Quentin Hotel

Nice Stay down the canal

by kloot about Quentin Hotel

Quentin hotel is a nice place to stay, near the park and the town center. Cheap but good with young and polite personnel. Quiet and clean. Helpful and handsome staff. Near the center.

Three Days in Amsterdam

by Aussieanne

"Our first morning"

After our first trip an 2002 I didn't think I would return, however this time as we chose to travel KLM we needed to enter and depart Europe via Amsterdam. I was quite excited at the prospect and was not disappointed. All bookings were done via the internet and we chose the Quentin Group of Hotels which was basic but comfortable. It was within walking distance of everything. We arrived at 5am, caught the train from airport to city with no fuss then a taxi to the hotel. We couldn't book in till 2.00pm, so left our luggage and off we went. It was still early so all we could do at this stage was check opening times most of which were 10.00am so headed off to the City. We just walked and walked looking at all the quaint buildings which tilted every which way, ones with tiny door, up this sreet down that one. We saw heaps but as the language was hard to understand it was difficult to know exactly what we were looking at. The people however were really really nice and most understood English so no problems there. We ducked into a cafe run by a very camp guy, but the coffee and sandwich were delightful - it was very retro, and the only downside was that smoking was still allowed everywhere (very different in Australia). Soon it started to rain and people crammed in out of the weather so much so we were forced out by the smoke. The only downside of Amsterdam.

"The canal cruise"

It was still early, but we came across a Canal Cruise about to depart so on we hopped. I had forgotten to say that the day was absolutely freezing - having come from Australia and an early start to our summer we headed to Europe via Singapore where it was hot and humid and landed in Amsterdam on a day where it didn't rise above 8C. We were frozen so it was great to get into the canal boat and just glide along the water listening to some very interesting stories. Like why the building are so thin - built that way because taxes were very high and on the width of the property so the people decided to build very skinny but deep houses and also some up to 5 storeys high. Also on the top of many was a gantry hook and we learned this was to attach a chain to and hoist the furniture into the building as the stairs are extremely steep and narrow. We went up and down many canals and out into the harbour. I strongly recommend a canal cruise, it is relaxing and very informative. It was now mid-day so decided to head back toward the hotel, so just wandered up and down whereever it took our fancy. We found the best pastry shop so stopped for a bite & a cuppa then off. Collected further supplies along the way, found the best cheese shop - so much in there we couldn't choose and the finally back to the Hotel. We were then able to check in thankfully. Unfortunately I had not booked a room with an ensuite, but although very small it was clean & comfortable. Unpacked then headed out again, this time to the Heineken Brewery. This is so worth a visit. Very interesting to learn the history of the Company, it is done in an extremly interactive way and along the way you are treated to samples of the beer (other drinks available). From there to the Rijksmuseum where they had a display of Rembrants painting and other interesting information. It was now 5.00 and we had been on the go for 12 hours so found somewhere for tea and back to the hotel. At this time of the year there is not much daylight - it probably didn't get really light till well after 8.00am and it was dark by 5.00pm - and that was very early in the winter!

"Anne Frank House and beyond"

Do not miss a visit to Anne Frank House - this is truly a moving experience. I had read the book when it was first plublished, but to actually be inside this place where these families took refuge during that horrific time was beyond belief.
We spent over an hour there going through each room and listening to the accounts and reading the stories on the walls. Naturally I bought an updated version of the book and read it within days.
From there we headed over to the centre of the city and looked at the Royal Palace and the New Church right next door and wandered around Dam Plaza. Onto the Old Church and here we were able to look inside - this one dates from around 1200 or so and is still used on Sundays - very plain and austere. Off in the other direction we happened across part of the Red Light District (told not to miss this "interesting" area by our daughter!) From there to the harbour and found ourselves in some very seedy, but none the less interesting areas.

"Wandering around the City"

After the City Centre we just wandered where our feet would take us and found the Waterlooplein where there was a street market and also the most fantastic photo display of Earth from the Air. Then to Rembrandtplein where there is a huge statue of him and a heap of charachters in the square itself. We found we were retracing our steps a lot of the time so this city isn't that big. Back to Leidersplein (at the end of our hotel's street) where there are lots of great shops, cafes, bars and restaurants. After a rest of our weary feet back at the Quentin we returned to Leidersplein for a look under the Christmas lights at night - the only thing missing was snow (which incidentally we saw none of during our 8 weeks in Europe!) After our first trip in 2002 where we weren't that impressed, this was a really lovely couple of days in a vibrant city full of a lot of very nice people. It is very easy to navigate and we didn't get lost once!

"The Quentin Hotel"

I did all my bookings on the net and chose the Quentin Hotel Group....Quentin Leideskade.... From the net it looked and sounded really nice, but then again are they going to say any different, otherwise people would never stay! The only thing I would say is that it should be under the heading of Hostel rather than Hotel - it is probably a 3 Star establishment, but it is clean and comfortable. Our room was on the ground floor without an ensuite - I would have liked to see the double room with ensuite that I thought I had booked and my thoughts may have been a little different. However having said all that, it is in a good place, not far from everything and anything. We saw all that we had planned on seeing and did it all on foot. The staff for the main part were friendly and obliging and as I said it was clean and quite comfortable and at a good price. I would recommend if you are happy staying on hostel type accommodation, which we are being Youth Hostel members.