Quentin Golden Bear Hotel

One morning around 8 a.m., staff came into my room while I was asleep. I told the front desk, but nothing was done and no supervisor explained what had happened. After that I felt unsafe and couldn’t sleep properly, worrying someone might come in again. I’d paid for a private room, not a shared hostel. The room was also freezing throughout my stay, and I ended up sick. My weekend in Amsterdam became a nightmare, and staff barely speaking English made everything harder. The worst part started when I returned to find housekeeping had taken or thrown away my belongings, including my passport. I’d left my things in my room as I would at any hotel: my passport, iPhone chargers, Apple Watch charger, house keys, souvenirs I’d bought the day before, a charger case, wired iPhone headphones, and other items worth over €100. They said they thought it was all rubbish because it was in a Starbucks bag. This happened Saturday at about 8 p.m., and nobody could offer a solution. I tried to reach the manager, but was told they couldn’t be contacted, even in an emergency. I was due to travel to Germany the next day, where I live, though I’m from another South American country. Without my passport, I went to the police station that night, but it was apparently closed. I returned the next day as instructed and filed a report because no hotel supervisor had responded. I needed it to apply for a new passport at my country’s embassy in Amsterdam, which meant more paperwork. After getting the report, I asked if they could look for my things in the trash, since that was where they claimed they’d put them. Hours later, a man brought back my “trash” in the Starbucks bag, with all my belongings inside. I honestly don’t know what to think. Where had they been kept? Were they planning to keep my things? If my passport hadn’t been in there, would they have kept the rest? My chargers, personal items, and even my house keys were in the bag. Without those keys, I couldn’t even have got into my own home. If I hadn’t made a scene, I believe they would have kept everything. I still haven’t received an apology from anyone. I strongly recommend avoiding this place.

The steep stairs made sense for a heritage building and weren’t a major issue, though the nearby coffeeshop stays open until 1 a.m., which might bother some guests. I also had to pay a €100 deposit on arrival, something the booking details hadn’t mentioned. Still, I was more than happy with my two-night stay and would use this hotel again. I’d been nervous after reading complaints about service, bed bugs, and dirty rooms, but none matched my experience. The room was clean and basic, the bed was comfortable with fresh sheets, and I looked carefully but saw no sign of bed bugs. The location is amazing.

I felt unwelcome from the moment I checked in as an LGBTQ+ traveler. The staff’s cold manner made me uncomfortable enough to avoid the front desk. The room was run-down, and the noise was awful, so this became an immediate never-again for me. I wouldn’t recommend it, especially to anyone looking for an inclusive place.

We enjoyed staying here before, so we came back in February 2024 after our visit the previous March. Everything we wanted to do was within walking distance. Chad at the front desk was kind and welcoming, helped us with checkout information, and recognized us from our last stay. He gave us such a warm welcome back.