Amsterdam Location Preference
 

Will be in Amsterdam for 2 nights next month. Goal is to see as much as we can in that period and also to be able to hop on an early plane back to the U.S. (departure is at 10.00 am) - with this in mind, would it be preferable to stay in downtown Amsterdam or close to the airport. Also please provide hotel recommendation.
Thanks.

Stay in the centre of town, near central station, and take a train to the airport. Do check on the Dutch rail website about train timing, to see if they go early enough. I think the site would be www.ns.nl (NS being the Dutch railway). Don't know what you want to spend on a hotel, but the Krasnapolsky is right on Dam Square, walking distance of station and usually has competitive rates for its smaller rooms (although these can be very small).

Website is indeed www.ns.nl and it comes in English as well.

The airport is not far at all from central Amsterdam. There are numerous ways to get back and forth: public transit via train, hotel bus service (check with your hotel if they are part of "Connexxion airport hotel shuttle" 10 Euro per person one way), or taxi.

Personally I would choose an area away from the Dam and train station (because I don't care for that part of town). Leidseplein, the Jordaan, or Vondelpark areas are lovely.

Definitely no reason to stay by the airport.

I would stay in town and would agree (stringly) with suze that the station area is to be avoided. (It's not unsafe, just not especially pleasant.)

The Leideseplein area is a great place to stay: easy access (foot or tram) to everywhere downtown and the museums, and it's just a few steps from the delightful Vondelpark. Lots of hotel choices, including both American brands (Crowne Plaza, Marriott) and other comfortable places. It's still easy to get to the airport from the Leideseplein hotels -- best way is a taxi to the train station then train to the airport (about 45 minutes total); other choices are the KLM bus (30-60 minutes, depending on where you are picked up) or taxi directly to airport (25-35 mins).