Holiday Inn - the niu, Fender Amsterdam by IHG

The canal view from the upper floors was nice, and we upgraded to a premium room for it. Those rooms also had reserved breakfast tables on weekdays. The reception treated us warmly because we were in a premium room, though that seemed to change at our last breakfast. I wasn't sure what to make of that. Getting here takes around 15-20 minutes from the bus and tram stop, which is awkward with luggage, though the distance does keep it away from the city's bustle. The lobby felt crowded and cramped. The manager was dressed smartly, while the other reception staff looked very casual. I found that unpleasant, and think reception staff should be easy to identify. Breakfast was limited, pretty typical of a three-star place. The hot food wasn't very hot, the scrambled eggs were average, and the room was so cramped it was hard to get around when busy. The dishes didn't look clean, the glasses were scratched, and the cheap Ikea cups felt surprising. Room service came twice, but nobody vacuumed, so rubbish stayed on the floor. There was limescale on the shower glass and toilet taps too. I don't know why those weren't cleaned. I went into detail because I expected a four-star hotel, and the reviews I'd seen elsewhere didn't feel very realistic.

We were on the 8th floor, looking out over the private harbour where the yachts are. The rooms were clean and spacious, and the view was great. The neighbourhood is quiet and elegant. The location worked really well for us. Veelaan bus station is about 15 minutes away on foot, and bus 22 takes around 10 minutes to Amsterdam Central Station. Breakfast had a generous and appealing range of food.

Our favorite place nearby was the port, with a few benches where you can sit and enjoy the view. The hotel itself is nicely designed, and the staff were kind and helpful. Wherever you walk from there, the surroundings are lovely. Transit is about 10 minutes away, and most places are roughly 30 minutes off by public transport, so the location is handy. The one thing we missed was a window for fresh air in the room. The AC worked well, but having the option to open a window would've been nice. We had a lovely few days here. See you soon 🙏🏻

We had a great stay, and the marina view from our room was a lovely surprise. The room was clean and looked after, and breakfast was delicious. Everyone on staff was very friendly. P.S. Special greetings to Ms. Magda!