Nova Hotel Amsterdam

The Nova Hotel Amsterdam is situated among five adjoining red-brick canal houses. The lobby is small but pleasant, with black tile floors, white walls, and red accent walls which reappear as a design feature in the guest rooms. A few wicker chairs with black vinyl cushions gather around a coffee table to create a sitting area, while near the window, an iMac occupies a long wood table with chairs. Because the hotel is situated in historic buildings, room size varies greatly and, while the property has elevators, some rooms have stair-only access. Because of the location, this hotel attracts lots of tourists, including solo travelers and families. 

The hotel is exceptionally located on a charming and relatively quiet access road off a main street within the Canal Ring. The surrounding neighborhood is full of beautiful traditional Dutch buildings, and plenty of shops, restaurants, bars, and attractions are within easy walking distance. The property is just a block from the Singel canal and two blocks from Dam Square. Most everything is in walking distance, but for sights farther out there is plenty of public transportation near the hotel, too. 

• Three-minute walk to Singel canal
• Three-minute walk to Kalverstraat, popular shopping street
• Four-minute walk to Dam Square
• Eight-minute walk to the Flower Market 
• 10-minute walk to the Anne Frank House
• 12-minute walk to Rembrandt House Museum
• 15-minute walk to Centraal Station
• 17-minute walk to Vondelpark (12 minutes by public transportation)
• 18-minute walk to Rijksmuseum (10 minutes by public transportation)
• 25-minute walk to Van Gogh Museum (13 minutes by public transportation)
• 20-minute drive to Amsterdam Airport Schiphol (33 minutes by public transportation)

The hotel's 61 rooms are situated across five adjoining canal houses, and vary significantly in size and layout. Guests might get a room with high ceilings and huge traditional windows, or a smaller room at the back overlooking a covered walkway with little natural light. The hotel's array of rooms can accommodate from one to four people.

A standard Double Room might have neutral wall-to-wall carpeting, white walls, light wood furniture, and a deep red accent wall over the bed. "Double" beds are usually two twin beds pushed together. A few color-coordinated pieces of art on the walls help bring the look together, but the decor is pretty generic and some guests find it dated. 

The hotel has plans to refurbish rooms, and if the bathrooms are any indication, the update will be stylish. Updated bathrooms are modern and chic with black and white tiling, including some trendy geometric tiling in the shower and small black tiling behind a sleek square sink.

Rooms include a desk or small table and a wardrobe with storage space and a safe. Other in-room amenities include a flat-screen TV, mini-fridge, and free Wi-Fi -- but there's no AC or coffee/tea facilities. Bathrooms are stocked with soap dispensers, hairdryers, and towels. The biggest complaint from guests is noise, both from within the hotel and from outside, as the building is old and the windows are not double-glazed. Rooms facing away from the street tend to be quieter. 

The hotel has few extra property features, though it does serve a decent -- and free -- breakfast buffet with standard hot and cold fare like cereal, bread, and scrambled eggs. While rooms don't have coffee and tea facilities, these drinks are available in the lobby for free from a small machine. The lobby also has vending machines and two iMacs with printing capabilities for guest use. Wi-Fi is free. Reception is open 24/7, and staff can help book tours or arrange airport transport. Note that there is no on-site fitness area, bar, or restaurant.