Bens The Walton

5 STARS. I spent months looking for a short-term rental, so I was shocked by how beautiful, CLEAN, quiet, and comfortable Bens The Walton was. The rooms are newly renovated, the staff are amazing, and everything was clean and working, with all the appliances and things guests could need. The shower has doors, so water doesn't go everywhere, and the place wasn't dusty. I honestly can't believe the poor reviews. I'd highly recommend it and will 100% stay again.

We had a lot of fun during our stay, the three of us. Being able to cook our meals helped us save money for other places around Amsterdam. The Metro Station and grocery store nearby made that easy. A great option if you're visiting for a week or so.

The photos gave the wrong impression. The sofa bed was dirty, and there weren't even sheets for the third person. The pillow and quilt covers weren't clean either, with hair left by previous guests. There was no cleaning service or cleaning supplies. Hot water ran out before two showers in a row, even though there were three of us. The air felt dusty, and with no window at all, there was no way to get fresh air. Using the tiny cooking hob made the room unbearable to breathe in and left all the clothes smelling of food. Once the sofa bed was opened, there was no room left, so we had to move the table and chairs. The stairs up to the bed were tiny and dangerous, and there was no upstairs light switch, meaning you had to go back down each time. The so-called bedroom didn't even have a curtain. There was no spare toilet paper, shampoo, or towels. Just a terrible place.

We planned to stay eight nights, but after the first night we couldn't stay any longer. That one night cost us 1700 euros because the owner wouldn't refund us. We were four people, but the place barely worked for two, let alone a group of four for eight days. The floors had completely different temperatures. In early September the first floor was cold while the second floor was boiling. We turned the AC down and left, but the upstairs stayed hot. Its windows couldn't be opened, and the AC couldn't cool it or bring in fresh air. I slept upstairs and woke several times because it was so hot and airless, while the people downstairs were freezing. There wasn't enough living room space for four people, especially with our luggage. Keeping bags there meant we couldn't fit in the room, and there was nowhere else for them. The stairs were difficult to use, so we couldn't carry luggage upstairs. The bathroom door was also hard to close and made a loud noise that woke people when I went in and out. The shower area had no door or curtain, so the whole bathroom got wet after each shower, with nothing there to clear the water. A small squeegee would have helped. The boiler also couldn't provide showers for four people one after another.