ugh, hotels are filling up at 4ppl. Hotel NH had rooms but when they finally confirmed beds it was too late. Loved Brouwer but they are booked. Any more suggestions of nice, reasonably priced 4p room is still welcome!!!!

http://www.memphishotel.nl/en/

the venerable hotel near Vondel Park and the museum district - a very quiet nice area well out of the busy center but walkable to so many sights and with trams stopping out front has long been a favorite of folks I know - it may be under you budget however you'll find it clean and nice and safe and quiet.

I would not use the walking distance to museums as any sort of absolutely defining criteria. Use the trams to get to those places and the kids will probably love riding on them. Even though that Marriott is within walking distance of both the Rijks and the Van Gogh, the last time we visited we decided against that and opted for the Crowne Plaza right around the corner from Centraal Station and on two main tram lines. It may or may not fit into your budget and it certainly does not have any sort of "old anything" charm but the rooms are great, the Junior Suite would probably accommodate all four of you, and the buffet breakfast is plentiful.

Apartments offer a much better fit except from your husband not liking them of course.

I would not use the walking distance to museums as any sort of absolutely defining criteria.>

Of this I would agree. But the beauty of this area that is also not far from main sights if someone were wanting to walk - anywhere in central Amsterdam is no more than a few miles

but the real beauty of this area as opposed to the Crowne Plaza area is like night and day - the museum area by Vondel Park is a real neighborhood feeling - there are 'petit' restaurants and small stores and bakeries and pubs and coffeeshops used mainly by locals - it is nice to stroll around at night - without the worries you should have many places in central Amsterdam.

The Crowne Plaza is in one of the busiest areas of Amsterdam - it has no neighborhood character at all - loud noisy trams (dukey Amsterdam trams are noisy unlike German S-bahns) - especially in the Crowne Plaza area, which is rather seedy at night with things like porn shops (including several gay ones) and some street prostitutes in the area to - a mini redlight district.

I always loved staying in more ordinary quiet areas near Vondel Park rather than in the busy louded more unsavory in areas part of town of which the Crowne Plaza ara is the epitome - and if walking it is a long walk to the museum area.

I wonder if you might have a wrong idea of how "old world" Amsterdam is. While it is true there a great deal of very beautiful old architecture that is several hundred years old, plus historic cafes, a lot of Amsterdam looks remarkably like the historic neighborhoods of New York City (unsurprisingly, since they share Harlems, Brooklyns and even Amsterdams). In addition, the city of Amsterdam was one of hot beds of early 20th century constructivist modernism, which had a great impact on the city's aesthetic. Today, a typical Dutch interior is less like something you see in Vermeer than it is Pop or post-Modern. If you look at pictures of the interiors of a hotel like the Pulitzer, even though the hotel is made of historic canal row houses, the interior decor is totally modern (with maybe a few tiles and tulips thrown in).

If you finally decide on the Marriott, don't imagine you missed out terribly on a load of Rembrandt-like atmosphere at other city hotels.

If you finally decide on the Marriott, don't imagine you missed out terribly on a load of Rembrandt-like atmosphere at other city hotels>

I disagree - staying in a family-run small hotel of which there are mainly in Amsterdam is way different and better to me than staying in a sterile Marriott - so many neat small hotels that are as cheap or cheaper - you can stay in a Marriott anywhere in the world and they are all the same - stay in a small Amsterdam hotel and savor the intimacy from an impersonal chain hotel.

But they are not looking for a small intimate hotel. They are looking for "4+ star quality, best of it's class" with family rooms, which means a fairly large hotel. But I stick by my point that even many smaller boutique hotels in Amsterdam have clean modern interiors without centuries-old antiques. Many of the high points of Amsterdam design are in the 20th century, and the culture of Amsterdam embraces modernity. It is still one of Europe's most forward looking cities.

I would book something refundable at this point while you continue your search. It may be a lovely hotel will have discounted rooms closer to your departure date. You may need to adjust your parameters and book something now that doesn't meet all your criteria just to have a back up plan.

They are looking for "4+ star quality, best of it's class" with family rooms, which means a fairly large hotel>

How about the famous American Hotel, right near the museums and the Leidesplein? Breakfast is a lavish historic ballroom?

http://www.edenamsterdamamericanhotel.com/en/

Slightly outside their price range (I'm looking at suites.)

Thank you everyone for posting - PalenQ I do like smaller intimate hotels though in the States we stay in chains out of ease and convenience. I only mention that as we are accustomed to that level of quality - happily exchanged for one family room or two singles in a quieter charming location (near a canal would be awesome).

Sandralist I do look forward to seeing the mix of modern and traditional that it sounds like Amsterdam is. So a hotel decorated with modern or traditional is absolutely fine. I was initially under a different impression so thank you for clarifying.

KTtravel I did book two refundable options as I still get more suggestions (anyone know of or can comment on Hotel Clemens (2 affordable rooms), or, Grand Hotel Downtown (family room)

NH City Centre Spuistraat would have been perfect though they took 4 days to return my several inquiries and then the family room was gone :(

Any more suggestions are welcome as I pursue each one!

I highly recommend the Hotel Pulitzer. It is along one of the famous canals.