wideman

There's an excellent supermarket (Albert Hein) in Dam Square next to the Magna shopping center. Bigger selection, fewer guilders than at Schiphol. If you buy your stroopwafels there and pack them in your bags, you're far more likely to have some when you get home.

Tot ziens,

Wideman

Richard4009

I sent an email as was suggested and got a very fast response! I understand that rooms get booked, etc. so it was not like I plan never to stay at a Starwood again. My only thing is I may want to pay a little extra to be sure that I get the room I want!

I pasted below their response to me email. If I end up getting a call as stated in the email, I may be a customer for life. Hehe.

Richard
-------------------

Dear Mr XXX:

Thank you for your recent e-mail message. We welcome this opportunity to
assist you.

We know how unsatisfactory it can be when you arrive at one of our hotels
expecting a particular room type and level of service only to be told it is
not available or no longer done that way. On behalf of Starwood Hotels &
Resorts Worldwide, please accept our apologies for any disappointment you
may have experienced during your most recent stay at the Hotel Pulitzer.

We have called the hotel to follow up on your behalf regarding the
discrepancy of room type you received on your second visit there. The front
desk person checked the occupancy of the hotel on November 25th of this year
and discovered that all of their suites and junior suites were sold. She
said they only have two full suites and five junior suites on the entire
property. She was regretful when we told her you were disappointed with the
room, but did say that it was the best room available when you checked in.

The cookies you describe sound delicious. This same front desk person said
these are known as "stroopwafels". They do not know where they can be found
in Los Angeles, however the concierge at the Hotel Pulitzer will attempt to
call you with information on how they may be purchased from one of their
local sources.

We appreciate your patronage of Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide and for
being a Starwood Preferred Guest. If you have further questions or concerns,
please feel free to contact me again at your earliest convenience.

Sincerely,

William R. Sanders
E-Communications Department
Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide

E-mail: [email protected]
Starwood Preferred Guest Account Service Center Telephone: 1-888-625-4991
Fax: 1-512-836-4002

Address: Starwood Preferred Guest Program
P.O. Box 143986
Austin, TX 78714-3986

neo_781

Wow! That's true customer service.

Shareholder

These same buscuits can be found in Belgium as well [the northeast at least], so they must be a Walloon confection. I discovered them while in Brussels a few years ago at a shop that specialized in honeys. Having a colleague back home who grew up in the country, I bought a few packages, and needless to say, he was extremely delighted to have some of these childhood goodies. They are terribly sweet, but go well with a pot of tea. Isn't nice to discover such delights as we travel the world?

wideman

Actually, Shareholder, Wallonia, which is the French-speaking part of Belgium, is in the south and southeast. All of the north of Belgium is Flanders, which is the Dutch-speaking (Flemish-speaking) region. (Belgium also has a small German-speaking region.)

Waffles (wafels in Dutch, gaufres in French) are popular throughout Belgium.

xFlagger

I have a two-night stay after Xmas. I called Starwood a requested the suite with the loft.

Thanks for the tip!

Richard4009

CART_Flagman,

I am sooooooo jealous! Once you get spoiled, everything else pales in comparison.

Have fun!

R

mauld

CART_flagman, be sure and specify that you want a canal view. Many of their rooms face an inner courtyard and the view from the canal is truly wonderful. During my stay, last year I was not given the suite, but a nice room on the top floor overlooking the canal. I was told though, that during the spring & summer months the canal can be very noisy at night (with lots of foot & barge traffic going by), but it is fairly peaceful during the winter months. The hotel also has a great 4 star restaurant, you might want to make reservations early for that, as it is small and very well known.

fetchem

Ahhh...Nothing like stroopwafels to cure a case of the munchies...

xFlagger

They had them in the Sheraton AMS Airport Hotel when I stayed there last year. You can't put them down when you start on them!

If the suite facing the canal is available, I'm going to askfor it. This is the culmination of 50+ nights for me, and one of those nice suites would be just the thing to end the year (not to mention a possible upgrade on the flight back). My girlfriend deserves it for puting up with all my travel this year.

BTW, what should I expect to pay for a decent pair of .5 carat diamond earings?

BF

Richard4009

CART,

Will you be paying in cash or stroopwafels?

R

axicano

I don't know if these are the same as the ones you had, but I did a search and found a company in Billings that says they make them.
http://www.caramelcookiewaffles.com/

Here's one from the Netherlands as well http://www.autocity.nl/stroopwafelshop/nl/index.html

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axicano= A Chicano
Austin,TX Live Music Capitol of the World

Richard4009

Axicano,

Thanks for posting the links. Yep those are the ones. Too bad I can't read Dutch, well I could make out some of it. Anyone know how much these stroopwafels normally cost? Obviously, it is much cheaper to order than it is to fly back to Amsterdam, but I was just curious.

I just ordered 40 of them! The owner Han, was very nice and friendly. I ordered from the carmelcookie company, not the one in the Netherlands. I paid $25 (Included $6.50 for 3 day shipping). Please, don't tell me I could have gotten them for $5 at my local grocery store. Hehe.

Thanks.

R

[This message has been edited by Richard4009 (edited 12-19-2000).]

[This message has been edited by Richard4009 (edited 12-19-2000).]

axicano

Your welcome. I have no idea on cost. Sorry.


------------------
axicano= A Chicano
Austin,TX Live Music Capitol of the World

Richard4009

Hello,

In case anyone wanted to order stroopwafels from the Pulitzer here are the details.

Robin van Kooten
Chief Concierge
Hotel Pulitzer
Fax number (31-20) 6276753
email: [email protected]

The price is 12.50 guilders per tin and I have no idea how many are in a tin.

On another note, due to the difficutlies in getting packages delivered on time during Christmas, my order did not arrive at my parent's place in time for Christmas. They arrived yesterday from Caramelcookies. My parents like them. I will let you know how they are when they get to me.

Cheers,

Richard