mike

any scoop on the marriott in amsterdam?<BR>thinking about staying there.<BR>how is the location?

zzz

Good, but busy, location near the Leidseplein. But it's a Marriott. Why go to Europe and stay at a Marriott?

Belinda

Right across the street, same price range but more interesting hotel is Hotel American. It's a Crowne Plaza but with a really unique atmosphere. Mata Hari had her wedding reception in the Cafe Americain.

xxx

zzz makes a good point. Why go to Europe and stay in a Marriot where you know the quality will be good, the beds will be comfortable, the staff will be accomdodation, and the decor will be not only clean, but stylish? Instead you could take a chance on a local hotel, and maybe get one or two of the above. It is very &quot;in&quot; to dismiss anything American as being too common and jump to the &quot;foreign&quot;. Never mind that the quality may be less, you will make yourself proud by doing the &quot;local&quot; thing, rather than something American. Besides, who wants to tell their friends they stayed in an &quot;American&quot; hotel. Better to suffer the lack of quality so that you can impress your friends that you stayed in an &quot;authentic&quot; place.

Carole

Hi Mike,<BR>If you are like me, a Marriott Rewards member, and you get a lot of nights for free, why not use a Marriott? We have stayed in Marriotts in England, France and Australia. Never once were we sorry. Go for it! Whatever makes one happy is the name of the game. Happy traveling and happy holidays!

xxx

zzz makes a good joke that Marriott decor = stylish. zzz needs to get out more.

harvy

The location is excellent. Nice restaurants and bar. The Pizza Hut there has got view accross to the square where American Hotel is. Also very close to Museums. Amsterdam is a busy place and a nice quite Marriott room in which you only sleep is fine. I stayed at the Owl Hotel which was which is just about a block away on a quiet back street and I was in the Marriot I'll bet about every day for something. Enjoy.

Belinda

Staying in an American hotel in a foreign city isn't that much like staying in the same chain hotel in the US. The hotel was probably bought by the US Hotel chain and was originally foreign. The staff is from that city. The accommodations are often quite different. For example, I've stayed at Hotel American and the Tulip Hotel in Amsterdam. Both the same price. The only difference was that the American gave me miles and the Tulip didn't because they were a KLM partner.