The College Hotel Amsterdam Autograph Collection

After reading the reviews, I was a bit surprised. We had a great experience there and probably because Peter, the door gentleman made it all so much sweeter. He gave us recommendations on places to visit, interacted with my kids, and was helpful in whatever way we needed. Location is great. We were near restaurants, local markets, and shops. The rooms were cute and quaint. The history of the hotel is interesting. Our rooms were cleaned as requested by the door hanger template we left on the door handle. No complaints there. Only downside is that the noise from outside is quite obvious. However, I always play a sleep sound to cancel it out. I definitely recommend the stay. If you get to meet Peter, he will make your stay better!

Our stay at The College Hotel was very pleasant. However, here are a few observations that we made. First, the hotel bar is not that cozy for enjoying an evening cocktail. While there are some stools at the bar, we were asked not to sit in the lounge area two nights in a row due to private events. This left us with few options. While commenting on the bar, I must say that Elvis was a fantastic bartender. As well, his colleague Erica was extraordinarily welcoming and helpful. Generally, the front desk staff was very helpful and pleasant. However, during check-in and checkouts, the desk was quite crowded and made a very difficult to get help. I have to ask for an extra luggage rack three times, before it was finally delivered. The South Beach music in lobby was a little disjointed for a European-feel hotel. All in all, it was a pleasant day, and we would certainly consider staying here again, even in the context of my comments above.

Not ideal if you’re planning on resting Let me focus on the main challenges of this property, which are unfortunately quite a few. The most serious issue? The hotel bar, often empty during the day, occasionally turns into a gathering spot for very loud guests at night, right under the bedroom windows. On one occasion, guests were shouting until 1 a.m., repeatedly waking up my baby. When I kindly asked one of them to lower her voice, the response was unfortunately quite aggressive. I reported the disturbance to management, who acknowledged that these kinds of gatherings “sometimes happen.” Not exactly the peaceful environment I was hoping for. Even on quieter nights, restful sleep wasn’t guaranteed. The room featured oddly placed steps that triggered a motion-sensor spotlight aimed straight at the bed. This light would turn on unexpectedly, even with no movement, causing repeated interruptions during the night. Breakfast also came with some confusion. As an Ambassador member, I was entitled to complimentary breakfast, but since the reservation wasn’t under my name directly, I was initially denied access. After some back and forth with the concierge, the issue was resolved. However, I was still charged €14 for a toddler’s yogurt, despite the adult breakfast being included. This wasn’t clearly explained beforehand. The charge was eventually waived, but it turned what should have been a relaxing morning into a stressful negotiation. The à la carte quality is acceptable, but basic items like bread or yogurt are oddly handled and not always included unless you order additional dishes. Service in the bar and restaurant areas was underwhelming. The ambiance felt abandoned and the team seemed disengaged. Requests like a simple glass of water were met with visible reluctance, which was disappointing given the level the hotel aims to represent. Lastly, families with young children might want to note that the high chairs were consistently dirty. I had to clean them thoroughly each day before use. In summary, while the hotel has potential, several issues, particularly regarding noise, service consistency, and attention to families, made our stay less restful and enjoyable than expected. I would recommend considering alternative options if you’re looking for a truly relaxing experience.