Amsterdam is home to three Crowne Plaza hotels; there's one at Schiphol airport, there's the "Americaine", and then there's the "Crowne Plaza City Centre". It's at the latter that we recently had the pleasure of staying. Five minutes' walk from the Centraal (sic) Station which, itself, is a one-stop, 3.90 Euro, journey from Schiphol airport, I thought that its location was absolutely ideal.

Let me say from the outset that this was a really superb hotel. We loved it. There has, of course, to be a downside, so I'll start there and get it over with.

For the purpose simply of saving face, it was important to me that I'd got it right and it was only when we arrived and discovered that I was, in fact, not the total incompetent that I feared I might seem, that I was able to totally relax. The pre-booked airport parking had worked out, the BA 'plane tickets had worked out, and now the hotel rooms were ready, as intended. I used, as a boy, to love the "A-team". Were George Peppard still alive, he'd join me in a chorus of "I love it when a plan comes together". Just such a shame that I had had to worry about it so much, pre-arrival! In future, if I want different room types, I'll know to make two separate bookings. Helpful tip there, I hope!

We arrived at the hotel at about 6pm, having found it very easily - it's extremely accessible from the Centraal Station. (I'm getting sick of writing sic after the word Centraal (sic), so don't expect me to keep doing so!)

We headed to the lifts, found our rooms and had a 30-minute freshen-up before heading out to see what Amsterdam had to offer - which, I think, should form a different review!

My final fall happened in the foyer of the hotel - and that is the one, I'm convinced, that broke my leg. I thought it was just badly bruised and it was only when I returned to England, after walking on it for two days, that the fractured fibula was diagnosed. The night porter was very kind and picked me up and, despite my protestations, kindly escorted me to my room, making sure that I was OK. The fact that, on the next night, when Mark and I needed his assistance in working out how to operate the cigarette vending machine, he made no mention of my fall, speaks volumes for his professionalism and discretion!

The hotel has a superb leisure centre, and Chris took advantage of this - using both the indoor heated pool and the sauna. He also took advantage of the breakfast, not realising that it was not included in the price. "Excellent breakfast", he said, "You could have had anything. I wasn't too hungry, so just had coffee, a croissant and some cheese!" Had he known that this added 22 Euros to his bill, I am sure that he would have gone a lot more overboard!