“The Grand Budapest Hotel”, Wes Anderson’s latest all-star film, recounts the adventures of Gustave H, a legendary concierge at a famous European hotel between the wars. Corinthia Hotel Budapest, which originally opened in 1896 as the Grand Hotel Royal, shares several similarities with the movie’s fictional Grand Budapest Hotel, including a remarkably similar facade. The hotel is currently offering an exclusive three-night “Behind the Scenes” stay giving movie buffs the opportunity to experience the special ambiance of an historic “Grand Hotel,” along with the best of 21st century luxury.
The Grand Hotel Royal was Europe’s first grand hotel and royal spa. The earliest filmmakers, the Lumière brothers, held their first cinematographic screening outside of Paris in Continental Europe, at the hotel in May 1896. In 1915, the Hotel’s Royal Ballroom was transformed into the Royal Apollo Cinema seating over 1,000 viewers. In 2002, the luxury Corinthia Hotel Group, painstakingly and elegantly, restored the original Grand Hotel Royal to its former glory.
Corinthia Hotel Budapest’s exclusive three-night “Behind the Scenes” stay includes a ‘Behind the Scenes” tour at the Hotel, that covers the history of the Hungarian film industry. The “Behind the Scenes” package provides guests with the unique opportunity to attend a VIP Grand Budapest Hotel movie screening at the Arena Plaza cinema (guaranteed from March 20 to April 9) and a walking tour of the Hungarian capital’s most famous movie set locations. Topping off this “Behind the Scenes” experience, guests will enjoy a special view of Budapest from a cruise on the Danube.
Guests will also be able to enjoy the Executive Club facilities and pamper themselves in the beautifully restored Royal Spa, which is ten years older than even the original hotel. The Royal Spa is one of the premier pampering facilities in the whole of Europe. While the crowning centrepiece of this elegant Art Deco building is the recently-refurbished 15-metre pool, originally opened in 1886, its extensive menu of 21st century treatments includes tropical rain showers and mud and seaweed baths, as well as a range of luxury therapeutic body, face and massage treatments. The spacious 1,000 square meter facility also boasts a dedicated fitness room, saunas, steam bath and jacuzzi, together with various relaxation areas.
The Corinthia Hotel Budapest is an award-winning member of the Corinthia Hotels brand, which is a collection of hotels that includes the newly-opened flagship Corinthia Hotel in London, as well as award-winning Corinthia Hotels in Malta, Prague, St Petersburg, Tripoli and Lisbon. For more information, please visit the Corinthia’s website.
The three-night “Behind the Scenes” experience starts at EUR 842 (approximately $1,150) for two, including buffet breakfast, is valid from March 20th to December 25, 2014. To make a reservation, visit the hotel’s website.
Photos courtesy of Corinthia Hotel Budapest
