Budget hotel overlooking Vondelpark, near Leidseplein and museumplein
Restaurants, cafes, and public transportation in walking distance
Private rooms with flat-screen TVs, iPod docks, and coffee/tea service
Rooms can accommodate two to four guests
Large outdoor terrace with tables and chairs
Daily breakfast buffet (extra fee)
On-site bike rentals (extra fee)
Computer for guests' use
Free Wi-Fi throughout
Rooms and bathrooms are tiny, and some show wear
Wet-room style showers lack curtains
No air-conditioning
Breakfast comes with a fee
The Hotel Vossius is a 40-room budget property overlooking Vondelpark -- it's within easy walking distance of Leidseplein, museumplein, cafes, restaurants, and public transportation. This low-frills choice is a step up from a hostel, with private rooms with huge windows and a smart white-and-gray color scheme. Rooms sleep two to four guests, and have en-suite bathrooms, flat-screen TVs, iPod docks, free Wi-Fi, and coffeemakers. But they can be tiny, and some show signs of wear and tear. Also, be aware that the hotel is not air-conditioned. Aside from the reception area, public spaces include an outdoor terrace and a breakfast room. (Breakfast is not included in the rate.) Bikes can be rented for a fee. Travelers might want to also consider the Quentin Amsterdam Hotel, another budget option in the same area.
Scene
Pleasant, low-frills budget property
The Hotel Vossius Vondelpark is a clean, no-frills property housed inside two historic Dutch town houses with beautiful brick facades accented with white cornices and columns. The hotel's renovated interior mixes traditional architecture with modern decor. The reception area is small and fairly nondescript, but the breakfast room has a nice sitting area with white laminate tables, silver button-tufted bench seating, and black ottoman seats. The hotel has, perhaps a bit oddly, Annex Rooms situated in a detached block in the middle of the large outdoor terrace. With tiny rooms and few extra property features, this hotel sometimes verges on hostel territory, but the rooms are private and can sleep up to four, which draws families, couples, and small groups.
Location
Overlooking Vondelpark, five-minute walk to Leidseplein and museumplein
Hotel Vossius Vondelpark is situated on a quiet street which runs along the edge of the beautiful Vondelpark, a popular attraction for tourists and locals alike, particularly in the summer. Because the street is mainly made up of residential apartments, it doesn't get a lot of traffic, yet shops, cafes, and restaurants are right at the end of the road. The hotel is well situated, in between the Leidseplein and the museumplein, within easy walking distance of both. Guests can walk to the canal district, but most popular sights in that area are a bit too far to get to by walking. The hotel is well-serviced by public transportation, though, and most attractions can be reached in 20-minutes or less. - Two-minute walk to Pieter Cornelisz Hooftstraat (designer shopping street)
Rooms
Tiny rooms with comfortable beds, iPod docks, flat-screen TVs, and free Wi-Fi
The Hotel Vossius Vondelpark's 40 rooms range in size from doubles and twin rooms (which can be tiny) to small triples and quads. The hotel also offers Annex Rooms, which are situated in a detached block in the middle of their large terrace. Rooms are generally tiny, but they have large windows and modern decor. Walls are white with wallpapered gray accent walls behind the beds. Furniture is white laminate, and there are drum-shaped pendant lights overhead. Some rooms have marble fireplaces. Past guests note that the beds are comfortable -- but there are some complaints of wear-and-tear. Bathrooms are modern with gray subway tiles, white fixtures, and wet-room style showers, which don't have curtains.In-room amenities are a definite step-up from what's found in a hostel. They include bedside reading lamps and small desks, plus flat-screen TVs, free Wi-Fi, iPod docks, coffeemakers, and wardrobes with safes. Bathrooms include toiletries in dispensers, as well as hairdryers and towels (but, oddly, no towel racks). There is no air-conditioning. Some rooms offer views of Vondelpark or the Rijksmuseum, while ground-floor and Annex Rooms may look out onto the terrace.
Features
Basic breakfast buffet, outdoor terrace, on-site bike rentals, and free Wi-Fi
For its budget category, the hotel has a few unexpected amenities, such as a large outdoor terrace with tables and chairs. It also serves a daily breakfast buffet of cereal, scrambled eggs, cold cuts, and bread for a free. There's also a well-stocked vending machine in the lobby with candy and drinks. There's a computer for guests' use, and Wi-Fi is free throughout. Bikes can be rented on-site, and there are lots of maps and brochures available in the lobby. Staff will assist with restaurant and tour recommendations, and booking tickets.