My husband and I will be in Amsterdam for 5 days in April. It will be our 30th Anniversary, so I'd like a charming, romantic hotel, and most preferably one with some space, air conditioning (I can't sleep in warm rooms!), and last, but not least, an elevator! We'll be traveling by train through Germany, Netherlands and Belgium, so the thought of dragging suitcases up stairs at a hotel isn't appealing.

Wrote to Estherea--they have canal rooms for 270 euros. Is this a lot to pay? It's unclear whether they have A/C and elevators. The pictures on their website are hard to believe, so are they accurate?? Any voice of experience out there would be really appreciated. Thanks!

You need A/C in Amsterdam in April? LOL. Open the window.

You will not need AC in April in Amsterdam unless there is a most unusual heat wave.

It's possible to get a heat wave! But at least windows you can open!

I think if you just google those requirements, you'll probably come up with a good list. To answer your question, though, yes, there's plenty of hotels with both; more with just an elevator, and as spaarne said, a/c is usually unnecessary.

My recollection is that where we stayed, the Crowne Plaza, there was definitely a/c in the public areas, definitely an elevator; don't recall if there was a/c in the rooms, but we were there at the end of July -- and even having hot flashes I don't recall having the need for a/c. Now I wouldn't call the Crowne Plaza 'charming" or "romantic", but it was pleasant, and I recall it had a really nice bar downstairs. Certainly clean and has all the so-called necessities we like. I guess you make it romantic -- that's more of a state of mind, IMO! It was certainly convenient to everything and, frankly, if you go out to a coffee shop, you might think a hostel is romantic!

And yes, to me 270 euro a night is expensive.

Considering the typical price at which you can get a 4* hotel in Amsterdam, when bidding on Priceline, I would personally consider 270 Euros/night to be too much for a nice, but not luxury, hotel. But that's just my personal preference.

I recommend the Hotel Aalders. We stayed there in October and it was very good. It's very near the Rijksmuseum and the Van Gogh Museum as well as a tram line. And it has an elevator!

I would suggest that you go to a booking site like www.booking.com or hotel.com. Enter your specific dates to see what hotels are available. You can then check the services each hotel provides including elevators, AC, etc.

You can either book directly with the hotel or through the booking site if the price is better. I have used booking.com several times without any problems.

In April you will need heating more than A/C
I too would recommend you look at Booking dot com

we spent our honeymoon at the grand amranth, and it was a wonderful stay.

I stayed at the Estherea 20-odd years ago, and it was very pleasant. It's obviously expanded and gone upmarket since then: it certainly didn't cost €270 - for that, I would expect not only a lift but also a flunkey or two to carry me up the stairs. As it happens, you can see in the film on their website some guests getting into a lift.

Amsterdam can get humid in hot summer weather (July/August), but air conditioning really isn't necessary in April - their film shows windows you can open, which is all you need if the room feels too warm or stuffy.

Thanks for all your suggestions! The Estherea website shows rooms that look huge and extremely well-kept, but I've learned not to go by photos. Weather-wise, I have traveled to Vienna and other parts of Europe in April and May, and the temperatures were in the 90s! Everyone said it was most unusual, but it seems lately there have been warmer than usual temperatures everywhere we travel. Global warming, I don't know, but I always prefer A/C if there's any chance of heat!

I came across the Park Hotel near the Vondelpark, on a canal and museums, modern on the inside and historic on the outside. Any comments on this place?

<i>I came across the Park Hotel near the Vondelpark, on a canal...any comments?</i>

It's also on a busy road. I would look for someplace on one of more charming, quiet, and central canals (i.e. the Prinsengracht canal, the Kaisersgracht cnaal, or the Herengracht canal)

Amsterdam doesn;t get very hot even in midsummer - can;t imagine needing AC in April. Typically only new and upscale hotels will have AC - and doubt it would be on in April anyway.

As for elevators - yes, many hotels have them - but not the more modest (and often more charming) canal house type hotels. larger chain hotels and more upscale ones will usually have elevators. Andy hotel that has one will have it listed in the amenities.

Many Europe hotels that do have AC only have the system available during the warm months (maybe may-oct). So even if they have AC that doesn't necessarily mean you can use it in April.

Years ago my family stayed at the Estherea. We had a family room facing the street (not canal). It was a very nice hotel, but I know we didn't spend anywhere near 270E even for a quad (in March). I does have elevator access (it's mentioned on their website). I think it's recently been renovated.

April (Easter week?) could be high season.

Oh, hopefully you aren't planning to stay over April 30, which is a huge festival day and rooms will definitely be priced higher! If your visit includes this timeframe, you'd best book something asap.

Have been several times in April and never needed a/c, but DID have use for my 'silk' long underwear. You can check historical temps using wunderground.com or similar weather sites. I'm expecting somewhere between mid-40*F lows to maybe low 60* highs.

I was there in April 2 years ago and wore a coat most of the time. So I don't think you will need a/c but a building where the windows open would probably do.