Hello, We booked our tickets today! We arrive in Brussels early in the am on a Friday, and will be spending the night there. The next morning we'll take a train to Amsterdam, and spend two nights there. It's just two of us, and we plan on walking around (or biking) during the days, so we just need a easy access budget hotel. A place within walking distance of a rail stop is key, along with less $$$ :)
Thanks!
What's you price range; what do you consider budget?
One possibility would be the Ibis Hotel at Centraal Station. It's right next to that famous large bicycle parking garage, rentals are available as well. Another cheaper hotel would be the Avenue Hotel there is a tram stop across the street.
Consider staying in Haarlem instead. It's only a few minutes away. The cost of the hotel and a rail ticket into Amsterdam is way less than the cost of a hotel in Amsterdam. You can walk to the station from the square. Haarlem has some great restaurants and the hotel I stayed in (Hotel Amadeus)overlooked the square. You might want to also consider staying in Brugges rather than Brussels. It's a short train trip and I think much prettier and more interesting than Brussels.
Priceline works quite well for large cities in Europe. Last December we got the lovely NH Atlanta in Brussels for a $60.00 bid (43 Euro). Yesterday I bid on 2 separate December weekends in Amsterdam and in both cases I got the NH Amsterdam Central for a bid of $71 (51 Euro). In both cites, these luxurious 4 star hotels are extremely well located for sightseeing and easy access to the train stations, costing far less than some double rooms without a bath in hostels.
We stayed at Vondelpark hostel in Amsterdam. It's a little out of the center but easily reachable by public transportation. The city center is relatively compact so it's walking distance if you're used to walking, but the trams save some wear and tear on the legs. It's close to the Rijks and Van Gogh museums and, of course, the park.
The place is a pretty good choice for budget accomodation in Amsterdam.
Amsterdam: The Hotel Prinsengracht
price varies a lot by date -- but is worth checking before you book budget accomodations. Doubles during the week sometimes as low as 60 Euro -- walking distance to the Van Gogh musuem -- it is (as my wife puts it) on the artsy, not gritty, side of town -- right on a canal, which is cool.
I would not recommend staying at the Botel Hotel -- despite the self-written description, it is not 'luxurious'. Only stay at the Botel if all other budget options are expended... though the breakfast buffet was pretty extensive..
Brussels... just gave some recommendations to someone in the last day or two... will try to find that post so I don't have to think.
This past Christmas I made the trip arrangements for my 21 and 17 year old daughters and their 20 and 21 year old friends. They all REALLY wanted to stay in hostels for the experience. So in Brussels I booked them into the Bruegel Hostel. I asked, "Are you SURE...? I can get you into a 4 star for the same price!" So my husband I stayed in the fancy Brussels hotel for a $60 Priceline bid and they got the hostel with uncomfortable beds, a thin comforter (they were freezing all night) and bathrooms down the hall. Needless to say, they all reported that the IDEA of a hostel was much different than the REALITY. For the same price, they want Priceline rooms from now on.
