The Student Hotel Amsterdam West

Students and young travelers are the main clientele at this large and lively hotel, which is relatively affordable and designed to encourage socializing. Housed in several large brick buildings, the hotel is accented by bright yellow signage and a massive red-and-black mural on one wall. It brings to mind a college dorm -- and indeed, many students reside here for extended stays.  The front desk is emblazoned with bold black-and-white stripes and swirls contrasted by yellow walls. There are numerous places to mingle or study here, like the lobby -- a large space with clustered seating areas of bent wire, colorful leather sofas, and pod-like chairs facing tall windows. High ceilings with exposed pipes and industrial lighting give it a trendy, urban-chic vibe. A red pool table under pendant lights dominates the space. The restaurant and bar have a similar look, with chalkboard menus, exposed ductwork, and shiny subway tile. There is a library with low slung sofas and chairs as well as several meeting rooms with IKEA-style furniture and natural light. Guests can be found slouched over laptops on sofas or clustered around the game tables with beers from a bar illuminated by hot pink neon lighting.

The Jan van Galenstraat tram stop is right by the hotel, giving access to the city center in 20 minutes, or 15 to 20 minutes by car. Alternately, there is a subway station nearby as well, which connects to the Sloterdijk train station, giving access to Amsterdam's Centraal Station in a total of 16 minutes. Guests can also rent bikes directly from the hotel. Sloterpark, a large green space, is a five-minute drive or 10 minutes by bicycle, while Vondelpark is an eight-minute drive or a 15-minute bike ride. Top tourist attractions like the Anne Frank House, the Van Gogh Museum, the Rijksmuseum, Dam Square, and the Red Light District are a 10- to 20-minute drive, or 20 to 30 minutes away by public transit (15 to 20 minutes by bike). Schiphol Airport is about a 10-minute drive or 30 minutes by train. 

Not surprisingly, guest rooms resemble basic single rooms in university dorms. They range in size from 161 square feet for a standard room to 226 square feet for a suite with a kitchenette that includes a cooktop, microwave, and mini-fridge. Rooms have dropped ceiling panels, inexpensive gray carpeting, striated wood veneer finishes on bookshelves and closet doors, and bright overhead lighting. They also have big windows with drapes that offer urban and green space views, as well as air-conditioning and multiple outlets for electronics. Reading lights on the wood veneer headboards are a nice touch, while desks built into inexpensive bookcases add to the student vibe. Platforms beds are covered with white linens and blue duvets. And flat-screen TVs are mounted on the walls. Bathrooms are a bit dark and small, but have attractive charcoal gray tiling as well as traditional porcelain fixtures and inexpensive, standard chrome fittings. Guests repeatedly complain that the shower curtain, of flimsy white nylon, blows about while the water is on, causing the bathroom floor to get very wet. Soap, shampoo, and conditioner are included, while hairdryers are available to borrow from the front desk.

There are several upscale amenities at this otherwise budget property geared for students and young travelers. The large lobby has pool tables, ping-pong, and Foosball, as well as plenty of work/study areas with lots of seating, electrical outlets, and free Wi-Fi throughout. There's also a small library with low-slung, comfortable sofas, as well as understated, pragmatic conference rooms. The rustic restaurant and bar serves a Mediterranean menu for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, as well as cocktails. Outside, guests will find a simple terrace strung with white lights, beer garden-style, with weathered pine picnic tables and benches. The hotel has a fitness center with large windows and machines for rowing, cycling, and stair climbing, plus punching bags and exercise balls; personal trainers can be hired for a fee. There's also an outdoor basketball court. Guests can rent bikes on-site, and parking is available for a fee. An on-site laundry room is also available.