My husband and I and our 20 year old son will be visiting during late June and are looking for 2 nights accommodations. We looked at the Hotel Internationaal or the Hotel Quentin and have seen others on Venere.com. We will need to be at the Airport early on the third day to catch a flight to Eastern Europe. We would appreciate any recommendations people might have. Is staying in the Red Light district like staying on Bourbon street during Mardi Gras?
Posted by
US Pacific Northwest
10344 posts
The Amsterdam Red Light District isn't really comparable to anything in the US, I don't know how to explain it here, you'll understand after you've seen it.
Posted by
New Paltz, NY
9109 posts
The RLD is a rowdy, noisy area 7 days a week. If your looking for a hotel in a quiet area look elsewhere. Some of cheaper hotel in Amsterdam are actually the airport hotels; usually half the cost of similar lodging within the city. In terms of catching an early flight, the airport trains operate hourly from midnight until 5am. After 5:30am there are departures every 15 minutes.
Posted by
US Pacific Northwest
10344 posts
Rick's Amsterdam, Bruges & Brussels book has an entire chapter devoted to "Red Light District Walk." One of my favorite Rick quotes, in a paragraph heading that says "Not For Everyone" is this quote: "The Red Light District has something offensive for everyone."
Posted by
XXX
1170 posts
I too am going around the same time. I have been checking on B&Bs and someone mentioned staying outside Amsterdam. Have you thought of this?
Posted by
OP
Clarendon, Vermont, USA
5 posts
We have thought of this. It seems the trains/public transport is reliable enough to do this. Does anyone have a suggestion of area that might be good. I have seen Haarlem mentioned.
Posted by
Shoreline, WA, USA
1 posts
We are also going at that same time. I have read that the Jordaan area is nice, but have not confirmed this. Also, I read that staying in Haarlem can save you $ and you can train-it into Amsterdam.
Posted by
Lewiston, Idaho, USA
2092 posts
We stayed at the Hotel Maas in 2005, a triple, that was quite nice and in the middle of everything we wanted to see (although considerable walking was required!). For Amsterdam we felt we had a good deal and the breakfast (only delivered to your room) was huge, enough for lunch too.
Posted by
Honolulu/Seattle, HI/WA, USA
2788 posts
For only 2 nights, I would probably stay in Amsterdam where the prices are higher than say in Haarlm. I stayed in Amsterdam this last August and have stayed in Haarlm before and would stay there again before staying in Amsterdam. Cheaper, quieter, more relaxed, less "city-like". Most, if not all, the better places to stay are not in the RLD unless you are going there for "business".
Transportation between Haarlm and Amst. is quick, affordable, and frequent. Happy travels
Posted by
West Sacramento, California, USA
281 posts
I always recommend the Owl Hotel.
Check them out at: www.owl-hotel.nl
We stay there whenever we are in Amsterdam, as have family members going back some 20 years. It is on a quiet residential street a block behind the Marriott.
Posted by
Montreal, Quebec, Canada
8293 posts
I second the recommendation of the Owl. We stayed there a few years ago with my husband's two elderly sisters and we were all very happy with our rooms and the location of the hotel. We were able to walk to the museums from there and some nice little restaurants are close by.