odonnela

I'm deciding between the two -- I want luxury and sumptuous, jaw-dropping decor. Intercontinental looks sublime, but is too far out of the city, from what I can tell. So I've pretty much narrowed it down to the l'Europe and the Grand -- based on the few pictures I've seen the l'Europe LOOKS like a nicer hotel, but I keep hearing that the Grand is the best of the best -- one of the nicest hotels in Europe (???). Both seem to have a good location -- the l'Europe might even be a little better with it's canal views, huh? The Grand, from what I can tell, seems to be a very nice, but bland/sterile hotel -- no personality (decor, etc) -- the rooms could be in Dallas, just as easily as they could be in Amsterdam -- nothing seems to scream Europe or Amsterdam about the place.

Am I dead-wrong in that assumption? I think I may be able to get a significantly better rate on the Grand, actually, and I keep hearing how great it is, but I'm having trouble justifying it. How is it better than the l'Europe? Again, I stay in luxury hotels often, and they're all relatively the same -- and boring at that. I'd like to be reminded that I'm in Europe and Amsterdam, without compromising on luxury or location.

Where would you stay for two nights (Fri / Sat)?

Any and all thoughts and comments would be greatly appreciated.

Intrepid1

One of the problems may be your assumption that for a hotel to be luxurious it has to "scream" anything.

The L'Europe is a very nice hotel and when you GET there you'll know you aren't in Dallas..but be prepared to PAY for that view you want..and when you do you'll REALLY KNOW you aren't in Dallas.

Good luck.

dovima

odonnela,
Intrepid is absolutely correct in his opinion above.
In addition, please be aware the the l'Europe is a grande dame but getting to be a tired one. If you get a true "luxury" class room with the river view, fabulous! Otherwise the l'Europe could really leave an impression of VERY faded glory on you.

odonnela

Thanks for your comments. So far, it seems that the two of you may be implying that both hotels are not truly luxurious (which is okay -- I don't want to come across as a snob), but that the city, itself will make me feel as if I'm not in Dallas, per se. I've read that the l'Europe may be a "faded glory, indeed" -- perhaps it's better to try the Grand? Do you see any cons in the Grand, compared to the l'Europe?

Thanks!

fishskis

The Amstel Intercontinental is a fantastic, grand, luxurious hotel; IMHO, a notch above the Hotel de L'Europe.

mst2000

This website seemed to have some wonderful suggestions for high-end alternatives that are not necessarily "mainstream":

http://www.weekendhotel.nl/hotels/Amsterdam/1/en

mveet

I just got back from a 3 night stay at the Sofitel Grand Amsterdam. The staff were VERY nice and friendly, and my room was nice and clean.

I liked EVERYTHING about this hotel except for one thing: every time you walk out of the hotel and turn right on your way to Dam square, you will have to pass by Nigerian guys who will keep staring at you, what your wearing, and what your carrying with you! and at night they WILL ask you if you want "COKE". After this had happened to me about five times on my first day, I started turning left from the hotel entrance( away from the Red Light District) and if I wanted to get to Dam square I would just turn right at one of the little lanes towards Dam square.

I kind of freaked out on the first day, but I never felt threatened in anyway.
It's just Amsterdam ! everything anyone might want is readily available.
The Amstel looks really magnificent from the outside! on my 3 hour bus tour, our guide told us that the queen of Holland always holds her special public events in that hotel! but its location is so far away from anything you might want to see.

By the way, the dutch get a little annoyed when you say the Amstel intercontinental or the Sofitel Grand ! My cab driver kept saying that these hotels are a 100% dutch, but they are only run by the French Sofitel and American Intel currently.
When I told him I wanted to get to the Sofitel Grand, he said " the GRAND you mean" ! and then he explained!

By the way, my bus tour driver was stoned! and the police made us pull over, and yelled at him for ten minutes, and then we continued our tour for 2 more hours! Thank God we didn't fall into a canal or the river!

Amsterdam was wonderful and you are going to love it.

richardsonsnm

Our first trip to Amsterdam in '99 we stayed at L'Europe, though our junior suite had a awesone view of the canal, we felt the room was a bit "tired", on the other hand, Freddie's Bar, named after Freddie Heineken who owns the hotel, is a must stop, VERY dutch and classy beyond belief, would not miss stopping there for drinks, and the restaurants are a must stop also. Our next trip we tried the Grand and fell in love with it, feels like home, great location. The beds are so comfortable you won't want to get out, duvets and great pillows. We get a one bedroom suite on the canal. European hotels are a bit different than sterile american places, you feel the history. Being in the restaurant business, having worked in hotels, we travel for the hotels and restaurants, stay at only the finest, Plaza Athenee, GeoV, Bar au Lac, Splendido and the like, we try to start and end our trips in AMsterdam, and arriving at the Grand is just so comfortable and welcoming. I would suggest forgeting the buffet breakfast, for 22 euro it's not really worth it, I would suggest trying the Hotel "L Europe breakfast though, elegant and your right on the canal. If you stop at Freddie's Bar, the bartenders are Gert, Joop, or Bill, tell them Richardson the restaurant guy from Phoenix sent you. Enjoy, it's very hard to have a bad time in Amsterdam.