We like to travel but don't like spending a lot of money on hotels. However, especially as we've gained more experience with European travel, we have gotten picky about a few things: Clean, safe, friendly, a good breakfast -- and of course not obscenely expensive. Hotel Hegra excelled on all these counts.

The place is spotless and well cared for, not even counting the fact that the building is 350 years old. The location and exterior are as picturesque as you could imagine, though the interior is tastefully 20th century. The neighborhood was very quiet during our stay.

The staff (just one man we saw during our entire 36-hour stay) was friendly and helpful. Some reviewers have written of staff not being friendly, but (assuming that it's the same guy) I think they must mean that he's not chatty and outgoing. He's a quiet guy, but he was very helpful to us at check-in, very available to us during the rest of our stay, and helpful with specific information when we and others needed it. If you need chatty and outgoing in order to feel welcomed, then perhaps you'd want to consider another place, but we found no problem with the service. The two hotel cats are friendly, too.

The breakfast was nicely presented and more than adequate -- not the selection of items you might find on a breakfast buffet, but very good both mornings and plenty of food to get us going. (Toast, bread, ham, cheese, soft- or hard-boiled egg, coffee, tea, orange juice, and plenty of jams, jellies, Nutella, etc.)

The self-service, coin-operated computer with Internet access (50 cents per 10 minutes) was easily accessed in a cubby on one landing and available 24 hours.

Reviewers also mention that the hotel and its rooms are small. This is true, but if you're an experienced two-stars-or-less European traveller, I think your reaction will be what ours was: We've stayed in smaller places than THIS. Speaking of stars, I am assuming its one-star rating probably has to do with items such as elevators, in-room phones, in-room TVs, and 24-hour reception -- all of which Hegra lacks, but who cares? (If you do, go to the Holiday Inn!) We stayed in Room #5, one of the less expensive options with an unremarkable view of the interior of the block, but it had a shower in the room and the hallway bathroom has a great canal view which you can go see anytime you need it!

Hegra will be our first place to check for availability on our next trip to Amsterdam.