Sarphati Hotel

Almost absolutely the worst hostel/​hotel situation of my young life. Booked it 2 weeks before, after realizing my boyfriend and I had waited to long to book a hostel. Because of the holiday weekend the city was booked up and prices were crazy. Chose this one completely based on availability and the fact that it was the only semi affordable option. Booked via hostel bookers and paid a deposit. We arrived really late, around midnight. The guy at the front desk claimed he had no record of our reservation. Ok well that’s not super cool. Showed him my confirmation email, he’s like uh well no record at all but I guess I can give you this two person reservation that’s probably clearly yours but we don’t have under a name like a responsible business would (something like that). Whatevs, give it us. So he asks me to email him my email but oops not possible because neither the free wifi nor the office Internet are working. Everything has to be by hand. Oh yeah and in cash. It’s 1am and we’re exhausted so we agree and head to the room, up several flights of near vertical stairs. I am not kidding, they’re practically ladders. Then there’s the room. First off there’s only one bed actually available, not two. Secondly the sheets were covered in holes and stains, not an exaggeration, super gross. Thirdly this may be an assumption but they seemed like some pretty roach-​friendly diggs. Not doing it. No way. Told the kid at the desk we were leaving and called a cab. Overall it was one of the least professional experiences of my life. The employee didn’t seemed surprised or concerned with the situation, conditions were pretty horrendous. Avoid this like a roach infested cloud of plague.

I wouldn’t advise anyone to stay here under any circumstances. My friends made a reservation for three people in a private room for two nights, upon checking in we found the room to not be up to a standard most people expect, even from hostels. There was a hair in the bathroom and also on the bed as well as the bedding had clearly not been changed and they’re was some dried loogie or something. They do not clean this place, after politely letting the guy at the front desk know and asking to swap rooms he allowed us to look in three alternate rooms which were also not clean. One had the wall falling apart, another obviously unclean, and the final one was unclean and also may have most, or at least that’s what I suspect from the smell. After then nicely asking for a refund to go elsewhere the guy refused and got irate with me. He admitted that the room was not clean and tried to justify it by saying «well we’re the cheapest hostel in Amsterdam so we have to cut corners somewhere,» that’s not okay. He angrily yelled at us and would not refund us despite having been in the room for only two minutes. We did end up just losing the money and going elsewhere because even after having paid for it, it was better to lose the money than have to stay there. Trust me there is so much else I could say about this place but short version is DO NOT STAY HERE BY ANY MEANS.

It was cheap, and convenient. For $ 20 a night, I don’t think I can complain too much, but even for $ 20 a night I expect a little bit more security (no storage lockers of any kind) and cleanliness (visible dirt in bathrooms and on floors). The location was fantastic, however, and the free internet was a life-​saver. I probably wouldn’t stay here again, given the option, but it made for some good stories and none of my stuff was stolen and I didn’t die staying there by myself, a solo female traveler. So, meh.