Recommendations for Lodging in Amsterdam

[Trooper]

Hi,

DW and I will be visiting Amsterdam for the first time next May. We will also be departing on a cruise ship from there, but are planning 4 days in AMS prior to the cruise, and 4 days after the cruise.

There's an excellent thread on ER discussing things to see and do (link below), but we would like your input on where to stay and whether to stay in a hotel or an airbnb apartment with cooking facilities. We don't plan on doing a ton of cooking but somewhere to cook a quick breakfast or dinner once or twice might be nice.

I guess we prefer to be close to the central Amsterdam area to minimize getting around time to the pier, etc. Most of the activities on our list are in Amsterdam proper.

Thanks in advance.

http://www.early-retirement.org/forums/f46/must-sees-and-dining-in-amsterdam-for-a-two-day-visit-87373.html

 

[braumeister]

You'll certainly enjoy Amsterdam. I wouldn't worry too much about what part of town you stay in, because there is a really good tram system that goes all over.

Get the Amsterdam Travel Ticket when you arrive in the airport and you can just get on any tram any time. It's pretty cheap, something like €10 a day as I recall.

 

[Oilcan]

We have been to Amsterdam twice and stayed at the Movenpick Hotel both times. The last time, in September 2019, we took a cruise and the cruise terminal is almost next door to the Movenpick which makes it very convenient (just walk over). This is assuming your ship departs from this terminal. I understand some ships leave from another terminal. It is also convenient to the train station.

Hope this helps.

 

[marko]

Hotel L'Europe. Pricey but right downtown and very well done.

 

[OldShooter]

We hate being in a little box piled up with a bunch of other identical little boxes.

So our starting point is always AirBNB. What we do is to sort the list with most expensive properties first, then skim past the castles and large houses to where the apartments begin. For a longer stay like yours we require a kitchen. We always require a private bath and a lift if the property is not on the ground or first floor. Recliner chairs are a plus as are laundry facilities. If we have a car we ask about available parking. We also look at location of course and absolutely look at references.

We never have a specific goal of saving money over living in a box, but it almost always seems to work out that way.

 

[mnopqr]

We loved Banks Mansion. Room rate includes a nice cooked breakfast, lobby snacks and open bar. Rooms a bit on the small side but great location and relaxed ambiance were very good.

 

[braumeister]

We loved Banks Mansion. Room rate includes a nice cooked breakfast, lobby snacks and open bar. Rooms a bit on the small side but great location and relaxed ambiance were very good.

Almost stayed there last trip, so will certainly consider it for next time. Thanks for the reco.

 

[Freedom56]

We have stayed at the Crowne Plaza Amsterdam City Center about 3 times. It's extremely well located but can be pricey. If you want a lower price hotel, there is also the Crown Plaza in Amsterdam south which will require a car or public transportation to get into town. We stayed there once.

 

[Trooper]

You'll certainly enjoy Amsterdam. I wouldn't worry too much about what part of town you stay in, because there is a really good tram system that goes all over.

Get the Amsterdam Travel Ticket when you arrive in the airport and you can just get on any tram any time. It's pretty cheap, something like €10 a day as I recall.

Thanks braumeister. We were planning on getting the iAmsterdam City Card, which includes all public transportation as well as museum entry to most museums (except Anne Frank House). It's a little pricy at about 100 euro for 4 days but I think it'll be worth it.

 

[braumeister]

No doubt it's worth it. The Rijksmuseum alone is €20 admission.

 

[bigreader]

Last trip we used Airbnb. It was all good: more space, the ability to make your own coffee, getting the feel of a non-touristy area. Amsterdam hotels were a bit pricey when we were there but I don't know that Airbnb was a bargain, but I enjoyed the atmosphere a lot more.

br

 

[Souschef]

We stayed at the American Hotel that we booked through hotels.com
It is in the Museum Quarter, at the junction of 2 tram lines and a short distance from a canal boat landing. There are many restaurants within walking distance.

 

[Bamaman]

We've been to Amsterdam a number of times, and we used to stay out on the edge of the city in a Bed and Breakfast. Unfortunately, many B&B's have been sold as condos and few are now available in Amsterdam Sud (South). For hotels, I'd suggest staying in the Museum Quarter. For Airbnb's, I'd just make sure a tram line is close by. Getting to the center city is 15 minutes usually.

One of our favorite hotels anywhere is out at Schiphol Airport. They have opened Van der Valk Hotel Amsterdam-Amstel that should be a great place with very favorable prices.

 

[Scrapr]

For something a bit unusual try a hostel. We did this one called City Hub.

https://cityhub.com/

When I booked it Mrs said I thought you said Hotel! She ended up liking it a lot.Your own little pod. Beer & wine on tap. A food hall next door. Close to the tram. It was fun

 

[LiveBelowMeans]

We loved our B&B in the heart of Amsterdam. Strange name but nice family run place: Misc Eatdrinksleep. It was one of the top rated places on TripAdvisor and featured a nice canal view. Great breakfast each day. You will love Amsterdam.

 

[LRDave]

We have been to Amsterdam twice and stayed at the Movenpick Hotel both times. The last time, in September 2019, we took a cruise and the cruise terminal is almost next door to the Movenpick which makes it very convenient (just walk over). This is assuming your ship departs from this terminal. I understand some ships leave from another terminal. It is also convenient to the train station.

Hope this helps.

I thought those were illegal?

 

[Trooper]

One of our favorite hotels anywhere is out at Schiphol Airport. They have opened Van der Valk Hotel Amsterdam-Amstel that should be a great place with very favorable prices.

Thanks for the Schiphol hotel tip Bamaman. We may need an airport hotel for our last night there.

 

[Golden sunsets]

We were there at the beginning of September and stayed at the Plaza Victoria across from the train station. Eight nights in Amsterdam though is a lot more nights than needed to really see the city.


Sent from my iPad using Early Retirement Forum

 

[WhenIsItTime]

Thanks for the Schiphol hotel tip Bamaman. We may need an airport hotel for our last night there.

The Sheraton and Hilton at Schipol are recently remodeled. Sheraton is indoor walk to airport. Hilton bit further and mostly indoor.

 

[gerntz]

We stayed at Bilderberg Hotel Jan Luyken close to Rijks last May. Excellent.

 

[kcowan]

We loved Banks Mansion. Room rate includes a nice cooked breakfast, lobby snacks and open bar. Rooms a bit on the small side but great location and relaxed ambiance were very good.

+1
and the 4pm get togethers includes good red or white wine. Very central on a canal and main street.

 

[wanaberetiree]

We stayed at Hotel Luxer in September, it was very good place, in the city center and great breakfast,

 

[Trooper]

Eight nights in Amsterdam though is a lot more nights than needed to really see the city.

Fair point. We're thinking about taking the train to perhaps Paris after the cruise instead of staying another four nights in Amsterdam.

 

[wanaberetiree]

On our way back home we stayed at De Vink B&B
It’s like 26 km from AMS
Unbelievable place
See for yourself https://www.devinkbb.nl/?lang=en

 

[Golden sunsets]

Fair point. We're thinking about taking the train to perhaps Paris after the cruise instead of staying another four nights in Amsterdam.

That would make sense. I've also heard Brujes is a great place to visit.