Urban Lodge Hotel

The location worked really well for me, especially since I arrived on the Eurostar. Amsterdam Sloterdijk is about a 6-8 minute walk away, then it's only a 4-5 minute train ride to Amsterdam Centraal. I also appreciated being able to leave my luggage there until my late afternoon train. The place has a nice, very “urban” feel and seems suited to solo travelers and families. Staff were incredibly friendly, check-in was easy, and the 24/7 reception was handy. I had to remind them about my extra blankets, but otherwise they were great. I visited on one of the coldest weekends and the built-in heating controls worked incredibly well, which was a godsend since I get cold all the time. The rooms were impressively clean and cleaned every day. Mine was a little dark in the middle, though it wasn't a big deal, and it had both regular privacy curtains and blackout curtains. Breakfast was tasty and decent, with lots of options. I had a lovely time here.

Getting to Central Station was easy: it's one stop away from platform 6, and coming back from the center we used platform 2a, also just one stop. The train station is only a few minutes' walk from this modern hotel. There's a handy Spar shop right outside the station, and the tap water is drinkable. The staff were friendly and helpful, and the breakfast was excellent. We booked bed and breakfast, so it was included; otherwise breakfast costs €17.50. The air conditioning is easy to adjust.

The room was spacious and very clean, with useful things like an iron and coffee machine. But we spent two nights freezing. There was no radiator, just an air conditioner that didn't work properly. We told the staff three or four times, and although they kept saying it was set to the maximum, the room stayed icy. The heater they brought barely worked and wasn't even warm. The lobby was warmer than our room, and we woke up cold during the night. It's not a very central location, though you can get around by tram. I strongly advise against staying here in winter. I definitely don't recommend this hotel.

The lobby was the one thing I liked. Seeing it first gave me high expectations, but the rest of the stay fell short. The room was a bit small, the bathroom smelled bad, and there was no proper heating or air conditioning. Room service didn't actually clean; they just left fresh towels. There was no free water, and a bottle cost €3.50 even though the bottles weren't very big. The breakfast was okay, nothing special, and very expensive. Signs said smoking weed wasn't prohibited, but the elevators stank of substances, and people were constantly smoking weed outside the entrance. Most guests seemed to be young adults, and some made my stay unpleasant. I also tried to use the gym, but a group of young adult women were smoking and taking up the whole room without exercising, so I couldn't get a quick workout in. I wouldn't stay again. It doesn't deserve four stars.