Accomodation in Amsterdam? More Expensive than I Thought

Thranrond on 19/02/2024 - 16:54
Last edited 19/02/2024 - 17:58 by 1 other user

I'm planning my first trip to Europe and I want to go to Amsterdam for 5 nights. I will be there on my own for this time. I've been having a look at accomodation and hotels are more expensive than I thought it would be.

I've had a look at different sites booking, expedia, agoda, etc and AirBnb is no cheaper. I was hoping to spend less than $200 AUD a night but places within this budget don't look great. I'd be happy to be in a private room in a hostel but don't want to share a room with others. Preference is to stay in inner city areas.

I've looked into booking a room through Hyatt or Marriott points but that doesn't seem feasible either. In other travels I usually book through ShopBack with added Westpac Bonus.

I'm aware that all of preferences lead to a higher price tag and I'm willing to pay if needed but my question isn't necessarily how to pay the lowest price, but rather if you guys have any tips and tricks on how to get the best discounts for hotels.

Travel Accommodation Amsterdam Europe Netherlands

Comments

  • UnemployedDeveloper on 19/02/2024 - 17:03

    Belgium has always been expensive I'm afraid

    • DashCam AKA Rolts on 19/02/2024 - 17:05
      +4

      Belgium?

      • jv on 19/02/2024 - 17:20
        +4

        They are just taking the pis

    • iminabrons on 20/02/2024 - 12:17

      I don't care too much for Fraids, along with Lerts for that matter.
      Mazings are not bad though.

    • HeWhoKnows on 20/02/2024 - 23:00

      Its not just Belgium
      Its the AUD against the EURO.
      very poor exchange rate atm.

  • DashCam AKA Rolts on 19/02/2024 - 17:06
    +13

    Get one of those window rooms with the red illumination. Could work out cheaper.

    • jv on 19/02/2024 - 17:18
      +6

      Note:

      You don't have to put on the red light
      Those days are over…

      • DashCam AKA Rolts on 19/02/2024 - 17:43
        +2

        The Police often want those red lights off.

        • jv on 19/02/2024 - 17:50
          +3

          Told you once I won't tell you again
          It's a bad way…

    • Lurk Hartog on 20/02/2024 - 07:54

      Cheaper? Should be making a profit.

  • lubos on 19/02/2024 - 17:11
    -6

    Aussies are spoiled by cheap accomodation in Asia, aren't they…

    Accomodation in Europe is more expensive. There is no way around that.

    Why do you think you need 5 nights in Amsterdam? I'd aim for 2-3 nights at most. Most tourists don't stay longer than that. There is not much to do beyond doing a bike tour, maybe food tour, going on a boat to explore the canals and maybe pub crawl one night. Each activity takes a 1-5 hours. Easily all done within 2 days.

    • mskeggs on 19/02/2024 - 17:29

      Lol. You sure can see everything on offer in 2 nights. I reckon if you want to get the whole of Europe done in 30 days you'll need to move a bit quicker.
      Or you could take a little longer and see more than a bike tour and a pub.

    • lgacb08 on 22/02/2024 - 14:34

      And also got to pay $9 for a coffee just to use the toilet.

  • jv on 19/02/2024 - 17:17
    +2

    I want to go to Amsterdam for 5 nights. I will be there on my own for this time.

    😲

    • Thranrond on 20/02/2024 - 10:34

      i dont want to stay in a hostel

      • jv on 20/02/2024 - 10:34

        Why not?

      • ngengerous on 21/02/2024 - 15:18

        It might be worth looking into single rooms in hostels - often they're priced similarly to hotels, but sometimes they're a bit cheaper. It gives you all the privacy of a hotel, but you get the social benefits of a hostel too (especially if you're in your 20s-early 30s).

  • jv on 19/02/2024 - 17:38
    +1

    Don't forget to do the Bikes on Dykes tour…

    • Baysew on 19/02/2024 - 18:22
      +4

      Risky click of the day.

      • jv on 19/02/2024 - 20:49

        I did this tour when I did Contiki..

        Highly recommended.

  • freefall101 on 19/02/2024 - 17:59
    +1

    You could stay out of the city, but then it comes down to money vs time. If you plan on looking around a bit anyway then it's a good way to save $100 a night, if you're just going to be in amsterdam it might not be worth saving that money over half an hour on the train each day.

  • GordonD on 19/02/2024 - 18:05

    Yeah, the Dutch are more than a bit unhappy about the cost of accommodation in Amsterdam too. For themselves. That's why they just gave more votes to a right-wing anti-immigration party than any other party. Haven't heard whether it could get enough other coalition partners to form government.

  • jjjaar on 19/02/2024 - 18:09
    +1

    If you’re going between June and August, yeah that’s how much it’ll cost. If not, have you accidentally found a really peak period for an event you don’t know exists?

    For a solo traveller, private rooms in hostels aren’t always cheaper than a local hotel (not a chain), so it is good to shop around and see what else exists. That being said, there still may be nothing better.

    Is there any particular reason you don’t want to stay in a dorm? Would you be willing to stay in a dorm for part of your stay, and a private for the rest?

    • jjjaar on 19/02/2024 - 18:19

      Searching for 5 nights, flexible dates anytime between May and July, filtering only properties with a rating of 7+ shows the following hotels being under 200/night:

      • Hotel Van Gogh
      • Apple Inn Hotel
      • Hotel Not Hotel Amsterdam (shared bathroom)
      • Mozart Hotel
    • Thranrond on 19/02/2024 - 18:36

      I’m going in August and it’s the weekend after Pride so that may be why.

      Not keen on a hostel because I don’t love the idea of sharing a bathroom or bedroom with strangers.

      It does seem fun though so maybe 2-3 nights of each could be good!!

      • Mechz on 19/02/2024 - 18:53
        +4

        So like the most possible peak season of the year, and you want a discount?

        Go stay in a nearby town, the trains are excellent. You'll save a bunch.

      • jjjaar on 19/02/2024 - 21:57

        Private rooms in hostels still often have shared bathroom facilities, so if this really is a key factor for you, ensuites private rooms will cost even more, so you will need to adjust your budget, duration of stay, or room type preference.

        If you do split the stay, I recommend the dorms on weeknights and the private room/bathroom on Fri/Sat, as weekends in hostels tend to be when the dorms are louder and the bathrooms are grosser.

  • try2bhelpful on 19/02/2024 - 18:13

    What time of year are you going?

    • Thranrond on 19/02/2024 - 18:30

      Mid August 2024

      • try2bhelpful on 19/02/2024 - 18:41

        I would suspect that is pretty much peak time. Look through something like Trivago, work out where the hotels are then contact them directly. Often hotels will meet the cheapest rate to avoid paying the fees associated with the hosting sites.

  • Gdsamp on 19/02/2024 - 18:25
    +1

    there may be space behind a bookcase for those named Anne

    • try2bhelpful on 19/02/2024 - 18:44

      So many comments, so many ways to get myself banned.

  • Sweet3st on 19/02/2024 - 20:13
    +1

    I stayed in an AirBnB in Haarlem… took under 30 minutes into Amsterdam, plus a nice area near the beach/coast. My son stayed at ClinkNORD which he said was great… technically a backpackers but with private rooms and very nice.

    • Thranrond on 20/02/2024 - 10:40

      clinkNord does look good but the private rooms are more expensive than private hotel rooms :/

      • Sweet3st on 20/02/2024 - 21:51

        Did you look at Clink Hotels site? I don’t know your dates but I found single room with ensuite for $176 late August. They also advertise a 15% early bird discount which would make it $150.

        • Thranrond on 20/02/2024 - 23:04

          I'm looking at 10-15 August. It says $300 for me before early bird.
          Could you send me a link to what you're looking at?

  • stickingly on 19/02/2024 - 21:00

    If you want to stay central within the canal ring it is going to be expensive and the room will be tiny and probably have steep stairs to get to it .

    Public transport is excellent so it is easy to stay further out and travel in.

    The ferries across from North Amsterdam are also quick and very frequent so could consider that

    • Thranrond on 20/02/2024 - 10:44

      i think my concern with using PT to get to places I want to go is when I'm out late at night. I want to visit some bars/clubs and I'm worried about finding my way back at 3-4am using PT

  • frondono on 19/02/2024 - 21:56

    Might be able to get a private room at bulldog hostel. I stayed there about a decade ago and it was pretty sweet.

  • lainey13 on 19/02/2024 - 22:57

    You couldn't find a private room in a hostel for under $200 a night?

  • Voele on 20/02/2024 - 00:55

    Maybe you want to consider staying near Amsterdam Sloterdijk train station (Park inn and Mercure are good options). Its a 7 mins train ride to central and trains depart every 5 mins until late.

    Another option is staying near Amsterdam Bijlmer Arena. Again next to a train and metro station. Although from here it takes about 20 mins to reach central. Holiday inn and Hampton inn are good options.

    • Thranrond on 20/02/2024 - 10:44

      Staying somewhere nicer/cheaper but further away is a good idea but my concern with using PT to get to places I want to go is when I'm out late at night. I want to visit some bars/clubs and I'm worried about finding my way back at 3-4am using PT

      • Voele on 20/02/2024 - 11:21

        Public transport in the Netherlands is excellent and they do have some options throughout the night on friday / saturday. You can check out schedules for trains at ns.nl/en or for all public transport at 9292.nl/ov.

        Alternatively, you could grab an Uber, although that would likely set you back ~30-40 euros at 4 am.

  • gar519 on 20/02/2024 - 07:46

    You dont say the time of year, which will affect the rates.
    I stayed at the Courtyard by Marriott at the airport October last year and paid $180pn including breakfast. Short walk to the train station and a €3 fare/15 minutes to the city.
    The city prices have become extremely expensive.
    In 2018 I stayed at the 4 star Port Van Cleve in the city and paid under $200 per night. It is now $450 to $500pn. Crazy

    Also there is the 1 Amsterdam City Card. You get access to all major highlights and more than 70 museums, free city-wide public transport, a canal cruise and bicycle rent.

  • Benno007 on 20/02/2024 - 08:25

    We stayed just out of town about 300m from a tram stop. It wasn’t too hard to get in and it was still $535/night for 2 nights… ibis styles Amsterdam city was where we stayed - this was in August and it was pride week. We’d both already been there before so we didn’t need to see everything. We did a canal cruise, the Rijksmuseum, red light district, the big park, Sauna Nieuwezijds. Another day or two and we could have seen the Van Gogh museum again or the Ann frank house but I’d already seen them

    We spent an average of $410/night on our 2 month Europe trip. Staying out of town was definitely the cheaper option in most places but we wanted to be in the thick of it, which meant we could go out and explore whenever we wanted.

    • Thranrond on 20/02/2024 - 09:04

      was going to send you a PM but looks like you have that turned off :(

      • Benno007 on 20/02/2024 - 09:18

        I didn’t know that was a thing 😅 just enabled DMs (I think)

  • Jamie newcastle on 20/02/2024 - 08:45

    I paid $200 a night for Mr Jordaan Hotel in August 2022. Has good reviews and very centrally located. Booked via Agoda.

    • Thranrond on 20/02/2024 - 08:57

      it's about $400 a night now :(

  • mitchalbrown on 20/02/2024 - 08:58

    Amsterdam is not that big of a city so don't feel pressure to stay right in the centre. The best part about amsterdam is it's ease to get around if you have a bike. they can be hired fairly cheaply from rental shops around the train station or if you are getting a private room in a backpackers, they usually have hires from there.

    The last time i stayed there I stayed at Stayokay Amsterdam Oost which was just outside the "central city ring" and took me about 15 mins on the bike to get into the centre. The hostels in Amsterdam are fantastic. Very up-market and have a better vibe than hotels. If you're on your own, a hostel with a private room would be much better for this reason, the hostels have heaps of events and optional tours organised and you just put your name down for them.

    Unfortunately Amsterdam has some of the most expensive real estate in the world and it's reflected in the accommodation prices now…. It's one of my favourite cities and I have been back many times and each time it seems more and more expensive.

    Amsterdam is not the only city that has become like this though… I stayed in Barcelona last year and there was no accomodation under $200 a night, and that was including privates in a hostel. If possible… try to avoid peak season and arrange your trip around shoulder season for better prices.

    • Thranrond on 20/02/2024 - 12:45

      I was actually booking accomondation for Barcelona last night. I find Barcelona more reasonable compared to Amsterdam. I found a few decent places under $200 a night and they are all within the main area. The problem with Amsterdam is anything close the main areas are a lot more expensive.

      I'm worried about relying on a bike or PT whilst in Amsterdam because I want to visit some bars/clubs and don't how easily i could find my way back at 3-4am using PT/bike

  • CheapFlightHunter on 20/02/2024 - 09:24

    Try the Conscious Hotels.

    Thy are good and reasonably priced. I lived in Amsterdam for years and any of the locations, while not in the centre ring, are close enough that you can walk or ride into the city easily - I think they even have bikes you can use.

  • Waltervp on 20/02/2024 - 09:32

    I am originally Dutch and i just cannot visit Holland as it is so expensive to be there. Often friends and family are so busy they can't see you until the weekend and transport is really expensive too. Best for me is to rent a little car if I'm with at least one other person and stay with friends and relatives. But there is no cheap way. Same with Finland where i have family, but not nearly as expensive. Other big expense is eating out.

    So my suggestion is to get a cheap little rental car from the airport and find a cheap airbnb in the country. Drive and use train around from there. When going into big cities do not even think about driving in as parking is very expensive, and park at railway or tram station 10km out.

    Having a car also allows you to carry some food around!

  • MJR on 20/02/2024 - 10:37

    I was in Europe last August, mostly Ireland, but did have a few days in London. The city was heaving with tourists because that seems to be when most European children are on their summer holidays. That could be why accommodation is more expensive at that time. We were there for the entire month and found the crowds didn't start to die down till the last few days.

  • jrvb42 on 20/02/2024 - 12:12

    I would have suggested hostels, but many in Amsterdam now have (upper) age limits (illegal to discriminate on age I thought).
    Yes, some are dives, but many are good quality, and since you're there by yourself, you'd be able to meet other travellers.

    I was also looking for cheap digs there, but prices in many European cities have gone up substantially, not to mention slugging tourists with up to 5 euro city visitor tax pppn. I decided not to bother with the dam this time - plenty of other wonderful places in Europe to explore before claytons visas start (supposedly next year) for everyone.

    Public transport options are good, so you might want to relax your inner-city preference. Also, the city is very walkable.
    Sounds like you know there's more to the place than red light district and coffee shops (or maybe you don't ;) ) since your visit is 5 days, but there are an astounding number of museums and galleries packed into the city, and if you're into these, you might consider a museum card - worth it even for 5 days - and from memory valid throughout Netherlands. And don't forget Keukenhof (March-April)

    Enjoy.

  • Will146 on 22/02/2024 - 12:07

    Have a look at Haarlem. It is around 15mins outside the City & is a nice little town in its own right. Accommodation is always half the price & its about 10euros return on the train to the Central station in AMS.

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