The Golden Bear

First time in Amsterdam and I booked this hotel based on the price, so I kind of knew what I was getting into — yes it was very cheap.
My room was nice and clean, looked new and modern — there was a TV, table, towels, a sink and a bed — everything I needed.
I liked the neighborhood it was located in, not in the center but still walking distance into town, was nice a quiet.
I can’t say anything negative, friendly staff and the room was okay, but I can’t give it more stars because it’s not worth more and I knew what I was getting into.
The only thing —- I was only introduced to one shared toilet and one bath for 30+ rooms — can be a problem. Plus I had to literally climb the stairs/​ladder up to the second floor to get there.
If ever in Amsterdam again this could be a place I would stay at again, if the price is right, but could find something better.

Premier séjour dans cet hôtel pour nous et nous en sommes plus que ravis. La chambre est grande avec deux lits simples. Une TV que nous n’utiliserons pas et une salle de bain avec un lavabo une douche et un toilette. Eau chaude a tout moment de la journée. La chambre est faite tout les jours et ça se voit. Le personnel est charmant ! Je recommande à tous ! Ici l’hôtellerie reste accessible !
Né pas oublier de dire qu’il est idéalement bien placé !

The hotel is very cramped like most of the hotels in old buildings near the center of Amsterdam. The clerk was very nice and the bathroom looked like it was renovated recently and looked very nice while being very small.
That was about every positive thing I can say about my experience in this hotel. My room was very dirty. A lot of stains on the plaid and on the walls, the floor hasn’t been vacuumed in ages, you could see all kinds of dirt everywhere. The cleaning staff obviously doesn’t do their job very well despite having more chances to try than they should. They came into the room despite me having the sign on the door that instructed them otherwise. So I came to a dirty room with the dirty plaid on the bed again which forced me to touch it once again.
The rooms are poorly soundproofed and in my room all the lamps jingled when someone upstairs moved. I’d strongly recommend to look for another hotel.

Rarely do I give a one-​star review, but I feel like this one merits it.
See, I booked a stay here during my recent visit to Amsterdam. I made a booking through
, after being informed of their amenities both through that website, as well as by verifying independently through the hotel’s own website. However, when I arrived, they simply did not deliver. Of course, I was already made aware that there would be renovation works during the month of May, and I figured that by July, it would have been over. However, based on my recent experience, it seems that the renovations weren’t an upgrade, but rather, a downgrade.
First, let me talk about the most important issue: WiFi. I was in town for business, and so WiFi was rather crucial for me. Their website as well as
advertised them as having free WiFi throughout the hotel, but this was false. The WiFi (when the signal works, at least) is only present and available in the tiny lobby. And since my room was in the back building, I didn’t have any signal at all. Guests sitting down on the chairs crouched on their devices were then a common sight, as everyone needed some Internet connection. This was very frustrating.
Second, let me talk about the house-​keeping. It is sporadic at best. Sometimes they would come in my room during the day and empty my trash can and make my bed, but other times they simply wouldn’t. I stayed there for six nights all in all, and so I had plenty of experience in observing them. Also, my towels were never changed at all during the 6 nights I stayed. Oh, let’s talk about the shared bathrooms which are located in the top floor of the back building. There were towels inside that were accumulating, yet nobody took them away to be cleaned. On Tuesday morning, there was one towel left by someone. On Wednesday, it became two, and yes, on Thursday, there were three. By Friday morning, when I used that shower for the last time, there were three towels piled one on top of another, still waiting to be cleaned.
Third, the pictures they have on their website as well as on
are deceptive. There is no breakfast room; breakfast is offered right at the hotel lobby. Gone are the modern chic décor that the pictures suggest. Instead, what I had was pretty much just a glorified hostel.
Overall, I have nothing good to say about this hotel. Avoid at all costs. I honestly don’t know how last year, they seemed to be a good hotel (as evidenced by a previous review), but this year, it just is a bad experience. Instead of a hotel, what I encountered was a private room of a hostel. That, in itself is not something I mind, as I travel in many different forms and have stayed in fancy hotels as well as dormitory rooms, but at least, be truthful in what you advertise.

From our initial correspondence to our final bag pick-​up before heading to the airport every single person we interacted with was more than accommodating, friendly, and helpful. A really wonderful customer experience, thank you!
Reserving: Their website is clear and contacting them is easy — we used email, skype, and text messaging throughout our time there
Getting there: From the airport, bus 197 takes you within a few blocks and was only € 4 per person (at the time of this review) and about a 45 minute ride. This was the recommended way when we asked the hotel.
Location: Close to everything and right near the 5 tram, which when you walk everywhere it’s nice to hop on occasionally to go back and forth. You can purchase 24 & 48 hour passes at the hotel desk which is good for all of the trams.
Tourist stuff: The hotel does have some discount flyers for some places — ask them!
Free breakfast: Satisfying, good coffee, friendly folks to chat with, free WiFi, what more do you need?
Hotel: Clean & comfy. Yes, the spiral stairs are narrow in width and the stairs are small but everywhere we went that had stairs they were the same — it’s just the way they are in Amsterdam! Hang on and take your time.
Room: Very nice size and comfortable. Plenty of storage for our luggage, a nice size safe, comfortable beds, clean bathroom, free WiFi, and books on the shelf to read at your leisure.
We’ll stay again when we’re in Amsterdam.