Going on best of Europe 21 day tour with Rick Steves in September. Plan on getting to Haarlem two nights early. I'm a single lady that will be by herself. I've looked at two hotels and wanted to know if they are recommended. I've been looking at the Ambassador City Center Hotel and Amrath Grand Hotel Frans Hals. Having breakfast available isn't important to me.
Suggestions for other hotels?
The last time I was in Haarlem I stayed at the Hotel Lion d'Or. It's the oldest surviving city hotel in Haarlem, going back to its beginnings as a public house in 1839. http://www.hotelliondor.nl/EN/indexEN.html
It's right on the transportation square with the train station and a small bus center. The bus I took from and back to the airport, #300, stopped there. The cost was €6,50. That was in the summer of 2019. The price is no doubt more now.
I travel solo and was 73 at the time. I was very comfortable there. They had a nice little cafe where I had breakfast and one other meal. I'm not a big foodie, but the food was very fresh and tasty.
I don't know if it was central or not, but I walked everywhere. I think I was there 3 nights before flying on to Lisbon for the RS Portugal tour. As usual, my favorite thing was just wandering around, but I did make a point of going to the Teylers Museum, the Grote Kerk (Great Church) or St. Bavós and the Frans Hals Museum. I'd been to the last before and enjoyed going back again.
Teylers Museum is unique for at least 3 reasons: open since 1784, it's the oldest museum in the Netherlands, it has a widely varied collection and it tries to use daylight as much as possible instead of electric light, making the experience more like it originally was.
I lucked into a noon organ concert at St. Bavós. Its organ was built from 1735-1738. It has 5068 pipes and is almost 30 meters high. Mozart played it in 1766 when he was 10 years old. Händel also played it. I can't imagine how thrilling it would be for anyone to play it. The concert lasted a little over 30 minutes. I sat for most of the time, and walked around part of the time. The acoustics were so amazing that the music sounded equally good from anywhere I stood.
One other highlight of that particular visit to Haarlem was a large and beautiful cheese shop. The shop was beautiful and so were the cheeses in it. On a previous visit to Haarlem, I went to Corrie ten Boom's House/Museum. That's also a worthwhile visit.
Assuming none of these are featured on your tour, I'd prioritize them this way, but your interests and time available might vary: Frans Hals Museum, Grote Kerk, Cheese shop ;-), Corrie ten Boom house, Teylers Museum.
We stayed at Brasss Hotel Suites in Haarlem. The location was excellent and our suite large and comfortable. We stayed in the Gamba suite.
We had an excellent meal not far away at Ratatouille restaurant.
We were just in Haarlem. The hotel Lion d’or isn’t central as it’s more at the beginning of town near the train station, and less than 10 min walk to the center of town.
If it were me, I’d find something right in the center of town near the shops and restaurants. We didn’t stay in Haarlem as it was a day trip for us, but just loved the town!
We were just in Haarlem this past April, 2024, and loved the town.
The Corrie ten Boom house now books ups at least six months in advance. If you're interested in the free tickets, check out the website asap.
We stayed at the Hotel Boutique Staats, two minutes from the train station, on a very small, quiet residential street. Staff were great and the hotel was updated and unique. It's a ten minute walk to the square.
A recent poster stayed at the Hotel D'Lion, and felt it was showing its age and needed a refreshing. She also didn't like the street noise.
Hopefully you have time for a canal cruise, which offered a great view of the city, along with the history and culture .
Have a great trip!
I've stayed at the Ambassador City Center several times. Perfectly fine, not fancy, great location, near lots of shops and restaurants, though quiet.
I really liked the Hotel Malts! It was a great value, especially for the quality & location - a short walk from the main square. I stayed there are a solo traveler & felt completely safe (not just at the hotel, but in Haarlem in general). If you want to treat yourself for dinner, I recommend La Plume (ate there my first night & then went back on my last). And definitely don't miss on on the gelato right at Grote Kerk. Or Proeflokaal In den Uiver, a great brown cafe, if you like beer. Can you tell I really enjoyed my time in Haarlem?? :)
I would echo what Pat said above:
"We stayed at the Hotel Boutique Staats, two minutes from the train station, on a very small, quiet residential street. Staff were great and the hotel was updated and unique. It's a ten minute walk to the square."
Staff is outstanding. The location is perfect. Rooms are unique. The breakfast (and coffees) are excellent.
To Pat and Maria,
Was the Boutiquehotel Staats walkable from the train station? It appears to be, from the map. We will have only a carry-on size rolling bag each, but too long a walk with bags is not preferred.
We have a cancellable booking at Hotel Lion d'Or, which we picked because it's right there, and Expedia review total was almost as good as Starts, but the above comment about wear and tear, and noise, is making me rethink.
Thanks
Have you checked where the tour will be staying? When we took that tour, we arrived early and booked the tour hotel for our pre-tour nights. That makes everything so much easier. I've returned to Haarlem numerous times as a solo woman and have always felt safe, even walking from the station to my hotel in the square at midnight (late train connections).
Bistro La Plume was good. I'd love to get back to Haarlem.
You'll have a great time on your tour!
Boutique Staats is a flat, two-minute walk from the train stations, in a residential neighborhood. Hotel Lion d'Or is in a busier commercial area on the opposite side of the train station, and it's an older, perhaps slightly worn lodging. Have a great trip. Safe travels!
