Not an Inter-Continental At All
Written: Sep 24 '03
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Old-world charm, spacious rooms, luxe bathrooms, stunning indoor pool
Cons: Location, concierge, only one restaurant on property
The Bottom Line: This is Amsterdam's most luxurious hotel. If you can deal with the out-of-the-way location, you'll appreciate the old-world charm, beautiful rooms, and ultra-luxe amenities.
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| cjy205's Full Review: Amstel Inter-Continental Amsterdam |
I spent three nights at the Amstel Inter-Continental over New Year's Eve, 2002. This property is one the few truly luxurious Inter-Continentals worldwide.
-Arrival/Lobby-
The Amstel is a small hotel with less than 100 rooms. The entrance is off on a small street, and when we arrived, the doorman kindly took our bags and directed us inside. The lobby was small but grand, with beautiful marble and woodwork. No one was at the individual check-in desks, so we had to ring a bell. But when the receptionist came out, she was very gracious and efficient, and was able to get us our room at 9 in the morning.
-The Room-
The old building ensures rooms with interesting layouts. Our standard room had an attractive entry hallway with a little table. There were two large windows that opened for fresh air, but unfortunately, we did not have a river view. The size of the room was large, with a king size bed, desk, and ottoman chair. The decor was very old-world and luxurious.
-The Bathroom-
Simply awesome! Completely outfitted with marble and Nina Ricci toiletries, the bathroom had the deepest tub I've ever experienced, complete with old-fashioned chrome fixtures and a stand-alone towel rack. The toilet was in a separate cubicle, the marble vanity was large, and the shower stall had the hugest waterfall showerhead.
-Dining-
The restaurant was closed during our visit.
-Pool/Facilities-
On the ground floor, the indoor Roman-style pool was amazing. There were lounge chairs looking out onto the river, along with complimentary fruit, pastries, juice and coffee. There was a hot tub, sauna, steamroom, and fitness center. The staff was extremely friendly, too.
-Service-
In true Dutch fashion, staff members were so warm and sincere. Housekeeping was efficient and never intrusive, and the health club attendants were accommodating. The only complaint was with the concierge. They weren't very friendly, and they didn't seem to know of many restaurants in the city.
-Overall-
The Amstel is a bit out of the way, definitely not in the center of town. But Amsterdam is a small, walkable city, so the location does not present much of a problem. Overall, this property is small, intimate, and very luxurious -- maybe tied with the Hong Kong I-C as the nicest Inter-Continental in the world. Like most chains, I-C often offers great sale rates, making the Amstel a good value for such a world-class hotel.
Recommended:
Yes
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Epinions.com ID:
cjy205
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Location: San Francisco, CA, USA
Reviews written: 5
Trusted by: 0 members
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