Volkshotel

Volkshotel in Amsterdam stands out as a vibrant and multi-faceted property, recognized as a Michelin Key Selected hotel, offering a unique blend of hospitality, creativity, and entertainment. It consistently garners high praise for its distinctive atmosphere and comprehensive amenities, appealing to a diverse clientele from digital nomads to nightclubbers.

1. Overall Rating & Sentiment

Volkshotel enjoys an overwhelmingly positive sentiment, frequently described as "excellent" and a "cool, trendy mid-range hotel with a youthful atmosphere and a stylish interior design". Many guests consider it a "great hotel, fun vibe" and an "inclusive pick", with some even hailing it as potentially "the coolest hotel in the world right now". It achieves a high guest score, with verified MICHELIN Guide guests rating it 19.2 out of 20.

2. Key Highlights

Guests particularly love Volkshotel for its innovative design, which embraces Amsterdam's counterculture with magnified newsprint cutouts, archive photography, and an industrial aesthetic, referencing its past as the headquarters of the Dutch newspaper de Volkskrant.

Key highlights include:

• Rooftop Spa & Dining: The 7th-floor features Canvas, a popular brasserie with 360-degree city views that transforms into a lively nightclub on Friday and Saturday nights with DJs. The rooftop also boasts a wood-paneled sauna and hot tubs, offering a "magical experience" with incredible city views.
• Social Hub: The ground-floor lobby, known as Werkplaats, functions as a vibrant coworking space and cafe, attracting both hotel guests and locals for work and socializing.
• Nightlife: Beyond Canvas, the hotel houses a basement cocktail bar and club called Doka, which offers a different ambiance, sometimes featuring interactive lectures and classical quartets, opening later into the night.
• Amenities: The hotel offers a range of amenities including luggage storage, laundry, air conditioning, lifts, parking, Wi-Fi, and EV charging stations.

3. Room Quality

Volkshotel offers 172 rooms, categorized from "XS" (extra small) to "XL" to reflect their size and capacity. The rooms generally maintain an industrial feel with concrete flooring, exposed pipes, and a minimalistic yet stylish decor. Many feature silkscreened wall art and a "newspaper style thematic".

Specific room descriptions include:

• Standard Rooms: These boast smart Continental design with touches of jet and maroon, some offering city views. Beds are consistently described as comfortable.
• Specialty Rooms: There are nine uniquely designed "special" rooms by invited guest designers, ranging from an immersive treehouse environment to a cycling-themed hideaway, and even a "cinema boudoir" with a giant projector. One example includes a Japanese Ofuro cedar wood bathtub.
• Bathrooms: Rooms feature compact but sleek bathrooms with rainfall showers and nice toiletries. However, some rooms, particularly the "XS" type, feature "sexy showers" with glass windows exposing the occupant to the room, which may impact privacy for some travelers. The sink might also be located in the room itself rather than within the bathroom in some layouts.
• Missing Amenities: Mini-fridges and electric kettles are generally not available in any room type.

4. Dining Experience

The hotel's dining options are a significant draw:

• Canvas: Located on the 7th floor, this brasserie specializes in international cuisine and serves breakfast, lunch, dinner, and drinks, all with excellent panoramic views.
• Breakfast: A hearty buffet breakfast is available at Canvas for around €12-€13, featuring continental selections like cereals, fruit, yoghurts, pastries, and fresh bread. While delicious, it might lack warm options like omelets for those expecting a full English breakfast, and it's not included in the standard room rate.
• Werkplaats: The lobby lounge serves coffee and light snacks throughout the day, offering discounted pastries at night to reduce waste.
• Doka: The basement bar provides cocktails and a late-night atmosphere, occasionally hosting cabaret and performances.

5. Service & Staff

Guest feedback consistently highlights the "very friendly" and "helpful" nature of the staff. The team is described as knowledgeable regarding both in-house amenities and local attractions.

6. Location & Accessibility

Volkshotel is situated in the East district of Amsterdam, offering a dynamic neighborhood experience. While it's "a little distant from city center" and "not ideal for those looking to explore Amsterdam's top attractions and city center on foot", its location is highly convenient due to its proximity to public transport. The Wibautstraat Metro station is directly across the street (only 50 meters away), allowing for easy 15-minute access to the Old Center and Museum Quarter. The Amstel River is a 2-minute walk away, and Oosterpark is also nearby. Bike rentals are available directly from the hotel.

7. Value & Pricing

Volkshotel is generally considered to offer good value for its price point. It's often described as "relatively inexpensive" and an "accessible price point", placing it within the "mid-range hotel" category. Guests appreciate that it provides a high-quality Amsterdam experience without being overly expensive.

8. Common Complaints

While highly regarded, some recurring criticisms include:

• Room Size: The "XS" (extra small) rooms can be quite tiny, with limited space beyond the bed.
• Bathroom Privacy: The "sexy showers" with glass windows in some rooms may not appeal to all guests, particularly those traveling with companions where privacy is a concern. The placement of the sink outside the bathroom in some configurations is also noted as unusual.
• Missing In-Room Amenities: The absence of mini-fridges and electric kettles in any room type can be an inconvenience for some travelers.
• Breakfast Cost: Breakfast is not included in the standard room rate.
• No Fitness Center: Some guests may be disappointed by the lack of a dedicated fitness center.
• Location from City Center: Although well-connected by metro, the hotel's distance from the immediate city center means it's not ideal for those who prefer to explore major attractions solely on foot.

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