Bratislava, Slovakia is an under-the-radar European city, especially in comparison to other nearby hotspots like Vienna and Prague. However, this small-but-mighty Slovakian capital offers a charming old town neighborhood that has the traditional European appeal without the large crowds you’ll find in Bratislava’s more famous counterparts.

If you are looking for Bratislava hotels, my biggest recommendation is to stay in Old Town. Outside of this area, Bratislava didn’t feel as safe, which is also why I’d only recommend no more than two days here. During my two-day trip in Bratislava, I stayed at the Hotel Elisabeth Old Town. In this review, I’ll share my honest thoughts about this hotel based on my experience there.

Hotel Elisabeth Bratislava Location
The Hotel Elisabeth’s location is hard to beat. It’s located at the edge of Old Town (A.K.A. where all the tourist attractions are) but still walkable to the city’s main train station. During my time there, it was about a 30-minute walk to the train station. While some hotels may be further into Old Town, the convenience of walkability to the train station gave this hotel a huge leg up in my opinion.

Elisabeth Old Town Bratislava Hotel Prices
For a two-night stay in a single room, I paid $147, which equates to about $66 per night. In general, Bratislava was far cheaper than other European cities, which meant cheaper hotel prices. And, in the case of the Elisabeth, this hotel had one of the best rates considering the location. While you may find cheaper prices elsewhere, consider the location. Old Town felt considerably safer than other parts of the city closer to the train station, so if safety is also a priority, I think this place is a good find.

Hotel Elisabeth Rooms
My room here was small, but for just me, it was plenty of space. Keep in mind that the bed you get is only a Twin size, so if you prefer something larger, you may need to make a special request or just book a bigger room. The bathroom was clean, and there was a window in both the bedroom area and the bathroom in case you need some air. 

The only downside was that the hot water took a minute to kick in, but once it did, everything was fine. Towels and soap are provided in the room as well.

Pros: What I Liked About the Hotel Elisabeth

• Earlier check-in time -  Check-in time for the Hotel Elisabeth was 2 p.m., which is considerably earlier than other places that don’t have check-in until 3 or 4 p.m. They also provide a storage room for you to leave your luggage if you arrive early. 
• Convenient location - This hotel is walkable to both the tourist sites in Old Town and the main train station.
• Affordable prices - For two nights, I only paid $147, making this one of the best deals during my most recent European trip.

Cons: What I Didn’t Like 

• Hot water takes time - This may have been because my trip was during winter, but the hot water took a little longer to kick in. While I wouldn’t consider this a dealbreaker, it was the only real negative I found with this place.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why is Bratislava famous?
Bratislava is famous for being Slovakia’s capital city and its historic Old Town, which has medieval-era origins. Old Town Bratislava is where you’ll find notable landmarks like Bratislava Castle, Michael’s Gate, and St. Martin’s Cathedral.

Where is Elisabeth Old Town?
The Elisabeth Old Town is located near the edge of Bratislava’s Old Town neighborhood, about a 30-minute walk from Hlavná stanica, the city’s main train station. The hotel’s official address is Klemensova 2523/2, 811 09 Bratislava, Slovakia. 

Is Bratislava worth visiting?
I think Bratislava is worth visiting, especially since it’s so close to Vienna. You can either stay in Bratislava and take a day trip to Vienna or stay in Vienna and do a day trip to Bratislava. If you stay in Bratislava, you don’t need more than two days here.

Where is the old town in Bratislava?
The beginning of Old Town Bratislava is about a 30-minute walk south from Hlavná stanica train station. Old Town doesn’t sit directly against the Danube river, but it’s closer to it. 

​​Transparency Disclosure — The opinions on this website are independent and based on my own personal experiences. I may receive a referral fee for stays booked through the links on this site.

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Budapest is one of the most famous—and frequently visited—cities in Europe. But like most major European cities, it’s not always easy to know where to stay. For some, location is everything, while others consider hospitality or pricing as top considerations. And the golden nugget is something that offers excellent hospitality in a central location on a budget.

I recently visited Budapest for the first time and stayed at the Meininger Budapest Great Market Hall. This place functions as either a hotel or hostel, depending on the type of room you book. While I booked a private room all to myself, my dad went for the four-person dorm option. I’ll share my thoughts on the Meininger Budapest Great Market Hall as a hotel, along with the hostel side of things based on my dad’s experience.

Meininger Budapest Great Market Hall Location
The Meininger Budapest Great Market Hall is in a central location, which was important to me. It’s right next to the city’s Great Market Hall, a large food hall where you can get all sorts of foods from local vendors. The Meininger is also right by bus stops and the Danube river, and it’s walkable to different sites around town. 

Now, depending on what site you want to visit and the weather, you may prefer to take a bus. Some examples of this are Budapest Castle, shoes on the Danube, Parliament, and Fisherman’s Bastion. However, we could easily walk to places like Doheny St. Synagogue, St. Stephen’s Basilica, and the Christmas market. 

For those coming from the airport, you can take the 100E shuttle bus to Kálvin tér; it’s the first stop but roughly a 20-25-minute ride. You can buy a ticket for the shuttle right outside the airport arrivals terminal.

Meininger Budapest Great Market Hall Pricing
The cost to stay at the Meininger Budapest Great Market Hall was actually pretty great. For a three-night stay in a private room during mid-November I paid 144 euros (the equivalent of $169). It’s important to remember that November isn’t the busy summer season, but they had the Christmas market up and running, which is popular in Europe. Of course, going the hostel route here would be much cheaper, but I think it’s a steal for those who want the hotel experience without the extravagant prices.

Meininger Budapest Check-In
Check-in at the Meininger Budapest was pretty straightforward. I got my keycard and didn’t have to worry about towels or anything since they’re all provided in the room for you (if you book a private room). Check-in is anytime after 3 p.m., and the staff here were very helpful.

Meininger Budapest Hotel Rooms
I honestly had no complaints about my room. It was clean and quiet, and while European hotels aren’t known for having lots of space, it was bigger than I expected it to be. That said, if there were more people in the room with me, it might feel a little cramped. I had booked a single private room, but they had two twin beds pushed together and an additional single bed against the wall. I really only needed one twin bed, but I’m guessing the extra beds are for folks who book a private room for multiple people.

On the flip side, I was able to get a peak at the shared dorm-style room my dad was staying in. My dad loves saving money, but this room just wasn’t it. The main reason? The sewer smell in their bathroom. It was awful! I had a similar experience with a hostel in Córdoba, Spain, but thankfully there was a second bathroom as a backup. 

Meininger Budapest Pros

• Incredible breakfast — They had one of the best breakfasts, and it’s worth every penny. For just 10.50 euros, you can get all kind of incredible foods, including eggs, bread, sausage, cheese, vegetables, fruit, etc. I definitely recommend getting it at least once while you’re there.
• The staff — The staff here went out of their way to make us feel welcome. My favorite employees were Eurico from Portugal and Jeanne from Switzerland. 
• Lots of communal spaces — They have a lot of communal space here. There’s the breakfast area, the lobby, and then additional seating on the second floor that’s by the kitchen and laundry machines.
• The location — I really appreciate how central this hotel/hostel is. If location is important to you, I think this one is a great option.

Meininger Budapest Cons

• Sewer smell in some dorm bathrooms — Considering the awful sewer smell from my dad’s dorm room here, I’d recommend going with a private room if you can.
• Not walkable to all destinations — Depending on the weather and how much you love to walk, you may need to take public transportation to get to some famous sites further down the Danube.
• Laundry machines — During our stay, my dad used the laundry machines to wash his clothes. Unfortunately the dryer barely worked and my dad was left with clothes that were still pretty wet. They also only have one washer and one dryer, so if someone else is using them, you’ll have to wait a while.

Frequently Asked Questions

How far is Meininger from Budapest center?
The Meininger is very close to Budapest center. It’s right next to the Great Market Hall and about a five-minute walk from Kálvin tér. You can also walk to sites like St. Stephen’s Basilica and the Danube river from there.

Is Meininger a hotel or hostel?
The Meininger is both a hotel and hostel. They offer private rooms for more of a traditional hotel experience, along with dorm options that are much cheaper and like a traditional hostel.

​Transparency Disclosure — The opinions on this website are independent and based on my own personal experiences. I may receive a referral fee for stays booked through the links on this site.

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If you’re like me and on the fence about the idea of camping at Yosemite, another option is to stay at a hotel or motel in a town near the park entrance you’re closest to. For those coming from Los Angeles and other areas of Southern California, that would be Yosemite’s south entrance. 

The town of Oakhurst, California is about a 30-minute drive from the south entrance. My husband and I stayed at the Oakhurst Inn at Yosemite, and in this review, I’ll discuss our experience there and share my thoughts on whether I’d recommend it as a place to stay during your Yosemite trip.

Where Is the Oakhurst Inn?
The Oakhurst Inn is located off Road 41 in Oakhurst, California. If you’re coming from LA, it’s about a 4-hour drive. The Oakhurst Inn is a motel-style property.

Oakhurst Inn Check-In Process
The check-in process here was quick and easy. I just had to show them an ID and pay a $100 incidentals deposit, which is returned after your stay. We were given two keys for our room, and they even provided a welcome goody bag with a thank-you card, snacks, and juice boxes. That was a nice touch!

How Far is the Oakhurst Inn from Yosemite?
The Oakhurst Inn is a 30-minute drive to Yosemite’s south entrance. Getting there is very easy, too. It’s just a straight shot on Road 41 until you reach the park entrance. A heads up, though, that the road to the park entrance has a lot of twists and turns, so if you can, I’d avoid driving at night.

How Much Does It Cost to Stay at the Oakhurst Inn at Yosemite?
We stayed at the Oakhurst Inn for two nights in mid-May (Thursday to Saturday), and the total cost was $350, including taxes and fees. Believe it or not, this was one of the more affordable options, but we also booked our trip at the last minute. We stayed there the week before Memorial Day Weekend, so I imagine prices will be higher during the busy summer season.

Pros: What I Liked About the Oakhurst Inn at Yosemite

• Location - I liked that it wasn’t too far from the park entrance, and there were more options for food and shops to explore. For example, on our last night, we went to dinner at the Oakhurst Grille across the street. 
• Free breakfast and parking - As a motel-style property, the Oakhurst Inn has parking spaces throughout its property, so you can park right in front of your room. They also offer free breakfast. Our first morning, they had pre-made veggie and cheese omelets, sausages, bagels, cereal, fruit, juice, and coffee. The second morning, the omelets were swapped out for scrambled eggs. 
• Pool - While it was too cold for us to go swimming, they do have a pool there that I imagine is pretty popular during hot summer days.
• Pet-friendly - For those who plan to bring their pets along, the Oakhurst Inn at Yosemite is a pet-friendly hotel.

Would I Recommend the Oakhurst Inn at Yosemite?
Yes, I would recommend the Oakhurst Inn if you’re visiting Yosemite National Park. I didn’t have any complaints during my stay. The staff was friendly, and the property was quiet. Plus, the extra perks like the location, free breakfast, pool, and being pet-friendly make this a great choice. It’s a 2-star motel, so don’t come here expecting luxury, but I think you get a lot of bang for your buck. My only regret was that I didn’t book earlier because the price was more expensive than I would have liked to pay for a motel. 

Frequently Asked Questions About Hotels Near Yosemite

Where should I stay if I'm going to Yosemite?
If you're coming from Southern California, I recommend staying at the Oakhurst Inn, which is only a 30-minute drive from the park's south entrance. 

What is the best town to stay in outside of Yosemite National Park?
The best town to stay in outside of Yosemite National Park depends on the area you're coming from. We drove up from LA and had a great experience staying in Oakhurst, a town near Yosemite's south entrance.

Is it better to stay in Yosemite or outside?
This is entirely dependent on your preferences, your budget, and what's available. For some people, they love the convenience of camping in the park, while others prefer the comfort of a hotel. Keep in mind that while Yosemite has hotel lodging inside the park, rooms can cost upwards of $200 or more per night outside of the busy summer season. 

Visiting Yosemite soon? Find out my top tips for visiting Yosemite for the first time.

Transparency Disclosure — The opinions on this website are independent and based on my own personal experiences. I may receive a referral fee for stays booked through the links on this site.
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