May 25, 2023
Author: Adam Dimitrov — Budapester, Hungarian & City Expert/Guide
Are you planning to stay in Budapest and looking for a great hostel but need help deciding which one you should choose?
You're lucky because I've stayed at least one night in 8 hostels in Budapest in December 2023. This includes Maverick Urban Lodge, where I stayed for a second time for a 30-day long stay in March, 2023.
In this article, you can read about my review of Maverick Urban Lodge based on personal experience, which made #1 on my best hostels list.
Who is this hostel for? — If you want maximum comfort and quality of life, this is the place for you. Imagine like you're living in a college dorm. I tested it, and it's also perfect for long stays (I stayed here for 30 days in March for only ~280 euros).
What was the best part of staying here? — The overall level of comfort. There's a state of the art non-coed shared bathroom with huge showers on each floor or private bathrooms on some floors. I also loved my bed's privacy curtain and the giant locker which fit my luggage, computer and backpack.
What was the worst part of staying here? — Honestly, the only thing that was lackluster is the kitchen, but this is only annoying if you stay an ENTIRE MONTH in the hostel like I did. There's little space for cooking, the fridge is full to the brim and disorganized. Other than that, this hostel is well-rounded. Oh, and always use the locker for valuable stuff, lest your stuff get stolen!
Did I enjoy my stay here? Would I return? — Yes, Maverick is my go-to hostel in Budapest. Even though I love the social atmosphere of party hostels, depending on what's going on in my life, I like having a dependable place where I can have some spacefor myself and get things done. This hostel is what you make of it.
How much does it cost? Is it good value for money? — Prices start from 9€ per night in off-season, making Maverick Urban Lodge an extremely affordable hostel. If you want to maximize value at the expense of some comfort, I recommend Avenue Hostel which includes 2 free meals for the same price.
This hostel is great value for money. Off-season prices are dirt cheap, bunk beds start from 9€/night and private rooms from 46€/night. High season, from May to October is at least 2-3x higher.
This hostel has college dorm vibes, so much so that I met college students staying here, but it’s suitable for all ages. Everything is clean, modern, and new. There are events and tours organized every day. The dining area is a great way to socialize and meet people. The same goes for the ground floor café area.
Maverick Urban Lodge is in the city center, but in a quiet district, not where the nightlife is, but it’s easy to get there by public transport or even by foot. It’s a few minutes walk away from the Central Market Hall and the 100E airport shuttle bus stop. Public transport options are also nearby naturally.
This hostel has a 24/7 front desk, so you can check in anytime. First, they check your ID card or passport, then you’ll get your passcard. After that, you’re free to go to your room or you can sign up for events and tours right at the reception.
The room I stayed in was modern, minimal, and well-equipped.
Noise levels are low to medium - you get the normal hostel noises, but traffic is light in the small street where the hostel is.
The 4-bed setup was lovely - as we all know, the fewer roommates, the lower likelihood if getting an infection or having troublesome bunkmates. There are also 8-bed rooms where I haven’t stayed.
My bed was perfect - it had a privacy curtain, item box, light, socket, and no squeaking sounds.
As in all hostels, there is a huge secure locker that you can either with your passcard or the padlock they provide, depending on what kind of room you get.
During my current long stay, I also have drawers in my room, but the first time around I didn’t.
During my long stay I had a private bathroom, but during my first stay, I only had access to a non-coed shared bathroom. Both are spacious, hygienic, and have the perfect shower experience.
Not ideal if you're here for a long stay. The kitchen is decent but lacks an oven. It’s a bit small, and it gets crowded fast even if a few people get hungry at the same time. The pots and pans are also quite used, so I can’t say I was too delighted. The fridges are almost always packed. Fortunately, there are several kitchens to choose from if this happens.
The bar/lounge area had an excellent laptop workspace. They also serve breakfast (optional). One of the kitchen staff was a loud-mouthed guy, but apart from that, everything was faultless.
There are multiple levels, but the building has elevators. The building is on a moderately busy side street, but the noise levels were acceptable.