Haarlem

We have stayed at Hotel Lion d'Or several times. It's comfortable and very convenient with its location by the train station and the bus stop that connects to Schiphol Airport. We also enjoyed our meal at Jacobus Pieck. Haarlem is a great layover spot to and from the USA with the location near the airport.

I would not recommend the Hotel Lion d'Or unless it’s recently been updated. I stayed there in 2023 and the rooms were very dated. Certainly not what I would call a “nice” hotel as you are looking for. Yes, convenient to the train station, but that also came with some noise.

You can read what I wrote about it in my trip report:

https://community.ricksteves.com/travel-forum/trip-reports/solo-in-the-netherlands-and-belgium-my-trip-report

Pat stayed at a nicer hotel. I’ll see if I can find that.

Found it!! Haarlem Hotel Boutique Staats

https://community.ricksteves.com/travel-forum/trip-reports/the-netherlands-belgium-april-2024-brought-the-rain-pants-needed-the-rain-pants

Thanks, everyone!

Stay in/near Grote Market so you can be in the mix of this charming city. The train station is a quick walk into the city center, (<10 min) but I wouldn't want to stay close to the train station.

Carrie, thanks for finding my Trip Report.
Yes, I highly recommend Hotel Boutique Staats. Staff were great, and the hotel is very updated. From the time we pulled our hotel room door shut, until our butts were in the train seats, took four minutes. The hotel is in a very quiet residential area, on the opposite side as the Lion Hotel. Walk out of the train station and go left.
Tcgnj, Have a great trip!

Thanks so much!

I loved the Hotel B&B Malts in Haarlem...great location, great owners, great breakfast, great value.