Qbic Hotel Amsterdam WTC

Though slim on amenities, the Qbic isn't short on style. There's no formal lobby or front desk, and guests are expected to check themselves in at kiosks housed in wood-paneled wall nooks, although a staff member is always on hand to help. The interiors in the common area are almost industrial, with black floors and long white communal tables. There's a small lounge corner with a couch and button stools anchored around a glass fireplace. Thanks to its location within the World Trade Center complex, the hotel primarily attracts business travelers looking for a stylish and convenient place to sleep.

The Qbic Hotel Amsterdam WTC is part of the World Trade Center complex in the south of the city, overlooking the complex's offices and inner courtyard from the rooms at the back of the building. It's located right next door to the World Trade Center's main entrance, and the RAI Exhibition and Convention Center is also within walking distance. The Museum Quarter is just to the north, but Concertgebouw, the Stedelijk Museum, and the Van Gogh Museum are all a bit too far to walk to; trams from the neighboring Amsterdam Zuid Station can get you there quickly, and put the city center only 15 minutes away. Schiphol Amsterdam Airport is a 20-minute drive southwest, and is accessible by train from Zuid Station as well.

Small and minimalist, each room is designed around a modular Cubi containing a king-size bed (famously comfortable Hästens ones), storage space, flat-screen TV, and an open bathroom. White walls highlight quirky design elements like ceiling lamps hanging with their cables attached to the wall and shaped into outlines of Amsterdam's buildings. A small desk and chair are the only other pieces of furniture in the Standard Rooms. Located behind the beds, the bathrooms are as clean and simple as the rest of the room, with Philippe Starck accents, but the substance of them is little more than a bright yellow stall with white porcelain bowl sinks, all exposed to the room in an open-plan layout. On the upside, they have walk-in rainfall showers, seldom found at hotels in this price range. Thoughtful features include the user-controlled mood lighting that illuminates the Cubi, and free Wi-Fi. Note that some rooms don't have windows and those on the ground floor can get street noise.

The hotel relies on a self-serve system, with few on-site amenities. There is a breakfast room with a continental spread (not included in all rates) and a wide variety of vending machines that dispense everything from toiletries to snacks and drinks at all hours. Even hairdryers must be asked for at the sparsely staffed lobby, but they're provided for free. There's also a business center in the lobby, open 24 hours with Macs and printers. For guests who don't like the open-plan bathrooms in rooms, each floor has a bathroom near the elevators. The hotel doesn't have its own parking facility, but guests can use the adjacent World Trade Center's parking garage for a fee.