Botel Zebra

I came back about a year after my first visit and found it still at the same spot on the Oosterdock near the NEMO museum. I'd originally picked it for the location and the fun, funky adventure, and wasn't disappointed then. Breakfast was good, but this is a hostel, and the cabins are very cramped. One person has to sit on the bed for someone else to get by. The price was about as low as you'll find this close to downtown, and it's a 15-minute walk to the central train station.

The location is great, around a 15-minute walk from the Red Light District, and the owners were really nice and energetic. The Zebra Botel was quite an experience, though the rooms are extremely tight and ours had just one outlet. The showers had hot water, but the pressure was low. We got almost no WiFi in our room, which could be an issue if you rely on it while traveling. The quality matches what you pay.

The owner was very welcoming, and sleeping on the boat was a unique experience. Each private cabin has its own bathroom and can fit two or three people, though it's quite tiny. It's a very short walk to central Amsterdam and the train station, and the rates are among the best in that part of the city.

The room was so unpleasant that I left after spending about two hours there, even though I’d booked three nights. It was tiny, dark, noisy, barely ventilated, and smelled bad. The linen was old and dirty, the decor looked horribly cheap, and there was only one plug. They wanted prepayment and said they were fully booked. Maybe it works if you’re on a very tight budget, but I found the rooms nauseating. Some people may be willing to sleep anywhere, but I’d avoid it unless you’re broke.