Banks Mansion, Amsterdam

...the old town centre, the Banks Mansion is a four star deluxe hotel with 51 rooms and suite. Most of them are overlooking the canal but I wasn't so lucky! I booked this hotel last year via lastminute.com for a real bargain at 250£ for 2 nights with a delicious breakfast!!!

So, ok, I didn't have a view on the canal, but it quickly became my favourite hotel in Amsterdam ever since.
It is not hard to find a real gem in Amsterdam; ...
...Well not here, not at Banks Mansion. For everything in the mini bar is ABSOLUTELY FREE. Yes!!! FREE!!!
We didn't dare to touch anything at first, but we noticed a nice note saying everything was complimentary. I rung reception and they confirmed that it was indeed complimentary, and that if I wished to have a drink in the main foyer by the fireplace it was also complimentary!! Everything from little snacks to gin and Coca-Cola!!! Now that ... more

Situated on the famous and wealthy Herengracht Canal, right in the old town centre, the Banks Mansion is a four star deluxe hotel with 51 rooms and suite. Most of them are overlooking the canal but I wasn't so lucky! I booked this hotel last year via lastminute.com for a real bargain at 250£ for 2 nights with a delicious breakfast!!!

So, ok, I didn't have a view on the canal, but it quickly became my favourite hotel in Amsterdam ever since.
It is not hard to find a real gem in Amsterdam; it is after all the capital for all diamonds lover. It is nevertheless harder to find a luxurious hotel good value for your money. And this hotel ticks all the right boxes!
I found this hotel extremely cosy; the interiors are sumptuous, art deco style with a contemporary twist. There is also a nice fireplace in the main foyer/bar for those cold winter nights! But let me tell you about my experience…

My partner and I arrived very late, at around midnight, due to some problems at the airport in London. The staffs were waiting for us and were very friendly. One porter took our luggage and the receptionist gave me an electronic room key after checking my name.
When we open the room, we couldn't believe our luck!
The double room was spacious, yet intimate with an art deco theme and leaded window (ok no fantastic view over the canal, but when you are exhausted you couldn't care less!!)

Obviously the first thing we saw was… the bed. A massive queen size bed!! At first I thought the bed was a weapon used by the management to make me sleep all day and forgot about my staying. And it nearly did exactly that. The bed was so comfortable, and I mean it. As for the 4 pillows, so soft and firm, I just wanted to hug them all day!
The room had everything you would expect from a deluxe hotel, air conditioning, LCD television on the wall with a DVD/CD player, a nice built in wardrobe with a safe big enough to fit all my diamonds (I wish!), an iron board (with an iron of course!), a desk area with filled with enough stationery to last a year or two.

And then there was the bathroom.
Luxurious, yet not too over the top, very bright with a bathtub and a shower room with a huge showerhead. And even speakers on the ceiling (so you could put a CD in the room and listen to it in your bath!) filled with all complementary towels and bathrobes, shampoos, shower gel…and handy hairdryer!

We were a bit speechless to say the least, but we nearly had a heart attack when we notice the mini bar. Now read carefully, for this ladies and gentlemen, is the icing on the cake.
Usually you would pay a fortune for a tiny drop of whisky served from your mini bar. Well not here, not at Banks Mansion. For everything in the mini bar is ABSOLUTELY FREE. Yes!!! FREE!!!
We didn't dare to touch anything at first, but we noticed a nice note saying everything was complimentary. I rung reception and they confirmed that it was indeed complimentary, and that if I wished to have a drink in the main foyer by the fireplace it was also complimentary!! Everything from little snacks to gin and Coca-Cola!!! Now that is a bargain!!!!
And each day, when the cleaners do your room, they simply refill the decanters (one for whisky, one for gin) and the mini bar…. How about that?!

In the morning, we went for our hot breakfast. We simply took the lift to go downstairs to The Kitchen. It is call the Kitchen as it looks like, well an old Dutch kitchen! It is all very cute and everything is very well organised. I cannot remember all the products available for breakfast but god what that was breakfast!!! A real feast!! You will find everything from croissants to scramble eggs, sausages, jams, cheese, Dutch specialities… You simply help yourself from the huge display. The list is endless. You would need to stay at least a whole week if you wished to try all the products available. But with such breakfast in the stomach you will be ready to walk all day without feeling hungry, and it will save you some money at lunchtime believe me!! And the breakfast was included in the price. At first I thought it was because of the lastminute.com deal, but it appeared that everyone here is entitled to the breakfast.
I found the Kitchen very quiet, and relaxing, no screaming children, just tourists enjoying their meal reading newspapers (Dutch, English and French) or planning their visit with maps and museum vouchers all available on the table.

We stayed there for 2 nights as I said, and the service was fantastic and faultless. The staffs were very helpful and friendly. Here is a list of what the hotel is offering to its guests:
- Room service
- Complimentary drinks and snacks
- Free movie channel on your LCD screen
- Wireless internet (the first 30 minutes are free)
- Selection of DVDs (just call reception, they are also free)
- Parking available

The hotel is close to the main attraction such as Anne Frank House and Rembrandt Museum. It is all walking distance from the Dam to the Red Light District and only 30 minutes from the airport by shuttle (the bus stop is close to the hotel!)
I can only recommend this hotel, such a great value for money and not as overcrowded as other hotel can be. It is a real little gem set in a 17th century building and I hope you will enjoy your stay as much as we did. Why not booking a room now for a city break? Surprise your other half like I did, with this hotel your sure to win in anyway
 

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