Movenpick Hotel in Amsterdam

At first glance, the Movenpick Hotel in Amsterdam looks like a pile of children’s blocks placed neatly in a pile by the side of the river Lj. Angular, modern, stark against the gray fall sky, we were amazed at the modernistic beauty when we stayed there last fall. Conveniently located only a couple of blocks from Central Station, it’s an easy walk or very quick cab ride, but the hotel also provides a free shuttle by prior arrangement. From Central station, you can take buses or trains all over Amsterdam or even head out into the Netherlands or other countries. Directly behind Central Station is Dam Square with plenty of shopping and great restaurants and beside it is the notorious Red Light District of Amsterdam.

Enter the lobby of the Movenpick and you will see a bright, airy, contemporary area with plenty of seating and a small sundry shop to the left. A concierge station right by the front doors is always manned and they are friendly and eager to help you make arrangements to see the city. One concierge even came out of the hotel when he was us wandering around trying to find the hop on/hop off boat and kindly walked us to the proper location.

Once we had checked in, we headed to our Executive room where we were amazed first by the lovely and spacious area and next by the beautiful views out our windows of the river Lj with a never-ending parade of boats of all kinds. We had a huge bed, nice sitting area with a couch, a flat-screen TV, complimentary wifi access and a beautiful bathroom with the newer glass doors which only go half way across the shower. These look attractive and I have seen them in several of the newer hotels, but be prepared for some water to spray across the bathroom floor when you take a shower.

The hotel has 408 contemporary guestrooms and suites, with wonderful views of Amsterdam or the river Lj. With 30 luxurious Junior Suites and the Ambassador Suite, you have a variety of room choices.They are also a completely non-smoking hotel.

There is a Subway restaurant in the little shopping center next door, you can walk to Central Station or Dam Square for food, or you can eat in the Silk Road restaurant in the hotel, which provides breakfast, lunch and dinner. They also offer 24-hour room service. The restaurant is beautiful with an Oriental design and the food is advertised as East meets West, but there are plenty of choices on the menu such as steak and chicken. We had a wonderful dinner there one night and I highly recommend it.

The Best Body Lifestyle Studio is located on the mezzanine floor and emphasizes a holistic approach to training and relaxation. They offer Pilates personal training, different types of massage and beauty treatments. If you are a guest in the hotel, you have unlimited access to the cardio fitness equipment, traditional Finnish sauna, bio sauna, shower landscape and relaxation area.