Dont stay at this place if at all possible.

The staff are about as much use as a chocolate teapot!
Not friendly and very un helpfull.

Our room was on floor #2 had a lovely view of the building site and the screeching of trains outside our window every 15 mins throughout the night- not to mention the water pipes gushing out into the canal, and being delighted to see a digger going past my window (a few feet away) as I awoke form my 15 mins of sleep.
We complained about the room and had and upgrade canal view!
what a shame that we were situated on the bottom floor underneath the walk way and had to put up with the noisy footsteps of anyone walking past.

The rooms are very small with a bathroom the size of a phone box.
Although the rooms were clean, the breakfast isnt worth 3 euros let alone 10!

Biggest downfall for me though was, that they will NOT allow cannabis to be smoked anywhere near the premises.
Which is a 1st for me in visiting Amsterdam for 17 yrs.
So anyone who wishes to stay here and like a smoke in the evening.... you have been warned, dont go to this place!

A 1st and last for me to stay in this god awful place, Ive also spread the word to my friends and family that this place should be avoided at all costs!

Blue cheese fan

Have stayed here many times. Go to Amsterdam 3 times a year and stay in this hotel 99 % of the time. Won't be staying again. Everyone beware of a certain young black bar man in the hotel bar who will rip you off with your change. E.g. You give him €20 he gives you change of a €10 note. You tell him change is wrong he tells you you only gave him €10. The Botel should have cameras on the tills to watch their dishonest staff. Watch out for this scam all over Amsterdam - Even in Albert Hein supermarkets. VERY DISAPPOINTED IN THIS HOTEL after giving it a good review many year ago.

Problems:
NO AIR CONDITIONING (rubbish for summer...!) - had to 'rent' fans (20euros deposit given back when fan given back)
TINY BATHROOMS (okay they were cramped but bearable - no windows in them...)
FLIES (general tip - do not keep light on and window open at night at the same time, attracts bite eating flies)
SMELL ( general problem with amsterdam - that infamous smell of freshly smoked grass)

Bonuses:
LOCATION ( absolutely fantastic location - 5mins walk to central station which is where all roads lead to!)
SIZE (rooms are a comfortable size but if u want privacy forget it!)


Hope this helps in some way...I really liked the botel, not just for the idea of sleeping in a boat but because of the fact that it was pretty good value for money...just remember to ask for the canal view!

Just got back from a 1 night stay on the Amstel Botel . my 4th stay over an 8 year period .
i stay here when i have an early flight back to the uk ...

Its different !

Looks like a boat , designed like a boat , rooms like cabins on a ferry , small , functional and clean .

ok its dos'nt float like a boat but it looks the part .

You cannot beat the botels central position .
2 minute walk from central station , the red light district , the damrak etc .
bus and trams on your doorstep .

its not a cheap stay anymore £70 for a twin room - breakfasts steep at 10 euros a head but you can get a cheeses and ham toasty in the bar at 2.50 euors which suffices !
the triple rooms work out better value.

to be honest you aint going to get a hotel much cheaper in the city centre - even the hostels are asking over 25 euoros a night for a bed in a mixed dorm !

bar prices ok on botel...but try and get your cold drinks for in your room from a supermarket as 1.80 for a bottle of water out the machine is a bit steep !

a tip ! stay outside amsterdam city centre - pumerand , volendam , edam etc . plenty of cheaper hotels ith great bus service in and out of the city - you can get a 4 star hotel twin room for £45 a night with breakfast .

word of warning if you have kids with you and stay on the amstel botel be carefull changing over your tv channels as one is hard core porn !
great if your adults alone but try explaining granny lust to a 10 year old !

oh yes and like precvious reviewer said it was extremly hot - temp gauge said 38 in the lobby - no air conditionng but i slept ok with windows open - pay extra for room with canal view but ask for floor 2 and above as floor 1 has view obscured by gangplank .

to be honest its an unusual place to stay - quite funky in a wierd 70's way - brilliant for the city centre and travel - central station etc

but don't expect luxury and be aware that they eask for payment upfront on arrival !
2 many scallies jumpin ship !

would stay again for convenience factor alone .