Questions about Schiphol Airport Hotels

No advice on hotels at or near the airport, but a couple suggestions:

One option may be to store your bags in a locker at the airport, before security, then check in later as they suggest.

Another solution, maybe not as ideal for you, is to get a hotel near Sloterdijk Station in Amsterdam. There are a number of chain hotels right near the station. First train to the Airport leaves shortly after 5:00 AM, and takes about 10 minutes, and drops you off in the middle of the terminal (lower level). It is almost faster than trying to get a shuttle or walking from a nearby hotel.

We’ve stayed at the CitizenM several times and like it a lot. The rooms are unusual so look in to them before you book :). There’s a walkway right to the airport, couldn’t be easier. There’s also a Sheraton that is a very short walking distance to the airport.

Where you're staying will be perfect for your departure.

We usually stay at Van der Valk's Hotel Schiphol which is about 3 miles from the airport. It's a large business hotel, and perhaps the nicest hotel we've ever stayed in--anywhere. And the price is downright cheap. They have a courtesy car that takes you to and from the airport. And it's just a 15 minute train ride from the basement of the airport into the Central train station.

https://www.hotelschiphol.nl/?utm_source=google&utm_medium=organic&utm_campaign=gmb-sch

I stayed at Citizen M last year and will be staying again in October on my way back from Turkey. Very easy 5 minute walk from the terminal, self check in and out. The rooms are high tech controlled by an iPad (mood lighting!). They are pretty small and they only offer one king size bed (my nephew was a good sport about having to share - but we were staying there due to travel drama so he had to deal). The proximity to the airport wasn't noticeable (no plane noise, excellent black out shades). We could have but didn't take the breakfast as we were dealing with Schiphol drama and wanted to get through the airport security with plenty of time for our flight.

Before our travel drama ensured, I considered these two hotels as options: Novotel Amsterdam Schiphol and the Moxy Amsterdam Schiphol. Not sure they'd meet your criteria but you might check them out.

This is a "do not recommend" hotel. Avoid the Hilton at Schiphol. They never saw an extra charge or fee that they didn't like.

Thanks, everyone, for your suggestions. I've followed up on some of them, noting a couple and scratching a few more.

Then I had a light bulb moment, prompted by Paul's suggestion of using the airport lockers. It finally occurred to me, belatedly, that train stations also have lockers. I checked, and Leiden Centraal does indeed have luggage lockers, and is an easy walk from our Leiden hotel. We can deposit our bags - it looks like both our packs might fit into a small locker, but even if we need the larger one, it's only €6.50 for 24 hours - then to on and enjoy our last day in Leiden. Leiden does have a train that goes straight to Schipol, so we can head that way after dinner.

And should we decide we'd rather spend the day in Amsterdam, there are multiple trains per hour to Amsterdam Centraal, which of course also has lockers.

So problem solved, I think. I am going to wait a couple of days before I cancel that last night at our Leiden hotel, just in case my slow thought processes come up with something else.

Thanks to all for your help.

Jane,
We spent one night at the Airport Hilton that is walking distance from the terminal (there is a moving sidewalk and it is indoors) and it was nice for about $300.

There is a Sheraton that is even closer on the same path. However, you should be OK with your current booking.

Then I had a light bulb moment, prompted by Paul's suggestion of using the airport lockers. It finally occurred to me, belatedly, that train stations also have lockers. I checked, and Leiden Centraal does indeed have luggage lockers, and is an easy walk from our Leiden hotel. We can deposit our bags - it looks like both our packs might fit into a small locker, but even if we need the larger one, it's only €6.50 for 24 hours - then to on and enjoy our last day in Leiden. Leiden does have a train that goes straight to Schipol, so we can head that way after dinner.

I like that plan. I was confused because I thought you said your flight was at 20:00 but then I see it is 0830.

So your plan is penultimate night in Leiden, slow check out, deposit bags at Leiden and enjoy the day, then get bags and go to airport after dinner (although there is a La Place at the airport, right outside the train station, if that helps), and check in at the Mercure beyond security, and then fly the next morning. right?

The 20:00 (8pm) is the earliest hotel check in, right?

Nigel, that’s right. But I have checked with our Leiden hotel, and they say we can leave our bags there all day.

I do like the idea of La Place, however. I haven’t been to one in years, but I remember good food and reasonable prices. Not a bad idea, thank you.

Some of my other related questions were asked and answered earlier today in another thread in this section. I’m not going to try to insert a link, because I’m using an unfamiliar device, and don’t want to lose my post. Again.

I’m glad you checked with your Leiden hotel. We always leave baggage in hotels before as well after our stay.

Suki, we usually do, too, but I was uncomfortable asking to store them for seven or eight hours. But the staff here couldn’t be nicer or more accommodating. City Hotel Nieuw Minerva, for those who haven’t seen my other, related thread. I’ll post a review after we get home, but we love it. Big rooms, great staff, no elevator or a/c.

I’ve asked hotels to store luggage all over the world (including the USA!) and they’ve never batted an eye at storing luggage all day.

By the way, I just checked out of the Citizen M at CDG and it was excellent. However, the room is very small for two people. The bed is built into a kind of alcove, so it would be difficult for the person on the inside to get up without disturbing the other person. You’d have to be the judge of that. My rate did not include breakfast, but I added it and it was a terrific, well-made buffet (crepes! croissants!).

We just left the Sheraton and the customer service was amazing! The rooms were clean and spacious and updated. Would recommend this hotel. It is Lao so close to the airport. You never leave it, it’s attached.