There is nothing Grand about the Grand Hotel Krasnapolsky!
Written: Oct 14 '09 (Updated Oct 15 '09)
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Product Rating:
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Pros: The location couldn't be any better, right on Dam Square.
Cons: The hotel is huge. Some hotel sections are in desperate need of renovations. Too expensive!
The Bottom Line: Don't bother with this outdated property that charges way too much for their rooms!
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| reginafug's Full Review: Nh Grand Hotel Krasnapolsky |
Normally we book our own hotel rooms when we travel, but for a 2008, last-minute business trip to Amsterdam, my husband's employer's Travel department took care of his travel requirements. When I looked up this hotel, I thought, wow, "five-stars, right on Dam Square, this hotel sounds great!" The pictures on their website make it look like one of those hotels stuck in the 70's for their decor, but it did not look completely unpleasant. The building is a historical property, so I thought to myself, what could possibly be wrong with this hotel?
Turns out there is a lot wrong with this hotel, starting with the fact that one side of the hotel has been refurbished (I learned this after we checked out), and the other side is still waiting for renovations (and yes, that's where our room was).
As it frequently happens, hubby and I travel separately, and I checked-in several hours before he did. Having previously visited Amsterdam, I knew exactly where the hotel is located, and since I only had a carry-on suitcase and a backpack, I decided to walk from Centraal Station, which is only about a 12-15 minute, easy walk.
One thing to bear in mind about this hotel is that it is "the largest" conference facility in the Netherlands, accommodating up to 1,600 people, so there's always too many people walking in and out of the hotel! The place is huge with 468 rooms.
Location
The hotel's location is undeniably fabulous, although not as pretty as being on one of the canals. In front of the hotel is Dam Square, giving you access to many attractions, and several restaurants are located only a few steps away.
Check-in
First impressions are everything, and this hotel's lobby failed to impress me. The furniture looks like cheap office furniture, the colors are completely bland and uninspiring, and the carpet looked like it could use a good scrubbing. Several luggage carts had been left around the lobby, giving the room an unkempt appearance.
There were many people in front of me in the queue, and there were three employees checking in the crowd. Mercifully, it took only about 20 minutes to check-in, and our double room was ready, in spite of the fact that I arrived around 1:30 pm. Rooms are available after 2:00 pm, but I was lucky, the desk clerk told me. One electronic key was given to me, and the clerk said the other key was ready for my husband to pick-up (more on this later).
The room
Keeping in mind that the Grand Hotel Krasnapolsky is touted as a 5-star facility, I will be judging them accordingly! Our room had large windows with direct view of the back of several buildings... not particularly an attractive view, but those rooms with views of Dam Square are only the premium rooms. We must have been near a bar that had a live band, because one night we could hear the music pretty well.
Our room was medium size. There was one small armoire in the room, and small it was, because we were unable to store all of our clothes in it. There was one luggage rack right next to the armoire, and the rest of our stuff we had to keep it in the suitcases, on the floor.
The bed or rather the beds, two twins were stuck together to make a king size bed. As far as the bed comfort, the mattresses were way too soft, the pillows were very fluffy, stiff, and rather uncomfortable. The linens were not very nice quality; for a five star hotel, the bed linens are lacking.
The mini-bar is well-stocked, but do not touch it or you'll probably get charged for the lot. I read some negative reviews regarding the mini bar. Best not to touch it! In there room found an electric kettle for coffee and tea making, with the usual choice of regular and decaf instant coffee, sweeteners and two choices of tea bags.
The desk is acceptable and functional, and at least the room had a flat screen TV, with a decent choice of satellite TV and HDTV with a lot of international channels. Overall, the furniture is ugly, and shame on them for not renovating these rooms any sooner!
The nightly rate was an exorbitant € 250 for this shabby room. If we had paid this amount for 3 nights out of our pockets I would have been even very angry!
The bathroom
Oh, no! Can you say "institutional" décor? The tiles are all white, the sink and tub are white and a little dated. Okay, so the bathroom is functional, and there is good water pressure, but the water temperature fluctuates too much! Towels are plentiful; however they should probably be replacing them for fluffier towels. Two robes and slippers were provided. Toiletries are acceptable.
Other Room Amenities
In the room, the guest finds: a Safety Deposit Box - Pay TV - Telephone - Air Conditioning - Hairdryer - Alarm Clock - Trouser Press.
The room keys
As mentioned earlier, the Front Desk clerk said a key would be waiting for my husband. When he arrived, they issued a different key, requiring that I go to the Front Desk to obtain a new key. We were locked out of the room twice, for no apparent reason, and we had to make the long walk to the lobby to get new keys. The hotel hallways are super long, so depending where your room is located; you may have to walk quite a distance to get to the lobby!
Breakfast
In 2008, breakfast was €20, and while the food was satisfactory, it was not worth the price. Think twice before taking breakfast in their "Winter Garden Restaurant". While the room is large and Art Deco style, it is always crowded and service is rather perfunctory and rushed. They do have nice options for breakfast, however. We did not eat any other meals in any of their restaurants.
Fitness Center
The "fitness centre" is located in the basement, and it looks so abandoned, so dated, that I took one look at it and said, "I'm going out for a long walk."
Summary
Yes, indeed, the location is superb, and we could walk everywhere as it is right on Dam Square. Due to its location, the guest would always find it easy to locate, and if one gets lost, all one has to ask for is Dam Square!
Our side of the hotel could use some modernization, and when we were in Amsterdam in February 2009, I popped in to see if they had renovated the hotel (and the lobby), and nope, nothing, still the same ugly hotel!
Overall for the price, you get ripped-off, although I think various European hotel booking websites can find you a decent price during certain times of the year. €250 for a shabby room is too much money, and this hotel did not deliver a 5-star experience. For about € 220, one can stay at the beautiful Hotel Pulitzer, which I highly recommend!
My next door neighbor asked me what I thought of this hotel when she was booking her trip to Amsterdam. I recommended instead the Hotel Pulitzer. She thanked me later for steering her away from the Krasnapolsky; apparently she visited some friends there and said the property is definitely not 5-stars! She loved the Hotel Pulitzer.
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My review of Amsterdam
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Thank you for reading!
Recommended:
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