Amsterdam Arena Boulevard Hotel: Unbeatable Deals!
Amsterdam Arena Boulevard Hotel: Unbeatable Deals! - A Messy, Honest, Rambling Review
Alright, buckle up buttercups, because we're diving deep into the Amsterdam Arena Boulevard Hotel and… well, let's just say my experience was a rollercoaster. Forget those perfectly polished reviews; this is the real deal, warts and all. And trust me, there were some warts. But also… diamonds? Let's see. SEO-friendly, yeah, sure, let's sprinkle some keywords like "Amsterdam hotel," "Arena Boulevard," "accessible hotel," "free Wi-Fi," and "spa" throughout. Now, let's get messy.
First Impressions & Accessibility – Hold Your Horses!
Okay, so getting there? Amsterdam's a beautiful city, but the roads… Let's just say I am not a fan of cobblestone or bicycles. But the hotel itself, from the outside, looks modern and sleek. Big plus right away. Accessibility? This is where things get…complicated. Wheelchair accessible? Check. Elevator? Check. Public areas, even the restaurants? Seemed pretty good. BUT, and it's a big but, some of the pathways to the entrance were a bit… rough. Definitely not a smooth ride for anyone with mobility issues. They tried, bless 'em, but perfection, it ain't.
On-site Accessible Restaurants/Lounges: Did I actually use these? No comment. I'm a messy eater, and the thought of people watching me try to gracefully navigate a salad while holding a conversation with my… invisible friend… well, it just wasn't happening. But! They were there, and from what I saw, they looked inviting and at least looked like they made an effort.
Internet – Bless the Internet Gods!
Free Wi-Fi in all rooms?! HELL YES. Crucial. Absolutely bloody crucial. Internet access [LAN]? Didn't touch it. Wireless all the way, baby. Internet services? Looked decent. Speed was okay, not lightning-fast, but enough for me to binge-watch cat videos and pretend to work. My inner child was pleased. Free Wi-Fi in public areas too! That’s a huge win.
Now, a little anecdote: On my first night, I couldn't connect. I swear I yelled at the router. Then, like magic, the Wi-Fi popped up. Moral of the story: Sometimes, you just have to shout at technology. Works every time. (Not really.) But whatever, I was connected. Glorious, glorious connection.
Things to Do & Ways to Relax – Spa-tacular (Maybe?)
Okay, the "relax" options. Here's where the hotel started to seriously shine. Swimming pool [outdoor]? Didn't see it. Swimming pool? Yes! Sauna? Yep. Spa? Oh, yeah, the spa! I'm not a spa person, really, but I tried out the Body wrap because… well, why not? It was… interesting. Let's just say I’m not sure if I actually felt better, but I definitely felt… wrapped? The Massage looked tempting. Gym/fitness? I peered in. Looked decent, but I mostly used it as an excuse to eat more stroopwafels. Fitness center? See above.
The Pool with view? Now that's where it's at. I didn't actually swim, I just sat and admired it. Pure bliss. Spa/sauna? They're connected! I peeked in. Looked hot. (Not for me.)
Cleanliness & Safety – They Tried! (Mostly)
Anti-viral cleaning products? They said so. Daily disinfection in common areas? Seemed like it. Hygiene certification? Probably. I didn't go around sniffing surfaces. Staff trained in safety protocol? Again, they said so. They all had their masks on which was definitely a little weird.
Room sanitization opt-out available? That's a good touch. Rooms sanitized between stays? Fingers crossed! Hand sanitizer? Everywhere. Cashless payment service? Modern! Honestly? They seemed to have done everything they could. Felt relatively safe, all things considered, even if I still clutched my own bottle of sanitizer like a security blanket.
Dining, Drinking, and Snacking – Food, Glorious Food! (Mostly Buffet)
The restaurant situation was… well, it was a buffet. And I, my friends, am a buffet finatic. Breakfast [buffet]? The star of the show. Buffet in restaurant? Yep, you betcha! Breakfast service? Absolutely! I can't resist a buffet…
Here’s my brutally honest assessment of the buffet: The fruit was fresh. The pastries were… tempting. The hot food was… hot. I could get behind the baked beans. A la carte in restaurant? I didn't even look in that area. Asian breakfast? Don't care! Western breakfast? YES!
Room service [24-hour]? Okay, this is key. After a long day of… well, existing… sometimes you just need fries and a movie. The fries? Decent. The movie selection? Standard hotel fare. But accessible, and satisfying.
Services and Conveniences – A Mixed Bag
Concierge? Friendly and helpful. Daily housekeeping? My room looked spotless, so yeah, they were doing their job. Laundry service? Didn’t use it. Dry cleaning? Nope. Food delivery? Tempted.
Air conditioning in public area? Much appreciated. Elevator? Essential. Safety deposit boxes? Always a good idea. Luggage storage? Useful.
The little things…
Alarm clock? Yep. Complimentary tea? Good touch. Hair dryer? Essential. Free bottled water? Always a plus! Ironing facilities? I'm on vacation. I don't iron.
For the Kids – (I Didn't Bring Any, But…)
Babysitting service? There if you need it. Family/child friendly? Seemed like it. Kids meal? Probably. My experience was child-free.
Getting Around – Easy Peasy!
Airport transfer? Definitely bookable. Car park [free of charge]? YES! Amsterdam car parking is a nightmare. This alone is a huge win. Taxi service? Always available.
The Downside – Because Nothing's Perfect
There were a few minor annoyances. The pillows were a bit…flat. The lighting in the room was a bit harsh and they were not doing anything to make me smile, they looked harsh. The buffet was… well, it was a buffet.
My Verdict – Worth It?
Absolutely! But, it's not perfect. It really comes down to this:
- The Good: Free Wi-Fi, the pool with a view, a decent breakfast buffet, and the accessibility features (even if they’re not perfect). Plus parking.
- The Not-So-Good: Cobblestone paths, so hard pillows.
- The Overall: You’re not going to get the most luxurious hotel experience ever, but for the price? And the location? (So close to that Arena!) This is a solid choice.
My Imperfect, Rambling, Heartfelt Offer for Amsterdam Arena Boulevard Hotel: Unbeatable Deals!
Book NOW and get:
- Unbeatable Deals! Seriously, check the prices. They're actually decent to great!
- Free Wi-Fi – Because Let's Face It, You Need It! Stream all the cat videos your heart desires!
- Breakfast – Load Up on those pastries (and maybe some of the slightly less glorious hot food)!
- A Pool with a View – Lie around, chill, and act like your life is a movie.
- Free Parking - Avoid the Amsterdam parking nightmare!
But Be Warned:
- The paths might be a little bumpy for wheelchairs-- but it’s still accessible.
- My room might be a bit of a rollercoaster, and there's no guarantee your experience will be exactly like mine (but then again, maybe it will!).
Don’t wait! Book your messy, amazing adventure now.
Escape to Paradise: Siyam World Maldives - ALL-INCLUSIVE Luxury Awaits!
Okay, buckle up, buttercup. This ain't your sanitized, perfectly-planned travel guide. This is me trying to survive Amsterdam, and you're coming along for the ride. Specifically, we're crashing (or, you know, "resting our weary heads") at the easyHotel Amsterdam Arena Boulevard. Pray for us.
Amsterdam Arena Boulevard – Operation: Survive & Thrive (Maybe)
Day 1: Arrival & "Dutch Courage" (and Possibly Regret)
- 14:00 - Arrival at Schiphol Airport (AMS): Ugh. Flying. Never again. Okay, maybe again. Gotta love that little "arrival excitement" bubble that quickly bursts when you see the baggage carousel. Pray to the luggage gods your suitcase actually arrives. Mine? Well, we'll get to that…
- 15:00 - Transpo Trauma: Okay, Amsterdam is SUPPOSED to be bike-haven of the world. But those trams? They are a maze! I'm not sure how I've managed to get on the right tram, but I'm also not completely convinced I'M GOING IN the right direction.
- 16:00 - Check-in at easyHotel Amsterdam Arena Boulevard: Okay, the room. It's… compact. Like, I could probably touch all four walls simultaneously. But hey, it's clean-ish? And the price? Appealing. Mostly. The "en-suite" bathroom is slightly bigger than a phone booth, but whatever. We soldier on!
- 17:00 - The Pre-Dinner Promenade (and Initial Panic): First impressions of the neighborhood. It's… functional. There's a massive football stadium (soccer to you Americans, which I am). Lots of corporate-looking buildings. A faint whiff of… is that fries? I think it is. And, oh god, a street musician playing a jaunty little tune on a melodica. Someone is enjoying themselves. My inner critic is already screaming, "RUN AWAY!"
- 18:00 - "Dutch Courage" Acquisition: Time to ease into the evening. I stumble into a local pub, a real "brown café," and order a beer. Just one. It seemed like a good idea at the time. I’m pretty sure, the next thing I knew, I was telling the bartender my entire life story. Including the time I nearly set the kitchen on fire making toast.
- 20:00 - Dinner Disaster Avoided: Surprisingly, I managed to make it to dinner at a nearby restaurant (I can't pronounce the name). Sat in my booth staring intently at my plate of fries. I felt utterly alone.
- 21:00 - Evening Stroll (and Stumbling Back to the Hotel): A leisurely stroll, I thought. More like a sideways wobble. Apparently, that "one beer" turned into several. I was very grateful for the short walk back to the hotel. I swear, I saw the hotel room blinking at me.
Day 2: Culture Shock (and Bag Retrieval - Hopefully!)
- 09:00 - Breakfast (or Lack Thereof): Coffee. Lots of coffee. And maybe a granola bar I smuggled in. The hotel options? Well, let's just say I'm not expecting Michelin stars.
- 10:00 - The Dam Square Debacle: Ah, the famous Dam Square! My first real foray into the city. And… it's BUSY. Absolutely teeming with people. Street performers, pigeons, and a general air of organized chaos. I got so overwhelmed, I ended up buying a ridiculously overpriced souvenir keychain. Regrets? Maybe.
- 11:00 - Canal Cruise Catastrophe (Almost): I'm told a canal cruise is non-negotiable. "DO IT!" they all scream. Well, as I am on the water, I’m pretty sure the boat is sinking. Okay, maybe not sinking sinking, but the audio guide kept cutting out, and the commentary was… well, let's just say informative. I spent the entire time wondering if I should’ve worn waterproof mascara.
- 13:00 - Lunch (or the Quest for Food I Can Identify): "Bitterballen!" everyone raves. "Try the stroopwafels!" Okay, I'm a picky eater, and am currently staring at a plate of unidentified fried things. I stick to fries. Safe bet.
- 14:00 - Museum Madness (or My Inner Child's Tantrum): Okay, I tried to be cultured. I tried to go to the Rijksmuseum. But the crowds! The line! I lasted twenty minutes before my inner child threw a full-blown tantrum. "I want frites!" he shrieked. So, frites it was.
- 16:00 - Baggage Redemption! (fingers crossed): Fingers crossed my suitcase actually made it from the airport. If not, well, I'm pretty sure I can survive a day or two in these clothes. Pray to the gods of luggage!
- 17:00 - Back to Arena Boulevard: Time to collapse. And maybe plan the next day, or at least try to remember which tram to take.
- 19:00 - Dinner and Dreams: Dinner. Maybe try to eat something I could possibly find. Sleep. The most critical activity.
Day 3: Bikes, Breathed Air and Back to Reality
- 09:00 - Breakfast: Another coffee-fuelled start.
- 10:00 - Bike Ride… maybe? I've heard (and been constantly reminded) that Amsterdam is a cycling city. But the sheer number of cyclists is terrifying. And the speed! I've put my helmet on for safety. I've breathed in some, and even took a quick ride. However, I'm not entirely convinced I'll survive.
- 12:00 - Last Meal, Last Chance: Trying to find something I'll actively enjoy. And hopefully remember.
- 14:00 - Departure: Time to head for the airport, exhausted, slightly bewildered, and strangely nostalgic. I'm going to miss those fries. And even that overly friendly bartender.
- 16:00 - Back Home (Hopefully with Luggage): The end. I did survive! I actually managed to enjoy myself. Amsterdam, you crazy, confusing, beautiful place. Until next time… (Maybe).
Amsterdam Arena Boulevard Hotel: Unbeatable Deals (…Maybe?) FAQ – Let's Get Real!
Is this hotel actually *on* the Arena Boulevard? Because Google Maps sometimes lies...
Okay, *listen*. I'm a seasoned traveler, seen some stuff, and yeah, Google Maps (and sometimes hotel descriptions) like to play fast and loose with "near" and "on." But *this* one? Yeah, it’s pretty much *on* the Boulevard. You stumble out the door, and BOOM, there's the chaos – the stores, the restaurants, the pre-game madness if there’s a match. Took me, like, two minutes to get there from the parking garage (pro tip: booking the parking *with* the hotel deal is usually cheaper!), and three the first time 'cause I was still bleary-eyed from the flight. You're good. Unless you have a very specific definition of "on," like, attached at the hip with a welder, which, let's be honest, sounds a bit… intense for a hotel stay.
Those "Unbeatable Deals"… are they *really* unbeatable? Spill the tea!
Alright, here's the deal. "Unbeatable" is a loaded word, right? It depends. Check the price. Honestly, YES, sometimes. I snagged a room for like, practically nothing (okay, maybe not *nothing*, but a ridiculously good price) during a mid-week slump. Then, I went back a week later (big mistake, should've stayed longer the first time), and the price had tripled because there was a huge concert on. Lesson learned: timing is EVERYTHING. Compare, compare, compare! Use those hotel comparison websites religiously. And be flexible with your dates. Those midweek discounts are your friends. Don't expect a diamond-encrusted room for the price of a box of fries, but yes, you can find a deal that makes you do a little happy dance. Just don't let that dance be in front of the front desk, unless you want to be judged.
The breakfast… is it worth the extra euros? Be honest, it's the most important meal.
Ugh, breakfast. See, here’s the thing. I'm a breakfast person, a *serious* breakfast person. I need food. I NEED COFFEE. And the hotel breakfast? Okay. It's...adequate. It's not the stuff of legends, but it's not a disaster either. It has the usual suspects: scrambled eggs (sometimes slightly rubbery, I won't lie), bacon (always a gamble – can be crispy, can be… not), cereal, pastries (the croissants were actually pretty decent, though), fruit, and a coffee machine that… well, it dispenses coffee. Is it the most amazing breakfast you'll ever have? No. Will it fill your stomach and get you going for a day of exploring Amsterdam? Probably. My advice? If you’re a hardcore breakfast fanatic, maybe skip it and head out to a proper cafe. But if you're on a budget and want convenience, it's fine. Just don't expect Michelin star quality.
Okay, but what if I want to *see* Amsterdam, not just the Arena? Is it easy to get around?
YES! Thank heavens! The public transportation is pretty darn good. The train station is, like, practically next door. And from there, *boom*, you're connected to everywhere. Central Station is a quick ride. The trams are easy to figure out. I’m directionally challenged, I'll admit it, and even *I* managed it. Get an OV-chipkaart (they explain it at the station; it makes everything much easier), and just go. Honestly, the train is probably faster than trying to drive and deal with parking in the city center. It's a no-brainer, even if you're lazy like me.
The rooms… tell the truth. Are they tiny shoeboxes, or are they actually livable?
Okay, this is where things get a little… subjective. Some rooms, particularly the "budget" ones, are on the cozier side. Think compact. Think, "careful not to swing your arms too wildly." But they're clean, and they have the essentials. The bed was comfortable, which is honestly, the most important thing when you're exhausted from touring. I ended up in one of those "deluxe" rooms once (because of a booking snafu, which is its own story of hotel adventures), and it was much more spacious. So, it depends on what you book and your budget. But honestly, I'm not the kinda gal that lingers in the hotel room. You're there to sleep, right? Get out there and see things! That's the whole point of the trip, surely?
Is there a gym? Because all that stroopwafel eating…
Yes, there is. I think. I saw the sign. I *intended* to use it. But after being in Amsterdam? Every day was a marathon of walking and cycling and... well, eating. So the gym? It remained a theoretical concept. From what I saw peeking in (yes, I’m that person), it looked… adequate. Basic equipment., nothing fancy. So, you can work off those stroopwafels. Or, you know, just walk an extra mile. Amsterdam makes that really easy, in any case.
Any random, surprising quirks or things I should know before I go? Something I should look out for?
Alright, here comes the real gold. First: *Noise*. Especially if there's a concert or a match. Bring earplugs, just in case. And if you’re a light sleeper, ask for a room away from the road or the stadium. It might not be "unbeatable" in price, but sound sleep is *priceless*. Second: the hotel's a bit of a maze! It’s bigger than you think. Factor that in, especially if you have a trolley and lots of luggage. And lastly, and this is a true story I had: One time, I was getting ready to leave and the key card wasn't working. I was so stressed, I thought I'd be late for my flight! I went down to reception, and they gave me another, and it worked! Don't be me! Check the lock before you pack! But aside that, the stay itself, the location and convenience really made it worth it, even for a disorganized mess like me.
Okay, overall… would you recommend it? Honestly.
Look, it’s not the Ritz. And I wouldn’t recommend it if you're looking for a romantic getaway. But for a practical, affordable place to crash while exploring AmsterdamNomad Hotel Search
