DESPERATE for Amsterdam Hotel
 

Does anyone have any advice for finding a hotel in Amsterdam for specific dates in September? I have exhausted every site/source I know and can find no availablity for the dates I need. Unfortunately, we had to make a change in our itinerary so the reservations we are holding won't work for us. I will try anything at this point, but hate to go without a reservation. (Apparently, there is some event in Amsterdam the weekend I need - Sept. 8,9.) PLEASE HELP!

Have you tried the Krasnapolsky located directly on "Dam Square"? We stayed there last May, a great location, convenient to lots of things. We stayed in the tower section and overlooked a canal--great! Nice experience and would go back there again. Good Luck Amsterdam is wonderful!

I had the same problem, I am going the 17th and tried everyting. I think you will have good luck at the Pulitzer, but call the 1800 no. 1800-325-3535. Give that a try and ask for the freedom of Europe plan. Good Luck.

Daniel, <BR>I had a similar problem for the weekend of September 15. After many emails and several phone calls to various hotels, we found a room at the Owl Hotel (http://www.owl-hotel.demon.nl/index.html). I also received a favorable response from the Atlas Hotel (http://www.atlashotel.nl/), but we had already booked the Owl. <BR> <BR>What is your price range? If you haven't already, take a look at the following sites. All of the hotels I looked at were recommended by one guidebook or another. <BR>http://www.frommers.com/destinations/amsterdam/ <BR>http://www.travelguides.com/home/toro_hotel/ <BR>http://www.toren.nl/ <BR>http://www.netcentrum.nl/onna/onnaen.htm <BR>http://www.xs4all.nl/~filosoof/index.htm <BR>http://www.vdwp.nl/keizershof/page2.htm <BR> <BR>You may also want to look at staying in Haarlem which is a 15 minute train ride away. <BR>http://www.ricksteves.com/tips/links.htm <BR> <BR>Good Luck!

We were also planning a trip to Amsterdam from September 8 for a week. I then saw a posting in the Thorn Tree from a woman from the Amsterdam Tourist Board reservation agency recommending that September 8-12 be avoided in A'dam because of a big conference that will be in town (around 15000 people!) and all hotels are booked right up. It also doesn't sound like it would be a very relaxed place to be for those 5 days. Unfortunately this screws up my vacation plans for 2000 as it's the only coinciding time that me and a friend can book off work. I'm also quite shocked at the prices of lodging in A'dam. It's pretty well parallel with London although I was told otherwise.

It is always disappointing when you find yourself unable to find a decent room at any price. I know it is likely not first choice but consider staying out of town in Alkmaar. The train into Amsterdam is very inexpensive and frequent.

Thanks to all for the advice. 15,000 people, huh? Looks like I have very bad timing. <BR> <BR>I will check out the sites offered for lodging outside the city as I have spent literally days searching for something, anything to replace my standing reservation on the 10th. (My itinerary changed due to airline complications. I am still holding a reservation for the 10th, but may release it. Just in case, you might want to check Hotel Maas where I have it currently if they release my room for general reservations.) <BR> <BR>Any other suggestions for suburban areas or neighboring towns with easy access would be appreciated. We will have a car, so we can drive to a close-in train station if necessary and feasible.

15,000 people is not THAT much. :-) This weekend, we have our annual gay pride in Amsterdam and there were 250,000 visitors yesterday, and we (a group of 6 friends) still could find a restaurant. <BR>For a hotel, contact the Netherlands' National Tourist info via www.visitholland.com. <BR>If you can't find a hotel in Amsterdam, try Haarlem, Alkmaar or Leiden which are all less than 45 minutes by frequent train from Amsterdam. <BR> <BR> <BR>

Have you tried the Crowne Plaza and the Hotel Ambassade? We stayed at both during our recent visit. All the contact info, plus restaurant and site-seeing ideas are in our travelogue at http://www.thetravelzine.com/ejht1.htm. <BR>Hope that helps. Enjoy! Amsterdam is wonderful. Don and Linda

Again, thanks for the responses, but thus far, every single hotel I have checked (and there have been many) even using the sites offered had no availability. I am now checking into Haarlem or outlying areas. <BR> <BR>I didn't think 15,000 people sounded like that many either, but SOMETHING must be going on the weekend of September 9.

September 4 - 6 we will have the "World Potato Congress 2000" (no joke!) in Amsterdam, with special guest Dan Quayle. ;-) <BR>September 8 - 12 we will have the "International Broadcast Convention". <BR>