Barbacan

It's a short walk to the heart of Amsterdam, and the neighbourhood felt safe, though most of the city is safe anyway. For a budget hotel, it was quite nice and about what we paid for. The one issue was the shower: the water was cold the first time, with no hot water, but it was hot again the next day.

The staff did try to be friendly, but the hotel's condition was hard to overlook. There was a leak on the ground floor in our room, the room door to the bathroom wouldn't close, and the bathroom had no soap. The mirror seemed designed for tall people from the Netherlands. The floor was dirty, and even the toilet paper was dirty. It was really dirty and uncomfortable, so I'd strongly advise fellow travellers to avoid it and look elsewhere, even if you're trying to save money. My brother found it as apparently one of the cheapest options in Amsterdam. I didn't like Amsterdam that much either, it was very expensive. If I want to see a civilized country, I'll look to Switzerland.

Good cafés, bars, and restaurants are all nearby, and the tram stops are very close. The location is good, a little away from the main areas, but we were happy to walk around Amsterdam from here. It was basic, but clean and acceptable for the price in Amsterdam. The big fat cat at reception was a bonus.

The staff were nice and friendly, and I was surprised that the room was okay and fairly clean. It was super, super basic, though. The place felt more like a hostel than a hotel, with a smelly hallway and stairs, carpet that badly needs replacing, and walls that need a fresh coat of paint. 😕👍