Visit Amsterdam

Here is another Amsterdam hotel review. This time it is Rokin hotel in the center of Amsterdam.“As I was traveling alone, I thought that budget Rokin hotel would be the best place to stay for me. Probably the best thing about this hotel is its location, less than a five minutes walk from Dam Square with its loads of stuff and with most local attractions within a half-hour walk. I advise you not to bother with the trams unless you are in the older age group: by the time you’ve found out which one goes where and then waited for it, you might as well walk, which is much healthier and more interesting.

I booked on-line and paid EUR 105 for a single room for one night. My room was basic but functional. There was a single bed with crisp white bed linen, TV private bathroom facilities, safe and telephone in the room. The room itself looked very small, but I think that doesn’t matter if use you hotel room just for sleeping. I am not sure how the room size would suit a couple, however.

The rate was including breakfast, which was actually quite good: cereals, bacon, scrambled egg, toast, fruit, cheese, tea, coffee, juice etc. All food was freshly cooked.

So, in conclusion, Rokin hotel Amsterdam is functional rather than flash or luxurious, but if you want a good, budget, well located, clean budget Amsterdam hotel with friendly helpful staff then this is the place for you.”

Today I publish a letter from a traveler to Amsterdam, who describes her impressions about Amsterdam American Hotel, a 4-star Amsterdam hotel.“My husband and I stayed at the American Hotel Amsterdam for his 45th birthday in February, 2008. Some of our close friends had stayed here last year and recommended this Amsterdam hotel. They were right and we were not disappointed – we spent a really fabulous time there.

We e-mailed the hotel the night before we arrived and asked (if possible) for a view of canal. We were offered a room on the 6-th floor; it was spacious and comfortable with the windows overlooking the canal. The room was just perfect for us! There was the biggest and the most comfortable bed I have ever seen in hotel rooms. Our room was and the bed linen was spotlessly clean and it was nice to have tea and coffee making facilities in our hotel room. We did not hear any noise at night and slept very well.

We enjoyed several delicious cocktails and snacks at the Cafe Americain and Bar Americain and the service wasperfect. We only once had breakfast in the restaurant and the hot and cold buffet was perfectly acceptable.

Amsterdam American Hotel was a very good base for exploring Amsterdam, because most of the city sights were not far from the hotel. Moreover, the tram which is the best and the cheapest way to get around the city, was running near the hotel and we were able to see a lot of local places of interest and do some shopping.

I would definitely recommend this inexpensive but not so cheap Amsterdam Hotel and I am looking forward to celebrate my coming birthday there too.”

Here is a letter about Hampshire Hotel Beethoven, a 3-star budget Amsterdam hotel from one of our on-line friends.“I have traveled 4 times on business to Amsterdam this year, and I stayed at the same Amsterdam hotel each time - Hampshire Hotel Beethoven. This hotel is comparatively cheap (approximately 100 Euro per night is an average price) and it is very close to business district Zuid-As, RAI and WTC, the Leidseplein is only 5 minutes away, the Central Railway Station is about 15 minutes away – these two reasons made me choose this cheap Amsterdam hotel to stay. The hotel is nothing special: no extra amenities or services- it’s just a good mid-range Amsterdam hotel with convenient location for business travelers. There is a supermarket a few restaurants near the hotel which is very handy if you decide to have your meals outside.

I always stayed in a single room, it was of appropriate size for a single traveler. The following facilities were available in the hotel room – hairdryer, television with English channels, pay TV, telephone, minibar and tea and coffee facilities.
They have WiFi throughout the hotel, but it’s terribly expensive, think twice before using it especially if you travel on budget.

Typical continental buffet breakfast was included in the room rate and it was served in a small dining room with a cosy atmosphere.

All in all, I got all I wanted in Hotel Beethoven Amsterdam for a reasonable price. I think I will stay here again and probably make this hotel a permanent base for my business trips to Amsterdam.”

The number of people with high level of income is steadily on the rise and when at last they decide to take a break from their busy and hectic lives, they want indulge all their wants and needs whatever they are. And the hotel owners have to generate and offer something very special to win tourists’ affection and attract them to their hotels. Modern hotel is no more just a comfortable place for sleeping with good food and a swimming pool. There have to be something more than just a set of basic amenities and services. Luxury hoteliers are trying to create all kinds of new, unique, top-end amenities, services, special offers and packages, which can seem sometimes strange, weird, and even mad. Let’s have a look at top seven exceptional guests’ services in hotel industry.

1. The Benjamin, an executive suite hotel in New York, offers the Before Children Package of services. That means that you get your personal Sleep Concierge who will help you choose from a pillow menu with some 12 choices for a good night sleep. Moreover, if you select the hotel’s Dream a Little Dream package, you will also receive some sleep tips, lavender turn-down service and a white-noise machine, which is really a special device that produces a sound somewhat like a waterfall to enhance your sleep. The next morning your Sleep Concierge will be there to decipher your dreams.

2. If you don’t want to leave your lovely dog at home, take it with you to Nine Zero hotel, Boston. This pet-friendly hotel offers special “In the Doghouse” pet package which will treat your four-legged friend like royalty. Pet sitting, pet grooming, pet walking and pet massage, let alone pet bowls and pet beds in your room, are included in the package. The above mentioned Benjamin hotel has a “Dream Dog” program which includes 3 bed options, Dream Dog bathrobe, Doggy DVD, “Dog-on Television” and a Spa gift basket for your dog.

3. The Hyatt Andaz London hotel is number one choice for book lovers as it offers one of the most unique services for its guests – “bibliotherapy”. The hotel has a “reader-in-residence”, whose duties include diagnosing hotel guests’ literary needs and prescribing particular texts, which he reads aloud to them. Moreover, there is a special book menu to choose from. Enjoy a peaceful evening with a man reading aloud for you.

4. The Houstonian Hotel specializes on spa and fitness in the state-of-the-art . The hotel offers all kinds of spa services and facilities: massages, facials, body-treatments, rainfall showers, steam room, indoor float pool and so on. The Hustonian Hotel has a special babymoon package for mothers-to-be, which includes Prenatal Massage, repair and restore vitamin C facial to reduce pigment marks associated with pregnancy and foot rescue program. Fathers-to-be can enjoy Deep Tissue Massage while waiting for them.

5. If you want to get the real jail experience, book a cell in Jailhotel Lowengraben in Switzerland. All hotel rooms have the authentic jail touch and allow you to taste life behind bars. Maybe it is the first prison you will never want to leave.

6. Fairemont Chicago hotel has its own bath sommelier who offers hand-drawn baths in mint, pepper mint, chocolate, milk, mud, sugar or citrus for the best relaxation ever.

7. Guests of Hotel Sax Chicago can enjoy its Celebrity Rider Package. The hotel staff will find out requested celebrity’s personal preferences and requirements and duplicate them for you. Just be sure you can afford it!

Hello!

Well, today I am going to tell you about our walking tour of Amsterdam. To tell the truth, that wasn’t really a “walking tour”, because we were able to see just one Amsterdam’s sight - Rijksmuseum. Of course, I had grater plans, but I just couldn’t imagine how much there was to see, we spent 2 hours in this gigantic art museum, but couldn’t view even a third of the museums richest art collection. You need a few days to explore the whole museum. Marbee said that the main building of the Rijksmuseum was closed for construction, so only the already renovated Philips Wing was open for visitors, but much of the museum’s art collection was being displayed there: masterpieces of Ruysdael, Vermeer, Hals, and, of course, Rembrandt. I am interested in arts, but I don’t really know much about it, in other words, I am a dilettante. Marbee knew even less than me, so we had to spend some money on renting an audio tour of the museum. I felt like a real tourist! From those unknown masterpieces I was impressed by Vermeer’s “The Drunken Pair” and “Woman at her Toilet”.

The decorative arts galleries were a little less-crowded than the rest of the museum. There were fine collections of Dutch ceramics, furniture, crystal, silver and other decorative arts.

We had a great time there and I think we should come back to explore the rest of the museum. We were tired, and here is my advice for all those who would like to explore this particular museum or some other Amsterdam places of interest - be sure to wear comfortable shoes! I will definitely follow this advice next time!

Bye!