The Prestige Hotel, Budapest

Way back in June - hello, October, you're here early aren't you? - we went to Budapest. Back in June we fell in love.

When I say that we fell in love I don't mean with each other (the whole being married thing seals that deal), I mean that we fell in love with a new city, and I fell truly in love with travelling.

Budapest was a choice made by Mr M. It was a big birthday so the trip was his birthday present. How good a wife has he got?! We chatted about places he wanted to go, whether it was a week or a weekend, whether it would be an old favourite or a new adventure.

It was decided that with all the travelling we were doing this year (5 mini breaks and a week holiday seemed a fair amount) we would go for a weekend and Mr M decided he wanted to go somewhere new, somewhere neither of us had any preconceptions about. So he chose Budapest.

Because it was a birthday trip I wanted to make sure that we stayed in a nice hotel so we searched for the best deal we could, and it didn't take long to find it.

The Prestige at the time was only just a year old but was already home to Hungary's only Michelin starred restaurant, and it was an absolute steal. We booked, waited a few months, packed (far too much for a 3 night break - can someone teach me how to capsule wardrobe please?) and jetted off to an unassuming Budapest.

After a rather horrendous flight during which we were surrounded by a very drunk stag party which ended up being greeted off the plane by the lovely local authorities we arrived in Budapest. Exhausted by our 2am wake up call and our shattered dreams of a sleep on the plane we arrived at the hotel surprisingly upbeat.

It was everything we had hoped for. The reception sat beneath the stunning glass roof and a huge chandelier which glittered in the sunlight. We checked in and were led off to our bedroom - which  had been upgraded because of a certain someone's birthday.

Don't you find there's always that moment when you open a hotel room door when you hold your breath in anticipation as to what's on the other side? I needn't have bothered because what awaited us on the other side was perfection.

  

.

.

.

 Not only was the room stunning but it came with a few extra perks.

.

 

.

.

Exhausted we collapsed onto the cloud like bed and let it steal us away from the world for a few hours. Leaving us refreshed for a spot of exploring, after a bit of lunch which could only have been one thing; Goulash.

.

.

.

As one of Hungary's traditional dishes this wasn't the best I tasted during the trip but it was the first I had ever tasted and it was still pretty good.

.

.

We explored for a while getting our bearings and taking in the culture. While we explored we realised how much history the city is truly steeped in. We came across the Shoes on the Danube memorial on our travels. A sobering reminder of the atrocities of WWII it serves as tribute to the Jewish civilians who were shot in the exact spot during the war.

.

.

.

It was then that we realised what a beautiful city we were in.

We decided that there was only one thing left for us to do for the day and that was to fill our bellies. Having shopped around for places to eat earlier and realising that the prices were incredibly low everywhere we headed to the Four Seasons (well...it was a birthday trip!), where we filled up on breads, venison (him not me), the cheesiest, richest potatoes and the nicest French Toast dessert I have ever had.

.

.

.

.

.

.

Full of food, excitement for the coming days and with the fluffiest bed in the world calling our names we meandered back to the hotel and fell into bed after a quick update on the weather for the next day, handily left alongside some pillow chocolates left by the turndown service.

.

.

.

Falling asleep with grins on our faces and with the knowledge that I was gaining massive wife points by the minute.

.