The most important thing to me whenever I travel, besides the destination, is what hotel or resort to choose. When my son and I were planning our trip last year, we wanted to figure out where to stay in Amsterdam that would give us the best experience, especially since it was the first time visiting there for both of us.
Fortunately we both couldn’t have been happier with our hotel choice. From the location to the service, unique rooms, dining options and atmosphere, I want to tell you for the first time in Amsterdam where to stay, even if you are traveling with your teen like I did.
What is the Best Neighborhood to stay in Amsterdam?
With a variety of areas to stay in Amsterdam (Jordaan, Nine Streets District, Red Light District and more) how do you decide which one to pick.
Since I wanted a central location that would be easy for my teen and I to get around, whether we were walking, taking a boat through the canals or biking, I choose City Center.
City Center is where Centraal Station, Dam Square, and the historical Canal Belt (canal boat tours) are. You can easily take a train from right from Amsterdam’s Schiphol Airport to Centraal Station for about $7.00(USD).
Where Should I Stay in Amsterdam For The First Time?
The Kimpton DeWitt Hotel, which is only a 5 minute walk from Centraal Station, is my top recommendation, whether its your first time visiting or not, for many reasons.
Location
What first drew me to this hotel when planning our trip was its location. Everything I read about the Kimpton DeWitt Hotel said it was centrally located to so many great places in Amsterdam, such as the Anne Frank House and Van Gogh Museum. There are also so many free things to do when visiting Europe.
Once my son and I arrived at Amsterdam’s airport and then took a 15 minute train ride to Centraal Station, we saw just how true that was.
The Kimpton DeWitt Hotel is across from Amsterdam’s largest transport hub, and only about a 5 minute walk. As you stroll along the cobblestone streets you will walk through Amsterdam’s City Centre, which is filled with boutiques, cafes, restaurants, canals, historic buildings (like the Royal Palace), and more.
After we checked in and dropped our bags off we decided to go out for a walk to get some dinner. The concierge told us about a bunch of great restaurants right on the same street as the hotel, but we decided to venture out to the square a few blocks away.
The Kimpton DeWitt Hotel also lets you borrow their designer bicycles for free if you want to explore the city in a fun way.
Hotel
The minute we spied the pink neon “and breathe” sign against a beautiful backdrop of plants I knew it was the Kimpton DeWitt Hotel. As soon as you enter the hotel there are glasses alongside a large jar of lemon and mint infused water to welcome you.
Check in was a breeze, especially if you are already an IHG Member (you can sign up here for free if you’re not), and the staff was very kind and courteous.
The concierge was extremely helpful with giving directions and recommendations. I appreciated that he even took care of making dinner reservations for us at a delicious Italian restaurant near the hotel.
We explored the hotel, which is very modern in its decor and offers lots of unique and cozy seating areas.
One of my favorite spaces within the hotel is the beautiful inner garden, which has some fun wicker hanging chairs that swing from the ceiling. My son and I had a fun time hanging out in this relaxing and casual area.
A unique thing that most Kimpton hotels I have stayed at in the past provide, and Kimpton DeWitt Amsterdam is no exception, is a free wine happy hour each evening. This is such a nice touch which often sets Kimpton apart from other hotels.
Accommodations
Even though I already looked at pictures of the rooms online, nothing compared to when my son and I actually stepped foot into our deluxe twin room at the Kimpton DeWitt Hotel (check out the video above to see the whole room).
The room was nicely sized, spotless and modern, with the perfect touches of decorative accents and artwork. We both jokingly argued over who got to sit in the accent chair next to the window which overlooked a picturesque garden area.
I was excited to see the large deep bathtub and rainfall shower (which I may have to install one of these in my home now).
Kimpton is known for providing awesome amenities to their guests, so I was happy to see a Gaiam yoga mat, Marie-Stella-Maris natural body and skin care amenities, Frette robes, Tube Audio Bluetooth speakers by LEFF Amsterdam, and Nespresso machines all in our room.
After only our first night there I knew I wasn’t going to want to leave, mostly due to the comfy beds complete with plush duvet covers and pillows.
Food
Now I know there are incredible places to eat all over the city, but another reason why Kimpton DeWitt Hotel gets my vote for where to stay in Amsterdam is thanks to the dining options.
When booking your stay they offer a package that includes a delicious breakfast buffet each day at Wyers (which I highly recommend). Wyers has American comfort food with a Dutch influence, and they are open for breakfast, lunch, dinner and brunch.
There is a craft cocktail bar called House Bar, which has shareable bites to enjoy while you sip your drink. My son loved that they made him a delicious non-alcoholic Pina colada to go along with my complimentary cocktail.
One place at the Kimpton DeWitt you must not forget to check out is Miss Louisa’s coffee & fresh beignets. Think of it as a daytime speakeasy coffee bar.
Have you ever visited Amsterdam?
If you have yet to travel here, please put it toward the top of your travel bucket list. There is so much to see, explore and learn from throughout this beautiful European city.
Hopefully, since now you know where to stay in Amsterdam for the best experience, to make planning your trip here a little easier.
Here are a few other travel related posts (in case travel has ruined you just like me):
- How To Travel To Paris on a Budget
- Sanctuary on Camelback Resort Has This Unique Luxury Amenity
- 15 International Travel Essentials You Need To Know About
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