Amsterdam Great Values

An excellent value, Banks Mansion makes up for its smallish rooms with décor that nods to the Amsterdam School (an early 20th-century architectural movement contemporaneous with Art Deco) and wonderful freebies intended to give guests what the hotel describes as “the ‘back home’ feeling”; the in-room mini bar, breakfast in the hotel dining room, appetizers and drinks in the hotel lounge, the Internet, and television movie channels are all complimentary! Add to that the wonderfully central location on the Herengracht canal, steps away from Rembrandtplein – one of the city’s most buzzing nightlife and pub-hopping destinations – and you can see why it’s one of the most popular choices in the city.

A perfect location between the cultural attractions of the Museum District and the roaring nightlife of the Leidsplein is the first of many attractions drawing visitors to this chic chain hotel. Renovations in 2004 and 2005 left the NH Amsterdam Centre feeling fresh and new, but a dedication to the comfort and happiness of hotel guests suggests old world sophistication. Rooms are stylish (for a chain) yet subdued in hues of beige, brown, and white, while dark woods add additional warmth to common areas and guest rooms alike. A spa, sauna, and Jacuzzi are on hand for relaxation after a long day on the town, and the Italian-themed restaurant, Sogno, offers patrons a worthy in-house dining experience. Factor style and location into the price of a stay at NH Amsterdam Centre, and you have one of the city’s best accommodation values.

The Fita is worth the trip for its location near Museumplein (Van Gogh Museum, Rijksmuseum, and the Concertgebouw concert hall), the upscale shopping street PC Hooftstraat, and the Vondelpark, but it’s the facilities inside that will make you most happy you stayed. The staff is hospitable but unobtrusive, and the 15 rooms, all non-smoking, are quite spacious for Amsterdam, with up-to-date bathrooms. Plus, rare freebies are included in your rate: bacon-and-egg breakfast, laundry service, Internet access, and phone calls to the U.S. and within Europe.

Chef Wil Demandt creates culinary experiences that are perfect from start to finish, rightfully...more

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Pretty it ain’t, but it oozes authenticity. A boisterous local crowd will sing along to the tearjerker “Jordaanse” music – even if they don’t know the words – but you’ll want to show up on a weekend evening when live accordion music sets an only-in-Amsterdam mood.

With over three hundred stalls selling everything from food to home accessories and thousands of visitors everyday, The Albert Cuypmarkt is the busiest daily outdoor market in Europe. Visit for the basement bargains and the tasty Dutch street food.

Amsterdam’s flat geography and endless bicycle paths make cycling a breeze. Yellow Bike’s three-hour, guided city orientation tours allow you to see–and do this bike-obsessed city in a way that gives you local street cred.