I am heading to Amsterdam next week (with days in Paris as well). Based upon recommendations from folks on this board I emailed the Hotel Agora. They responded within one hour. That's not the amazing thing though - this is. They do not have availability for the dates that I'm visiting. However; they sent me an email with 10 other email addresses/suggestions for places to stay! Wow! Now, that's service ABOVE and beyond! I'm impressed. Just thought I'd share with all of you. If this is the type of service they give to someone who ISN'T staying there, I can only imagine the service they give to a customer who IS staying there. I am just really amazed.

We stayed there is March. It's not an elegant place, but the hotel is well located on Singel and the staff is very helpful. If you do a search for 'agora' or read my "rave" in the r&r section of this website you can read my fuller comments.

Liz, <BR> <BR>So glad to hear you had such a good experience with Hotel Agora...without even staying there. I stayed at the Agora on my first trip to Amsterdam and as S. Fowler mentions, although it might not be the most elegant or have the most character, the staff is exceptional, the hotel is very centrally located and the entire place is as neat and clean as a pin. They made my first trip to Amsterdam so special that I have returned several times. I think it's always good to let the word out for a Moderately priced Hotel that consistently has excellent service and just wanted to add my 2 cents worth while we're acknowledging them. P.S. As you probably already figured out, since they're so small they tend to book up quickly. Hopefully you'll be able to stay with them on your next trip - I don't think you'll be disappointed.

OK, so now the issue is. .. where would you recommend I do stay? I'd prefer something around $100 per night or less (yeah, I know, wouldn't we all?) My criteria are: safe, good location, safe, clean, safe Thanks. I've already done a search on this site and have contacted a few of the hotels mentioned e.g., Ambassade.

We stayed at The Bridge Hotel, on the Amstel river, near the "skinny bridge" for one night in September. We paid 205 guilders for one night (approx. $85). I was happy with the hotel choice. Our double room with ensuite bath & tv was very basic, and the furniture (light stained pine) was a little beaten up, but the room was clean. Also, the bathroom had just a flourescent light, and a rust stain in the tub, but was also clean. The bed was comfortable, the sheets were crisp, white & clean, and they had duvets for blankets. The staff was very friendly and accomodating, and our room had a small balcony overlooking the canal, with two sets of french doors. It was not by any means luxurious but it was adequate, clean, and friendly. As for the location, we walked around at night, crossing the river to go to the Rembrandtplein and the Dam area, and felt safe the whole time. We met up with a friend who lives in Amsterdam who said the hotel was in a nice area. It's near the Amstel Intercontinental hotel, so it must be a pretty good, and it felt very safe (mostly residental, a few cafes, but then you can cross the river to the rembrandtplein & canal areas). We walked to the Rijksmuseum in about 15 minutes.

Liz, <BR>Check out the B&B's on www.innsite.com <BR>"Lindenstraat 5" is a beautifull, clean, romantic 1 room hotel in the middle of the historic "Jordaan" district.

Liz, <BR> <BR>The following would probably be in your budget and I would certainly recommend them: <BR> <BR>Hotel Acacia (Budget) <BR>Lindengracht 251 (in the Jordaan) <BR>1015 KH Amsterdam <BR>020/622-1460 phone <BR>020/638-0748 fax <BR>[email protected] <BR>I had read so much about this small family run place and was pretty happy with it. Be warned, it is very basic but very clean and well run by a young couple. And I find out that I loved staying in the Jordaan. <BR> <BR>Hotel Uptown (Budget) <BR>Korte Leidsedswarsstraat 147 <BR>1017 PZ Amsterdam <BR>020/428-3125 phone <BR>020/428-3105 fax <BR>hoteluptown.com or [email protected] <BR>This place turned out to be a surprise and a bit of a lifesaver when I needed a room on such short notice. Even though it’s near the Leidseplein, it’s far enough away that you don’t get the crowds/noise. Also it’s above a great coffee shop called Rookies where I met a lot of fun people during this trip. <BR> <BR>Good luck! <BR> <BR>

For a budget, clean, safe, very friendly hotel I like the Hotel Kap on Den Texstraat very near the Heineken Brewery. Doubles are under 200 NLG/night <BR>including a great breakfast. There's lots of reviews on budget hotels at www.channels.nl These are written by web surfers and can be accessed by clicking the 800 reviews link from the homepage. The Kap has 20 some reviews there. Also check the Brouwer and the Rokin.