We’ve recently updated our listings of recommended cheap hotels in Amsterdam, and have singled out the following seven as our best cheap hotels in Amsterdam. It was no easy task — Amsterdam fortunately still has a long list of great, family-run properties in its city center.

However, these hotels below all stand out for their unique combination of a great location, low average rates, high user ratings, and enough amenities that you’ll be quite comfortable with your choice. Note that the rates quoted below were all found for stays one to four months in advance. Another thing to note? Hotel rates in Amsterdam and across Europe have increased significantly in recent years. We’ve narrowed down options that provide the best value.

A friendly reminder: Book as far in advance as possible. These are also among the most popular hotels in Amsterdam, and availability can be tight.

Our Amsterdam Guide

• Read all hotel reviews
• Booking a hotel in Amsterdam? Read this first.
• More ways to save on your trip Amsterdam

Top 7 best budget hotels in Amsterdam

Hotel Hortus is cheap, clean, and centrally located, making it a real Cheapo gem. Photo: Booking.com

Hotel Hortus

Plantageparklaan 8
Neighborhood: Plantagebuurt
Double room average: $128

The rooms at Hotel Hortus may be on the simpler side, but they’re spotless, reliable, and right next to the Botanical Gardens. Save more by opting for a shared bath. The hotel offers a communal kitchen, so you can also save by making some of your meals here, then spend more on sightseeing. Read the full review

The Neighbour’s Magnolia features bright rooms with a dash of color.

The Neighbour’s Magnolia

Willemsparkweg 205
Neighborhood: Museums & Vondelpark
Double room average: $139

Looking for a trendy little spot near Vondelpark? The Neighbour’s Magnolia offers a friendly home base with 21 playfully designed rooms, all equipped with TV, telephone, free Wi-Fi, and modern furnishings. You’ll even find a small stuffed animal (named “Sparky”) waiting on your bed. Breakfast included. Read the full review

The lovely breakfast room at Hotel Verdi.

Verdi

Wanningstraat 9
Neighborhood: Museums & Vondelpark
Double room average: $150

Hotel Verdi is a cozy, clean, family-run establishment near the Concertgebouw, where visiting classical musicians have frequented for decades. Guests can enjoy free Wi-Fi, and breakfast is included in the room rate. Cheapos who want to save a little extra money can book one of the few rooms with a shared bathroom. Read the full review

Bicycle Hotel is a fun spot with affordable bike rentals (of course!).

Bicycle Hotel

Van Ostadestraat 123
Neighborhood: Pijp
Double room average: $153

Located near the heart of the trendy Pijp neighborhood, the Bicycle Hotel is cheap and cheerful, with low rates, clean rooms and (appropriately enough) cheap bike rentals for guests. The hotel’s 16 rooms are basic and no-frills, but all have a TV and free Wi-Fi, while a few have a balcony (ask ahead). Breakfast is included. Read the full review

Enjoy a cool, rock n’ roll vibe for a low cover charge at BackStage Hotel. Photo: EuroCheapo

BackStage Hotel

Leidsegracht 114
Neighborhood: Grachtengordel South
Double room average: $159

You’ll be ready to rock with the BackStage Hotel, a popular and cheapo-friendly spot on the Leidsegracht canal. You’ll find plenty of bars, performance spaces, and even the famous concert venue, Melkweg nearby. As for the rooms, they are adorned with a rock-and-roll vibe that has welcomed many musicians over the years. Like a famous rockstar, you’ll enjoy plenty of amenities here, including free Wi-Fi, LCD televisions, and more. Read the full review

Hotel Museumzicht is stuffed with old-world charm.

Hotel Museumzicht

Jan Luykenstraat 22 II
Neighborhood: Museums & Vondelpark
Double room average: $160

You can’t sleep much closer to the Rijksmuseum than the Hotel Museumzicht (“Museum View”). The hotel is a vintage cheapo pick and is great for those who don’t mind that the hotel has hardly changed since the 1960s. The hotel’s 14 rooms are decorated in a grandmotherly fashion, with old oil paintings and antique (or simply “old”) furnishings. Some rooms have private facilities, but most share toilets and showers in the hall. Breakfast included. Read the full review

Stayokay Amsterdam is a great option for groups.

StayOkay Amsterdam Vondelpark

Zandpad 5
Neighborhood: Museums & Vondelpark
Double room average: $186

Tucked into the northern tip of the Vondelpark, the StayOkay Vondelpark is a big, budget-friendly operation that appeals to students, families and other budget travelers. It’s a massive place, with 536 beds laid out in a wide variety of configurations. Triples? Quads? Eight-bedded dorm? They got ’em. While couples and single travelers certainly stay here, the StayOkay is an especially convenient option for larger groups. Read the full review

More hotel options

Want to read more about Amsterdam? We have dozens more options in our guide to affordable hotels in Amsterdam.

The post Best budget hotels in Amsterdam for 2026 appeared first on EuroCheapo's Budget Travel Blog.

Whether you want to sleep on a boat, immerse yourself in art, sleep in a futuristic neon cube or surround yourself with the Red Light district adult entertainment, there is an accommodation to suit your needs.

Related: Amsterdam Hotel Advice: Read this first

Unique and cheap Amsterdam hotels

To help make your trip to “The Venice of the North” more interesting, here are four unique hotels in Amsterdam:

The modern design doesn’t mean sky high prices at citizen M. Photo: Provided by hotel

1. citizenM Hotel: Sleep with modern style

Double rooms start at $115 per night

Upon entering citizenM Hotel, your first thought will be you somehow landed on an episode of The Jetsons. In reality, you’ve actually landed in the hotel of the future. Located in the Zuid-Amstel neighborhood, technology and design-enthusiasts will love the 215 futuristic rooms that feature remote-controlled amenities and mood lighting, censor-automated showers, electronic window blinds and pod-enclosed toilets that open and close with the push of a button. Not surprisingly, free Wi-Fi is offered throughout the building.

Even the common areas reflect the rock n’ roll attitude at Backstage Hotel. Photo: EuroCheapo

2. Backstage Hotel: Sleep like a rock star

Double rooms start at $71 per night

Considered “Amsterdam’s Rock and Roll Hotel,” Backstage Hotel offers guests the chance to be a rock star for their stay. Walking down the halls, you pass vintage posters and modern cover art, while the lobby showcases a grand piano and a chalkboard talking up the city’s current shows. Snare drums and saxophones adorn the bar walls and Guitar Hero is always ready to go.

Black-and-white rooms feature high-wattage vanity mirrors, sexy artwork, drum light fixtures and even a spotlight on the bed to help you feel even more like a VIP. If you’d like to go out and paint the town red, the hotel is located near Leidseplein close to an array of music venues.

Get ready for wacky and wild rooms with artistic flair at St. Christopher’s at the Winston. Photo: EuroCheapo

3. St. Christopher’s at the Winston: Sleep with art

Double rooms start at around $110 per night

For those who want an accommodation that’s also an attraction, St. Christopher’s at the Winston is like staying at an interactive contemporary art gallery where you sleep inside the installations. Located in Amsterdam’s Red Light District, the property was the first in the Netherlands to offer an art-focused hotel, with each of the seven floors and its rooms offering a different creative theme.

Some fun rooms you may want to request include the Heineken Room, with a green-bottle theme, the Tranquility Room with black and white photographs and the Ultraviolet Room with neon works. And, don’t think this hotel is afraid to push the limits. Some rooms contain paraphernalia like kinky dominatrix photos of women.

Futuristic rooms add a come with high-tech perks for a low price. Photo: Courtesy of hotel

4. Qbic Hotel Amsterdam: Sleep in a cube

Double rooms start at $107 per night

Located south of Amsterdam’s center in the city’s financial district (and near RAI convention center and Schiphol airport), the Qbic Hotel Amsterdam offers an interesting budget accommodation option for those willing to make the hike out here. Along with modern amenities like Wi-Fi, cable TV, a restaurant, air conditioning, a restaurant and bar/lounge, this quirky hotel offers guests the chance to stay in a “cubi.” These futuristic cube-shaped rooms resemble Japan’s cubicle hotels, but with more space.

Room features include an extra-long Hastens bed, LCD TV, creative work-and-dine sets and, the best part, the options to create your own atmosphere with changeable lighting and glow, like a mellow yellow, techno-trance purple, cool blue or sexy red. The lobby also fits into the futuristic theme, with a touch screen digital kiosk acting as your local tour guide.

More hotels in Amsterdam

For many more interesting accommodation options, visit our guide to read reviews of our favorite cheap hotels in Amsterdam, all visited and inspected by EuroCheapo’s editors.

The post Amsterdam: 5 budget hotels that offer a unique sleep appeared first on EuroCheapo's Budget Travel Blog.

We’re here to help, with 14 things that you should understand before booking your hotel.

A quick intro

First, a few words to introduce myself. I created EuroCheapo back in 2001 to be a straightforward guide to the best budget hotels in Europe’s most expensive cities. We launched our first Amsterdam hotel recommendations that same year, and have been busy updating our recommendations every year since then.

In fact, just six weeks ago I was back in Amsterdam revisiting, reinspecting and re-photographing all of the recommended hotels in our Amsterdam guide.

I thought I’d pull together an overview of what you should expect from a hotel, and what you should know before you book. Enjoy, and please post any questions to me in the comments section at the bottom of the page!

Amsterdam hotel advice: Read this before you book your hotel

It simply doesn’t take that long to crisscross this city of canal rings. All photos by Tom Meyers

1. Amsterdam is small.

Let’s start with the basics. Compared to other cities that we cover, Amsterdam is geographically teeny-tiny. You can walk from top (Centraal Station) to “bottom” (well, of the tourist zone, basically in the middle of the Vondelpark) in about 45 minutes. This swath of town covers almost everything that most travelers visit in Amsterdam. Compare that to London, Rome or (egad!) Berlin, and you’ll see why I call it teeny-tiny.

In terms of choosing a hotel, this means that really, almost every hotel in the city is “central”, will be easy to get to, and will give you easy access to the big sights. During my last stay, I arrived at Centraal Station during the city’s marathon, and the event had stopped all the trams in their tracks. My hotel was down near the Rijksmuseum, which seemed like across town, but was really just a 45-minute walk (even though I kind of bellyached about it in this post — it was raining, after all).

2. Think twice before staying in the bulls-eye of the center.

When traveling around Europe, I tend to choose hotels that are as centrally located as possible. For example, in Paris, I like to be in the western part of the Marais or near the Louvre. However, in Amsterdam, the absolute center of the city is Dam Square, an often chaotic spot surrounded by department stores, government buildings and tram stops. Nearby, the Red Light District is also about as “central” as it gets, but its streets, packed with bars, sex shops, and roving stag parties, are not a great fit for most tourists.

Instead, I’d recommend opting for something a bit farther out (yet still very easy to get to). It will be quieter and might have that canal view you’re dreaming of. Unless, of course, you’re part of a roving stag party!

The Hotel Rembrandt Square will be fine for those who don’t mind sleeping above the “Coffeeshop Smokey.”

3. Watch out for hotels around nightlife.

In addition to the nightlife options lining the raucous, neon-lit streets of the Red Light District, more mainstream bars and clubs cluster around a couple of squares, including the Leidseplein and the Rembrandtplein. If you plan to head out for some drinks or to see a show, chances are you’ll end up at (or at least pass through) one of these two squares.

Hotels cluster around both of these squares as well, especially on, and above, the Rembrandtplein (like the Hotel Rembrandt Square, above). Unless your hotel has excellent soundproofing, budget hotels on these squares will be ideal only for travelers who plan to stay out late, can fall asleep to a thumping beat, or have great earplugs. Travelers looking for a quiet night’s sleep should look elsewhere — at least a few blocks away.

Sleeping near the Vondelpark (above) still puts you within easy walking distance of nearly everything.

4. Okay, so which neighborhoods do I recommend?

In terms of my favorite neighborhoods in Amsterdam for sleeping, I quite like the western and southern canal rings (referred to in our guide as Grachtengordel West and Grachtengordel South), which are still very much in the thick of things, but offer a bit more serenity, along with some charming canal-side rooms. The “west” neighborhood puts you very near the Anne Frank house and Westerkerk, while the “south” is closer (but not too close) to the museums, Leidseplein and nightlife (around Rembrandtplein).

Now, romantics will swoon for the Jordaan, a more residential neighborhood farther west of Grachtengordel West, today home to lots of great small restaurants and bars. Another quiet option is the more studious Vondelpark and Museumplein neighborhoods. I spent several nights here on the last trip (at the Cheapo-friendly Museumzicht), and found it very convenient for dropping into the Rijksmuseum and attending a concert at the Concertgebouw.

Finally, there’s the Pijp, a neighborhood that was once largely home to the city’s immigrant population, but is now also home to some of the city’s trendiest bars and restaurants. I also spent a couple of nights here (at the Bicycle Hotel), and quite enjoyed the more varied dining options, and the quieter, more residential vibe of the neighborhood.

Watch your step! The daunting (but not unusual) stairs at the Hotel Museumzicht.

5. Get ready to climb some stairs!

Most of Amsterdam’s central and small hotels are located in centuries-old canal houses that are protected by zoning laws, thus making it very difficult (if not impossible) for the hotel owners to add an elevator. A majority of the hotels we recommend in our guide do not have an elevator. It isn’t that they don’t want to add an elevator, it’s just that, in many cases, they can’t add one to the building.

But wait, it gets better! Many of the stairs are shockingly steep. We’re talking about open-the-front-door, laugh-out-loud, you-gotta-be-kiddin’-me, steep. It’s not (technically) a ladder. It’s a staircase — there’s a railing.

There is some help to be had: Some hotels have devised ingenious rope-and-pulley systems to hoist your luggage up the stairs (see photo below, at the Hotel Prinsenhof). Others will help carry your bags up for you. However, they won’t carry you up. If you don’t feel that you’re up for the climb of your life, book a hotel with an elevator.

The Hotel Prinsenhof utilizes an old fashioned hook and pulley system to hoist up luggage.

6. Need an elevator?

Hotels that are situated in newer structures are much more likely to have an elevator. And by “newer,” I mean something built after the advent of “talkies”. Your best bet for finding an affordable hotel with an elevator is to head a bit outside the most central neighborhoods, as the buildings will be newer. Try the hotels around the Vondelpark.

7. Hotel rates can be unpredictable.

You might have noticed that hotel rates can be all over the place in Amsterdam. One week it’s €79 a night, and the next it’s €129. That’s because most hotels now use dynamic pricing, which causes rates to swing all over the place depending on their own availability. (This is the case all over Europe, not just in Amsterdam. You can read my entire post on this subject here.)

Interestingly, Amsterdam currently has too many hotel rooms on its hands, which has led to very low rates in the low season (October – March, excluding holidays). How did this come about? Shortly before the 2008 recession, the city permitted the construction of thousands of additional hotel rooms in order to meet the increased demand that the city was experiencing at the time. These new (and expanded) hotels have since opened, but the global recession that followed has caused a slowing of demand.

This all adds up to…

8. Hotel rates fall big time during the low season

Thus, during the slower “off-season” months, three-, four- and five-star hotels slash their rates to fill their rooms, making for some great deals. This has also made life hard for smaller budget hotels, some of which have closed or just shutter for the winter months.

But bargain travelers looking for hotel deals should be pleased with their choices in these slow months: October, November, December (excluding holidays), January, February, and March. However…

9. Hotels try to make it up during the high season

On the flip side, during the high season (late April – late September, plus holidays and special events), those same hotels inflate their rates substantially in order to make up for those cheapo winter months. And I’m not just talking about typical old “high season” rates. Because of the slashed low season prices, hotels have to make up lost revenues like never before — which they do during the summer. Even hostels are in this game, charging rates for dorms that can make a Cheapo shudder.

Note that by “high season” we mean the late spring, summer and early autumn months. However, this also includes major holidays and special events. This includes music and theater festivals, gay pride, the city’s marathon, and business conferences. Dates change every year, so it’s best to check the list on the city’s tourism site.

Boarding an Intercity train at Centraal Station is a snap.

10. Priced out of Amsterdam? Options abound in nearby towns.

So what can you do if you wind up visiting Amsterdam in the heat of the high season or during a business conference that has packed every hotel in town? Consider sleeping in a number of nearby (and also very charming) cities. The train system in the Netherlands is so efficient that you can easily sleep in a half dozen nearby cities and still be in Amsterdam’s Centraal Station in under an hour. Yes, you become a commuter, but it’s a snap.

Cities to consider include: Haarlem (15 minutes by train west of Amsterdam), Utrecht (30 minutes southeast of Amsterdam), Rotterdam (45 minutes south of Amsterdam), even the Hague (48 minutes southwest of Amsterdam).

During a recent trip, I didn’t realize until booking my hotel that I was visiting during the marathon. That meant that every hotel was packed, wiping out every affordable option. Instead, I opted for a charming and much less expensive hotel in Utrecht for my first two nights. It was great to get to know another city, and the commute to Amsterdam every morning was a breeze.

A friendly reminder not to smoke (with closed windows) from the Hotel Abba.

11. Most hotels are non-smoking.

Amsterdam might be a city popular with smokers the world ’round, but most hotels in the city are smoke-free. There are a few hotels that allow you to puff away, but these are usually places that have a dedicated patio, deck or room for smoking. If you’re booking a “normal” two-, three-, or four-star hotel, you won’t be able to smoke in your room.

To drive the message home to visitors who might be excited to light up in their rooms, many hotels post notices in the hallways reminding guests that, not only will they be charged extra if they smoke, but that the fire department will automatically be called! (Our favorite sign, in the Hotel Abba’s hallway, simply encourages guests to open their windows if they really must smoke!)

12. Air conditioning is not needed.

Most one-, two- and even many three-star hotels do not have air conditioning. It simply doesn’t get hot enough in the summer to require it. More upscale three-star hotels and almost all four-star hotels will offer it, however.

In my experience, it really only comes in handy in Amsterdam if the room is stuffy (for some weird reason) or if I’m trying to drown out other noises inside or outside the hotel.

The lovely breakfast room at the Hotel Museumzicht overlooks the Rijksmuseum.

13. What’s for breakfast?

Most hotel rates in Amsterdam include breakfast. A typical Dutch breakfast will include coffee/tea, juice, bread, sliced cheeses and meats (usually ham), and maybe yogurt. It’s a nice start to the day, but don’t come expecting scrambled eggs and bacon.

Ironically, more expensive three- and four-star hotels are more likely to charge you for breakfast (although those breakfast buffets are also more likely to be more extravagant). Always check if the breakfast is included when booking your hotel.

The city is famous for its pancake houses too, of course. (Here are some of our favorites.) While they make a fine hotel breakfast alternative, they’re not just for breakfast in Amsterdam.

14. Prepare your budget for new fees.

Starting in January 2020, Amsterdam will be adding a €3 fee per person per day for all travelers visiting the city. This is in addition to the 7% tax on all accommodations. The city has been debating new taxes on tourists in recent years, but this is the final proposal and will place Amsterdam in a whole new category by itself — no other city in Europe has a percentage tax AND flat fee. Stay tuned to see if this affects the number of visitors to Amsterdam. Somehow we doubt it.

15. You don’t need to join the party.

Finally, let’s talk about the other guests you might encounter, shall we? Amsterdam is obviously a popular destination for merrymakers from across the globe. These include “hen” and “stag” (bachelorette and bachelor) parties, study abroad students, I-can’t-believe-I’m-turning-30/40/50 binges, etc. If you fit into one of these categories, great — you have nothing to worry about (because you’ll be sleeping just fine).

However, that group is only a part of the city’s tourist population and a minority at that. If, like me, you value a quiet night’s sleep, consider choosing a hotel outside of the Old Center and Red Light District. In our reviews, we’ve tried hard to sniff out whether or not a hotel attracts a “party crowd”. However, pay attention to the user reviews, and take special note of complaints about noise, thin walls, and loud neighbors.

Yes, it’s easy to find a “party hotel” in Amsterdam. But it’s just as easy to find a nice, affordable and quiet place to call home.

More hotel information

• To read more, please check out our list of recommended budget hotels in Amsterdam.

• Also, click here to read more blog posts about ways to save when visiting Amsterdam.

Your questions about Amsterdam’s hotels

Have a question about sleeping in Amsterdam? Ask away below!

The post Amsterdam Hotel Advice: Read this first appeared first on EuroCheapo's Budget Travel Blog.

As such, it attracts many visitors all searching for affordable places to stay.

We’ve scoured many of the city’s budget hotels over the years, and we are always updating our catalog to find the best options every year. Below you’ll find some of our most recent additions to our list of cheapo-friendly hotels in Amsterdam.

The Student Hotel Amsterdam City

Address: Wibautstraat 129
Rates: from around $130 a night

Although students do frequent this three-star hotel, The Student Hotel Amsterdam City is actually open to everyone, including families and business travelers. The rooms are both modern and playful with sleek furnishings and eccentric knick-knacks and art. Amenities include private bathrooms, free Wi-Fi and air conditioning.

Best of all, shared spaces like a library, gym and cafe are available to guests. Get ready to have some fun during your stay at The Student Hotel Amsterdam City.

Modern is the vibe at Teleport Hotel.

Amsterdam Teleport Hotel

Address: Heathrowstraat 5
Rates: from around $100 a night

You can’t teleport around the city, but you can get a room and a bike at the three-star Amsterdam Teleport Hotel. Rooms feature contemporary furnishings and funky murals. There are also kitchenettes, flat-screen TVs and free Wi-Fi. Some rooms offer views of the river or the sea, so be sure to ask for those when booking.

Out front, bikes are available to rent and include a two-hour guided cycling tour of the city. Grab your room and bike at the Amsterdam Teleport Hotel.

Stay right on the water at ClinkNOORD Hostel.

ClinkNOORD Hostel

Address: Badhuiskade 3
Rates: from around $80 a night

Like all of the other hostels on our site, ClinkNOORD offers both shared and private rooms. Either way, rooms are basic and streamlined but feature interesting and cheery murals. There are plenty of communal areas: lounges, a cafe, a library, a bar and a shared guest kitchen.

The building’s history is intriguing, too; it was once a laboratory in the 1920s, and many of the original features remain. Grab a shared or private room at ClinkNOORD Hostel.

The post Amsterdam: New additions to our budget hotel guide appeared first on EuroCheapo's Budget Travel Blog.

But as such a popular destination, finding a really good deal on your hotel can be tricky.

Sure, you can find rooms for around $100 with no problem. But what if you want to stretch your budget a bit further? Those museums admissions, giant wheels of cheese, and canal cruises can add up fast after all. We’ve uncovered five hotels with high ratings but jaw-droppingly low rates.

Related:
• Amsterdam Hotel Advice: Read this first!
• Top 10 budget hotel picks in Amsterdam
• 5 Unique and cheap sleeps in Amsterdam

Super cheap hotels in Amsterdam

The prices are easy on the wallet at easyHotel. Photo: Booking.com

easyHotel Amsterdam

Economy Twin Rooms from $47
Neighborhood: Pijp

Have you ever flown the UK-based budget carrier easyJet? Then you’ll be ready for this very basic and very cheap hotel experience. The extras will tack on fees (from the Wi-Fi to the TV), but each room does come with a private bathroom and a window overlooking the street or the back courtyard.

You can walk to the trendy restaurants in the Pijp neighborhood  around the corner or the Van Gogh Museum in about 15 minutes. It’s an amazing deal considering rates are frequently available for less than $50 per night! Read the full review.

The rooms are bright, simple, and incredibly affordable at the Abba Hotel. Photo: EuroCheapo

Abba Hotel

Twin Rooms from $48
Neighborhood: Museums & Vondelpark

For a real neighborhood experience at a really low price, this one-star hotel is one of our top picks for a super cheap stay in Amsterdam. The rooms have a comfy, old-fashioned vibe as well as up-to-date perks like free Wi-Fi and TVs. Ask for a room in the back to enjoy a quieter sleep and a tiny balcony.

You can take a stroll or bike ride around beautiful Vondelpark located two blocks away. If you need a snack, just run down to the Albert Heijn grocery store on the ground level. Read the full review.

Hotel Washington is located in a charming 19th-century townhouse. Photo: EuroCheapo

Hotel Washington

Double Rooms from $49
Neighborhood: Museums & Vondelpark

Situated on a leafy block near Museum Square, this two-star hotel has some excellent deals for the location. All accommodations come with a flat-screen TV, safe, and kettle. The cheaper rooms have not been renovated in a while, but they do offer the vintage charms (and scuffs) of an old-world hotel.

With the Rijksmuseum just five minutes away, art lovers will also love the very low prices. Prices spike in the high season (starting in May), but you can still find some good deals depending on availability. Read the full review.

Meet new friends at the old-fashioned bar at The Old Nickel Hotel. Photo: EuroCheapo

The Old Nickel Hotel

Double Rooms from $59
Neighborhood: Red Light District

This family-run one-star hotel has a friendly Amsterdam vibe to it. All rooms come with shared (and clean) bathrooms and showers facilities. Head downstairs to the old-school pub to share a drink with fellow travelers or connect to Wi-Fi. In the morning, you can grab a complimentary egg and bacon breakfast in the same space.

With a location just a three-minute walk to Centraal Station, The Old Nickel makes a good choice for those arriving or leaving by train. Read the full review.

Enjoy a cool, rock n’ roll vibe for a low cover charge at Backstage Hotel. Photo: EuroCheapo

Backstage Hotel

Double Rooms from $67
Neighborhood: Grachtengordel South

For a rockin’ good time that won’t smash your budget, the Backstage Hotel delivers a great show. Popular with touring bands and outfitted with musical-themed touches everywhere you look, you don’t have to be a star to enjoy the low rates. Each room comes equipped with a LCD TV and free Wi-Fi, while the downstairs bar features a piano and a pool table.

The buzzy vibe might not be for everyone, but music fans will be in heaven. We know, it’s only Rock n’ Roll, but we like it! Read the full review.

More Amsterdam hotel advice

Looking for more hotel suggestions for your upcoming trip to Amsterdam? We’ve got them! Check out our guide to budget hotels in Amsterdam.

The post 5 Super cheap hotels in Amsterdam appeared first on EuroCheapo's Budget Travel Blog.

I had studied up on the city’s tram system in advance, and knew that to get from Centraal Station to my hotel, the cute-and-simple Museumzicht next to the Rijksmuseum, I could board either the number 4 or 5 tram at the station and hop off next to the museum. Either of the trams would work just fine, and they both ran on Sunday. But it wasn’t to be.

An unplanned walking tour

Part of the fun of travel are the events, planned and otherwise, that throw off your best planning. On Sunday there wasn’t a 4 or 5 tram to be found at the station. No trams at all, in fact, were running south along my route. It was windy and starting to rain, and the hotel was nearly three kilometers away. Forget about a taxi.

I didn’t have much of a choice but to shrug and literally roll with it, toting my luggage with the masses down Damrak, the tourist-clogged thoroughfare that leads south from the station, getting a wet welcome from the souvenir shops, fry stands and “sex museums” that line the way.

We all rolled on to Dam Square, the heart of the city, which was blinking and twirling on this rainy morning with a fall carnival in front of the palace, its Ferris Wheel and haunted house understandably empty. We continued south along the wide sidewalks of the Rokin. Bikes whizzed past in the rain, and pedestrians dared the unthinkable—walking along the tram lines, which had pretty much fallen silent.

Next time I’ll rent one of these. (Bikes parked at the impressive three-story bike parking garage next to Centraal Station.)

Crowds picked up as I crossed the four canals ringing the center, the Singel (with its flower market), the stately Herengracht, Keizersgracht and Prinsengracht, all lined with beautiful homes and docked houseboats. It was a great way to arrive in the city, even if the wheels on my suitcase were getting cranky.

Finally, at the Stadhouderskade, the busy street lining the Singelgracht canal in front of the Rijksmuseum, a stream of runners from around the world huffed their ways toward the nearby Vondelpark. A crowd of pedestrians watched and cheered on, then crossed the street in a tight pack, flawlessly orchestrated by the police.

I was a bit soggy when I checked into my hotel and hoisted my suitcase up the 67 comically steep steps to my third-floor room. However, it was worth being reminded again that when traveling, all kinds of events can lead to unplanned marathons of your own. Roll with it.

Cruising Utrecht’s canals on Saturday.

A pleasant detour to Utrecht

Of course, I should have known about the marathon. Last month when booking my Amsterdam hotels, I was shocked by the high hotel rates for this past weekend. I was arriving on Friday morning in Amsterdam from New York, but the cheapest decent hotel I could find was more than $300 a night!

There was clearly something happening in the city—so I booked a hotel in Utrecht, a short ride away by train and far cheaper. Thus, I spent Friday and Saturday, the first two days of my trip, getting to know that charming university town, while still able to make daily commutes to Amsterdam to explore.

The view from my balcony at the Hotel Admiraal in Utrecht.

It turned out to be a pretty big money-saver. My room was €95 a night at the art-filled Hotel Admiraal, located in a residential part of town and overlooking a large private garden. The room had a small balcony (along with a Nespresso machine that got a workout).

Granted, €95 is still far from cheap, but it’s much less expensive that what was on offer in Amsterdam, where most remaining hotels were going for more than €250 a night (due to, you guessed it, the marathon). Harlaam would have been an even closer option, but I wanted to find out what a buzzing Dutch university town felt like.

It was cute. I wandered its Saturday morning market, walked the canals, visited the Medieval Domkerk, grabbed a tasty club sandwich at the King Arthur restaurant along the Oude Gracht canal and then hopped on a train to Amsterdam.

Intercity trains from Utrecht to Amsterdam leave every 20 minutes or so, and the journey takes about 25 minutes. At €7.20 each way (plus a €1 fee per ticket), the trips aren’t really cheap, and the country’s “Chipkaart” ticket system is not exactly tourist-friendly (to put it mildly). Just know that: 1) most American swipe-style credit cards won’t work at either the ticket machines or the ticket counter (pay in cash); and 2) you must tap your tickets on the yellow machines in the station to validate them before boarding a train and when leaving (otherwise, well, great shame could fall upon you by a ticket inspector).

The view of the Rijskmuseum from the breakfast room of the Hotel Museumzicht.

Hotel hunting

And thus, yesterday, happily situated in my hotel in Amsterdam’s museum quarter, I started my four-city hotel inspection adventure, one which started with this city’s picturesque canal-side B&Bs, before continuing on to find the best affordable hotels in Munich, Prague and Berlin.

Watch your step! Standing at the top of the stairs at the Museumzicht.

I’m eager to visit and update all of our reviews in these cities, dropping just “ho-hum” hotel listings, while focusing our reviews on the real deals out there. A cheap hotel is easy to find; just do a search and sort by price. However, places that are charming, small, interesting, impeccably kept, central… and affordable? These are a bit trickier to track down.

It’s going to mean a few weeks of climbing steep staircases to reception areas, inspecting bedrooms, snapping photos of bathrooms and trying to read the faces of the guests I pass in the hallways. (Do they seem well rested? Tired? Creeped out by my quizzical stare?)

You can follow along on our Facebook and Instagram pages, where I’m posting photos along the way.

Now, back to hotel inspections. Although this time I might hop on a tram. I hear they’re running!

The post Rolling Along: A Cheapo at Work in Amsterdam appeared first on EuroCheapo's Budget Travel Blog.

Here are some simple ways that you can find your dream accommodation on the Cheapo:

Look beyond the center

Amsterdam is densely populated because the city itself is small, so don’t jump on the first affordable hotel located in the “center”.

The reason: Hotels in any UNESCO district – like Amsterdam’s center – are under strict renovation limits. The 21st-century “bigger is better” mentality doesn’t mesh with 17th-century space.

What can you do? Neighborhoods like Jordaan, De Pijp and Plantage offer settings more peaceful than the Dam and Red Light District. Prices can be cheaper and rooms are likely to be a tad larger in size. Plus there’s a higher chance the hotel has been renovated with a modern touch.

The Museumplein area keeps you close to the cultural hotspots like Van Gogh and Rijksmuseum, while the more adventurous should try man-made islands like houseboats at Westerdok Eiland, Prinseneiland and modern Zeeburg for ideal waterfront living. Night owls should drift towards Leidseplain and Rembrandtplein: Amsterdam’s two entertainment hubs with hotels usually cheaper than the center.

The steep stairs in Amsterdam, such as these at the Hotel Internationaal, might have you feeling a little dizzy

Prepare for (chutes and) ladders

One thing about Dutch architecture that’s unavoidable are steep stairs. The main gripe among Amsterdam visitors is the unexpected, unpleasant exercise of climbing four flights many times a day to get to their guest rooms.

The reason: Notice the hooks that hang above most Dutch buildings. The hook and rope pulley system was (and still is) an Amsterdammer’s moving method. A housing tax based on a building’s width was imposed during the 17th century, hence the steep stairs. Today, buildings can only make minimal renovations. As a result, the ladders (that locals call “stairs”) remain painfully intact.

What can you do? Be ready for unreasonable staircases, knowing that all of Amsterdam’s city dwellers live this way. Travelers with disabilities or heavy luggage should consider rooms on ground levels, or hunt around for hotels with elevators (which are few when on a low budget). Assistance is on standby at most places of course, and some even offer grip bars on the walls when handrails aren’t enough.

Who needs A/C when you can chill outside in cool garden, like this one at the Nadia Hotel?

Losing air (conditioning)

Every hotel in Northern Europe will have heating, but air conditioning is usually unavailable at budget hotels, and even fans can be hard to come by.  To keep rates low, you’ll need to stop thinking of A/C as essential.

The reason: North and Central Europe have problems with cold spells, not heat waves. When heat waves do arrive in areas like Spain, Italy and Greece, fans and nature’s ocean breeze is the remedy. Rationalizing the cost of air conditioning for a one-week summer just doesn’t happen.

What can you do? Amsterdam is humid, and the very few days that temps pass 75 F can be a sweaty experience indoor and outdoor. The best thing to do is pack something light to sleep in, and get out of your hotel early. Head to the beaches, shady parks and comfortable canal side cafes. It’s what the locals do.

Hostels, such as the wonerful St-Christopher’s at the Winston, can be a great budget option for groups.

Hotels or hostels: Tit for tat

Hostels have a reputation for being the deep-budget accommodation option in Europe, but in Amsterdam, this isn’t always necessarily the case.

The reason: During Amsterdam’s high tourist season – summer – Amsterdam’s hostels hike prices as much as budget hotels. In a city with as much to attract youth and budget travelers as Amsterdam, hostels can face quite high demand.

What can you do? So how does a cheapo know to go for a hostel or hotel? If camping isn’t an option, consider your situation. Hostels and hotels can both be very cheap, but they each are better fit to different travelers with different needs.

Here are some things to think about when choosing between a hotel and hostel:

• Food options: If breakfast included in the price, what’s on the menu? If the meal charge is still a good deal compared to what you’d spend otherwise, sneak a little extra for a lunch sandwich or snack.

• Group size: Traveling with a group? Hostels are good at fitting many people into one room. For hotels, make sure it’s not a double turned into a triple (or a triple turned into a quad). Things can get cramped and the room will get stuffy.

• Introvert or extrovert: Hostels in Amsterdam are great for social travelers flying solo, with perks like pool halls, hostel bars (and smoking rooms), hangout areas and internet lounges. Amsterdam hotels carry a more cozy and private experience, and are best for independent travelers with their own agenda.

Hotel suggestions

Now comes the fun part… the hotel hunt! To read unbiased reviews written by our editors, head to our Amsterdam hotel guide. Have a suggestion or a favorite hotel in Amsterdam to share with our readers? Tell us about it in the comments section below!

The post Amsterdam: Simple tips for finding cheap hotels appeared first on EuroCheapo's Budget Travel Blog.

The Nadia is a simple spot (with very small rooms and a lot of steep stairs), but it keeps guests coming back for more. Why? First off, the hotel offers well-equipped rooms near Dam Square from €75 a night. And many of these have great views! Here’s the view from one room:

And then there’s the great service. Each guest is welcomed with orientation and refreshments on arrival (and many report helpful greeters to carry their bags up the stairs), and the friendly staff is always on hand to assist with everything from airport shuttles to bike rentals.

Wouldn’t you like a little help with these stairs?

The ornate breakfast room is, in Audrey’s words, “inspirational.” Rooms, meanwhile, have wood-paneled walls that make them feel a bit like ship cabins, but there are some fabulous canal views to be had, and each room is equipped with the standard amenities (including free Wi-Fi, a TV, safe, mini-fridge, telephone and plentiful shelving) plus a private bathroom.

Here’s a typical bathroom:

Did we mention that many of the rooms have small balconies? Here’s one:

Last, but certainly not least, the Nadia has not just one, but two “house cats.” They hang out in the lobby, welcoming guests and adding a certain purr-fect touch.

Rates start at €75 for a double, a great value for a comfortable room with a view in a super-central location (the Nadia is located within spitting distance of the Anne Frank Huis and Westerkerk).

Bonus? There is a lovely staff-maintained garden in the center of the gorgeous landmarked building. (If you sweet-talk the staff, they’ll likely grant you a tour.)

For more details, read our full review of the Nadia Hotel. Stop by our Amsterdam guide to read more reviews of recommended budget hotels.

The post Amsterdam Hotel Crush: The Nadia Hotel appeared first on EuroCheapo's Budget Travel Blog.

The Museumzicht, which means “museum view” in Dutch, is an old fashioned one-star hotel, offering 14 rooms in a classic Art Nouveau mansion across the street from the Rijks Museum and two blocks from the Vondelpark. Rates start at €65 for a double.

Rooms are rather simply furnished in antique (or simply old) pieces, and decorated “a la grandmother” with floral wallpaper, vintage oil paintings, and some dainty old lamps. As far as amenities go, the list is short (no TV, no telephone), but all rooms have free Wi-Fi access.

Most rooms share (spotless) bathrooms in the hallways, although they are still equipped with their own small sinks.

Many of the bathrooms, meanwhile, sport gorgeous old varicolor ceramic tiling.

Did we mention that many of the rooms have views out to neighboring buildings and gardens, along the (sometimes too busy) tram-lined street, or across the way to the Rijks Museum?

The lounge / breakfast room, meanwhile, is a class act, boasting restored period furniture, a TV, lending library, and plenty of chairs waiting for you to sit and gaze down to the museum sight below.

One downside: As in many hotels in Amsterdam, the stairs are rather steep…

The best part: The rates. The Museumzicht offers doubles, with and without private bath, from €65-115, including breakfast. Is there any question why we have such a crush on the place?

For more details and to see dozens of additional photos, read our full review of the Hotel Museumzicht. (For more hotel picks, see our list of recommended cheap hotels in Amsterdam.)

The post Hotel Museumzicht: Many rooms with a view appeared first on EuroCheapo's Budget Travel Blog.

By Pete Meyers—It’s officially “shoulder season,” Cheapos, and you know what that means: comfortable weather, more tolerable crowds, and most importantly…bargains galore! Best yet, even with fairly little advance planning there are plenty of cheap, last minute deals to be snagged.

But where to go? We decided to tap into our inner-Van Gogh and searched through our Editor’s Picks of hotels in Amsterdam and found deals a-plenty that are available during the month of October. A few of our favorites include:

Rembrandt Square Hotel: Double rooms available for $94 / night

Our take: The Rembrandt Square offers basic, quiet rooms that benefit from a killer location near Rembrandt Square itself—an area that isn’t just in the action, it IS the action. Read full review.

Hotel Bema: Double rooms available for $87 /  night

Our take: Cheapo rates and a prime location are the main attractions of the one-star Bema, located near the Concertgebouw, Van Gogh, and Rijksmuseum. Read full review.

Abba: Double rooms available for $87 / night

Our take: Located within easy walking distance of the Vondelpark, the one-star Abba offers an affordable stay with few perks. Bright rooms, quiet balcony gardens in back, and a great location in a “real” Amsterdam neighborhood are among the reasons to park your luggage here. Read full review.

Hotel Hermitage: Double rooms available for $94 / night

Our take: The newly decorated 2-star Hotel Hermitage, formerly the Luckytravellers Fantasia, lives it up with St. Petersburg-style rooms right on the banks of the Amstel. Read full review.

And if you do decide to go, Cheapos, here are a few tips to consider:

October events and festival guide for Amsterdam: Check out Iamsterdam for the latest news and up to the minute event and festival info.

Restaurant and shopping tips: Spotted by Locals has loads of helpful advice for finding fun and interesting spots for dining, entertainment and many things in between.

Museums and galleries: Be sure to have a look through our articles on our favorite Amsterdam museums and several lesser-known gems to consider.

Happy travels, Cheapos!

The post Last Minute Cheapo: 5 hotels in Amsterdam for under $100 appeared first on EuroCheapo's Budget Travel Blog.