Economical "sleeps" in Belgium & Holland
May 27th, 2004, 06:17 AM
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Economical "sleeps" in Belgium & Holland
I've been searching our information sources for "clean but not fancy" places to stay the 7 nights my husband, my adult son, and myself will be in Belgium and Holland. The German's have their gasthauses, the Italian's their convents, and the Irish their B&B's. What about Belgium and Holland? We can't afford the expensive hotels and are too old for the hostels. Help!!
May 27th, 2004, 06:49 AM
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Please could you advise roughly how much you have available to spend on accommodation per night.
Furthermore, would it be possible for you to perhaps take "special offer" flights which would then give you more money to spend on hotels?
Furthermore, would it be possible for you to perhaps take "special offer" flights which would then give you more money to spend on hotels?
May 27th, 2004, 06:57 AM
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There are Ibis hotels throughout the Netherlands and Belgium that are fairly inexpensive. For example, we often stay at an Ibis outside Utrecht when we visit that area--it's comfortable, clean, relaxing, and usually costs somewhere in the neighborhood of 60 to 80 euros per night. Plus, it attracts an interesting clientele--it's a popular overnight spot for people attending weddings or family reunions in and around Utrecht. There are many guest houses and little inns in the Ardennes that are quite affordable. What is your itinerary? You might get better suggestions if you give us the specific destinations you have in mind. Also, will you have a car or do you need places near mass transit access.
At the very low end, there is the Formule 1 chain. Rooms there are clean and comfortable enough and very cheap--about 27 to 30 euros per night. However, you won't have your own bathroom or a phone in your room (you will have a sink and your own tv, though). We stayed in one in Kerkrade, Netherlands, for a week when our apartment in Germany wasn't ready on time. It was fine...in a residential area (lucky there, as many Formule 1s are in more industrial areas and not near typical services like restaurants, shops, etc.) and pleasant enough. We met some interesting people--Eastern Europeans on vacation, some IT guys who stop there on trips to see clients, and (well behaved) football fans who came for a game at Limburg stadium.
At the very low end, there is the Formule 1 chain. Rooms there are clean and comfortable enough and very cheap--about 27 to 30 euros per night. However, you won't have your own bathroom or a phone in your room (you will have a sink and your own tv, though). We stayed in one in Kerkrade, Netherlands, for a week when our apartment in Germany wasn't ready on time. It was fine...in a residential area (lucky there, as many Formule 1s are in more industrial areas and not near typical services like restaurants, shops, etc.) and pleasant enough. We met some interesting people--Eastern Europeans on vacation, some IT guys who stop there on trips to see clients, and (well behaved) football fans who came for a game at Limburg stadium.
May 27th, 2004, 08:24 AM
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Select the cities you are interested in and then do a google.com search for B&Bs. E.G. B&B Amsterdam.
In the Dutch seaside resort of Zandvoort there are many rooms available in private homes. The signs in the windows say "Zimmer Frei" which is German for "Room Available" (it's in German because the Germans invade Zandvoort every summer). These are probably the cheapest rooms you'll find anywhere. They are "clean not fancy" but do not normally serve breakfast.
May 27th, 2004, 08:45 AM
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Thank you for the suggestion of Hotel Erasmus in Ghent. I'll look into it right away.
Our itinerary isn't firm yet partially because we are looking for affordable lodging...around 30 euros, per person, per night.
We'll fly into Brussels mid-afternoon on June 26. Would like to stay the night there and then move on to staying in Brugge for a 2 nights. We will have a car, so public transportation isn't a factor. From there,we'll go to Antwerp (maybe 1 night) before heading to Amsterdam. Maybe we should stay in Utrecht instead. What do you think?
Therefore, I'm needing a place in Brussels, Brugge, Antwerp, and either Amsterdam or Utrecht (maybe Ibis).
Any help is appreciated!
Our itinerary isn't firm yet partially because we are looking for affordable lodging...around 30 euros, per person, per night.
We'll fly into Brussels mid-afternoon on June 26. Would like to stay the night there and then move on to staying in Brugge for a 2 nights. We will have a car, so public transportation isn't a factor. From there,we'll go to Antwerp (maybe 1 night) before heading to Amsterdam. Maybe we should stay in Utrecht instead. What do you think?
Therefore, I'm needing a place in Brussels, Brugge, Antwerp, and either Amsterdam or Utrecht (maybe Ibis).
Any help is appreciated!
May 27th, 2004, 09:14 AM
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mkdiebold -
Although I have visited Utrecht 3 times and find it to be a very interesting medieval town. My preference would be Delft, a beautiful little Dutch town. We stayed at the Herberg de Emauspoort, right behind the Neiewe Kerk, just off Market Square. You can check out the website at:
www.emauspoort.nl
By the way, I finally opened your e-mail(s) and have forwarded you my itinerary. I hope it helps with your planning. Peace.
Robyn
Although I have visited Utrecht 3 times and find it to be a very interesting medieval town. My preference would be Delft, a beautiful little Dutch town. We stayed at the Herberg de Emauspoort, right behind the Neiewe Kerk, just off Market Square. You can check out the website at:
www.emauspoort.nl
By the way, I finally opened your e-mail(s) and have forwarded you my itinerary. I hope it helps with your planning. Peace.
Robyn
May 27th, 2004, 09:34 AM
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When I was in Amsterdam in 2001 I stayed at a 2* that was in the city center. So far it's the worst hotel I've used in Europe. Rickety furniture, tattered and worn carpets to the point of holes, lots of "cigarette" burns and the bathroom wasn't nearly as clean as it should/could have been. The room was dingy, musty, blah.
I wondered about the hotels as I wandered the city center. I poked my head into several 1 & 2 star hotels to see if there was anything better. I didn't like any of them. It seemed to me that low end hotels were being run as flop houses for pot heads. It makes me wonder too about the percentage of stoned people in the youth hostels.
Be very careful picking a 1 or 2 star in the city center. There must be some decent ones there to be found. You'll want firsthand experiences and need to read a lot of reviews on www.tripadvisor.com
The area out by the Van Gogh museum was much nicer overall. Perhaps you only need to get out of the city center a bit to find nicer low end hotel options. It's not as if the Van Gogh museum is in the boondocks. I walked to it from the main (Dam?) square very easily.
I wondered about the hotels as I wandered the city center. I poked my head into several 1 & 2 star hotels to see if there was anything better. I didn't like any of them. It seemed to me that low end hotels were being run as flop houses for pot heads. It makes me wonder too about the percentage of stoned people in the youth hostels.
Be very careful picking a 1 or 2 star in the city center. There must be some decent ones there to be found. You'll want firsthand experiences and need to read a lot of reviews on www.tripadvisor.com
The area out by the Van Gogh museum was much nicer overall. Perhaps you only need to get out of the city center a bit to find nicer low end hotel options. It's not as if the Van Gogh museum is in the boondocks. I walked to it from the main (Dam?) square very easily.
May 27th, 2004, 10:14 AM
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mkdiebold,
Nice mid-range hotels in Amsterdam are a bit of a problem to find. There are some great high-end properties and a lot of dumpy two-and-below-stars. It isn't like Paris where there are dozens of decent 3-star places. Take to heart the previous poster's warning about budget places in the central Dam area. If you want to go lower-priced in Amsterdam, find a place that is a bit out of the center. How about the Bridge Hotel? It's on the eastern end of the canal ring district near the Magere Brug. I checked out some rooms there about a year ago and they were very nice, not fancy, but clean and with good bathrooms. I seem to recall doubles going for 90 Euros or less.
Check out the website channels.nl. There is a ton of advice on Amsterdam there, including reviews of hotels and a booking service.
Nice mid-range hotels in Amsterdam are a bit of a problem to find. There are some great high-end properties and a lot of dumpy two-and-below-stars. It isn't like Paris where there are dozens of decent 3-star places. Take to heart the previous poster's warning about budget places in the central Dam area. If you want to go lower-priced in Amsterdam, find a place that is a bit out of the center. How about the Bridge Hotel? It's on the eastern end of the canal ring district near the Magere Brug. I checked out some rooms there about a year ago and they were very nice, not fancy, but clean and with good bathrooms. I seem to recall doubles going for 90 Euros or less.
Check out the website channels.nl. There is a ton of advice on Amsterdam there, including reviews of hotels and a booking service.
May 27th, 2004, 11:13 AM
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This hotel is clean but will cost a little bit more than 30 pp.
Author: illusion321
Date: 02/02/2004, 08:03 pm
Message: I loved hotel de munck! I would request room 17, you may have to deal with some very steep stairs, but the large room, large bathroom, and great view from the balcony are awesome, they do have a web site, the owners are very helpful, and speek perfect english (i think they may actually be british) there was a free breakfast with was also good.
http://www.hoteldemunck.com/
Author: illusion321
Date: 02/02/2004, 08:03 pm
Message: I loved hotel de munck! I would request room 17, you may have to deal with some very steep stairs, but the large room, large bathroom, and great view from the balcony are awesome, they do have a web site, the owners are very helpful, and speek perfect english (i think they may actually be british) there was a free breakfast with was also good.
http://www.hoteldemunck.com/
May 27th, 2004, 11:16 AM
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For a clean place at e30 per person, and a place to park your car, I would skip Amsterdam as a base and try Haarlem, about 15 minutes west. There are several decent 1 star hotels near the city center which can be had for about e30 per person, plus a few B&Bs in the city for even less. It will easier to park your car if you stay at one of the B&Bs which are in residential areas.
In Brugge I stayed in a university dorm room. That was many years ago and I can't recall the name but it was clean, cheap, and well located.
May 27th, 2004, 12:58 PM
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mkdiebold: The Dutch hotel chain "Van der Valk" wouldn't be a bad choice. It is in your price range, anyway. The hotels are nothing fancy but very good price/quality wise. They have motels/hotels all over the Netherlands and a few in Belgium.
Check out their website: http://www.valk.nl/home/default.asp?language=en - click on "properties/reservations" to get an overview of the various locations. Most of the hotels are not right in the city centres but, to give a few examples, Hotel Katwoude (new name Hotel Volendam) and hotel Haarlem-Zuid are only 20 min. by car to Amsterdam, hotel Nivelles-Sud is 20 min. by car to Brussels and hotel Oostkamp is 15 min. drive from Brugge.
I see that the room description is often only in Dutch. I'll be glad to translate for you.
Check out their website: http://www.valk.nl/home/default.asp?language=en - click on "properties/reservations" to get an overview of the various locations. Most of the hotels are not right in the city centres but, to give a few examples, Hotel Katwoude (new name Hotel Volendam) and hotel Haarlem-Zuid are only 20 min. by car to Amsterdam, hotel Nivelles-Sud is 20 min. by car to Brussels and hotel Oostkamp is 15 min. drive from Brugge.
I see that the room description is often only in Dutch. I'll be glad to translate for you.
May 27th, 2004, 10:06 PM
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In addition to the options mkdiebold listed, Germany France, Belgium, the Netherlands, also have their B&Bs albeit under different names. (Zimmer Frei, Chambre d'Hote, etc, as well as the all-encompassing "Pension"
.
I've stayed in Ibis's and Mercure's but if you're on a tight budget you can't do that too often, and I've stayed in Formula 1's - but never again!
Whatever you use - hotels or B&Bs or their equivalents, you'll get the best deals by fronting up at the Tourist Info Office as soon as you hit town, and telling them what you want and what your budget is. They might laugh at first, or they might shake their heads sadly and moan "Eemposseeble", but in my humble experience they will always meet your wishes - and usually (esp. in Germany) without compromising one iota on standards.
.I've stayed in Ibis's and Mercure's but if you're on a tight budget you can't do that too often, and I've stayed in Formula 1's - but never again!
Whatever you use - hotels or B&Bs or their equivalents, you'll get the best deals by fronting up at the Tourist Info Office as soon as you hit town, and telling them what you want and what your budget is. They might laugh at first, or they might shake their heads sadly and moan "Eemposseeble", but in my humble experience they will always meet your wishes - and usually (esp. in Germany) without compromising one iota on standards.
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