DebitNM

Looking to spend a few nights at end of a trip in May 2018. Open to: B&B, hotel or even hostel [but with private rooms and bathrooms]. Prefer central location to maximize the short time on our first visit.

Thank you.

PalenQ

https://www.amsterdam.info/tips/touristoffice/

The Amsterdam VVV Tourist Office books hotels if you want a local source -pretty much judge by price to quality.

DebitNM

That link just basically goes to booking.com

Was hoping for some personal recommendations, thanks though.

Fodorite018

A couple years ago we stayed at The Hotel The Exchange. Weird name, and kind of an odd hotel as you can request basic vs plush rooms, so you can pretty much choose what you want. Location was good for us, close to the train station. Our room was very clean and had an ensuite bathroom that was quite large. We had no hesitation staying there, FWIW. Each room is done by the local art college, so each room has it's own theme. Quite interesting! We had the purse room, lol!

PalenQ

thanks though.>

sorry they used to do their own -I used them several times but times change.

basingstoke2

Perhaps think out of the box and stay in nearby Haarlem. You can stay in a top hotel such as Stemples for the price of a one star in Amsterdam - it is well within your budget. Why do it? In the end, Amsterdam is a big international city while Haarlem is a delightful small city in itself where you will get more of a feeling of how the Dutch live. The train ride into Amsterdam is only 15 minutes and there are 4 trains an hour. Haarlem is an easy bus ride to Keukenhof Gardens if you are there early in the month and it is easy to get to other Dutch cities and towns from there by train.

DebitNM

what a great idea, basingstoke! I will check it out!

And I erred in my date... while the majority of trip is in May, we will be in The Netherlands in early June.

kelsey22

Bm

Dukey1

I can speak from experience that if you do not feel compelled to stay IN Amsterdam, Haarlem is a great alternative. It is, as has been mentioned, an easy trip back and forth, too.

travelbuff127

I speak from experience as well' the Park Hotel across from VondelPark and the Hard Rock. Perfect location to travel about the city and a very chic boutique hotel. Loved it

hpeabody

Deb, I have stayed at what has been renamed since the prior died as The Neighbors Magnolia. (formerly called the Zandbergen) It's B&Bish / hotelish, with a good breakfast. It is nothing fancy, but clean and modern. I LOVE LOVE LOVE the location. It's in a residential neighborhood just at the edge of Vondel Park. Just steps to the tram, so it's easy to get around. Check it out.

http://www.magnoliahotelamsterdam.com/en/index.html

basingstoke2

Deb - if you are interested in Haarlem, here is a link to my TR of the city and side trips from there. Note that it was written when Obama was making his first run for pres, so it may be a bit dated in spots. One of the many things we like about Haarlem other than its overall ambiance, is the uber lively outdoor cafe scene around the Grote Markt. Unlike other hotels around the Markt, Stempels does not directly face it - it has the cathedral as a buffer which means that it would be quieter than the other places. If looking for a hotel in Haarlem, they mostly cluster around the Markt except for the Golden Tulip which is opposite the train station. I would not recommend that location.

http://www.fodors.com/community/euro...nd-utrecht.cfm

Here are some pics of Haarlem:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/basing...57605214129811

pavot

It has been a few years now, but I stayed at the Hotel Brouwer and really enjoyed my 3-day stay in Amsterdam (also at the start of a trip).

It was a cheerful, comfortable place to saty.

PalenQ

I now base in Haarlem for a more let's say Dutch regional town and much lower hotel prices - though I stay in a B&B (Bot B&B) right in the heart of town. Great rail connections for so many places - better in many ways IMO than Amsterdam for that.

If I had not stayed in Amsterdam many times I would of course stay there on first visits - really neat at night no matter what you're looking for!

Haarlem too like all Dutch towns has a lot of nightlife - especially on weekends.

menachem

DebNM: I'll say it again and again: Pension Homeland.

Haarlem has nightlife? That surprises me.

basingstoke2

Yes, it does.

Sue81

Hi, If you would like a nice clean hotel in a quiet safe neighborhood, about 1/2 blk from the tram, check out the Delphi Hotel on Appollian. I've stayed there about 4 X, most recently this July and it is a very nice reasonable hotel. I had breakfast with room rate. Check out price, but it is much better than a hotel right in the center of town and it is about 4 minutes from the Rijks Museum/Van Gogh Museum. I think you would like it, right on a big boulevard, but quiet. Sue

menachem

Apollolaan. You'll have trouble finding it otherwise.

DebitNM

Hampshire Hotel - The Manor Amsterdam, Amsterdam ??
119 euros a night.

Thoughts?

I like the Delphi, but they don't show availability this far out.

Sue81

email or call the hotel directly, and it is not hard to find, use taxi. On big boulevard. Sue