Hotels in Amsterdam

Three words sum up the latest developments on the Amsterdam accommodation front: big, big, big. The key hotel opening of the decade, if not century, is the Grand Hôtel Amrâth Amsterdam in the Scheepvaarthuis, a landmark rivalling the Krasnapolsky and Amstel in the swish stakes.

Another newcomer is the modern, multi-storey Mövenpick, which recently opened in the increasingly fashionable eastern docklands. In that same area, work has also begun on what will be the biggest hotel in the country: a part of the groovy British City Inn chain, it will have no fewer than 550 rooms and is due to open in 2010.

For the visitor, this translates into oodles of choice at the expensive to luxury end of the market. For those looking for a budget option, it’s the same old same old story: because of limited space in the city, hotel rooms tend to be small, so you don’t get that much bang for your buck. The more canny hoteliers capitalise on rooms with canal views, charging supplements just for a look at what makes Amsterdam unique.

In terms of pricing, there’s often little difference between a hotel in the thick of things and one in the sticks; the good news is that in a city this compact, nowhere is that far flung. Unless you’re staying in a hotel on the top (or bottom) rung – where you’ll inevitably have to fork out extra – breakfast is usually included in the room price and, wherever you stay, it will be a help-yourself affair based around filling staple foods including cheese, meat, eggs and bread.

Apartment rental

If you like the city so much that a short holiday won’t suffice, there are several options for finding longer-term accommodation, though with housing stock at a premium even for residents, the range isn’t exactly enormous. Quite a few hotels have apartments that are designed for lengthier stays, and they often have special rates. We have listed them wherever appropriate, but also try Apartment Services AS and stayAmsterdam (www.stayamsterdam.com).

See all self-catering apartments in Amsterdam

Bed & breakfast

While B&B may be a byword for a cheap and cheerful place to stay in most other countries, in Amsterdam you’ll find that it’s seldom cheap – but it is usually fabulously stylish or unique. Logie en Ontbijt or L&O (bed & breakfast) options are limited in the Netherlands because of restrictions on the number of people (four) allowed to stay in a house at any one time.

See all B&Bs in Amsterdam

Camping

Although none of the four campsites are what you’d call close to the centre, they are all well served by good transport links. Zeeburg is a young people’s site, so it’s not ideal if you plan on turning in early; Gaasper and Het Amsterdamse Bos are family campsites (with designated youth fields), while everyone is mixed happily together at Vliegenbos (which, incidentally, doesn’t allow pets). Camping is a national pastime for the Dutch, so all the sites have good facilities and are extremely well maintained.

See all campsites in Amsterdam

Floating accommodation

With water, water everywhere, it’s only natural to want to float in Amsterdam. Unfortunately, there are surprisingly few options for a city awash with boat hotel potential. Amstel Botel, Ideaal II and Frederic Rentabike are the best of the bunch.

See all floating hotels in Amsterdam

Booking

It’s advisable to book way in advance: check websites for good early deals. If you prefer to book through an organisation, the Dutch Reservations Centre will do so for you by phone (0299 689144, 8.30am–5.30pm, message service out of hours) or online (www.hotelres.nl). If you turn up without arranging accommodation, the Amsterdam Tourist Board (VVV) (www.visitamsterdam.nl) will find a room for a small fee.

Top tips

Hidden tax

Watch out for city tax, charged at a rate of five per cent: there is no obligation to include it in the advertised price, so it may be lumped on top of your final bill.

Our listings

The hotels reviewed by Time Out have been chosen for their location, because they offer value for money, or simply because they have true local character. Unless otherwise stated, the rates are for rooms with private bathrooms and include breakfast.

While every effort and care has been made to ensure the accuracy of the information contained in this guide, the publisher cannot accept responsibility for any errors it may contain. Before you go out of your way, we strongly advise you to phone ahead and check the particulars.

See all hotels in Amsterdam