Bob W Amsterdam Oosterpark

We paid over $500 for just two nights, and the DIY setup didn’t work for me at that price, though it might suit others. The location wasn’t anything special, and rideshare drivers often seemed to have trouble getting there. Inside, it had an immediate institutional feel, a bit like a college dorm, and luggage storage was on the second floor. Our room wasn’t ready until exactly check-in time. The shared kitchen wasn’t inviting; there was a barefoot man running around who looked like he’d lost his takeout from the night before. Our ground-floor room was large, clean, and efficient, with a comfortable bed and two pillows each, plus a hot water cooker and a portion of coffee or tea. But anyone could see straight into the room. Breakfast was off-site, down the street.

It’s a bit of a hotel and AirBnB mix rather than a typical hotel, but we had a great stay. Our third-floor room was gorgeous, clean, and packed with amenities, and the huge wooden beams made it especially beautiful. Bob and team were always quick to answer questions on WhatsApp.

The neighborhood is nice and the location is great, but the room was really noisy. We could hear people in the corridor and our neighbors talking, snoring, or watching TV. On the ground floor, street noise comes in too, especially from the nearby bar, so earplugs would be a good idea. The shower pressure was weak and a bit annoying. You can’t open the room window, which made it hard to get fresh air during our few-day stay.

Construction near the hotel meant we had to walk 25 minutes to the nearest tram stop, something we wish we’d known beforehand. The room had no fridge, so we had to use the shared kitchen. My husband’s beer, which he’d searched all over Amsterdam for and was saving for the end of the night, was stolen from the fridge. When we reported it, the robot answering questions said leaving things there was “at my own risk.” We also weren’t told clearly that cleaning and fresh towels cost a “small fee” of 41 euros.