Gr8 Hotel Amsterdam Riverside

The room had a lovely view, and I enjoyed the varied breakfast with its many tasty choices. The hotel was quiet and well organized, and the staff were nice. Getting around on foot was the main drawback: the nearest transport stop is at least a 15-minute walk away. I'd suggest staying here if you have a car or don't mind walking about 1.3 km with your luggage. The bed also wasn't what we'd booked: two single beds had been put together instead of one double, despite the reservation clearly specifying a double. Room service only made the bed, without cleaning the room or replacing the towels.

It was easy to get into town after a short walk, and we were glad we'd chosen this place. It's on the edge of the countryside, a pleasant change from the city centre, with a local lake for swimming about ten minutes away. The rooms were good and the AC worked. It's an inexpensive place to stay. We also liked the LaPlace restaurant once we'd figured out how it worked.

The rooms are roomy and modern, and the cleaning staff are very courteous. The location is okay. Jerome, who works at the front desk at night, really stood out. He's knowledgeable and hardworking, and happily points out places to visit around Amsterdam. Even while speaking with you, he keeps an eye on the computer area and other guests so nobody feels ignored. GR8 hotel should hold on to him, he's a real asset. Thanks to Jerome, and to Derrick in the food area for the delicious pizza.

The ground-floor rooms had amazing views, large TVs with internet access for YouTube and other streaming apps, and a generous voucher as a goodwill gesture while renovations were under way. The renovated rooms were good, though they lacked a phone, towel rack, and soap tray. Some staff were helpful, and the nearby La Place restaurant and breakfast spot were very good. This is my genuine experience, since I'm not sure why my earlier review showed as not posted. The hotel was changing from Golden Tulip to Gr8 Hotels, but nobody told us. We had booked Golden Tulip through booking.com, and parts of the corridor and rooms were torn up for renovation. The smell of fresh paint in the corridors made me nauseated, though we didn't want to spoil the stay by complaining. The confirmation said checkout was at noon, but at 11:20 someone was banging on our door and a woman told us to leave immediately because checkout was at 11. Nobody had mentioned the earlier time at check-in. When I asked, she said, "I didn't check you in," "You booked for the old hotel," and "We are gr8 hotel now, your booking is old." She was rude and unhelpful, and that one interaction marred an otherwise good stay. The hotel should have communicated the change and allowed for the gaps it caused while renovating. I hope it will be worth the price when the work is complete, but they may struggle if even one staff member can spoil a three-night stay. We also struggled with where to put things in the shower, so towel rods, hooks for clothes, and soap trays would help. The walk to the nearest Metro station takes 15 to 20 minutes, and there isn't other public transport nearby. That's manageable if you're only going out and back once, but disappointing if you plan to make more trips.