We need recommendations for budget accommodations for three adults (family) for two nights in May 1998. Prefer centrally located, clean, quiet, room with private toilet/bath facilities, and security. Hotels, hostels or pensiones okay. Please advise if there are any places to avoid. Has anyone visited there in May? Is it difficult to find a room at that time of the year? Also interested in how to obtain city transportation and sight seeing maps. Thanks.

If you are looking for clean, quiet, and private, don't go to any Amsterdam hostel. Most are dingy, as is the city. Especially avoid the Flying Pig, Bob's Hostel, Durty Nellie's, the Christian hostels, I guess, every hostel there. From experience, they are full of high backpackers or grungy transients. Stick to a nice hotel and splurge for a couple of nights. Amsterdam is fun, but shocking. Don't say you weren't warned!!!

Amsterdam is a wonderful place to walk although public transportation is convenient but the tickets are tricky and need an explanation fron someone locally.Heard the Canal House was friendly small and well priced.Try booking early and check the net for othe suggestions.Great city,lots to do for everyone with friendly people.Try to get out in the countryside if you have time

I stayed at the Canal House in July 1997. It was such a cute and homey hotel, with private bath/toilet, telephone in the room. I stayed in a room by myself with a full size bed and the rate was 210 Gilders per night (Approximately $90 US dollars). I was in Room #10 and thought it was so cute. It even had an armoire and desk, and my room overlooked the canal. Breakfast included in the room rate. Good location and only a few minutes walk from Anne Frank's house, which I strongly recommend seeing (cost: 10 Gilders). Go to see Anne Frank's house later in the afternoon when there is no line no stand in. Enjoy Amsterdam, it's such a cute town!

Thank you, Carolyn and Barry, for the reply messages. We really appreciate the tips! We've decided to stay at a hotel rather than a hostel. We've got the choices narrowed down to either the Euphemia or the Best Western Eden. Can anyone provide comments as to those two hotels? Thanks.

We've stayed at the Eden House. It is on the
Amstel River across from the Konzertgebau. I
would stay there again. It is convenient to
Rembrandt Square and the flower market. The
trams are right on the corner. Pleasant hotel
with a decent restaurant/pub and good breakfasts
included. Yes, Amsterdam is shocking. Rembrandt
Square is THE place for sex items. May should be
very nice. We were there in February and the
weather was pleasant then.