You might want to re-post your message and include Amsterday in the title--that way you'll attract more viewers.

A thread on which you have already posted - - http://www.fodors.com/forums/pgMessages.jsp?fid=2&tid=34675806 - - is a good example, from which to learn... about the wording of a message header.

Best wishes,

Rex

lucielou, I've stayed at Hestia and I've seen de Munck. They should both be quiet hotels, as neither is on a busy road. Hestia is closer to Leidseplein and de Munck is closer to the Amstel and the sluice gates and 'skinny bridge'. Both are 'neighborhoods' and have typical Amsterdam ambience.

Hestia is a plain no-frills place but it is clean and I would not call it 'shabby'. If you have seen any photos of the rooms, that is how it looks. The lobby is very small, the lift is very tiny, the stairs are steep. The bedding is in good shape, the TV works (mostly Dutch), the bath is fine (heard the showers are 'different', though).
There is no "fluff","design" or "flair" - it's just a budget hotel.

I mentioned de Munck a year or so ago, and someone (Sue?) stayed and reported back that she loved it. I don't remember if it has an elevator - if not, that might be why it's a 2*.

I'm sure either will be fine, and you'll just walk or use the trams to get around.

Thank you very much Travelnut, I really appreciate your input, you have given me quite a lot of good information there, I have decided to go for the Hestia, thanks once again.

If you think you'd like to rent bicycles, we go to the Mac Bike shop at the address below, and then ride into Vondelpark for both enjoyment of the park and to get our nerve up to ride on the streets. Do be very mindful of the cars, trams, pedestrians and especially the trams !

http://www.macbike.nl/english/

MacBike Leidseplein ~
Weteringsschans 2, Amsterdam
Phone +31 20 620 09 85
E-mail info@macbike.nl

MAP OF LOCATION:
http://shorterlink.com/?XMPALT

The map doesn't show it, but there IS a bridge from Zandpad to Max Euweplein. You walk through the plaza at M. Euweplein (Hard Rock will be on your right as you cross thru), then Mac Bike will be on the other side on the street. When you see the street, then sort of turn back around to your right and there it is.

I suggest Hotel Residence le Coin. It's in the center of old Amsterdam, on a nice, quiet side street with cafes, and across the street from the elegant Hotel L'Europe. If you click on my screen name, you'll find my trip report of London-Paris-Amsterdam, with details about restaurants we found there that were great.
We liked the hotel's location very much, as it's central and we walked to all points from there. There's also a cab stand nearby, and public transit. The hotel is rather new, made from about seven canal houses, reconfigured into a hotel. Each room has twin beds, I think, but they push together easily. Bathrooms are nice, and complete kitchenettes are included. Floors are wooden, with in-floor heating. We really liked it, and the people there are very friendly. It's also very reasonably priced. They have a small breakfast room, too. We had two twin rooms last June, and I think they were about 95 EU apiece.

Thankyou Travelnut and Maureen, you are both very kind to give me all this information, I really do appreciate it very much. We would very much like to hire bikes whilst in Amsteram, it would make a nice change.
I am really looking forward to it all now, just have to get Christmas out of the way now!!