Amrath Grand Hotel de l'Empereur

I spent six nights here over Christmas and really enjoyed my stay. My room was large, and housekeeping came every day to clean and refill the coffee pods. The only issue was that the AC didn’t blow cold air, but in winter I just kept the window open. I liked the location, right beside the Maastricht train and bus station, about a 15-minute walk from the centrum. I’d stay here again on another visit. The hotel had free Gluhwein, hot chocomel, and some kind of pastries at reception for the holiday. A very nice touch. The gluhwein was the best I tried in Maastricht, even better than what I had at the Christmas market.

The hotel was convenient for walking into town, and the historic exterior is beautiful. Our room was quiet and spacious, though the two single beds had been pushed together, as is common in Europe. The pillows were huge and lumpy, with very little support, so the comfort didn’t match the room’s size. The accommodation didn’t quite feel like a four star hotel. Dinner was the standout. We had the Christmas tasting menu in the hotel restaurant, and staff were already turning away people without reservations when we arrived. We sat beside a tall Christmas tree. It started with champagne and a small scallop amuse bouche, followed by a delicate langoustine carpaccio that reminded me of ceviche. We had a bottle of Sancerre with dinner, and Christmas crackers at the place settings popped loudly and revealed little holiday trinkets. Next came a warm, creamy pumpkin and chestnut soup with a hint of ginger and a crisp crostini on top. The main was grilled salmon with red wine sauce and parsnip cream, nicely cooked and generously portioned. For dessert, there was baked cheesecake with red fruit coulis and almond crunch, plus mango sorbet and a macaron. The cheesecake was rich and smooth, while the sorbet gave it a brighter contrast. Complimentary limoncello finished the meal. The restaurant made for a memorable Christmas dinner, with warm service, a festive setting, and well-prepared food. The hotel is a good choice for the location and restaurant, though the room details and comfort could be better.

The value was reasonable, and the parking garage felt safe, though it’s very small, so leave a big SUV at home. Our room’s heating was broken. We had to complain several times before they brought us an electric heater.

I was in town on a business trip for three nights in March and had a really enjoyable stay. The room was spacious, quiet, and comfortable, and the location is ideal if you arrive by train. I was impressed enough to book again for next week. Looking forward to staying there.