Visit Amsterdam

I am back with a new Amsterdam hotel review for you. This one was shared by Patrick from Madrid.“We made our reservation on-line after a thorough research on budget Amsterdam hotels. Our choice was Mercure Amsterdam Arthur Frommer, a 3-star Amsterdam hotel in a quiet street in the centre of Amsterdam (Noorderstraat 46). By the way, hotel’s on-line pictures turned out to be very realistic. We booked a double room for 5 nights for me, my wife and my 2-year-old son.

On arriving at Schiphol airport, we went to the tourist information desk and bought a return ticket for the shuttle bus, which took us right to Mercure Amsterdam Hotel.

We asked for a room at the back of the hotel and we were offered a quiet room facing the little street. Our room had a double bed, a LCD TV, a minibar, a safe, a closet, a desk and a lamp. There was no tea and coffee making facility in the room. Space was really limited for three of us keeping in mind that we were traveling with a baby. Bathroom was huge compared to the room size. Plenty of bathroom accessories were available there.

What we most liked in Mercure Amsterdam Arthur Frommer was the friendly and attentive staff. Hotel personnel were
helpful in providing city maps and calling taxis. Mercure Amsterdam Arthur Frommer is located close to the centre of Amsterdam and we could reach all the places we were intended to visit on foot, which was very important especially
considering that we were traveling with a small child.

All in all, my wife and I were satisfied with Mercure Amsterdam Arthur Frommer and I think, in case we are back in Amsterdam, this hotel will be our first choice.”

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.”

Here is a hotel review sent by one of our readers from Paris. If you are looking for a cheap hotel to stay in Amsterdam this post is for you.“We didn’t actually plan our trip to Amsterdam as we usually do, so we arrived in Amsterdam on Friday in the evening without Amsterdam hotel reservation. Moreover, we traveled on the cheap and couldn’t afford luxurious Amsterdam accommodations. That wasn’t wise, I know, that’s why it was so difficult to find an appropriate yet affordable Amsterdam hotel in the center. One of a few hotel choices was Hotel Di-Ann Amsterdam located between The Royal Palace and Dam Square, which is right in the historic center of the city. The location of the hotel is ideal for exploring Amsterdam because it is in the middle of everywhere and for the money we paid for our rooms we couldn’t have asked for more.

We asked for a room for three people and we got one on the second floor. And I must warn you that if you are old, disabled or have difficulty walking you need to keep in mind that Hotel Di-Ann Amsterdam has no lift and staircases are very steep and narrow. They will definitely keep you fit!

Room was just OK, nothing special, but clean and cosy with garden view out of the window. Linen and towels were spotless and fresh. There was private shower, toilet, cable TV, fridge, safe (the lock didn’t work properly) and phone.

Continental breakfast was included in the room rate and it was OK.

We consider Hotel Di-Ann Amsterdam a good hotel to stay in Amsterdam when you travel on the cheap.”

I have got a letter from Steven, a traveler from Spain, who shared his impressions about Jolly Hotel Carlton Amsterdam. Here it is.“I love the Netherlands and we have a lot of friends there, that’s why we often travel there, at least once or twice a year. Even though we know Amsterdam quite well, it has been difficult to find an appropriate top-end Amsterdam hotel at a reasonable price. We have stayed in numerous so-called top-end Amsterdam hotels and found out that some of them don’t measure up to first class European hotels. Jolly Hotel Carlton in the heart of the city of Amsterdam was a pleasant exception and I think we have found our best deluxe Amsterdam hotel at last.

We booked a deluxe room on the 5th floor which had a nice view over Muntplein. Our room in Jolly Hotel Carlton Amsterdam was on the warm side of the hotel, but there was an air conditioner which worked very well and was very effective, so we could easily escape from the outside heat. Our room was of average size. It was clean and well equipped with bath, toilet, mini-bar, safe deposit box, pay-TV, TV, telephone, wireless Internet connection, radio, coffee and tea making facilities, hair dryer, alarm-clock, trouser press, working desk. Bathroom was very nice and the shower was the best I’ve ever found in Amsterdam hotel. Unfortunately, it was a little noisy at night but it wasn’t a real problem for us as we are not light sleepers.

Breakfast was not included, so we decided to eat outside as there a lot of cosy places to eat near Jolly Hotel Carlton Amsterdam. That’s why we can’t comment on the food served in the hotel.

The location of Jolly Hotel Carlton is ideally located for exploring Amsterdam. It is close to famous flower market, Dam square, the Vondelpark and the Museumplein.

We liked Jolly Hotel Carlton in Amsterdam and highly recommend it.”

Here is a letter from Michael from Vienna about Radisson SAS Hotel Amsterdam which has 242 rooms and suites, including Business Class, Executive rooms and two luxurious Suites. Thank you for sharing information with us.

“We booked rooms in Radisson SAS Hotel Amsterdam about four month earlier as we were going to visit Amsterdam at Easter, which, I think, one of the peak seasons in the Netherlands. Prices in Hotel Radisson SAS Amsterdam seemed to be a little cheaper compared to other Amsterdam hotels ranked 4-stars.

I sent an e-mail to Radisson SAS Hotel Amsterdam, that I would like a non-smoking room with two beds on a high floor with a good view out of the window. On our arrival we were really pleased that the hotel staff took into consideration our wishes: we got a room on the upper floor with a good view. Our room was really nice and cosy, properly furnished and big enough for us. Our room had all main comforts, such as a big TV set with lots of channels, air-conditioner, iron, kettle, trousers press, phone, etc. The shower in the bathroom was very powerful and the added luxury of toiletries, bathrobe and slippers gave a homely feel. Wireless internet was available in the entire hotel and it was free of charge, there also were two computers downstairs with free internet access.

Breakfast wasn’t included and cost EUR 24.50 per person, which seemed too expensive for us, so we decided to eat outside. There are plenty of nice cafes with good and cheap food close to Radisson SAS Amsterdam.

All in all, Radisson SAS Hotel Amsterdam is a very good hotel in central but quiet location with friendly staff. I would recommend this hotel for people looking for a nice place to stay in Amsterdam.”