Having a bit of sticker shock at prices in Amsterdam for my pre cruise trip. I know this is a busy time as it is during the 6 weeks when the Keukenhof gardens are open. I was wondering if it was worth staying at a hotel out near the airport and then taking the tram or bus in every day? Anyone have any suggestions? Thank you Kelly
We stayed at the Citizen M Hotel at the airport when we had an overnight layover in Amsterdam. It is a short walk from the airport terminal where the train to Amsterdam is located. The hotel is very modern and basic and the rooms are not large. It is about a 20 minute train ride into Amsterdam from Schiphol.
No, if it's too expensive in Amsterdam, have a look at e.g. Haarlem instead. Just as easy to get to Amsterdam from, and has the benefit of being an actually interesting town worth a visit. Airports and airport hotels tend to be very boring to be honest.
Don’t stay at the airport, a generic experience at best. Keep searching. Amsterdam has all price points. What do you plan/ hope to pay?
Haarlem was mentioned, I have stayed there 4 or 5 times in various hotels, nice town lots of things to do, lively on the weekends and only 15-20 minutes into Amsterdam by very frequent trains.
Another option is hotels near the Sloterdijk train station, there are a number of more reasonably priced chains and smaller hotels. This is on the main line between Amsterdam Centraal and the Airport, only about 5 minutes or so from Centraal station.
Beyond that Leiden is a bit further, or Utrecht, but still less than an hour.
I was trying to stay between 250 and 300 a night. I will check out these suggestions. Thank you
Holiday Inn Express at Sloterdiyk station is very convenient to both the airport and Amsterdam. I stayed there once for a weekend to save money, but also because it was me and my son and a bigger room with good size beds was especially convenient and we were meeting in Amsterdam at very different times - it was an easy place to meet up. I will not be doing it this next trip with my husband because we want the freedom of just walking out of our hotel early and late for photography.
If you want to stay in Amsterdam, check out the
XO Hotels chain (8 hotels in Amsterdam).
Twice, most recently this past April, I stayed at the XO Van Gogh in a great location across from the Museumplein. On another visit m, that time in May, I stayed at the XO Hotels Couture in a quiet business area (maybe a bit dull). It was south, a 20 minute tram ride to Dam Square. Both hotels were comfortable and clean with lower prices than I was seeing at other hotels during tulip season.
We stayed at the Airport Hilton that is connected to the airport by a walkway inside a building. It was very nice but $300 a night.
The Airport Sheraton is connected to the airport on that same building (but closer than the Hilton).
Taxis are expensive, so consider that a taxi into the city is about $50 one way.
Utrecht, as previously suggested, might solve all of your problems. It's a very nice city, within easy reach of the things you want to do. If you can't find a nice place for what you want to pay in Amsterdam, Utrecht is worth a look.
Keep looking. I recently stayed at the Hotel De Hallen in Amsterdam next to the big food mall. Perhaps 15 minutes by tram to Amsterdam Centraal. I personally think Haarlem, which I went to, is too far out.