Organizing an ideal Amsterdam agenda that assures rewarding cultural encounters, memorable hotel stays, and select high-end perks that add up to trip-of-a-lifetime memories isn’t just a matter of spending more money – with so many choices, you’ve got to know where to spend … more your money. From hotels offering just the right combination of location, historical ambiance, and state-of-the-art élan to destination-defining culinary and shopping experiences, our Amsterdam Smart Splurges may require a slight increase in your travel budget, but they're certainly worth the extra euros!
Smart Splurge
Great Value
Few hotels capture the spirit of Amsterdam like the historic Ambassade, which manages to vaunt an "Old Europe" atmosphere without seeming stuffy. Its 59 rooms and suites span ten 17th- and 18th-century townhouses along the Herengracht, one of the city’s most picturesque canals. The location, within walking distance of medieval Dom Square and the Royal Palace, is an obvious draw, but the heart of the Ambassade's charm lies in its conspicuous appreciation for the arts. Antiques and original paintings from the mid-20th-century, avant-garde art movement CoBrA (an acronym for Copenhagen, Brussels, and Amsterdam) figure prominently throughout the property (Theo Wolvecamp and Karen Appel are both represented), and the hotel’s fantastic library includes tomes signed by famous guests like Umberto Eco, Marianne Pearl, and Salman Rushdie. The room you'll want to linger in, however, is the majestic, sun-lit breakfast room overlooking the canal. Order the traditional Dutch breakfast, a smorgasbord that includes tiny pancakes, Dutch and French cheeses, smoked halibut, fresh fruit, and champagne.
