Just came back from a Cash + Points stay, I love this property and have stayed there several times.

One question I had - in the past if I was upgraded to a room which included breakfast (Executive, Junior Suite, etc.) they would provide me breakfast. However, this time I was told by two different people that I was not entitled to breakfast because I was upgraded to the room and did not book directly into a suite. Anyone know if this is really the case?

Thanks!

Just stayed at the Pulitzer for two nights on cash and points, and had a mixed experience. I was upgraded as a Plat to a great room, a large second floor "Junior Suite" with a bedroom on the inside of the hotel, one and a half baths, and a living room area with kitchenette facing the canal on the back side of the hotel. Having the bedroom on the inside was nice to avoid the noise concerns mentioned on many posts--though I didn't experience any big problems with noise, I could definitely hear street activity (and, one day, an outdoor concert) from the living room but not from the bedroom.

However, I was annoyed to be charged 50 Euros for early check-in when I arrived. Admittedly, I did arrive quite early, around 8:30am, but I've checked in at around that time at other European properties without any trouble and I thought it seemed kind of tacky for that class of hotel, and to do that to a Plat (they didn't clean the room during the first day I was there, so there was no extra cost to them to having me there). But I didn't make a fuss and paid the fee, and it was nice to have the room ready immediately.

What a great deal! 50EUR for a bed after a 7 hour red-eye from JFK. Rather shocking such a stay would be classified as "mixed".

I wish my experiences there were as mixed as yours....I have never received a suite as a Plat....and often arriving at midday-ish, have often had to return at 4pm or later for my room....gladly would have paid €50 to check-in early......but I still love the property. I hope you had a great trip, despite having to part with €50.

Just stayed there 2 weekends ago using one of the free weekend nights I received from the SPG promo.

Got an 'executive room' .. which was nice and it faced a garden. But no breakfast option provided.

Room was ok, nothing fancy.

But after 2 weeks I had to write in to enquire about the Plat bonus which had not posted, and the extra 20euros for the internet.

Was told that they will credit the 500 points 'soon' but I was not entitled the charge for the internet. Now why is this so?

Hi Guy Betsy,

How are you doing?

Are you referring to HSIA? It is not an eligible charge for Starpoints credit, officially.

[email protected]

Thyetus Lee | Online Forum Coordinator(AP)
Starwood Customer Contact Centre (AP) Pte Ltd

Mixed bag - mostly good
 

Just returned from a trip to Europe which included four stays at Starwood hotels. First stop was four nights at the Pulitzer and overall I had a pleasant time. I am gold and based on previous comments about this property, I was not expecting special treatment especially since occupancy was high during the first two nights of my stay.

Rate was very attractive since I had booked during the late winter promotion - 40% reduction but prepaid. They did honor my request for a quiet room (which was requested based on helpful posts on this thread). Room was decent sized and not difficult to reach. Bathroom was tiny.

I had two problems - hour wait for room despite arriving after official check in time and missed wake up call. Asked for and received two complimentary breakfasts (one for each problem), so I felt that hotel did rectify the errors. Bill for one of the "complimentary" breakfast posted to my account but was quickly deleted at check out.

Staff was very friendly and helpful. Everyone spoke English as if it was his/her first language.

Would recommend hotel at rate I paid. However, I must reiterate prior comments that it should not be classified as a luxury collection property.

car parking advice?
 

I am going to have rental car for my 2 night stay and was told hotel parking is 55 Euro/night!
Any closeby parking ideas?

What's your reason for needing a car? You may wish to reevaluate.

Driving in from Berlin then driving to FRA to fly home....I know its not ideal but really no other way of doing it since we cant drop car and get another one (many $$$$ drop fees):td:

We were there in 2006, and there is tons of street parking even right outside the doors of the hotel. I believe that there is a time limit of 24 hours, and we had to use cash to buy a parking ticket from a machine to display on the dash. The downside is that you will have to move your vehicle each day, but we never had trouble finding a nearby spot. I believe the rate was around 15 euro/day.

Yes, but they are limited to a couple of hours, maybe more on weekends, at Euro ~ 6.00 per hour...

Amsterdam still believes that cars should not be part of the city and they are charging accordingly, fortunately the wheel clamps are mostly gone.

I suggest you park your car at one of the numerous park & rail transfer stations around the city at significantly lower rates, hop on a train and/or cap and do not risk to ruin your vacation looking for parking spots. You can also park 2-3 km form the main city centre, more spaces, but mostly severely restricted, due to cleaning and local residents. The big garages will charge from Euro 40 upwards per 24 hours, mostly without in and put priv., but you do not need a car in Amsterdam at all.

Aside from that, if you come from Berlin and continue to Frankfurt, stick to the speed limits in The Netherlands, 10 km/h too fast and you already easily playing in the Euro 60-90 fee league and they are not kidding and keep your data...

Considering A stay at the Pulitzer
 

Hey all,
Quick question about the Pulitzer and hoping to get any advise folks can offer. I am headed to AMS for 4 nights and want to book on points. I am SPG Gold, so not sure what that'll get me in terms of upgrade (esp on a free night)--usually Gold gets you a smile and a handshake anyway. I am also Marriott Gold which has much more value--upgrade and exec floor access. I like the idea of Pulitzer, but it looks like it is VERY hit or miss with the room you get. Anyone have any experience trying to upgrade a free room with Gold status? Would Marriott be the better route? Thanks all.

I went there in January and they emailed me in advance offering to upgrade to a Canal view room for 50 euros. I declined, because as a Plat I ended up getting it for free. If you don't get upgraded at checkin, I'd ask about buy-up options.

Or you could always call the property in advance to secure an upgrade so you aren't disappointed. As a Gold, you should always expect to get the room that you book.

Agreed, other than point bonuses Gold has little to offer. Marriott Gold though is almost like SPG Platinum--guaranteed lounge access and upgrade to best avail room. Maybe I should suck it up and just go Marriott and stay at the Pulitzer once we have some more juice. Do not want to risk getting that ground floor interior room next to the maintenance closet.

I have no idea about the Marriott. As far as the Pulitzer is concerned, I would say a lot depends upon the time of year of your visit, and whether or not it includes a Friday or Saturday night, when they are often full. When do you plan to go? Do you intend to be there during the weekend?

If we are talking about the Marriott near Leidseplein then it is the blueprint for an ugly modern chain hotel - even the pictures on the Marriott website depress me. No idea what the rooms are actually like inside (:D) but the outside just puts me off! Compare to the Pulitzer where staying there is part of the charm of visiting Amsterdam. There is a slim chance you get a small room but you can always ask if another is available (95% of the rooms are great) - I've stayed there about 20 times this year and each room is individual and different (and no matter what the size I've found them all characterful). Service at the Pulitzer can sometimes be a little variable but if you do encounter any issues then just ask to have a word with the GM, Patrick - he's always keen for feedback and is pretty good at getting things fixed pdq!

We will be visiting for 4 nights in late September (a Friday-Tuesday). I have stayed in the Marriott before--great location, good amenities with large well equipped rooms, but it is indeed a big modern hotel with little charm. They do dangle the free breakfast out there though--and these days these Euros add up fast.

Ant_West, do you know Patrick's email address by any chance? Would be great to get in touch with him prior to traveling. Thanks for your help.

As you'll be arriving on a Friday, in a busy month, I would say the chance of a substantial upgrade for a Gold is pretty poor. And having stayed there numerous times, I would feel you would end up with a small room, however, as ant_west has said, it's a lovely hotel with charming rooms.

If you were a Plat, I would say take your chances. They like to give Golds rooms with nice views, but not a bigger room. If it's an issue, I would definitely take the upgrade they would offer you in advance for the small extra fee; about 50Euros or so. Or, email in advance and ask about using points, if that is an option to you.

I would definitely stay at the Pulitzer though if I were you. It's lovely. Changes the whole Amsterdam experience.

you've got mail!

Hello and thanks again for your help and advise. One last quick question if you do not mind. I booked a room at the Pulitzer with points (48k points for 4 nts--could not get the day off for the 5th night free unfortunately for us). The room is a King Deluxe. The folks on the gold line went out of their way to say it was not a standard room. They did say that there could be a day-of upgrade to a canal view if avail.

Here's the question. Having been there before, do you think it is still worth it to email the manager and ask about upgrading to a canal or executive room? Some FT posters have talked about receiving an email upgrade offer for 50E, but not sure if that would come through or not. Not sure if any of these points would help my cause: SOG Gold, Wife's Birthday, not taking the 5th night free because of work.

I know that nothing good comes completely free, but you sure can try.

Appreciate any advice you can give. Thanks again.

Never hurts to ask IMO. Let us know what they say :)

Slightly off topic
 

Have you considered booking using cash and points -19200 points + $360? The $360 saves you 28,800 points to be used on another stay. By using points only, you're valuing a point at only 1.25 cents.

Avja, I looked into cash+pts, but it was not offered (according to the SPG website) for the dates I was looking for. Bummer.

You have to be a squeeky wheel here
 

I just returned from a trip to Europe with 2 nights at the Pulitzer and overall I had a pleasant time.

I was not expecting special treatment especially since occupancy was high during the two nights of my stay (there was a concert on a stage built into the canal directly outside the hotel, which was host to the stars and VIPS for the concert). SPG iPhone app said before my flight that I had been upgraded to an Executive Room that INCLUDED breakfast.

Upon check-in, I was told NO BREAKFAST, but everything else was pleasant and no trouble checking in at 9AM.

Room was depressing, with view of interior courtyard. Bathroom was tiny.

After napping, I went downstairs and asked if the room really was an upgrade/executive. They said it was, but admitted it wasn't their best. I asked if I could at least have a canal view. The desk agent quickly suggested a "downgrade" to a room on a higher floor with view of canal opposite side of hotel entry. She apologized that it was not suggested when I checked in. I took it.

I was much happier with the ability to see the canal and open widows to get some fresh air. Both rooms had a bottle of water, waffle and many amenities. Wifi was pricy at 20 EUR.

Considering the many subpar acommodations in Amsterdam, this hotes does qualify as a Luxury Collection Property. Lot's of stairs and pathways to get to different parts of the hotel, but I found it adding character and in line with architecture in Amsterdam.

Checkout was a suprise of 50 EURO charge for "early check-in" which I told the agent I had not been advised of, nor thought that is how they treat Platinums who "downgraded" rooms and didn't raise a stink about the reservation saying breakfast was included when it wasn't. He quickly removed the 50 EUR fee and thanked me for my visit.

Next time I'll reconsider the airport Sheraton (no schlepping bags into the city, excellent upgrades, no problems on early check-in, very good club lounge w/ breakfast).

Starwood could easily have turned this "so so" stay into a great one with some honesty about breakfast.

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/membe...5-pulitzer.jpg

Great view. No points+miles for cat 5 SPG props. Oh well. Will post the results in a few weeks. In the meantime, staying at the worst 4 star hotel ever while on post in Kyiv--80 deg in the AC'd room, spotty internet, lousy food---cannot wait to get to Holland.

Can you forward me the message you received that said that breakfast was included? Thanks.

Best regards,

William R. Sanders
Online Guest Feedback Coordinator
Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide

[email protected]

The issue here is that the standard Pulitzer upgrade is to an Exec room - if you read their standard room blurbs the Exec rooms come with breakfast. If you get pre-upgraded and your reservation changes on SPG.COM you see the details of the Exec room (including the line about breakfast included). The Pulitzer policy is that you pay for breakfast if you get upgraded to an Exec room so they point this out when you check in (including writing it on the key wallet).

I know there's been some discussion on here in the past about whether the terms of the programme mean that you should get all the benefits of the upgraded room (which from memory the conclusion is that you should) but there is also the discussion that pushing on this would mean that a hotel would be less likely to upgrade or would exclude that room type from the upgrade possibilities.

I stay at the Pulitzer almost every week and invariably get upgraded to an Exec or better room and always get reminded that breakfast isn't included (except when the GM invites me to breakfast with him :D). Never pushed it as I invariably don't have breakfast at the hotel as I grab something on the way into the office.

I'm totally aware of the issue. I just need an example that I can forward to SPG so they render an opinion on it...at least as far as it applies in this particular instance.

Best regards,

William R. Sanders
Online Guest Feedback Coordinator
Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide

[email protected]

YGM!

I heard back from the reservations manager. For the room booked on SPG points, the upgrade from Deluxe room to Exec canal view room including buffet breakfast is 75 €/night. We went for it and are looking forward to our stay at the Pulitzer. Any recommendations that would make the stay more enjoyable would be much appreciated.

That's a pretty good deal, as their breakfast for 2 is as much as the upgrade, and it confirms breakfast, because if you had been upgraded on status to brekkie.

If you've got a canal view, ask for a room on the Keizersgracht side of the hotel rather than the Prinsengracht. It is much quieter on that side. If you end up on the Prinsengracht side if you get a room below the 5th floor I find can be a bit noisy up to about 11 o'clock in the evening. The rooms are also more "interesting" on the Keizersgracht side - that is where all the multi-level rooms etc are. On the Prinsengracht side they tend to be fairly "regular" rooms.

The history of the hotel is that the Prinsengracht houses used to be warehouses so they have been renovated with exposed brickwork and wooden floors (^) whereas the Keizersgracht side was merchant houses so more grand and have been renovated with carpet as flooring. It also means that the Keizersgracht side generally have higher ceilings etc. From my experience they tend to be bigger rooms on the K-gracht side.

[GEEK MODE]There are other little oddities between the 2 sides; K-gracht side electrical installation meant that all power in the room was cut off unless you had a key-card (or other bit of paper) in the little slot by the door. Whilst typical for hotels, means that the Bose clock-radio in each room needed to be reset every time as on the same circuit. The P-gracht side doesn't have the slot. Think they may have fixed it on the K-gracht side now though so the clock-radio is on a separate circuit....[/GEEK MODE]

@ant_west: very interesting! Thanks.

I stayed at the Pulitzer over last weekend and was upgraded as a Plat (breakfast excluded). It had been a couple of years since my last stay as my stays are usually for 10+ days and I prefer the quiet neighborhood of the Hilton. Most family, friends and colleagues like the Pulitzer when visiting AMS for the first time. The Pulitzer is very unique and I have found that most rooms have different layouts and some have an interior view. If you have large luggage let the bellman deliver it to your room as the hotel has many levels and staircases! My only complaint is the poor lighting in the main bathroom.

Requested a canal exec on the Keizersgracht side of the hotel. Thanks all for your help. I'll post how it goes.

Back from Amsterdam and wanted to post a quick review. First, as far as the chain hotels go the Pulitzer is great--super location, much charm, and convenient. I do not want to harp on the negatives because we really did enjoy our stay, so here's the scoop.

The Stay:
We booked on SPG points and upgraded to an Exec Canal view for 75E a night. Before our trip we received an email offer to upgrade for 50E but that did not include breakfast--the 75E option did. Check in was easy, stayed in room 282 on the Keizersgracht side of the hotel ( a great recommendation as this is the quieter canal--less traffic). One thing I would do differently is immediately request a room on an upper floor. Being on the 2nd floor, we got a lot of banging and rumbling from outside.

Concierge:
Before arriving I had emailed with the Concierge about having flowers for my wife's birthday waiting in the room on arrival, it was confirmed but never done. Luckily the concierge on duty when I checked in arranged for a early delivery the next morning, but it was not something I wanted to deal with at 7am--esp in light of the confirmation email--annoying. We were also told that there would be a restaurant reservation itinerary waiting, but there was not. Only 2 of the 3 dinners had been booked and no one told us otherwise. Again, not the end of the world but annoying. The concierge on duty fixed the issue for us. They were helpful throughout. We bought museum tix here too, as we could charge it to the room and avoid lines there.

Meals:
B'fast at Pulitzer as good--usual American style buffet: breads and pastries, fruits, scrambled eggs, bacon, sausage, hash browns, mushrooms, pancakes... They offer coffee, but if you ask you can get a cappuccino or other drink with no added expense. I think that breakfast cost around 30E pp if you were to pay. If I were not on a Bfast included plan, there was no way I would have paid 60E for the breakfast. There are a TON of very cool cafes and restaurants within a block or two where you can get a great meal. We at Le Garage (around 180E with wine, 2 salad, 2 entrees, 1 desert) which was very good, Toscanini--great Italian, about 80E with one glass wine, 2 salads, 2 pastas, 1 entree, 2 desserts, and Blue Pepper--great Indonesian Fusion, not 100% authentic but great food. If you want an all out Indo meal there are other super places, but if you want great food with style in an intimate atmosphere this is it.

The room:
The room looked over the Keizersgracht side canal. It was nice, a decent size (esp for A'dam), and in good shape. The baths are small and the hairdryers stored in the bedroom desk. My wife needed a power converter and the bellhop brought the big daddy converter pro within minutes, which we then used for the whole stay. The bed was cushy and comfortable. In the AMs there was a constant banging from under the hotel. We think that it was coming from the basement, but it rattled though the walls. Another reason to request a higher floor. The amenities left a lot to be desired. Soap, shampoo conditioner. That was it. Also, not only were they not replenished, but on a few occasions the maid took the ones we had away. Nothing worse than leaving the room at 7am looking for soap.

The upgrade:
Some argue that 70E is a lot to pay for an upgrade, and they may be right, but the configuration of the hotel is very unique. Many interior rooms do not face the gardens (which are pleasant) but back up to interior light shafts with elevator and hallway views. I do not know what level room that is, but for us (esp on an SPG stay) it was worth the $$ to guarantee against that happening.

Inside:
The hotel is quite nice inside. Some people were put off by the maze like interior (after all it is carved out of 25 old houses) but we really enjoyed exploring inside. It completely confused many of the old folks we saw. There are a lot of stairs, a lot of elevators, a lot of ramps leading to mid-floors. Not the typical hotel with straight halls.
The bar looked nice, but we could not justify hanging in the hotel when surrounded by such an amazing city. The gardens are very pleasant to sit in or walk through, though a few days they were overrun by smokers since it is a smoke free hotel.

Services:
We paid for the wireless internet (70E for 5 nights--ouch) because it had to be done for work. Moderately fast, but sometimes spotty. Made one local call for 20 minutes and it was 36E. Our fault--should have known better. We took the hotel boat "The Tourist" on a canal cruise. 38E a person and well worth it. It was worth it for us to be on the more intimate boat than one of the greyhound-style canal tour boats. Bought a bottle of wine on board for 20E.


Summary:
Overall we really enjoyed our stay. The cons of poor amenities and the miscommunications from the concierge were definitely problems. For a Lux Collection hotel, I wish they would work out those issues. But the pros were great--a location that cannot be beat, and a very interesting and unique set of buildings.

Other than the advice to keep children away from steep stairs, I've not found many comments related to staying here with kids. I'm considering a trip with 2 small ones. Any thoughts on the best kind of room to pursue for a couple with toddlers?

I stayed here for one night last week. I was able to check-in at 10:30 am without any problem and was upgraded to a Canal View room. I was worried that it would be noisy facing the canal in front of the hotel, but it was not.

I found the bed very comfortable and the room had all the amenities one would expect. One thing that surprised me was that the hotel does not have turn down service. The Sheraton Amsterdam does so you would think a luxury collection hotel would too!

Overall, the location was great for me and I had a good stay.