Any recommendations for a hotel?

We plan to use Rotterdam as a base, spending 3.5 days there and the rest day trips to the Hague, Delft, more?

Should we use the Ovpay system (credit card) or "OV-chipkaart anonymous" for transportation payments?

Thanks,
Michael

No price range. Nether have you given a list of facilities or area it has to be in. That is an impossible question to answer. I would suggest Booking for reviews then google for the best price to the hotel
OVpay is the recommended way to pay. but that obviously requires you to have your phone at hand getting on an off public transport. The phone would have to be unlocked before use.
An anonymous OV-chipkaart will require you to purchase one and load it up before travel.
What is the way to go is really a matter of preference.
https://www.holland.com/global/touri...blic-transport

I was under the impression that OVpay could be used with just a credit card. I don't think that my flip phone would work.

You can use your debit or credit card for OVPay. One per person though, smae as the OV Chipkaart.

https://www.ovpay.nl/en


I can't give any advice on Rotterdam and where to stay. Hopefully Menechem will see this and can provide some info for you. You could try a PM to him too as he isn't around much now.

Still needs a phone app.

https://www.ovpay.nl/en/app

According to this, giving separate options, a phone app is one option out of four, although I thought that OVpay eliminates the need for a OV-chipkaart.

With OVpay, you can check in and out not only with your OV-chipkaart, but also with your contactless debit card, credit card, or mobile phone. You choose what works best for you.

Hi Michael,

For hotels in Rotterdam, I’ve had good experiences staying near Rotterdam Central or the city center. it makes getting to trains and trams for day trips really easy. There are plenty of options from boutique hotels to mid-range chains depending on your style and budget.

For transportation, the OV-chipkaart (anonymous) is usually the simplest if you plan to take multiple trains and trams. it works seamlessly across cities and avoids multiple single tickets. You can also use a contactless credit/debit card in many cases, but the OV-chipkaart often makes hopping on/off public transport easier.

For day trips, Delft, The Hague, and Kinderdijk are all very doable from Rotterdam, and you can even squeeze in Gouda or Leiden if you want more Dutch towns.

I use OVpay with a credit card. I don´t use my phone.

I am still trying to see the need for OVpay if a credit card works by itself, or it doesn't?

I don't recall what it was called, but on my last trip to NL in 2023 I recall simply tapping my card at the entrance to the station at my origin, and again tapping upon exit at the destination...

I just tap in and out with a credit card on tram or metro when I am in Amsterdam. I assume it is the same in Rotterdam. You can use your phone to pay, but a credit card works fine.

Hotel New York is good, but the location is a bit far from your nearest public transport stop. Even more spectacular is staying on SS Rotterdam, and it's even further away from public transport.

That aside and not knowing your budget, and having been a Rotterdammer from 2000

Bilderberg Park Hotel has a good reputation and is in a very central spot with easy access to both Witte de Withstraat and Nieuwe Binnenweg. The Museumpark is at the back of the hotel.
I booked this for a co-artist once and she loved it: https://www.fdhotels.nl/
These serviced apartments are in the same area: https://museumpark.bedsandhotels.com/

The other off the beaten path area is around Botersloot and Pannekoekstraat
Motto is a Hilton brand and it's in the very interesting Spaarbankgebouw on Botersloot. The big advantage to this is that you are near Rotterdam Blaak station, and you have a train to Delft and/or The Hague every 15 minutes or so.
Savoy on Hoogstraat is now a Leonardo Hotel and its location is the area where Rotterdam's post war reconstruction began. This area also has the Industriegebouw which houses some good places for coffeee and food. And there is now a row of Berlinesque vegan restaurants on nearby Goudsesingel

Enjoy Roffa. It's got a great vibe.

PS One of the good things about staying near Blaak Station is that you have a direct Metro to the beach at Hoek van Holland. We live across the street from Blaak and it's pure luxury to be able to take the metro to the beach. A train every 8 minutes during weekends, so it's frequent. It also gets you to Schiedam, Vlaardingen and Maassluis.

Nope. Can just use your debit/credit card.

They mean pay with apple or google pay. Which is possible.