Singel Hotel City Center, Amsterdam

Charming, friendly, bright and oh-so conveniently located! Walking distance to Central Station, Dam Square and pick-ups for most canal tours. Facing the canal, the Singel Hotel is basic in its offerings, yet safe, clean and very quaint. Ask to stay on the top floor where you must actually walk across the roof in order to get to your room (the only room there, so very private)! Once inside, the ceilings form an inverted "V" like most of the gabled houses in Amsterdam do, and the room is so narrow that a full bed barely fits. Be sure you don't hit your head on the sloping ceiling! Once in bed, you have a wonderful view overlooking the canal. If this sounds adventurous and quaint, then this is the room for you. In summer, the rooms on the top floor can get a little stuffy with only one window and no air conditioning, but opening the door before going to bed allows a nice breeze and cools down the room. Sleep with your window open as it never gets too loud outside. The bathrooms are very basic. There is no shower, or shower curtain, just a nozzle very close to the toilet. Still, very clean, and actually quite streamlined! Simple reception area, with wonderful staff. Each person knew our names and asked us our plans for the day. They never offered advice unless asked, and were a wealth of information, telling us the tourist traps to avoid and the best local cuisine. The breakfast room serves a very minimal continental fare: bread, cheese and some cereal, along with juice, coffee and tea, yet the room was so bright and cheerful, we still found ourselves wanting to start every morning there.