My favorite hotel in Amsterdam: The Andaz Amsterdam Prinsengracht

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Having visited this hotel once before, I really wanted to come back again, and really believe it to be one of the nicest hotel in Amsterdam. Booking at a cash and points rate (prior to the devaluation), I was able to use a Diamond Suite Upgrade at time of booking to an Andaz Suite.

The hotel is located about a 25 minute walk from Amsterdam Centrale, the main train station that will take you to the airport. You can taxi your way to the hotel, and that will cost about 20 Euros. I ended up walking, wanting to see the canals, though because the paths are made of cobblestone in some areas, it can be a rough ride for your luggage if you are wheeling it along. The hotel is suited about 2 blocks away from major shopping, and otherwise on what appears to be a fairly quiet residential street. All major attractions are within a 5-20 minute walk, which makes this hotel so convenient to the sites.

Walking into the hotel, you’ll find the check-in area at three large podiums. I was promptly greeted, checked-in and offered a glass of wine, complimentary. The staff at this hotel have been extraordinary during my past few stays, and they’re all very fluent in English, as all Hyatt properties are.

The lobby has a few separate areas, and one features complimentary coffee and teas. There’s plenty of seating, and if you’re thirsty, you can grab a drink in the bar just off to the side. This hotel constantly had a bustling feel to it, and I get the sense a lot of corporate travelers pass through here. The lobby was hardly quiet, though I liked the boutique feel, yet busy-ness this property provided.

After checking in, I headed to my room, the Andaz Suite.

Consisting of three main rooms – the living area, bedroom and bathroom, this is the standard suite you’ll receive using a Diamond upgrade certificate. There was a long hallway entering the room, with a closet off to the left which housed the mini bar, which, in Andaz properties is complimentary for non-alcoholic beverages and snacks.

The living room at the end of the hallway featured a couch, two armchairs as well as a desk on the other side. The room is decorated in a quirky style, featuring old books, a rather neat blue carpet, and various knickknacks to play with. There was even a complimentary container of the famous stroopwaffel, a waffle like cookie.

Separating the living room from the bedroom was a large padded wall, with openings on either end to pass through. This housed the tv for both the living room and bedroom, and while it didn’t seal off both rooms, provided a nice open feel to the room, while still maintaining room order.

The bedroom has an incredibly comfortable bed, with a modern plush chair to the side, beside a glass table. The bed features a glass headboard, with full light controls for the entire room, something I’ve seen in several Andaz properties. There was also a glass plate to put a wallet, keys, cell phone and other essentials.

Beside the bedroom was the bathroom, which, by European standards, was the size of a normal bedroom. A large vanity was against the wall, as well as plenty of closet space, which was both accessible from the bathroom and entry hallway. In the middle of the bathroom was the bathtub, and on the back wall, entry for the shower, and a separate toilet room. I absolutely loved this bathroom, and it’s open feel. It’s worth noting that in standard rooms, the shower and sinks often sit directly in the middle of the open bedroom, which makes for an awkward experience if you are staying with other people.

Breakfast each morning was served in Blue Spoon, the hotel’s restaurant located behind the bank of elevators in the lobby. Service here was very attentive, and the open kitchen provides an extraordinary atmosphere for dining. Diamond members could order anything off of the menu, including sampling the buffet.

Each morning I had something different, though particularly enjoyed the waffle and French Toast. Enjoying my breakfast so much, I had made reservations here for dinner one evening where I had a peppercorn steak that was cooked perfectly.

My Take

The Andaz Amsterdam Prinsengracht has a lot going for it – the location is hard to beat, and the service top-notch. Room styles for a regular room are quirky at best, but I think that’s what makes this hotel unique. In my case, I enjoyed the traditional experience of an Andaz Suite, and highly recommend using your Diamond upgrades at this property if available.

This property has a tendency to be on the pricey side, costing upwards of $300-500 USD a night for a standard room. I’d recommend using full points or a combination of points and cash to save here.