After a very unfortunate start to our city break to Amsterdam my friend and I arrived at this hotel. I want to tell you all the shortened version of what actually happened...
Our Tour Operator booked us into the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Den Haag instead of the hotel in Schiphol [where the airport is]. Not wanting to miss out on the sights of Amsterdam, and not wanting to travel 60km each way between the sights and the hotel we made our way to Amsterdam. After about 300EUR in transport, conmen taxi drivers, and "Sorry we're full, good luck!" from ever hotelier we were directed to the Garden Hotel by their sister hotel Jan Luyken.
We arrived to see a hotel in a quiet area next to a canal with ducks and boats...absolutely gorgeous area! Lovely houses, lots of plants and trees and of course the ducks and geese! The hotel had a red carpet from
the taxi rank to the front door, marble ornaments and plant pots, and Italian style furniture for people to sit outside with a drink or snack.
The main foyer is stunning - marble floor, huge vases of fresh lilies and roses, huge open fireplace and logs, glass plate separating the bar from the reception, and then there was the staff. The staff in this hotel changed our tired, upset and weary persona’s right around. They welcomed us and did everything they could to make us feel welcome. We did brief them on what had happened; they immediately tried to comfort us - taking our bags to our room and insisting we have a free drink at the bar!
The bar was quiet, classy and comfortable, and the girl on the bar was just new but she was very sweet and friendly. After we finished our drinks the receptionist came over to give us our key and gave me instructions on check out, breakfast etc.
The room in the hotel was definitely 5* material! Very spacious, clean and classy. Huge window - with dark brown curtains so it blacked all the light out when needed but light flooded in with the curtain was drawn [not the best the next morning when we were worse for wear!]. There is a mini bar [which of course you avoid at all costs], Radio, complimentary toiletries, slippers, housecoats, fruit and water. The wood was mahogany and the rest of the room was cream so it was very neutral and calm. In our room we had 2 beds, a glass table with chairs, bin, units, bar, en-suite bathroom, and 2 large well lit wardrobes. The bathroom was pristine, well lit and had everything we needed. A huge mirror the size of the rear wall, shavingmirror, bath & shower, toilet, and plenty hooks and shelves to keep all your things tidy! The shower had an adjustable head so I could have as little or as much pressure as I wanted!
After freshening up we decided to go and walk round Amsterdam. As by this time it was 6pm, we were looking for restaurants and pubs. The hotel is a 10minute walk from several bars and restaurants [decent bars and restaurants I should say!]. After dinner we then made our way to the red light district as it is the place to be apparently. Yes I saw some of the ladies, the crazy cafes and the Rasta men. But that is not for me! Apart from the induced banter of course... The red light district is in total about 20mins walk away, and it is a nice walk due to the variety of building styles, vegetation and canals.
The beds are very comfy; I struggled to get up for breakfast. Breakfast was waking up for though, I must add. IT was buffet style and they had thought of everything anyone could possible think of having. They had fry up food, cereal, bread & a toaster [genius? You make your own toast! I thought that was a great idea...], fruit, cold meat, yoghurt, fruit juices, tea, coffee, water, milk...and all the usuals like butter, margarine, jam marmalade etc. As it was buffet, naturally we over-indulged!
We had to check out by 12am, but the hotel can hold your luggage for you and they give you a receipt so that when you come back you can get your luggage. They them took our payment, and the check out process was done!
Then we decided to go see Amsterdam properly! The hotel is 10mins walk away from supermarkets and restaurants, 20mins from the red light district pubs, clubs and cafes, and about 10mins from the Vincent van Gogh museum!! I am a big art geek, and Van Gogh is my very favourite! Next to that is the Diamond Museum, Ann Frank's house and the Rembrandt Museum.
We made our way back from the city to the hotel to get our bags to go back home, where they got the bags straight away. They called us a taxi to take us to the airport which costs about 30EUR. A word of warning to anyone, DO NOT take a taxi from outside the train station - they are all freelance and will take you for a ride. Ask hotels to call you a taxi as the firms will be respectable!!
Overall, this hotel gets 6 stars from me - for both the standard of the hotel, the atmosphere and the staff. I actually emailed the hotel manager to tell him how pleased I was with his staff! We booked the hotel in Amsterdam so it cost us 200EUR, which is pricey for one night [but in our situation it was somewhere to sleep other than the train station] - but you can get cheaper deals online!
I would highly recommend it to anyone who wants to have a pleasant trip to Amsterdam but don’t want to stay right in the centre - somewhere quiet but near by!
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I went for a weekend in Amsterdam, and we spent most of the time in one of the Bulldog cafes....we did venture out to the Sex museum though which was a laugh! These were my student days.
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