Originally Posted by
Aviatrix
Do you actually need your bag overnight - or is just that you don't think you can check it in the night before?
Schiphol does have facilities to hold baggage overnight, and several of the airlines there do allow you to check your baggage the night before. I don't know if United does - this is something you will need to check. Staying at the Mercure seems pretty pointless if you have to go landside again in the morning just to check your bags.
Thanks for the responses so far. I won't "need" the bag overnight, but I would never check a bag with an airline overnight - even if they allowed that. Too much risk of theft. If necessary, I would deposit the bag at left luggage and retrieve it in the morning. But it sounds like keeping the bag with me would be no problem.
The Mercure is at least €30 less expensive than the nearby citizenM and inside the terminal I would have access to restaurants and shopping for evening entertainment. For others reading this thread there is a Yotel hotel inside the terminal, but the website states it's closed for renovations until Sept. 2015.
I do hope someone can answer the question about how much hassle it will be to get out of the transit area in the morning to check the bag. Thanks.