We spent four nights at the Grand over Easter weekend.
Room: Our junior suite was very spacious with large windows overlooking the canal. The room was extremely comfortable: great bed, spacious and well appointed bath. If only the decor was a little less bland: blond wood, glass tables, and print fabrics reminded me more of a suburban chain hotel than of a historic property in a fascinating city. (As an aside, why aren't there more affordable boutique design hotels in Amsterdam?)
Public spaces: The public spaces were much more interesting than our room. Make sure to take a peek at the gorgeous conference rooms. The pool was nice to retreat to at the end of a busy day sightseeing, even if it did seem more like an oversized bathtub. The fitness room was much less attractive, located in a tiny hallway on the way to the pool. The restaurant where we had breakfast was lovely, but the staff seemed overwhelmed at breakfast time.
Service: Excellent! The staff couldn't have been nicer or more helpful. They made everything easy, from finding a restaurant when we arrived late to renting bicycles.
Location: Very centrally located. And the proximity of the red light district really isn't an issue -- we were able to avoid it completely, without any trouble.
Overall, a very comfortable hotel in a great location with a wonderful staff. If it only had a little more sense of style. . .






