This is indeed the "city" hotel. We stayed at this hotel earlier this month. It is located in a shade-tree lined upscale residential neighborhood, with three tram lines accessible by walking a couple of blocks. Taxis are available at a taxi rank across the street - or the doorman can get you one quickly (but they tend to charge more.) We used a car from the hotel and it was reasonable (also from the doorman.)

We enjoyed the hotel’s location, precisely because we left the hustle and bustle of the city behind - but for those who wish to be in the action, this is not a good choice, frankly. We enjoy walking, and it is a nice walk to the nearby Vondelpark, as well as to the Rijksmuseum and the nearby neighborhood with its many restaurants and shops.

We were given a nice 8th floor Scandinavian-style room with European bedding, canal views and usual outrageously-priced mini-bar (and courtesy bottled water.) Our rate included breakfast, a sumptuous buffet with almost anything you can imagine including eggs to order if you wish. The Executive Lounge is not huge, and can get crowded when there is an event or it is crowded with businesspeople, but it has knock-your-eyes-out views, and a reasonable selection of hors d’oeuvres and beverages. Breakfast in the morning is the usual extended Continental affair with cheeses, cold cuts, etc.

The hotel is easy to get to from the airport – you can take the train to Centraal station and a tram to the hotel, but I recommend the shuttle. For about US$10 per person, the shuttle vans leave fairly frequently from the airport kerb, and usually make the Hilton their first stop en route to the city.

I wish the hotel had a greater variety of food – there is an Issimo, serving Illy Café (7:30 AM – 3:30PM - yummy coffees, some pannini, but…) the cocktail lounge with some pub snacks and Roberto’s, which specializes in upscale Italian dining; there is no coffee shop here you can have a light meal. We took most of our meals (other than the included breakfast) in town or at restaurants near Museumplein, or merely taking a longer walk or the tram to Liesdeplein area, or even downtown, an easy ride by tram.

This is the 400th anniversary celebration of Rembrandt van Rijn’s birth, so you can see more of his works than at other times. Even if you do not consider yourself part of the haut falut , I recommend a look-see.

I'll have to catch up (as soon as work permits!) and do a proper report.