Hotels in Utrecht or Leiden?

Leiden has some functional hotels at a few minutes from the railway station, among which the Ibis. A more atmospheric location is De Doelen on the Rapenburg, Leiden's most beautiful canal, a 10-minute walk from the station. All are within your price range.

Thanks, Ton. We haven't decided yet where we'll be based, but I'll check these out.

are you driving or taking trains?

Trains, and perhaps buses. Do you have some other suggestions for us? Other towns in which to stay, perhaps? We're open.

I often drive from England so I keep an eye open for out of town hotels with parking and good tram and bus links, so if you had been driving I would have recommended one each in Utrecht and Leiden. By train you'll have better and easier choices.

I know it's over your budget and breakfast costs extra, but I had a lovely stay at the Mary K Hotel in Utrecht: https://www.marykhotel.com/. Perhaps a nicer hotel will take the sting out of going to a city that's not your first choice?

I actually liked Leiden and Utrecht a lot; I preferred both to the more highly touted Delft. Utrecht has unique bilevel canals, as well as some great museums. Leiden has an interesting science museum, and the Netherlands' oldest university; while Delft and Utrecht also have universities, of the three only Leiden looked or felt like a "college town."

Thanks, Harold. I will check it out. We've been to Delft, and thought Leiden or Utrecht would be more interesting this time. I'm curious about the double canals...

I'm curious about the double canals...

Here's a picture that shows what I mean. You see how people are eating at water level, and there's another street level above: http://www.justabouttravel.net/wp-content/uploads/2011/02/Utrecht_Canal_Life.jpg

Wow! Thanks, Harold. Yes, I had heard about them, but couldn't really picture them. Can't wait to see them.