There are no redeeming characteristics of this hotel. The location, while not a bad neighborhood, is out of the charming canals. The lobby and the rooms reek of smoke. I was first given an uninhabitable room with two beds shoved in a space that could barely have had one. The shower did not work. After complaining twice, they gave me a room where the shower actually had water but the drain didn't work and the shower curtain wound around my body. To top it off, breakfast was not included and there was only internet access in the smoke filled lobby. I found another hotel and checked out.

We arrived at Schipol Airport and took a train to Centraal Station. Easy to get to. We then took a taxi to the Hotel, it was 13 euro.

The Hotel is located to the south side of the zoo, about a 20 - 30 minute walk to the centre of the city. Nice to dander into town on a dry evening. However, we bought 3 day tram passes at reception, 13 euro each, so we could hop on and off as we pleased. This suited us fine, as we returned to the hotel at teatime before going out for the night. A taxi back to the hotel after 11pm cost us less than 10 euro on each occasion we used one.

We arrived at check-in time, to be advised that our rooms were not quite ready. We were dealt with politely and were able to check-in after a 15 minute wait.

The bedrooms are small, about 3m x 3m, and the ensuite is tiny - about 1m x 2m. So previous reviews are accurtate in that respect. I'm on the large side myself, 6'2" and I had no issue accessing or using the facilities - just know to expect this. The bedroom facilities, as with any Best Western, are pretty good, including free room safe, multi channel tv, phone and internet (though we did not use this). The bathroom did not have a facecloth. Besides being well equipped, our rooms had views over a small park, and were clean apart from some minor marks on the carpet.

We did not have breakfast as we were never up in time and it was 14 euro extra. Plenty of dining options around and about, typically less than 10 euro for a full cooked breakfast.

We took evening meals in and around Amsterdam, and found it to be priced a little on the higher side than at home in Northern Ireland, so as a city break destination I suppose it compared fairly favourably.

There is no bar facility in the Hotel, so drinks were purchased from a vending machine when we returned in the evenings and fancied a night cap. The staff were helpful and well presented.

Amsterdam itself is a pretty city with a very continental, cosmopolitan feel. Lots and lots of canals, more than you might imagine, look out for the cyclists and listen for their bells - get out of their way because they will not stop if you are walking in a cycle lane. Check out the shops around "9 streets", and the open minded should take an early evening walk around the RLD - just to see what goes on. It really is mad. Be careful though; plan your way and look after your belongings as there are some undesireables hanging around.

We had a great break, even though we stayed three nights we could have used another couple, so we will return another time. I would have no problem staying at BW Lancaster House again as it offered good value for decent, if cramped facilities.

I recently stayed at this hotel with my partner and 2 friends. We arrived quite late on a Friday night and walked from Central Station. It is quite a distance but we did not feel unsafe at any point in the neighbourhood. The hotel is to the East of the city centre but we did not find it a problem walking the 20mins into the centre. There are some very nice bars and restaurants across from the zoo which are well worth a visit.

The only down side was that whilst our rooms were on different sides of the hotels we were put in the basement so it was not possible to open the windowds to cool the room down and you could hear the trams so a good pair of ear plugs would be advisable if you are a light sleeper. The beds were extremely comfortable and the room generally ok though you could both sit on the toilet and have a shower at the same time as the bathroom is so small.

The hotel is perfect for those on a buget but not really for anyone who is after any pampering.

Just arrived back from the Lancaster Hotel Amsterdam with my partner,
We were greeted by some lovely staff, who spoke very good english,
The batroom was extremely small, and if one needed to sit on the toilet, there was a good possibility that you could hit your head or get your knee's jammed against the tiled bathroom wall.
When having a shower, there was a small piece of wood seperating the shower floor from the rest of the bathroom, and if you stood under the shower for five minutes, you have to switch the shower off, let the water go down and re start the shower, otherwise the bathroom was flooded.

The hotel bed room was small, but had clean comfy beds, there were no tea or coffee making facilities which if you like either you were stuck unless you wanted to go downstairs and pay about a euro from one of the vending machines.

I found the distance from outside town a problem, the town of Amsterdam is quite, so a more centrally located hotel would be better.