Editor’s Note: This post is part of the Oktoberfest trip to Europe in which I visited Germany, The Netherlands, Belgium, The United Kingdom, and Luxembourg.
Having finally (and thoroughly) completed the mandatory bucket-list item that is Oktoberfest, I hopped on a Eurowings flight from Munich to Amsterdam where I’d be staying at the DoubleTree Hilton Centraal Station.
My previous nights’ stay in at the Aloft Munich was great, how would the DoubleTree Hilton Centraal Station stack up?
Review: DoubleTree Hilton Centraal Station (Amsterdam, Netherlands)
Location
One of the best things about the DoubleTree Hilton Centraal Station is its location.
It is located just steps away from the Centraal Station landmark and walking distance from most of Amsterdam’s most famous attractions. But its also located on an island and therefore buffered from the crazy festivities across the canals.
An almost perfect location – right near the heart of everything
Getting There
This may be the easiest hotel to get to in all of Amsterdam.
You can literally take the train from Amsterdam Schiphol Airport (AMS) direct to Amsterdam Centraal Station and then walk to the DoubleTree.
This ride will take you only about 20 minutes.
From the front entrance to Centraal Station, the walk to the DoubleTree Hilton Centraal Station will take you [southeast] about 5-10 minutes.
The entrance to the DoubleTree Hilton Centraal Station at night
The Redemption
At 60,000 points a night, I consider the DoubleTree Hilton Centraal Station to be a bit of a sweet-spot in terms of Hilton Honors point redemptions.
From the below, you can see that a night here can easily run you about $400+ a night, meaning the CPP value is equal to about .07 which is pretty good for a Hilton property in Europe.
365 Euros is roughly equal to about $410 USD.
The Check-In
There was a dedicated line for elite members where I was greeted immediately and thanked for my status. It goes without saying in the hospitality sector in Europe, but everybody spoke fluent English.
I was also pleasantly informed there was a room upgrade available to me as a Hilton Honors Gold member (without me having to inquire about one).
Image courtesy of hilton.com
My shot of the lobby was a little dimmer than Hilton’s
The Welcome Package
After check-in was complete, I was handed my room key and the Welcome Package below.
The Hilton Honors Gold Member Welcome Letter
For what you ask?
…The Free Drink of course!
First Impressions
My first impression of the hotel was that it had an absolute great location.
My second impression was that I was quickly impressed by the service of friendly staff.
Property-wise, this hotel at first seemed somewhat cold and dated [architecturally], but that initial impression was overcome by the modern flare of the European decor and the liveliness of the hotel. The hotel itself was clean, modern, and trendy.
The Queen Superior Room With A View [Upgrade]
I found the room to be clean and comfortable, with a decor that was unmistakably minimalist European – and that was a good thing.
The iMac on the desk doubles as your [only] television
Room Amenities
Complimentary Water x2
View From The Room
One of the very best things about this room upgrade was its wonderful view of Amsterdam.
Panoramic photo
The Bathroom
The bathroom was itself well-lit, well-designed, and clean.
The shower
Hotel Amenities
An entrance to the Executive Lounge
The fitness center (image courtesy of hilton.com)
FHOP Tip: You can rent bikes (which are essential for exploring Amsterdam) at the front desk. You can also book day trips for excursions in the Netherlands and Belgium at very competitive prices from the front desk.
The Sky Lounge
At the time of booking, I had no idea the DoubleTree Hilton Centraal Station hid an amazing secret: It had the best Hotel Bar in Europe as awarded by the European Hotel Awards in Strasbourg.
Turns out the Sky Lounge Amsterdam was a premier destination bar for both locals and tourists alike. The bar had amazing views and was the perfect European setting for both lunch and dinner (both of which I tried).
Post-dinner, the Sky Lounge turned into quite the scene, becoming an exclusive place to “see and be seen”. I found myself spending a lot of time with my friends up at this bar as the food and drinks were excellent.
The Sky Lounge lobby (image courtesy of hilton.com)
Amazing 360-degree views of Amsterdam from Sky Lounge
The Breakfast Spread
Not to be outdone, the restaurant on the ground level had one of the most impressive breakfast spreads I had ever encountered at a European Hotel.
Best of all – the daily breakfast was complimentary for Hilton Honors Gold and Diamond guests.
The restaurant at opening
Breakfast (Day 1)
Breakfast (Day 2). You get the idea…
The Bottom Line Review: DoubleTree Hilton Centraal Station (Amsterdam, Netherlands)
Overall, I was highly impressed with my stay at the DoubleTree Hilton Centraal Station in almost every way.
The location was unbeatable, the service was memorable, the rooms were clean and comfortable, and the point redemption value was a “sweet spot” for a Hilton in Europe.
Not to mention the breakfast was impressive, and the Sky Lounge ended up being my favorite place to hang out in Amsterdam.
The bottom-line? I highly recommend the DoubleTree Hilton Centraal Station.
Cheers!
