The InterContinental Amstel Amsterdam was chosen as Netherlands’ Leading Business Hotel during the World Travel Awards 2009 ceremony, which took place in Obidos, Portugal, in October. This year’s poll was the highest in the World Travel Awards’ 16-year history, with more than 170,000 industry professionals casting their votes for what they consider to be the [...]
The InterContinental Amstel Amsterdam was chosen as Netherlands’ Leading Business Hotel during the World Travel Awards 2009 ceremony, which took place in Obidos, Portugal, in October. This year’s poll was the highest in the World Travel Awards’ 16-year history, with more than 170,000 industry professionals casting their votes for what they consider to be the very best travel, tourism and hospitality products and services in Europe.
Established in 1993, the World Travel Awards recognize, reward and celebrate excellence in all sectors of the global travel industry. Over the years they have become among the most prestigious awards in the travel industry, referred to by the Wall Street Journal as the travel-industry’s equivalent of the Oscars.
Situated in the city center, just steps away from Town Hall Square and Strøget, the popular pedestrian walking street, Hotel Twentyseven is Copenhagen’s no-nonsense hotel with great rates and lots of included goodies, including: a dinner buffet, with at least two hot dishes, plus salads, cheese tray, bread and dessert a sumptuous buffet-style breakfast specialty [...]
Situated in the city center, just steps away from Town Hall Square and Strøget, the popular pedestrian walking street, Hotel Twentyseven is Copenhagen’s no-nonsense hotel with great rates and lots of included goodies, including:
- a dinner buffet, with at least two hot dishes, plus salads, cheese tray, bread and dessert
- a sumptuous buffet-style breakfast
- specialty coffees, free of charge all day long
- free WiFi and computer terminals for those who don’t have their laptops
- one free refill at the adjacent Icebar next door (the cost of a cocktail is normally DK85, about US$17 at current rates)
Moreever, rates at the four-star TwentySeven are comparable to rates at three-star hotels. Average room double rates at TwentySeven run about DK930 (US$183), a good value when you consider that two of your meals are included.
Opened in 2007, TwentySeven boasts a modern, trendy atmosphere that caters primarily to couples, singles and business travelers. With three bars (and a fourth outdoors during summer), the hotel is not the ideal choice for families.
Rooms are “cozy,” perhaps a bit on the smallish side but stylish, well-designed and definitely adequate. Larger deluxe rooms are available.
Hotel Pulitzer has all the charm of an Amsterdam canal house, yet it offers a luxury, five-star hotel experience. The hotel’s gardens and courtyards provide small sanctuaries from Amsterdam’s bustling street life. One of Hotel Pulitzer’s key selling points, however, is that it is ideally situated in the heart of the old city center for exploring Amsterdam by boat, bike or on foot, and returning to all the trappings of a luxury hotel.
Editor’s Choice: Hotel Pulitzer: Best Luxury Hotel Location
The Facts — Consisting of 25, 17th and 18th-century, canal houses, the 230-room Pulitzer Hotel is a veritable maze. “Better to let someone escort you to your room the first time,” the receptionist suggested after I had checked in.
The bellman navigated a series of hallways, several staircases and a small elevator to get me to room 262. When I suggested that I might need him to fetch me when I was ready to leave, he responded jokingly, “Better to stay in the room, order room service and watch Dutch television.” No doubt, he understood the complexity of finding one’s way around this hotel.
But that complexity is what gives the Pulitzer its charm. Turn a corner, and there’s small courtyard, shaded by trees, a sanctuary here in Amsterdam’s city center. Turn another corner, and you find cozy nooks and bars, a charming restaurant with beautiful windows that frame the bustling Amsterdam street life.
Once you land in Stockholm’s Arlanda Airport, you have several choices to get yourself to the city center and your hotel. You can buy tickets using a credit card from the machines pictured above.
Once you land in Stockholm’s Arlanda Airport, you have several choices to get yourself to the city center and your hotel. You can buy tickets using a credit card from the machines pictured above.
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Editor’s Choice: InterContinental Amstel, Amsterdam’s Grand Dame The Facts — Commanding an awe-inspiring view overlooking the Amstel River, the palatial InterContinental Amstel is Amsterdam’s regally impressive Grande Dame. And as a grand old lady who holds high status and a degree of respect among her peers, the Amstel claims her spot as Amsterdam’s best hotel [...]
Editor’s Choice: InterContinental Amstel, Amsterdam’s Grand Dame
The Facts — Commanding an awe-inspiring view overlooking the Amstel River, the palatial InterContinental Amstel is Amsterdam’s regally impressive Grande Dame. And as a grand old lady who holds high status and a degree of respect among her peers, the Amstel claims her spot as Amsterdam’s best hotel In fact, she boasts many “best” accolades, including her most recent recognition by a UK business magazine as the “Best Luxury Hotel of the Netherlands.”
On my first trip to Stockholm several years ago, I checked in at my hotel, obtained a key card and went happily trotting off to my room. I inserted the key, opened the door and observed, with some surprise, a young woman undressing. She smiled and said, “I’ve been expecting you.” What will Stockholm hotels [...]
On my first trip to Stockholm several years ago, I checked in at my hotel, obtained a key card and went happily trotting off to my room. I inserted the key, opened the door and observed, with some surprise, a young woman undressing.
She smiled and said, “I’ve been expecting you.”
What will Stockholm hotels think of next, I thought to myself.
She pointed to the television screen, where I could see my name, “Welcome to our hotel Mr. Grizzle.”
She explained that she had called reception only minutes earlier to request a late check out. Somewhere the lines of communications got crossed and she and I were double-booked – at least until she could leave. Obviously, this would not work, and so I apologized for barging in on her and returned to the front desk for another room.
I’ve returned to Stockholm many times, and I’ve stayed in a fair number of hotels. Not once since my first visit, however, has my room rate included a beautiful, scantily clad woman, but nonetheless, it never fails to impress me all that is included in a room rate.
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