Photo by Allard van der Hoek 

Even if it's not far from the city centre, you don't come down here accidentally. For me - and people will hate me for this - it doesn’t really belong to the city. Of course it does, but it breathes a totally different spirit. Located in the Eastern Docklands area, the Lloyd Hotel, by my 'little Amsterdam' standards, is such a huge building that it makes me feel rather small.  Nonetheless, the Lloyd - which was formerly a hotel for migrants, Nazi prison and later youth penitentiary -  is a place to feel at home immediately.

Photo by Allard van der Hoek

Entering the lobby of the Lloyd, I was struck by the impressive space and the well-balanced mix of old and new design. I would be more likely to find this in a museum collection than a hotel, but it works. Each item has been selected with care and contributes to this wonderful ambiance of tranquility and authenticity.

Hidden tea-spot.

The building itself simply begs for wandering around, exploring the floors (with hidden spots to drink coffee or tea), striking stairs, little corners, and ensembles of furniture where you can admire the light, smell the abundant flowers or just enjoy space.

All 116 rooms (ranging from 1 to 5 stars) feature unexpected details and innovative elements (a hidden shower, an 8-person bed, a music room, etc.). Each displays a different character. My favourite is an attic room with its original wainscoting. Here, under the roof, I started dreaming right away.

Photo by Dorien Oxenaar

The aim of the Lloyd is to establish a meeting place for artists, businessmen and locals alike. Drinking a coffee on the terrace, I had the impression that the businessmen were more represented, but who can tell nowadays? The Lloyd Hotel offers 24-hour restaurant services – quite a rarity in Amsterdam - and has a nice bar. I do think that Lloyd keeps its promise and is much more than a hotel. The Lloyd is a cultural institution.

Lloyd Hotel; Oostelijke Handelskade 34; Amsterdam

Find more hotels in Amsterdam

 

After watching the movie Hostel, I'm sure you crossed that idea off from your list of things to do in Europe. But movies are just movies. I stayed in hostels when I traveled to Amsterdam and Barcelona, and those were two of the best experiences of my semester abroad.

The Bulldog Hotel

In Amsterdam, my travel partner Jac and I spent our eight unforgettable - at times forgettable - days at The Bulldog Hotel, literally two steps away from the infamous red lights, an eight-minute walk from Central Station, and a few canals away from the two famous shopping streets and Madame Toussauds overlooking Dam Square. Falafel and donner kebab stores mark every corner, coffee shops are literally every other shop, and bikes swarm the streets.

The Bulldog is a funky, laid-back hostel. The walls on each floor are lined and decorated with a different theme; Jac was obsessed with the drawing on our floor:

The beds are the most comfortable beds you'll ever sleep in, there are lockers to store your belongings, and there’s 24-hour security at the front desk. And right downstairs it has its very own coffee shop! Brown leather couches, DVDs, pool tables, a bar. It was perfect, and so convenient.

There wasn't much availability for the days we were going, so our room ended up occupying twelve people, with me and Jac being the only two girls. A crazy-looking man in the bunk beds across from us was our first impression. As I stared at his wildly frizzy hair and smelt the herbal aroma surrounding him, I definitely thought to myself, "Oh my God, what the hell were we thinking sharing a room with complete strangers?" But he was harmless, and we spent the rest of the trip rooming with these two awesome Scottish dudes and a bunch of normal college guys. Who knows, maybe Amsterdam had just gotten the best of that wacko. It definitely made our experience all the more memorable.
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The Bulldog Hotel
Oudezijds Voorburgwal 220
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Paraiso Travellers Hostel 

In Barcelona, we stayed at the Paraiso Travellers Hostel. I know this is a cliché saying, but Paraiso is truly a home away from home.

Paraiso Travellers Hostel is located in the center of Barcelona. It is run by four multilingual (and adorable!) friends who create an intimate, cozy atmosphere for their guests. The hostel is about a 15-minute walk to the beach, within walking distance to La Rambla, and surrounded by restaurants, bars, and supermarkets-all of the necessities.

Jac and I stayed in a 4-person bedroom with two bunk beds, lockers, a sink and a window overlooking the city. Right outside our room was an adorable colorful communal area with couches, free Internet access, a coffee machine (I was addicted to the lattes-sweet hot milk, yum), magazines and a TV. There was a little balcony with two chairs outside the den area where I would drink my coffee almost every morning.

Paraiso has no curfew and no lock-out policy, so there is no excuse for not exploring Barcelona's brilliant nightlife until the early hours :)
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Paraiso
Ronda de Sant Pau, 55-57 Ppal. 1°
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The hotels in Amsterdam have an occupancy rate of 96%. So you are really encouraged to book your room in advance.

The College Hotel

A few minutes walk from Vodelpark you will find this lovely hotel with 40 luxury rooms, tastefully decorated and kept in a golden color range. The perfect spot for a romantic weekend. Students are in charge of the service in the hotel, but despite that fact, it’s really a hotel that can be warmly recommended.

When the hotel has been overbooked, several guests have had the experience of being upgraded to The Dylan, which is one of the finest and most expensive hotels in Amsterdam.

Around 235 €

The College Hotel, Roelof Hartstraat 1
www.thesteingroup.com/college

Cake Under my Pillow 

In the middle of the De Pijp area, you can find the wonderfully kitschy café and patisserie De Taart van m'n Tante (My Auntie's Cake). The two owners also are behind a great B&B.

Some of the rooms have their own toilet and bathroom, and others don’t. In return, all rooms have orthopedic beds, wireless Internet and heavy windows that keep the noise out.

Between 110 and 160 €

Cake Under My Pillow, Eerste Jacob van Campenstraat 66
www.cakeundermypillow.nl

Sunhead of 1617

A one-of-a-kind B&B with only two rooms and a fabulous breakfast. Sufficiently fabulous to have earned the place a Michelin star!

Sunhead is perfectly located right on the canal in an atmospheric neighborhood. Book well ahead – the two rooms are in great demand.
If you’re staying for a while in Amsterdam, Sunhead also offers various apartments for rent at reasonable prices.

Between 89 and 129 € 

Sunhead of 1617, Carlos Cecilio, Herengracht 152
www.sunhead.com

Sleep on the water

With all the city’s canals and the many charming and enviable houseboats, it is an obvious occasion to seek shelter on the water. And there are several possibilities.

If you’re traveling as a group, Vita Nova is a great suggestion. The old ship has good cabins with showers, nice common spaces, free Internet and a lady in the kitchen who cooks lovely food. The flat sun deck is a beautiful place to relax and enjoy the view and life by the canal.

Vita Nova, Oosterdok T/O 4
Booking via: www.hostelworld.com

Or you can try:
Amstel Boat, Oosterdokskade 2-4,
www.amstelbotel.nl
Ideaal Hotelboot, Amsteldijk 729,
www.bedrijfzoeken.nl/bedrijf523698.html

Find other places to sleep on the water at this site:
www.houseboathotel.nl

By Mette Lomholdt