Hotel Die Port Van Cleve, Amsterdam

I was fooled by the 4 stars just as the other reviewers on this list. Infact i got USD 122 per night rate... and i thought its a 4 star it can't be that bad. Well... it is not a 4 star by any means... and if someone gave me the room in this hotel for half the price of what i paid... i will still not.. the rooms are dingy and its bloody noisy, you can hear the streets, the neighbour rooms and every who takes the elevator. Very sore experience... Don't go!!

Location is great, the staff are friendly but requests are not promptly met. Rooms are small, in summer rooms are hot, can't open windows because it is very noisy on both sides. Best rooms in summer are the inside rooms, a bit gloomy but cool. Breakfast expensive - go out of the hotel, turn right about a block, cross the street and get your breakfast t a small bakery with fresh stuff. Meals are expensive and over rated. Go eat someplace else, excellent restaurants (such as Luyck's or de Vijf Vliegen or Haasje Klaasje all within less than 10 minutes walking) won't cost you that much more. The bar is good, food is also cheaper there. It's an average quality hotel at inflated prices but you can't beat The Location - it's the most strategic for exploring Amsterdam

Chosen at the last minute when other arrangements failed, we accepted the booking agent's recommendation and paid a higher tariff for 4 stars. Star ratings are, of course, allocated on the existence of facilities - not on their availability or condition - or even the quality of service by staff. An electric iron locked away in a computer room on level 6 qualifies as being available, but nothing more.

Despite a specific request for a double, my wife and I spent our 25th wedding anniversary in twin beds and, quite honestly, staff couldn't care less. We tipped a porter in advance to deliver our bags to an alternate room, but they simply failed to do anthing and even lost one of the bags. Added to this were wake up calls that never came; four separate trips to get tea-making facilities; collapsing shower rails; constant unfulfilled promises of extra towels (they had left one of our sons without a towel at all); curtains in need of repair and stained chairs.

The list could go on, but it was perhaps the uncaring and unsmiling attitude of the majority of the staff that did most to destroy this hotel's credibility. As Australians involved in the tourist industry at home, I always susected that the Europeans would have the edge on customer service and I had hoped to learn from them. I now know that the Australians - and the Asians (where I have previously travelled) - leave them far behind.

A good location; rooms generally clean and tidy, but more focus on customer service needed to ensure happy and positive memories. The star rating could not be justified if service was a criteria (which, unfortunately, it is not).