Amsterdam Hotel hints
 

I'm going on a mileage run this weekend from ORD to AMS. I'm looking for a hotel in the center of Amsterdam for Saturday night. I want an okay (but not extravagent) hotel. I hope to spend between $100-200 (unless a decent place can be had for less). Please give me your suggestions. Also, I have gotten many helpful suggestions as to what to do for a day in Amsterdam, i.e. Anne Frank House, various museums, boat ride, but if you have any others, let me know. Thanks.

If you don't want a chain hotel, I like the Rho Hotel, just off Dam Square (you can walk to almost everything from there). Clean, simple rooms, ample breakfast buffet, very friendly and helpful staff. Single/double with private showers run about NLG 190/230 (US$83/98) at this time of year.
No miles, points, or stay credit, though.

In the price range you're hoping for, I really enjoyed the Inntel, on a pedestrian side street between the train station and Dam Square. It's a contemporary place with the amenities of a (European) Radisson or Holiday Inn, but reasonably-priced and incredibly well-located.

When you arrive at Schipol go to the "Tourist Information Booth" at the airport. They have access to about 95% of all possible bookings in the Netherlands and will be able to find you what you are looking for. They charge a small fee (can't remember what it is right now) I will also post a web-site this evening when I get home which also includes being able to book the highly recommended Rho (if available) The web site claims no fee but I have found that the prices they charge are just enough to be the same as using the Tourist Bureau at the airport in addition they do not have as many selections. Of course you can save the time of waiting for your turn to book at the airport.

If you can get in, try the Hotel Ambassade on the Herrengracht canal. it is my world favorite hotel, but it is very popular and may not be available at such short notice.

I have twice stayed at the Crowne Plaza at very reasonable rates (under $150) - the rooms for european standards are decent and the location is very good. If they quote you very high rates, ask for a Visa promotion, which they sometimes have (and it saved a bundle over new years).

Try Die Port Van Cleve. It is one block from the Dam and is frequently available for less that $100US/night through the different hotel booking engines. I paid 90.30 Euros equivalent last winter during a mileage run. I believe it is rated 4 stars. Its right next to a large supermarket.
Of course, you failed to mention the biggest tourist attraction, the Red Light District which is about 3 blocks from the Dam. http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif

[This message has been edited by Vulcan (edited 02-05-2001).]

As promised earlier the link for hotels in holland http://www.bookings.nl/cgi-bin/searchpage.pl?id=200026

[This message has been edited by magic111 (edited 02-05-2001).]

At the CS station in downtown AMS, the tourist center should be able to book you a 3-star or better hotel for around 120 - 150 NGL(around $60). This assumes it is winter and it is not a busy weekend. If you are on foot, be sure to get one within a few blocks of CS station. Oh, and apply a little extra caution when walking in or near the CS station...there are lots of thieves lurking.

try the web page inter-conti.com for ic hotels. the american hotel in amsterdam is great, they sometimes have great weekend deals and the location is really good

the hotel kransapolsky is right on dam square. it is a golden tulip hotel. i booked a night there last year on hotelbook.com at 320 NLG.

it's winter so they should be more lenient, but alot of times when i would go to a booking agent in ams, the hotels keep asking for a two night stay. do the booking yourself over the net and save yourself from any potential hassle.

Kitty Hawk: I had considerable e-mail corresponddence with the Hotel Rho (as a result of references on another FT thread); but they told me that their rooms did NOT have telephone data ports or the ability to connect my laptop through their phone system!

Thus I will be staying for 8 days next week at the above mentioned Ambassade Hotel which I learned about from a rave write-up in the Feb 2001 issue of Conde-Nast Traveler.

I can also recommend the IC American from past visits.