Amsterdam: Help With Final Hotel Selection
 

I'm looking for a Four Star Superior or Five Star property that is more old world grand-style than modern. Hoping for proximity to the concert hall, I looked at the Museumplein-Vondelpark area first but most of the "better" hotels seemed very modern (i.e. The Bilderbergs). I decided to go central instead and started looking at the Canal Belt. I've come up with three finalists:

The Esthera offering a deluxe double @ 230€
The Ambassade offering a large canal view room @ 185€
Banks Mansion offering a room with bath @ 229€

I like a decent size room, with character and good amenities. I'd also like to be close to a tram stop. I prefer not to spend more than $325.00 per night.

Any feedback would be appreciated. Also, please let me know if there is anywhere else I should look.

Thanks.

I stayed at Hotel American and loved the beautiful Art Nouveau styling. Normally I hate staying abroad in anything with an American name, but this was far from typical US styling. The rooms were large and comfortable. I had a loving sitting alcove looking out on the canal and Leidespleine (a couple blocks from Museumplein). Mata Hari had her wedding party at the Cafe Americane.

Thanks. I'll take a look at their Website.

I second the American hotel (previously managed by the Intercontinental) if you want to be a couple of (longish)blocks away from Vondelpark and yet can still walk to the city center. We've stayed there twice and both times got very spacious rooms (maybe because we had kids with us). The square in front of the hotel is well populated with many restaurants and usually has a few street shows from jugglers, musicians to hip hop breakdancers. The city tram conveniently stops right in front of the hotel. The hotel is known as the place where the double spy Matahari got married.

I also wanted to chime in about the Hotel American. It is NOT an American type hotel in any way (i.e. Hilton style, Marriott style, etc.). It's quite nice with plenty of old world charm. The Ambassade is also quite nice.

Absolutely Bank Mansion!
Great hotel, very nice people and good location!
2nd Amabbsador Hotel.

Hi Everyone, I took a look at the Hotel American's website. Very nice but the rooms that they featured were a bit too modern and cold looking for my taste. You may get a very different impression in person... I think I've narrowed down to The Ambassade or Banks Mansion, leaning toward Banks Mansion. Although I have a feeling I'd prefer the rooms at The Ambassade. Too many options!

Have you considered the Hotel l'Europe? We stayed at a simpler hotel across the way, but it looked like a very classy 'old world' style hotel. The Hotel Doelan was nearby, but I didn't care for it's gold and white color scheme.
:)>-

Hotel American! I haven't stayed there but have gazed into the ground floor dining area - very Art Nouveau, chandeliers, etc. And there is a famous cigar store indian the hotel had out front for years - haven't seen it lately - maybe not PC - maybe it's inside - for years was by the entrance. Right on Leidesplein - a nightlife hub and a short walk from Concertgebouw.

I just checked Hotel de L'Europe myself. It looks very nice and is very expensive. More than $325/night for the smallest double.
:)>-

Pulitzer (5 stars) on Prinsengracht

If you're really looking for a grand palace hotel, you should consider the Amstel Intercontinental, even though the location is maybe a bit too northwest. It's been a very long time but I remember the canal view room was really superb for less than $200.

I've always wanted to stay at the Pulitzer since I've heard so many good things about it. but it looks to be more subtle old Amsterdam row houses rather than a grand palace.

The Pulitzer is very unique. A series of row houses that straddle two canals were pieced together to form the hotel which is now operated by Starwood. Have stayed there several times and love. Great central location, too.

typo: on location of Amstel, I meant to type northeast not northwest.

I checked the Amstel first. It is very exoensive know -- over $500.00 a night!
I think I'm going to stick with Banks Mansion. Good location and great extras. The rooms don't look great but you can't have everything! Right?

Amsterdam can get really expensive during certain convention period or if you don't book your hotel far in advance. I believe the Banks Mansion used to market itself with an emphasis of more value for less as they include breakfast, but at 229 eur it is not quite "for less" anymore. I hope you post your hotel experience when you get back.

I would choose the Ambassade. Unique ambience and great location. Get a canal facing room on the top floor.

Another vote for Ambassade. Charm and location.

I stayed at the Pulitzer a couple of weeks ago. It is not palatial, but quite comfortable and located in a lovely neighborhood. A tram stop is a block away. Their breakfast is 27E per person, so if you should stay there, be sure to get breakfast included in the room rate. I tried breakfast one morning and it was very good, if expensive.

Location wise, The Ambassade and Banks Mansion are quite close to one another, aren't they?

I have stayed at both the Esthera and the Ambassade but not your third choice. The rooms at Ambassade are larger and their public rooms nicer IMO. I liked the room furnishings at the Esthera better. Both are quite comfortable but I guess the Ambassade may have a bit of an edge and for the lower price that's quite amazing. Enjoy.

Central Amsterdam is not that big so everything in it is not that far from each other. However, I personally prefer the canal area in the western half of Amsterdam because in general it has more charm and less sleaze. For that reason, I'd say the Ambassade has a more desirable location than the Banks.

My husband and I stayed at the Estherea over Christmas and loved it. The common rooms and the hotel room was very nice. We had a canal-view room but it was very small.

What we loved the most about this hotel is they offered complimentary chocolates, coffee, hot chocolate, and tea 24/7 in their common rooms.

Thanks everyone!

I've stayed at the Ambassade twice, before it priced itself out of my range. It is a classy, literary hotel. (Think The Algonquin in NYC). Lots of authors on book-signing tours stay there while in the Netherlands. Your accommodation there sounds ideal. Good location, too.

I have stayed at both the Estherea and the Ambassade several times and I prefer the Ambassade. They are both lovely, canalside rooms. But the Ambassade rooms feel better to me.

Thank you again, everyone. After hearing all the feeback, I'm starting to lean toward The Ambassade vs Banks Mansion -- less expensive, more of the old-world ambience I prefer, larger rooms, prettier area. At first I was very taken in by the "free food" at Banks Mansion but for 44€ a day (difference between the two hotels), I suspect I can find myself a pretty good breakfast and snacks!!!

I don't know if it is open for breakfast but the Cafe Luxembourg has a great lunch menu, ambience, sort-of service, and outdoor seating. It is on the Spui a few blocks from the Ambassade. If you are into a before dinner drink try the Hoppe, one of the most famous "brown bars" in Amsterdam, 18h-20h and later on weekends. It is two doors north of the Lux. A bit further north on Spuistraat is the restaurant Luden. Great food, service, and reasonable €. A bit further north is the best known restaurant in Amsterdam, the Five Flies. What the heck, you only live once and you will remember this place.

Visit Haarlem. I used to live there. It's only 20 minutes by train from Amsterdam.

You will enjoy the Ambassade. It's old-shoe comfortable, and the staff are nice as well as professional. They have a lavish breakfast in a big 2nd floor room with lots of windows overlooking the canal, but it's fairly expensive so we did it only once for the experience.

We just spent three nights at the Marriott Amsterdam near Leidseplein. Pricelined at 105.00 US. All new decor, beds, bathrooms. Excellent service and concierge suggestions...bikes all day for 10 Euros. In busy area and an American chain, yet quiet and quaint. Would do it again even for double the price.

If you are still considering the Estherea vs. Ambassade question, be advised that the only "luxury" rooms at the former are the top floor canal view ones. I would not stay at the Estherea again if I had to sleep in the rooms I had on my first two visits. They were "triple-D" - drab, dark, depressing. No complaints about the housekeeping or the service though - both very good. In comparison, I've stayed in some of the Ambassade's "lesser" rooms - that is, not facing the canal and not a junior suite, and those rooms were still very pretty and comfortable. Just don't accept their ground-floor rooms, as they can be rather noisy.