Lost cause on 2 night houseboat stay in Amsterdam?
 

Myself and two friends are spending New Year's this year in Amsterdam, arriving on the 30th and leaving on the 1st.

More than anything, we would love to stay in a houseboat for that short amount of time, whether it is privately own, a hotel houseboat, anything.

We just can't seem to find any houseboats that are available at New Year's (we know that for a holiday, we're looking to book already late in the game) or that can relax their minimum night stay requirement (government regulation, we hear).

Are there any houseboat alternatives that we may be missing? Are there any other equally fun places to stay for New Year's that would still give us a unique Amsterdam experience? Obviously, it's New Year's and we'll be out and about a lot, so an affordable (under 300 euros preferably) and basic accommodation would not bother us as long as we're fairly comfortable.

Not sure which sites you've tried, so I've listed some below. Also, there's always the Botel, a small cruise liner permanently moored in Amsterdam - it's at http://www.amstelbotel.nl/en/

The other sites are:
http://www.houseboathotel.nl/

http://www.houseboats.nl/

http://www.amsterdam.info/houseboats/

http://www.amsterdamhouse.com/houseboats.htm

Thank you for the help, I've seen a few of the sites mentioned but didn't catch the Botel one in my research.

Unfortunately, they all still have minimum night stay requirements beyond 2 nights. Many of them are 7 nights for New Year's, and the Botel requires 4 nights as well.

Is there any other houseboat you may know of that can accomodate 2 nights over new year's?

The only one I can think of is:
http://www.phildutch.net/index.php, although you'll have to fill out a form online & they get back to you.

When I travel, I don't make reservations (I travel shoulder season). I call from a prepared list that I cull from various travel guides. I call places the morning before I arrive to see what they have available. One thing I have found is many places that insist on a minimum stay to make a reservation aren't nearly as picky if they're sitting on an empty room for the next night or two.

I don't know if it will work for you. It always works well for me but I never have my heart set on anything other than a decent place to get a good night's sleep and a shower in the morning (included breadfast is a plus).

That is great advice. I will make a note of that to houseboat owners. If they have a cancellation or have an opening, to put me on their waiting list. Unfortunately, not having any reservation altogether may be a bit risky for a stay over New Year's in Amsterdam.

I will book a hotel with a refundable reservation in case something changes in the last minute and we can get a houseboat. That way, we'll always have some form of shelter.

If you like blustery wind and rain and maybe snow and damp quarters keep looking for a houseboat in Amsterdam for NYE. I would prefer a houseboat in summer when I could sit on the deck and watch the world ride by on their chirping bicycles.

For the "unique Amsterdam experience" you seek I would stay at the Hotel Ambassade on Herengracht. It is a unique hotel, warm and cozy, and it is Amsterdam like no other. I was there on NYE many years ago and remember it fondly.