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-   -   Amsterdam Moevenpick or Centre? (https://www.fodors.com/community/europe/amsterdam-moevenpick-or-centre-822184/)

kit Jan 17th, 2010 04:36 PM

Amsterdam Moevenpick or Centre?
 
Am thinking about bidding for a 4* on Priceline. Moevenpick and NH Centre are the ones that tend to come up most frequently for bidders -- at an unbelievable 75 USD!

Note: it is NH Centre, not City Centre (which is 3*) that is in play right now.

Is the location of the Moevenpick on the pier a plus or a minus?

Thoughts about either would help me make my decision on whether to go this Priceline route or not. Thanks!

ParisAmsterdam Jan 17th, 2010 04:52 PM

We stayed at the Moevenpick in the summer of 2007 and enjoyed it very much.

It was my 4th time in Amsterdam and my wife's second. She picked the hotel and I was prepared to not like it mostly due to it's location. But it was fine.

Mind you, getting a free upgrade to a suite probably clouds my thinking! ;^)

If you have a look at Google Maps you'll see that the 2 hotels are almost equidistant from Dam Square. So in many ways the Moevenpick is not that remote.
And it's only about a 10 minute walk into the centre. I ended up enjoying figuring out how to take different routes to and from the hotels.

There's a free shuttle bus that will take you to Centraal Station, a tram stop out front plus there's a canal tour boat stop right next door.

So go ahead and bid on Priceline... whichever of the 2 hotels you get you can't lose...

Rob

kit Jan 17th, 2010 05:01 PM

Thank you, PA!

scatcat Jan 17th, 2010 05:07 PM

Last June I bid on a 5* and got the NH Barbizon. It is located right next to the train station. We had a very nice room-no problems. 68€

hetismij Jan 18th, 2010 12:45 AM

The stop/go bus runs from very near the Mövenpick which makes getting into or the city or back again if you are tired very easy.
The NH Centre, on the Stdahouderskade, is a little further out from say Dam Square, but is well positioned for the Van Gogh- and Rijks-museums for instance, and also for the Anne Frankhuis.
Either would be good. They are both very modern hotels, but if you only use a Hotel as a place to stay not as part of the whole experienceat that price go for it!

travelgourmet Jan 18th, 2010 01:05 AM

The Movenpick is a bit out of the way, but it really isn't that far and the bus is convenient. I think the hotel is very nice, so that makes up a lot for the lesser location. At the prices you get through Priceline, it is a steal.

Judyrem Jan 18th, 2010 04:42 AM

We stayed there for 5 nights. I just did NOT care for the location at all. The biggest factor was there were no little stores/shops/restaurants nearby!!!!!!! It was a hike to get to anything. I am the very best of walkers, but after much sightseeing, the walk along the quay seemed endless. There was a marathon the weekend we were there nad the tram was not running it's normal route. After eating and drinking a few beers, this was not fun ar all. The hotel was fine and service was good. IMO, try the NH...if you can get it. I wrote ro Priceline and made a big deal about the location, but they could crare less

kit Jan 18th, 2010 11:05 AM

Thanks, all. I am still hesitant about both Priceline (no changes, cancellations, etc.) and the Moevenpick. I think my new strategy will be to book my room at a hotel at their normal rate (And one I can live with) and see wha=ich hotels are in play closer to my trip in May. (Everyone was getting the NH Carlton two months ago.) I'll start a new thread about those choices...again, thanks very much for your input!


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