Grand Budapest Hotel gets TripAdvisor review

LONDON — The Grand Budapest Hotel has certainly provided its guests with plenty to write home about.

Take this comment, posted recently on the highly-scrutinised travel website TripAdvisor, by chris2k: “I realised that this was an extraordinary establishment at first gaze. Everything was just right. The service was personal and attentive — that lobby boy knew what I needed even before I knew I needed it. However I noticed that old blonde ladies in their 80s seemed to get even better service. Made me almost wish to be 
one myself.”

To date, some 62 people have reviewed the hotel. But something doesn’t quite add up. Perhaps the clue is in the fact that the hotel is located in the mysterious Republic of Zubrowka, another completely fictitious entity.

The real clue is in the name, though. The Grand Budapest Hotel was the magnificent establishment that featured in Wes Anderson’s film of the same name, released earlier this year, a hilarious romp through some of the tumultuous years of the last century as seen through the eyes of hotel concierge, Gustave H (played by Ralph Fiennes), and Zero Moustafa, the lobby boy who becomes his most trusted friend.

So powerful were their performances that some reviewers obviously felt they had got to know them for real.

“My word what a splendid time was had by all,” commented Eleanor G on TripAdvisor. “It really was champers all the way! Zubrowka is one of my favourite little countries and I do so look forward to spending time with Zero Moustafa and reminiscing about the good old days with Gustave ... although he did steal some jewels of mine of course. Not to worry ... what are a few diamonds between friends? “

At the time of writing, the Grand Budapest Hotel was rated 1 of 1 hotels in The Republic of Zubrowka, having received 46 reviews that described it as “excellent” and only five that found it “terrible”.

Someone calling himself TheSamSolomon said: “My only complaint is the staff seem to be living in a different century — no one could find me an iPhone lightning cable nor did they know what an iPhone was. Also, the internet connection was almost non-existent. Zero was a great help though and he had many great ideas, he seemed a little bit deluded at time. But that must be the altitude.”

While the cynics among us would write the reviews off as a clever marketing ploy for the film, this not the first time that humorous spoof reviews have appeared on the travel website. In December, just before Christmas, The Inn at Bethlehem, was given five stars in a review that was mocked up to look as though it had been posted on TripAdvisor.

While generally keen to expose and delete bogus reports, Trip Advisor, on this latest occasion, decided to join in the joke. A prominent notice in red on the top right hand side of the Grand Budapest reviews page contained the following notification:

“Message from TripAdvisor: As seen in the 2014 Wes Anderson movie “The Grand Budapest Hotel.” Have fun reading these reviews — go on, add your own! Just don’t try to book a visit here, because this fictional place doesn’t really exist.”

Much to the disappointment of some of the film’s fans. “The Grand Budapest is a state of mind,” wrote Chris2k. “I never wanted to leave.”

Although there is no one hotel that serves as the model for Grand Budapest featured in the film, the one that is widely considered to be the closest inspiration is the Corinthia Hotel Budapest — a magnificently restored property in the Hungarian capital that used to be called the Grand Hotel Royal. THE DAILY TELEGRAPH