Amsterdam hotels - Our Expert's
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High-tech, low-cost and fantastic-value accommodation, out by the World Trade Center.
Read full expert reviewSimple but homely and characterful canalfront b & b - great value for Amsterdam.
Read full expert reviewA strong contender for Amsterdam's very best b & b in a private home.
Read full expert reviewAmsterdam's newest five-star hotel occupies a fascinating and beautiful historic building.
Read full expert reviewThis enormously atmospheric canal house is one of Amsterdam's best budget places to stay.
Read full expert reviewAn amazing amount of "extras" are covered in the standard rates at this former bank.
Read full expert reviewV good budget hotel - stylishly designed, friendly and good value.
Read full expert reviewEasy going, arty, imaginative: the Lloyd perfectly epitomises Amsterdam's attitude to life.
Read full expert reviewDelightful, small-scale, upmarket b & b, in a stately, 17th-century canal house.
Read full expert reviewAn utterly tranquil place to stay, alongside Amsterdam's main park; rates can be great value.
Read full expert reviewReliable, inexpensive place to stay, well placed for museums, the Vondelpark and nightlife.
Read full expert reviewA safe bet: interesting 1920s building turned into well-placed, good-value, three-star hotel.
Read full expert reviewA fresh, modern look for a conveniently placed hotel yards from the flower market.
Read full expert reviewWeighing up location, facilities and lack of grunge, Amsterdam's most appealing hostel.
Read full expert reviewWhile Amsterdam has nowhere like the supply of accommodation of bigger cities such as Paris or New York, it still offers a host of places to stay bursting with character, to suit every possible budget.
Many of the most enticing hotels and B&Bs occupy classic, gabled canal-side houses on the Grachtengordel - the stately ring of canals that form a semi-circle around the city centre. But there are also appealing options away from the Canal Ring. You usually get more space and comfort for your money in hotels located on the quiet, 19th-century streets down near the Rijksmuseum and Van Gogh Museum, and by the city's main park, the Vondelpark.
Also, some of the most memorable hotels to have opened recently - the Lloyd and citizenM Amsterdam City spring to mind - are well outside the centre. But as the city is so small, and public transport is so ubiquitous (see How to get around Amsterdam), wherever you stay you are unlikely to be more than a 10-minute tram ride from the main sights and eating, drinking and shopping areas.
Things to consider before booking
* Affordable, good quality, canal-side hotels and B&Bs are limited in number and much in demand. So if you've set your heart on staying in this kind of property, book well ahead any time of year.
* At many hotels, rates can be as much as a third cheaper in the low-season winter months (November to March, excluding Christmas/New Year), and throughout the year better deals are often available for Sunday to Thursday night stays (especially Sundays). See more about seasonal changes to the city on my When to go to Amsterdam page.
* Cheaper canal-facing hotels often do not have a lift, and the stairs in the old buildings are normally very steep.
* In most hotels, breakfast is a buffet spread of fruit, cereals, pastries, cheeses and hams. Sometimes you'll also be offered hot dishes, such as eggs and bacon or omelettes. In mid-range and expensive hotels, as a general rule, breakfast is charged separately, as an addition to the room rate. This inflates the price of a stay considerably - for a couple on a weekend stay, by as much as 100 euros. In cheaper hotels and B&Bs, breakfast is normally included.
* Hotel rates quoted often exclude the five per cent city tax.
I've been regularly reviewing places to stay in Amsterdam for more than 15 years. The ones I've picked for Simonseeks range from a selection of the finest all-singing-and-dancing five-star hotels the city has to offer, to the best few-frills properties. You'll also find suggestions for B&Bs in private homes (usually excellent value), and for a couple of the best hostels.
If you would like to suggest a hotel to the community that I haven't recommended, then click here.





















