Stayokay Amsterdam Vondelpark - Hostel

Vondel Park is right there, which made it easy to go for an evening stroll or have a daytime picnic. The center isn’t too far either, and most places felt walkable. The rooms are nice and cleaned every day, and I felt safe, especially in the all-female rooms. It’s a great place for a decent price. Highly recommend!

We only planned a weekend, but the war in the Middle East kept getting our flights cancelled, with no return date in sight. We had to extend one day at a time. The manager understood and let us stay in the same room at a lower rate than we had originally paid. The hostel itself is nice and clean, and the location is great. Things got frustrating when we tried to extend for a seventh night. Reception said there was a policy against staying seven nights, but couldn’t explain it and said only the manager could make an exception, and she wasn’t there. The cleaners were pushy too. On the first morning after an extension, they came into our room twice, apparently without being told we’d extended. They also went in while we were out to take the hair dryer we’d got from reception, and I’m not sure why. On the day we were actually meant to check out, they came in at 9:59, though checkout wasn’t until 10:30. I’m still giving it four stars because I think it’s a good hostel in a great location.

I liked that people of all ages were staying here, from teenagers to young couples with toddlers to adults with grey hair. The breakfast was generous, there were different kinds of social spaces, including a bar, lounge, and games rooms, and the staff were stellar. The bike shed was a welcome bonus, and it felt like good value. I’ll definitely come back. A few small things could be better. The bed cover was too narrow, even for me, and left gaps that let in drafts, so I turned up the radiator. The showers could use more and bigger hooks, plus shelves low enough for people under 165 cm. The hemp toilet paper is a good idea, but rough. Wi-Fi in my double room in Park was unreliable.

I loved being next to the park, and my room looked out over it. There was some noise that made sleep a little difficult, but the location was worth that tradeoff for me. I did wish there were a small kitchen corner where you could make tea or coffee at 2 a.m., especially with the time changes many of us were dealing with. Otherwise, it was clean, the staff were friendly and attentive, and breakfast was perfect. Thanks, I’ll be back!