In the heart of town, there is no other hotel like Radisson Blu Amsterdam City Center. The layout of its interior, which features a skylighted atrium and the pairing of two historic buildings via an underground pathway, makes this unique in town. The Dutch capital has a lot of hotels, and staying in the city center can be pricey. Radisson Blu Amsterdam has found a way to combine a delightful location with modern amenities that does not break the bank. Here are our five favorite reasons for staying at this pleasant Amsterdam hotel.
The location
I loved how easy it was to walk everywhere within the city center from here. Amsterdam is a cinch to navigate (once you get the hang of its ring-shaped design). Wanting to test how hard it would be to get from the airport on public transportation, I took the train to the closest metro transfer point and rode four stops underground to reach the hotel. It was a two-minute walk from the underground station. That was a much cheaper option than taking a 50-euro Uber ride (common from central Amsterdam) to Schiphol Airport.
You should also know that hotels on the canals themselves can be expensive, but rooms here are often half that of some of the other familiar names in town like W, Kimpton and Renaissance (most of which don’t have a direct canal view).
The design
You’ll feel like you are stepping into a ship here. The main atrium lobby is a light-filled space with nautical accents aplenty. Several, free-standing desks handle reception formalities. I appreciated the hospitality corner that had apples, still and sparkling water, and the famous Dutch Wilhelmina peppermints for the taking.
What is interesting about the hotel layout is that it consists of two buildings that are actually across the street from each other. But, there is only one entrance. So to get to the other building, you have to take an elevator or stairway down a floor and cross under a hotel-made hallway to reach the other building.
Back to the main building for a minute. It has two restaurants (one of which is the bright, street-facing buffet breakfast room) while the other is a dramatic, elevated lounge and bar that serves meals and drinks. It looks like something out of a movie set with traditional Dutch design and loads of character, attracting locals and other tourists to enjoy a drink.
The rooms
Comfortable and clever in their design, they are bright and spacious. They vary depending on the building with some offering interior atrium views and others looking to narrow alleyways. The premium rooms and suites have excellent canal views that are simply out of a story book.
Given the wider canal here, you have a better vantage point from which to take in the view making this somewhat of a hidden secret in Amsterdam.
The brand’s signature goji berry-infused toiletries are in the bright bathrooms with heated mirrors. I also appreciated free boxed water in the minibar and speedy Wi-Fi.
I really liked the cute desk lamps that had bases designed like traditional Dutch houses (although suites tend to have more modern pieces like the Amsterdam Suite in the above photo) plus a bevy of other power and USB outlets. Full-length mirrors, spacious wardrobes and strong air conditioning were all in place. It is clear that great attention to detail was put into the overall design and layout of the guest rooms.
Premium Canal View rooms are the way to go here, but there is also a large number of suites. They start as Junior Suites, but rise in expanse to specialty accommodations like the Mezzanine Suite with its own terrace and sauna in the bathroom.
The amenities
Access to an all-hours fitness center with modern equipment, some of which are equipped with their own TVs and a sauna. It was nice to also find fresh fruit and chilled water there.
Business travelers are well-attended to here thanks to ample meeting space that is one level below the lobby. There is also a reception space that sits above reception beneath the bright skylight. It’s a great spot for co-working or holding a reception event.
Many hotels in the center of Amsterdam lack this type of function space, but Radisson Blu leans into its design. There are even group challenge courses for team building as well as meeting rooms with natural light.
The loyalty program
Radisson Rewards is a fast-growing loyalty program that is courting new members with great promotions. I have been part of the program for just over two years and have been pleasantly surprised with just how generous it is and how easy it is to reach status.
From airport-centric Park Inns to city-center Radisson Blus or luxury-focused Radisson Collection hotels, the quality level is high. As a VIP member (its highest elite tier), you receive free breakfast for each morning of your stay and room upgrades. I have gotten some nice suites, especially at some of my favorite properties like the contemporary Radisson RED in Madrid and waterfront Radisson Collection Hotel Waterfront Cape Town.
Members can earn or redeem their points for a free stay. Earning points comes from staying at more than 1,100 Radisson Rewards-participating properties, shopping online, renting a car, food and beverage spend at Radisson family hotels, booking a meeting and buying duty free products in airports.
