Amsterdam - fav lodgings

Hi Michelle, We stayed at the Waterfront Hotel in Amsterdam. It was a good location (public transportation in Amsterdam is fantastic), just a few rooms, and was about 125 euro a night when I went. There were no elevators be warned, and we had to carry our bags up several flights of skinny stairs. Request a lower floor if that bothers you. There was also a Hotel Opera a few doors down that also looked nice. Please feel free to email with any other Amsterdam questions--it is a fantastic city.

The Hemp Hotel - can't get more personality than that!

We have stayed in the Hotel Fita, the Wieckmann, and the Brouwer and loved them all. The Ambassade is a good choice, also, but it is much more expensive.

Two years ago I stayed at the Maes Bed & Breakfast (Herenstraat 26hs). Website is www.bedandbreakfastamsterdam.com. Ken and Vlad (Vlad in particular) and their staff were seriously nice people and they put on a really good spread for breakfast -- quite a bit of the stuff is homemade. It's a small b&b in a typical Amsterdam house (super-steep, skinny staircases), clean and nice. Not luxurious -- except for breakfast! -- but in a good location and walkable from Centraal Station. Vlad is especially anxious that you enjoy your stay there and that you enjoy your stay in Amsterdam as a whole, and he is a good resource for places to eat and things to do.

My wife, travelling by herself and on a tight budget, stayed at an inexpensive airport hotel(below 100 euros) and found it very clean, secure and convenient. She booked via booking.com. Public trans downtown was fast and cheap. She took a dinner cruise and saw the Museum of Sex. Next day she flew to Moscow at 9 AM.

We stayed at Vondelpark Hostel. It's nice enough and relatively quiet and cheap.

I went last April, we booked an apartment through [amsterdamstay.com]called the Anne Frank Apt, 95 euro/night and ideal for 2-3 pp. We loved it, and have booked it again for next week 4/17-4/24. The apt's in the Jordaan [Rozengracht 13] a 7 min walk from Dam square. This is NOT a luxury apt. It's the top floor of a canal home (canal filled in 25 yrs ago), so a bit small but comfortable and cosy and there are 2 bedrooms. There's no "bathroom" in the traditional sense: there's a watercloset with toilet, a kitchen sink, and the shower is in a bedroom. The shower is up against the wall/roof so if you're over 5'3'' you'll have to crouch while you wash up. We didn't mind, just warning you. Also steep stairs, which is the case with any canal home unless your'e in a $$$ hotel with elevator. There's a balcony in the back with an excellent view of Westerkerk tower. You'd be renting from a friendly old Brit that runs a little shop called Arkwrights on the bottom floor. Highly recommended.

The De Gouden Kettingh Hotel in Amsterdam, Netherlands situated Keizersgracht 268 can be contacted by phone +31 (0)20 6248287 or fax +31 (0)20 6628965.

Michelle, the above comes from Google.com. We've taken rooms in De Gouden Kettingh twice and we've enjoyed it a lot. The place has an incredible history going back to the year 1600 or so, if I recall correctly. The hotel is on a canal, of course. If you have an interest, I suggest you send a note to the above fax, or simply call.
... Have a great trip... P

Thanks everyone for your wonderful suggestions! m

We stayed at the Mercure Frommer in Amsterdam, liked it very much. Clean, friendly, close to tram stops, quiet, nice breakfast (but pricey) and they have a lift.

We stayed at the Hotel Washington 2 years ago and liked it also, but have heard neg. reports since then so don't know what it's like now.