Budget Travel - Hotel Di-Ann Amsterdam

Quickie report on this very much a budget hotel.

One step above a hostel, this was the cheapest hotel in AMS where I could spend my Expedia coupons. I come away with mixed thoughts.

Great location - easy walk to dam, etc. Tram stop just down the street.^^

Low cost - AMS is like NYC and HKG, $100 doesn't go very far. (cheaper if booked direct (http://www.diann.nl/index.php?content_id=1))^

Clean - but some stains, there is a difference.

Small rooms - really, really, really small rooms.

Outstanding water pressure - and plenty of hot water (puts the en-suite steam shower at the BKK Conrad Prez Suite to shame.)^

Noisy clientele - this hotel caters to the college age coffee shop and RLD crowd.:o

Steep stairs - really, really, really steep stairs.

Lousy breakfast - toast, tea, sweaty processed cheese.:td::td:

So, if you yearn for a return to your fraternity days, this could be the place for you.

More seriously, if you spend no time in the hotel when you travel, you will find this a decent budget hotel, nothing special. Pack light, because the stairs up to reception are intense.

There are hundreds of small hotels like the Di-Ann in Amsterdam - you're experience is typical.

If you want something different at a reasonable (for Amsterdam!) price, the Amstel Botel (http://www.amstelbotel.nl/?doc_uid=857cdb9a78e6853d7a340e91df67d59e&language=uk&) is worth a try.

I am always looking for good reasonably priced hotels in Amsterdam, so please post any other recommendations here:)

Seems the Amstel Botel is closed for the dates I wanted. :( 8, 9, 10 January. No availability, and pity as this was my first choice.

Look for the Best Western Eden - it often has rates under 80 Euros per night. And it's very well-located. I think it definitely sounds better than the Di-Ann, but read the TripAdvisor reviews. My only complaint is that on our first stay, we had a room that was noisy when the nearby nightclub let out.

Two ideas -- When I was last in Amsterdam, I stayed at the A-Train Hotel, which is across the street and down a block from the Amsterdam's central train station. The hotel has small rooms, clean, not shabby, with a good breakfast included. The hotel has a railroad theme, and is somewhat like staying in an old railroad museum -- lots of artifacts to admire. Price is a bit above what I would consider to be "rock-bottom", about $130 USD and probably worse now because of the deteriorating USD exchange rate.

Second idea -- stay in the town of Harlem, which is cute as a button and a short train ride away from both Amsterdam and AMS airport. I did not price hotels there, but they could be cheaper than central Amsterdam.

I stayed at the Di-Ann, they often have lower rates like 50E. For a room with a Balcony which is nice. At that price level, I am mostly concerned with cleanliness and safety which is solid in this hotel. Breakfast wasn't much but it wasn't as bad as was described. There was also cereals and fruit, hard boiled eggs.

I just stayed at the new Qbic, and the Holiday INN both of these are a 15-20 Metro or tram ride from Dam Sq.

I enjoyed both of these hotels. ( The Holiday Inn was taken at a mistaken posted rate of only 35E).

The Qbic is a very comfortable room, smallish but not too bad. It has a very comfortable bed. The hotel is very quiet, and non-smoking.

You can book at the hotel web site. By staying in this area, you do spend less time in the Central area but for me this is not an issue, as I get tired from all the walking around in any case and don't mind a quiet relatively early night.

Back in the not-too-distant past when you could get winter-season tickets from ATL-AMS for $300s if on sale (and the dollar was doing much better vs. the Euro), I'd take a fair number of mileage-motivated trips out that way. Seems I never stayed at the same place twice. Usually I'd book through bookings.nl and it'd almost always be an independent canal-house place with the steep staircases. Would usually cost $35-55/night. Some are better than others, but you get far more atmosphere and authenticity than in the chain places. Some I remember include the King (Leidsekade), Neutraal (Dam), Asterisk, Hotel de Amsterdam, the de Mallemoolen, Prinsenhof, and Wilhelmina. I liked the Prinsenhof best, and I think the Neutraal was the only one of the bunch with an elevator.

Breakfasts do tend to vary a lot.

Another inexpensive, independent hotel in Amsterdam for consideration.

http://www.hotelasterisk.com/index_en.htm