I stayed at the NH Barbizon in July 2009 for a relatively quick business trip. I was able to reserve the property for an incredible bargain price of 50 euros a night through PL. So, as with many other reviews I have made on Trip Advisor, my satisfaction with the stay is somewhat related to the price paid. Of interest, I visited the Tourist Center upon arrival and discovered a last minute reservation at the NH would have set me back over 500, yes 500, euros a night!

Check in was an easy and fluid process. There were no issues with the PL reservation, and I was able to check in around 1:30 pm in the afternoon although usual check in time is 3:00 pm. I requested a room on the second floor which was honored. In fact, the front staff mentioned that typically the rooms with a view are loud at night although they have inside rooms that are much more quiet. With that being said, the staff member also mentioned the louder rooms tend to be nicer. So, having brought earplugs (which would have been provided if requested), I opted for the "nicer" room.

I stayed in room 247 which is interesting as it includes a small flight of about five stairs for access. No big deal to me, but obviously if you cannot climb any stairs, that could have been a problem. Oh, I do have to mention, as several others have, that the elevator system requires you to insert your room key to activate it. That would normally be fine except that there system is very sensitive. From time to time, I would have to insert and remove the room key up to 20 times before it would actually activate the elevator. Room for improvement concerning that issue!

The room was reasonably spacious. If I had to guess it was probably around 280 square feet or so. The bed was very, very comfortable and the pillows were great. There were other pillow options available in the closet if needed. There was an unremarkable television on a dresser. The television included about 30 stations including several BBC options. There was a closet set into the wall and included a safe. Of note, I left the safe open by accident after I left the room one day. Although there was obvious cash, passport, and electronics there, it was all there when I got back after the room had been cleaned by the maid. I appreciate that they have trustworthy staff at the NH Barbizon!

The room has a nice bathroom with a tub/shower combo. Relatively spacious and included all the usual amenities.

The room did overlook some of the nearby bar scene. Honestly, I rarely heard anything from outside and ended up not needing the earplugs at night. The windows obviously had an extra sound dampening pane installed.

The location is almost ideal. It is a very quick walk from the Centraal Railway Station. You can see the hotel immediately as you walk out of the station. It is directly to the right of the Church of St. Nicholas which is an even bigger and more obvious landmark if you need one. I was able to walk everywhere from the hotel even making my way to Vondelpark one day. So, I could not ask for any better as far as location.

I did not try either of the two restaurant options at the hotel. There is an Albert Heijn market about a 5 to 10 minute walk away which allowed me to stock my room with some of my favorites (Orangina, stroopwaffles, and cheeses).

I do have to mention that people do need to understand the Dutch system for hotel stars might be a little different than those you might be used to. In many countries around the world, stars are simply an indication of the amenities provided. They do not have anything to do with the quality or size of a room. So, in Holland, the NH Barbizon gets 5 stars as it includes 2 restaurants, an elevator, 24 hour room service, parking, etc. If you understand that stars in Holland do not necessarily equate with quality, your stay will be much less frustrating. I would give an American equivalent of 4 stars for the NH Barbizon. There is certainly room for improvement, however, the stay was entirely comfortable and I would not hesitate to stay there again on a future visit especially if a PL deal could be obtained.