Haarlem - Amsterdam Bruges and Brussels - page 231

SLEEPING,

EATING, and

NIGHTLIFE

The helpful Haarlem TI can nearly always find you a €25 bed in a
private home (but for a €6-per-person fee, plus a cut of your host's
money; two-night minimum). Avoid this if you can; it's cheaper to
reserve by calling direct. Nearly every Dutch person you'll encoun-
ter speaks English.
Haarlem is most crowded on Easter weekend (April 10-12
in 2009), in April (particularly the flower parade—on April 25
in 2009—and Queen's Day, on April 30), May, July, and August.
Also see “Major Holidays and Weekends” on page 4.
The listed prices include breakfast (unless otherwise noted)
and usually include the €2-per-person-per-day tourist tax. To avoid
this town's louder-than-normal street noises, forgo views for a room
in the back. Hotels and the TI have a useful parking brochure.

SLEEPING

In the Center
Hotels and B&Bs
$$$ Hotel Lion D'Or is a classy, 34-room business hotel with all
the professional comforts and a handy location (Db-€150, Fri-Sat
Db-€125, extra bed-€15, 8 percent discount to Rick Steves readers
for 2-night stays when you book direct, air-con, elevator, Wi-Fi,
across the street from train station at Kruisweg 34, tel. 023/532-
1750, fax [phone], www.hotelliondor.nl, reservations@hotel
liondor.nl, Dirk Pauw).
$$$ Stempels Hotel, modern yet elegant, is located in a recently
renovated, 250-year-old building. With bare floors, comfy high-
quality beds, and minimalist touches in its 17 rooms, what it lacks
in warmth it makes up for in style and value. Double-paned win-
dows help keep down the noise, since it's a block east of Market