Need a place to stay in route from Rotterdam to Hengelo-take train to Amsterdam....
 

Driving from Rotterdam to Hengelo and would like to spend the day in Amsterdam first, but know I don't want to drive their. Thought we could stop somewhere in route and get a room with (hopefully free)parking and close to the train station. Then we could take the train in and spend the day and evening in Amsterdam, take the train back to room, spend the night and then head on to Hengelo the next day. Any suggestions on where we might stay? Looking to trying not to spend more than 75e if that's possible. Thanks so much for your help.

Maybe Ibis Hotel at the airport. Although Eur. 75.- might be a little too low. They have a shuttle to the airport and from there trains run frequent into town.
http://www.ibishotel.com/ibis/ficheh...he_hotel.shtml

There are a few Bastion-hotels near Amsterdam. They are a little over € 75.

www.bastionhotels.nl

Driving in Amsterdam is not so bad. I do it almost every day :)

Here's a hotel in Weesp, a lovely old town near Amsterdam.
http://www.hartvanweesp.nl/ENG/Default.asp
Weesp - Amsterdam = 15 minutes

A nice hotel in Breukelen
Some kind of fake Chinese building
http://www.hotelbreukelen.nl/hotel_e.htm
Breukelen - Amsterdam = 30 minutes

Tulip Inn, Hilversum (cheap)
http://www.hotels.nl/nl/hilversum/richards/
Hilversum - Amsterdam = 35 minutes

More hotels in Hilversum
http://www.hotels.nl/nl/hilversum/

Bartion hotel in Amsterdam, near the Amsterdam ArenA (outside the city centre)
http://www.hotels.nl/amsterdam/bastionamstel/

Thank you all for your suggestions. I'm checking them all out now. So driving in Amsterdam isn't that bad? That's good to know. I'd always read that you don't want to drive in Amsterdam. Still think we'll stay in the outskirts. Had another idea of just staying in the Rotterdam area 2 nights and going into Amsterdam from there. Maybe Gouda? Any ideas in that area too? Thanks again for your help.

Driving in Amsterdam is not that bad, (certainly not for someone who drive it daily and seems to live there....)but not very pleasant either.
City center has many one-way streets.
Parking is awful and expensive!