Apple Inn Hotel

“Good option for a stay in Amsterdam”

My stay at the hotel was generally good, and I don’t have many negatives to mention about it. The biggest and most annoying issue was an unexpected extra charge created by Agoda, the website I used to make my reservation. Unfortunately, this issue was not resolved by the hotel’s front desk staff. H… more

My stay at the hotel was generally good, and I don’t have many negatives to mention about it. The biggest and most annoying issue was an unexpected extra charge created by Agoda, the website I used to make my reservation. Unfortunately, this issue was not resolved by the hotel’s front desk staff. Here’s what happened: I made a 4-night reservation for EUR 367.82, plus taxes and fees of EUR 33.11, making the total charge EUR 400.93. There was no mention of any additional taxes or fees on the website. However, upon arrival at the hotel, I was asked to pay an extra EUR 46.25. As explained to me, this was a “Resort Fee,” but all the fees were supposed to be included in the final price of my booking. I asked the front desk guy to contact Agoda to check this, but he refused to help, saying it was my responsibility to sort it out. He also wouldn’t let me check in unless I paid the fee upfront. Left with no choice, I paid the fee to avoid ruining the start of my vacation in Amsterdam. This was a very unpleasant situation, and to be honest, I found it to be a scam - most likely on Agoda’s part for not informing me about this extra fee. On the positive side, a day before check-in, I called the hotel to request a room on a high floor with plenty of natural daylight, and they honored my request. My Standard Room (#48) was just the right size for one person, simply but nicely decorated, and very clean (except for a few dark marks and scratches on the walls). All the furniture was in good condition. I loved that my room had a little balcony where I could sit and relax. The balcony faced the inner courtyard, which I actually liked because it made the room very quiet and peaceful. At night, I kept the balcony doors open to sleep with fresh air. According to my reservation, I booked a room with a Twin Bed, but I believe the bed in my room was Queen-size; it was large and very comfortable. The biggest downside of the room was the lack of a refrigerator, even though there was plenty of space for one. The bathroom was spacious enough to feel comfortable, with a large shower stall. However, I wasn’t impressed with the bathroom amenities. They seemed cheap, smelled unpleasant; and there was no shower gel, only shampoo in the shower. Wi-Fi worked well and was fast throughout my stay. The hotel’s historic building had been updated and looked nice, and the housekeepers kept everything very clean every day. However, the lack of an elevator was a major issue. The stairs were very steep, high, and narrow. My room was on the 3rd floor. Getting to the 2nd floor was manageable because the stairwell was straight and wide enough, but going from the 2nd to the 3rd floor was extremely difficult, especially with a 25 kg suitcase, carry-on luggage, and a backpack. The stairs to the 3rd floor were spiral-shaped, steep, and very narrow. I barely managed to carry my luggage up, and I almost fell while taking it down during checkout. These stairs are extremely dangerous! Be very careful, and if you have a lot of luggage, request a room on the ground floor to make it easier for yourself. By the way, none of the hotel staff offered to help me with my luggage. Finally, I want to mention the hotel’s location, which is a bit tricky. On one hand, it’s in a very nice, safe, and peaceful residential area right next to a large city park, with plenty of restaurants and cafes nearby. On the other hand, it’s a bit far from Amsterdam’s city center. It took me around 30 minutes to walk to the center. Personally, I didn’t mind walking and actually enjoyed the daily walk back and forth. Plus, I’ve been to Amsterdam a couple of times before, so being in the city center wasn’t that important to me. However, if it’s your first time in Amsterdam and you want to be close to the major sights, be aware that the hotel’s location isn’t central. You’ll need to walk for about half an hour or use public transport, a taxi, or a bicycle. To finalize my review, I can recommend this hotel for a stay in Amsterdam, even though I found the final nightly rate I paid to be overpriced for what is essentially a standard, basic-level hotel. Just be mindful of the location, the lack of an elevator, the steep stairs, and any extra taxes or fees you might have to pay. Aside from these issues, the hotel’s amenities and overall experience are good.

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“Serviceable”

I stayed here with a group of friends in July. It was a serviceable place to stay. The location was great if you are looking for a place away from the city center. Vondelpark, Labyrinth, and several coffeeshops and restaurants are nearby. It was quiet in the evenings, which was nice. The service … more

I stayed here with a group of friends in July. It was a serviceable place to stay. The location was great if you are looking for a place away from the city center. Vondelpark, Labyrinth, and several coffeeshops and restaurants are nearby. It was quiet in the evenings, which was nice. The service was decent: the receptionists were patient with our noisy group and offered to help us up the stairs with our luggage. They also replenished our towels regularly. The hotel itself is a bit dated and could use some new paint, new carpet, and amenities. Like many places in Amsterdam apparently, there are numerous flights of narrow stairs. Getting our luggage up and down those stairs was not fun. The rooms and bathrooms are pretty small. There were not enough hangers, and hotel staff didn't have many to give out when we asked for a few more. But, the hotel was cheap(ish) and we didn't spend too much time in the building anyway, so we overlooked some of these things.

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