Poet Hotel

In early 2012, the Acro Hotel underwent renovations that gave way to the modern, welcoming Poet Hotel, a two-star pamper palace offering choice digs, a prime location among Amsterdam’s beloved museums and, often, a superb deal.

Quick read

Pros: Friendly staff. Elevator access. Soundproof windows. Fabulous décor.

Cons: Some small and narrow rooms. Wi-Fi is not free and only available downstairs.

Rooms

Welcome to one of the most modern hotel spots in the neighborhood. The Poet Hotel’s 64 guest rooms sport comfy new beds, crisp linens and hardwood floors buffed to a shine. It’s all cosmopolitan sleek here, from the crisp black-and-white color scheme (set off by lipstick red chairs) to the boxy furniture and chic silver lamps.

Some rooms are small, but bright white walls and oversized mirrors help make things feel fresh and spacious. Large (and stunning) black-and-white photos are hung in artistic clusters on somes walls, while inspirational quotes trail along others.

Amenities are plentiful in these cushy rooms: Expect a flat-screen television, soundproof windows, an iPod dock, safe and telephone.

We recommend requesting a room with a cast-iron balcony, as the leafy street views add a touch of romance. The ample “Deluxe Family Rooms,” which sleep up to four and offer extra space, can prove an especially good value.

Bathrooms

All bathrooms are private and include basic toiletries and a hair dryer. They can be tight, but they are new and sparkling, with large white tiles, boxy sinks and shiny fixtures. (Bonus: We hear hear the water pressure is excellent, to boot!)

Hotel

It’s fitting that the Poet Hotel is situated in the heart of the Museum District, as this modern boutique property is all things artistic. A zig-zag of hallways connect the four traditional townhouses that make up the hotel. Décor is modern yet romantic, and the friendly folks at reception are happy to share advice or help book out-of-town excursions and “skip the line” tickets for the big museums.  

The reception shares its ground floor with a bar and TV lounge that doubles as a café by day. Done up in hunter green, rich woods, tall plants and a few well-stocked bookshelves, this area feels like a sophisticated hippie’s den—with touches of taxidermy on the walls (and chairs!).

Besides a few steps leading up to the entrance, the Poet Hotel is a wheelchair-accessible building (a rare commodity for budget hotels in Amsterdam). Breakfast is included in the room rate and Wi-Fi is available in the public spaces for €3 a day. Pets are welcome at the hotel (for an additional €10 per night). 

Location

The Poet Hotel’s location is perfect for days spent exploring the museums and parks and nights out on the town. Situated in the heart of Museumplein, it provides easy access to the Rijksmuseum, the Van Gogh Museum and the Stedelijk Museum, as well as the upscale boutiques of Vondelpark.

Guest reviews in brief

Guests rank the peaceful yet convenient location high on the list of Poet Hotel “pros.” They also report that the hotel is clean, and many praise the modern style. The staff also receives positive reviews, for everything from helping to book bike rentals to being generally cheerful.

The typical put-offs in Dutch hotels are small rooms and steep stairs. Some rooms at the Poet Hotel are small (and receive complaints), but they are also bright. The hotel also has an elevator, although a surprising number of guests still complain about steep stairs. Guests also report that rooms above the bar pick up noise, so be sure to ask for a room away from this area.

Transportation

The Poet Hotel is located a short walk from the Hobbemastraat stop, which is serviced by trams 2 and 5. Both connect to Centraal Station.

From the Airport: Take bus No. 197 from the airport to stop Hobbemastraat. It’s an easy, direct journey and takes about 45 minutes.

Taxi: From Amsterdam Centraal station a cab ride will cost about €20. Don’t pay more than €40 if taking a cab from the airport.