First off, welcome to FT, caseyn1. It speaks well for anyone whose first post is a helpful and information-sharing one, such as yours.

I'd agree that it's better to stay within the city center, and that the bookings.nl site is a good one for hotels. I have also had good luck with www.hrs.com . Using Priceline has its advantages and drawbacks; more info at the notorious BiddingforTravel or BetterBidding sites.

As for location, I prefer the Leideseplein area, especially in warmer-weather months because of the proximity of the pleasant Vondelpark. My second choice would be in the Dam-Munt areas, but definitely not the station area.