MEININGER Hotel Amsterdam City West

MEININGER Hotel Amsterdam City West opened in 2012 and occupies a large, eight-story glass building surrounded by other buildings of a similar style. The interiors have an institutional look -- more like a college campus than a hotel -- but the decor is clean and fresh, and done up in bright tones of yellow, orange, and red. The 24-hour bar is located next to reception area, and is often busy, giving the hotel a casual, and lively atmosphere. The hotel is popular with backpackers and other young budget-minded travelers. It also hosts many school groups, which means it can get busy and noisy at times.

MEININGER Hotel Amsterdam City West is located outside Amsterdam city center, near the intersection of the A5 and A10 highways. Sloterdijk train station is just next door, with a number of regional and intercity trains connecting to central Amsterdam and other cities. It's only one train stop to the Amsterdam city center from here. There are many other hotels located in the same area, and a few restaurants and a supermarket are within walking distance.

• Two-minute walk to Sloterdijk train station
• 10 minutes to Central Station by train
• 16 minutes to Schiphol Airport by train
• 20 minutes to Dam Square by public transit
• 22 minutes to Rembrandt House Museum by public transit
• 23 minutes to the Royal Palace by public transit
• 26 minutes to Rijksmuseum by public transit
• 28 minutes to Anne Frank House by public transit
• 29 minutes to Jordaan neighborhood by public transit
• 31 minutes to Van Gogh Museum by public transit
• 32 minutes to Vondel Park by public transit
• 33 minutes to Heineken Experience by public transit

Clean and well-maintained, guest rooms at the MEININGER  are basic but comfortable with minimalist interiors and flat-screen TVs. Floors are covered in wood laminate, walls are painted a pale green color, and furniture is kept to a minimum to save on space. Rooms come in Single, Twin, and Multi-bed configurations made up of up to six or seven beds. Travelers can also rent beds out in the dorms, which are either mixed or women-only. Family Rooms can sleep a maximum of four and feature two single beds and two bunk beds. Some Twin units include an extra sofa bed. Overall, rooms are tight on space, with the smallest rooms covering an area of only 75 square feet. The Multi-bed Rooms are larger, but do not offer much more storage space for luggage per person. The attached bathrooms are kept clean and are tiled in gray, each with an accent wall of mosaic tiles in tones of green, white, and black. They feature spacious showers, bath soap, and hairdryers. Towels are provided in private rooms, but cost extra to rent in shared units. Windows offer uninspiring views of the large parking lot next door, and many guests complain that they don't open.

MEININGER Hotel Amsterdam City West offers a number of features and services catering to young travelers and backpackers. A breakfast buffet is available for a fee and includes coffee and tea, bread, cereal, and different types of cold cuts and cheese. Guests can also order packed lunches. The on-site bar is open 24 hours, and has a game room with a pool table and foosball. There's also an outdoor patio. Shared kitchen facilities are modern and clean, and well-equipped with stove-tops, ovens, a microwave, a refrigerator, and cookware. There are also several vending machines selling soft drinks and snacks. 

Other services include bicycle rentals, a washing machine/dryer, lockers, and computers for guests' use. Wi-Fi is available for free throughout the hotel. Tickets for city tours, cultural events, and museum visits are available for purchase at the reception desk, and luggage storage is free. Parking is available in the large on-site parking lot for a fee. Pets are welcome in private rooms for a fee.