THE NETHERLANDS - Best of Europe 2014 - page 1336

AroundjustabouteverycornerindowntownAmsterdam,you'llseeconstruction:cranes
for big transportation projects and small crews of bricklayers repairing the wobbly, cobbled
streets that line the canals. Canalside rooms can come with great views—and early-morning
construction-crew noise. If you're a light sleeper, ask the hotelier for a quiet room in the
back. Smoking is illegal in hotel rooms throughout the Netherlands. Parking in Amsterdam
is even worse than driving—if you must park a car, ask your hotelier for advice.
Canal houses were built tight. They have steep stairs with narrow treads; almost none
have elevators. If steep stairs are potentially problematic, book a hotel with an elevator.
If you'd rather trade big-city action for small-town coziness, consider sleeping in Haar-
lem, 20 minutes away by train (see next chapter).
West Amsterdam
Stately Canalside Hotels
These hotels, a half-mile apart, both face historic canals. They come with lovely lobbies
(some more ornate than others) and rooms that can feel like they're from another century.
This area oozes elegance and class, and it is fairly quiet at night.
$$$ The Toren is a chandeliered, historic mansion with a pleasant, canalside setting and
a peaceful garden out back for guests. Run by Eric and Petra Toren, this smartly renovated,
super-romantic hotelisclassyyetfriendly,with38roomsinagreatlocation onaquietstreet
twoblocksnortheastoftheAnneFrankHouse.Thecapablestaffisagreatsourceoflocalad-
vice. The gilt-frame, velvet-curtained rooms are an opulent splurge (tiny Sb-€115, Db-€200,
deluxe Db-€250, third person-€40, prices bump way up during conferences and decrease in
winter,rates donotinclude 6percent tax,breakfast buffet-€14,air-con,elevator,Internet ac-
cess and Wi-Fi, Keizersgracht 164, tel. [phone], fax [phone], www.thetoren.nl ,
[e-mail] ). To get the best prices, check their website for their “daily rate,” book dir-
ect, and in the “remarks” field, ask for the 10 percent Rick Steves cash discount.
$$$ Hotel Ambassade, lacing together 59 rooms in a maze of connected houses, is
elegant and fresh, sitting aristocratically on Herengracht. The staff is top-notch, and the
public areas (including a library and a breakfast room) are palatial, with antique furnish-
ings and modern art (Sb-€210, Db-€265, more expensive deluxe canal-view doubles and
suites, Tb-€245-295, extra bed-€40, ask for Rick Steves discount when booking, see web-
site for specials, rates do not include 6 percent tax, breakfast-€18, air-con, elevator, free In-
ternet access and Wi-Fi, Herengracht 341, for location see map on here , tel. [phone],
www.ambassade-hotel.nl , [e-mail] , Roos—pronounced “Rose”).